top of page

SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY

School

Boston College School of Theology & Ministry

TMST7009-01

Fundamental Theology

BTI Category

Systematic Theology & Philosophy (Western)

Semester

FA23

The resources and methods of theology provide the framework for this course. A primary focus will be on the relationship between revelation, faith, and theology, which includes the role of the Bible and the church's doctrine. The course will also survey past and present methods in 'doing theology,' and consider the connection between theology and spirituality.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Dominic Doyle (01)

W(01)

10:00-12:00 (01)

Grading Option

Letter

Credits

3

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

N

Prerequisite?

N

Notes

N

School

Boston College School of Theology & Ministry

TMST7024

Christology

BTI Category

Systematic Theology & Philosophy (Western)

Semester

FA23

This course seeks to clarify what it means to confess that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ, and why this is a significant claim. The course examines the New Testament, the early councils of the Church, the writings of early and medieval Christian theologians, the dogmatic teachings of the Church and the contributions of contemporary theologians. Two main questions will be addressed: Who is Jesus? How does Jesus save us?

Professor

Class Day & Time

Andr� Brouillette, S.J.

M

10:00-12:20

Grading Option

Letter

Credits

3

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

Y

Prerequisite?

N

Notes

Fundamental Theology Reccomended

School

Boston College School of Theology & Ministry

TMST7057

Theological Foundations in Practical Perspective

BTI Category

Systematic Theology & Philosophy (Western)

Semester

FA23

Taught from a pastoral perspective, this course offers an overview of contemporary Christian theology, introducing basic theological themes reflected in Co-Workers e.g. the cultural context in which we do theology, God, being human, Jesus, reign of God, Church. It considers theological methods and investigates the sources that contribute constructions of theological positions.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Colleen Griffith

T

9:30-12:20

Grading Option

Letter

Credits

3

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

N

Prerequisite?

N

Notes

N

School

Boston College School of Theology & Ministry

TMST7247

Faith & Justice: Liberation Theologies in the US

BTI Category

Systematic Theology & Philosophy (Western)

Semester

FA23

Liberation theologies are modes of theological discourse that rethink the purpose of religious thought and practice by placing attention on distinctive experiences of injustice and inequality encountered by different individuals and social groups. Although the liberation theology movement is now a global one, the United States has been the birthplace of a good number of liberation theologies. This course examines the emergence, development, emphases, and methodologies of four of these, including African American/Black theology of liberation, feminist theology of liberation, Latino/a theology of liberation, and LGBTQ theology of liberation. Besides offering a solid introduction to liberation theology, the course analyzes basic concepts underlying theories of injustice, domination, and oppression.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Benjamin Valentin

T

3:30-6:20

Grading Option

Letter

Credits

3

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

N

Prerequisite?

N

Notes

N

School

Boston College School of Theology & Ministry

TMST8087

Eschatology and Kingdom of God

BTI Category

Systematic Theology & Philosophy (Western)

Semester

FA23

This course examines the relationship between history and eschatology through the lens of the "Kingdom of God" that is central to Jesus' preaching. It proposes a hermeneutic that will take as point of departure the church�s eschatological statements. We will examine these statements within the framework of the human historical process and the pilgrimage of God's People towards the reign of God.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Felix Palazzi

W

6:30-9:00

Grading Option

Letter

Credits

3

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

N

Prerequisite?

Y

Notes

PREREQ: Christology; Creation and Eschatology

School

Boston College School of Theology & Ministry

TMST8110

The Mystery of the Trinity

BTI Category

Systematic Theology & Philosophy (Western)

Semester

FA23

The course will offer the Scriptural sources, the dogmatic development and the works of contemporary theologians that have contributed to the Church's reflection on God, One and Triune, as revealed through the life and praxis of Jesus of Nazareth. This fundamental path will permit us to offer a systematic Trinitarian theology of God as Mystery of salvation and liberation of all.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Rafael Luciani

ASYNC

ASYN

Grading Option

Letter

Credits

3

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

Y

Prerequisite?

Y

Notes

PREREQ: One Course in Christology

School

Boston College School of Theology & Ministry

TMST7009-02

Fundamental Theology

BTI Category

Systematic Theology & Philosophy (Western)

Semester

FA23

The resources and methods of theology provide the framework for this course. A primary focus will be on the relationship between revelation, faith, and theology, which includes the role of the Bible and the church's doctrine. The course will also survey past and present methods in 'doing theology,' and consider the connection between theology and spirituality.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Vicente Chong (02)

W(02)

4:00-6:20

Grading Option

Letter

Credits

3

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

N

Prerequisite?

N

Notes

N

School

Boston College School of Theology & Ministry

TMST7056

Theological Anthropology

BTI Category

Systematic Theology & Philosophy (Western)

Semester

FA23

What is the Christian vision of humanity? This course examines key aspects of human life in the light of Christian revelation including: the human person as created in the image of God; finitude, suffering, and sin; forgiveness and sanctification; grace and nature; gender and sexuality; community; and Ignatian spirituality.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Dominic Doyle

R

3:30-5:30

Grading Option

Letter

Credits

3

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

Y

Prerequisite?

N

Notes

N

School

Boston College School of Theology & Ministry

TMST7193

Sacraments: Theology and Practice

BTI Category

Systematic Theology & Philosophy (Western)

Semester

FA23

This course will be a basic introduction to sacramental theology and pastoral practice geared toward the sacraments requirement for MA students. It will cover basic and general issues like the nature of sacraments in general and the nature and function of ritual and symbol. Each of the Church's seven sacraments will be dealt with from a number of perspectives e.g., feminist and liberationist. Students will be expected to do a "live" analysis of a Eucharistic liturgy as well as one other sacramental liturgy.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Peter Fink, SJ

MW

1:00-2:30

Grading Option

Letter

Credits

3

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

N

Prerequisite?

N

Notes

N

School

Boston College School of Theology & Ministry

TMST8043

Historical Scriptural Classics in Theological Perspective

BTI Category

Systematic Theology & Philosophy (Western)

Semester

FA23

This course will survey historical classics, examining the generative themes that are suggestive for our time and foundational in the construction of a contemporary spirituality. Authors will include Augustine, Benedict, Francis and Clare of Assisi, Julian of Norwich, Catherine of Genoa, Ignatius of Loyola, Teresa of Avila, and John of the Cross. Thematic questions will be brought to the reading of core texts.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Colleen M. Griffith

W

4:00-6:20

Grading Option

Letter

Credits

3

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

N

Prerequisite?

Y

Notes

PREREQ: Foundations or Fundamental

School

Boston College School of Theology & Ministry

TMST8107

Mariology

BTI Category

Systematic Theology & Philosophy (Western)

Semester

FA23

How are we to account for the upsurge in interest regarding Mary both within and beyond Christian churches around the world? Mindful of this question, the course surveys the origins and development of Marian doctrine and devotion using a fourfold method of theological inquiry (dogmatic, historical, social scientific, aesthetic). Conscious of the interactive dynamics of religion, culture, politics and social change, the course examines selected themes, claims, and controversies that pertain to the contemporary study of Mary. The course also explores the significance of Marian art, music, literature, film and sites of pilgrimage for spirituality and theological imagination.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Margaret Eletta Guider, OSF

T

3:30-6:00

Grading Option

Letter

Credits

3

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

N

Prerequisite?

Y

Notes

PREREQ: Christology; Church History I

School

Boston College School of Theology & Ministry

TMST8141

Theology of Mission

BTI Category

Systematic Theology & Philosophy (Western)

Semester

FA23

This seminar surveys diverse theologies of mission and examines how these theologies have informed and transformed the Church�s understanding of mission and missionary activity in the 20th and 21st centuries. Attentive to the contributions of selected biblical scholars, theologians, church historians and social scientists as well as the corpus of Roman Catholic documents on mission, along with documents of the World Council of Churches and the Lausanne Movement, the seminar traces the evolution of critical theological thinking on mission and assesses the ecclesiological relevance of theologies of mission in a religiously pluralistic world.

Professor

Class Day & Time

Margaret Eletta Guider, OSF

W

4:00-6:00

Grading Option

Letter

Credits

3

Professor Approval Req'd?

N

Online?

N

Prerequisite?

Y

Notes

PREREQ: Introduction to the New Testament, Fundamental Theology or Foundations of Theology, and The Church

bottom of page