Academic Catalog 2023-2024

THE - Theology

THE 2050  Introduction to Christian Theology  (3 Units)  

This course introduces students to the study of Christian theology and to the body of Christian doctrines. It approaches Christian theology from the perspective of the Wesleyan theological tradition.

Prerequisite(s): BIB 1001 or BIB 1002  
THE 3005  Christian Faith and the Natural Sciences (FE)  (3 Units)  

This course explores central Christian convictions, e.g., the doctrines of creation, providence, the incarnation and the resurrection of the body, in careful and respectful dialogue with the natural sciences, especially cosmology and biological evolution.

Prerequisite(s): BIB 1001 or BIB 1002  
THE 3020  The World's Faith Traditions  (3 Units)  

This course introduces students to the convictions, writings, and practices of people in the Abrahamic (Jewish, Islamic, Sikh) and Asian (Hindu, Buddhist, Taoist, Confucian) traditions from a Wesleyan theological perspective.

Prerequisite(s): BIB 1001 or BIB 1002  
THE 3030  Christ and the Church  (3 Units)  

This course will examine the relationship between the Church's teachings on the identity and ministry of Jesus Christ (Christology) and the ongoing life of Christ's community of disciples, including worship, evangelism, the sacraments, the presence of the Holy Spirit, and eschatology.

Prerequisite(s): BIB 1001, BIB 1002, and THE 2050  
THE 3040  Theology of Creation Care  (3 Units)  

This course explores various views of creation and the natural world within Scripture and the Christian tradition with the goal of helping students understand the importance of creation care as the responsibility of all Christians. This course will also identify and assess ways that individuals and churches can advocate for and participate in practices that support sustainability and ecological justice.

THE 3045  Theological Themes in Film  (3 Units)  

This course engages the medium of film as a pathway for theological reflection on Christian traditions and Christian faith as well as its communication and embodiment in contemporary culture. This course guides students in thinking critically and theologically about film as they engage topics such as Christology, eschatology, evil, sin, justice, Christian practice, and theological notions of what it means to be human.

THE 3060  Christian Life as Vocation (FE)  (3 Units)  

A study of the theology and practice of vocation as they have developed in the biblical and Christian traditions. Students will be led to reflect on career and professional life in a Christian way. The course will also study Christian ethical ways of living in the world.

Prerequisite(s): BIB 1001 or BIB 1002  
THE 3070  Global Christianity (FE)  (3 Units)  

This survey course covers Christianity's two-thousand-year history looking at its origins and history in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. The great expansion of Christianity into Europe and the West will be highlighted while the primary focus will be on more Christian movements and theology from the Global South.

Prerequisite(s): BIB 1001 or BIB 1002  
THE 3075  God, Suffering, and the Human Condition  (3 Units)  

This course explores the mystery of human existence as witnessed in Scripture, Christian tradition, and other fields of inquiry, with a focus on understanding the implications of the Gospel for addressing life's complexities, hardships, and pains.

THE 4025  Martin Luther King, Jr. and Theological Ethics  (3 Units)  

This course introduces students to the life and work of Martin Luther King, Jr., with a particular focus on his theological influences, ethical commitments, and practical strategies for pursuing justice in the church and society.

THE 4035  Theology in the Wesleyan Tradition  (3 Units)  

This course introduces students to the life and work of John and Charles Wesley and traces the legacy of their theology and ministry in the subsequent development of various Christian movements, with special emphasis on the implications of this legacy for contemporary Christian life and practice.

THE 4090  Special Studies in Theology  (1-3 Units)  

An examination of a topic in theology not otherwise studied in the curriculum.

May be repeated up to a total of nine (9) units.  
Prerequisite(s): Consent of the dean of the School of Theology and Christian Ministry.  
THE 4095  Justice in the Church: Gender, Households, and Unity in the Body of Christ  (3 Units)  

The course will give special attention to the thought and practices of Christian righteousness in light of dynamics of inequity that have long faced Christian communities. Students will engage Christian tradition and contemporary life on the issues of the subjugation of women, economic alienation, slavery, racism and other structures of power. Approaches to these issues will be multi-disciplinary - underscoring the integration of biblical, theological, historical, and philosophical perspectives - and culminate in concrete practices of ministry.

Prerequisite(s): Consent of the dean of the School of Theology and Christian Ministry.