Theology
Dr. William Newton (chair)
Dr. Donald Asci (MATCM online director)
Dr. John Bergsma
Dr. Ronald Bolster
Fr. Donald Frinsko, TOR
Dr. Scott Hahn
Dr. Stephen Hildebrand
Dr. Andrew Jones
Dr. Regis Martin
Dr. Kevin Miller
Dr. Mark Miravalle
Dr. Shane Owens
Sr. M. Johanna Paruch, FSGM
Dr. James Pauley
Dr. Bob Rice (MACE director)
Dr. Amy Roberts
Dr. Michael Sirilla
Dr. Scott Sollom
Dr. Michael Waldstein
Dr. Eric Westby
Dr. Petroc Willey
Jacob Wood (MATS & MTS director)
Mission Statement
Mission: The mission of the Theology Department is to educate students toward a deeper understanding of the divinely-revealed mysteries that make up the Deposit of Faith, with a commitment to dynamic orthodoxy. As part of this commitment, we affirm the rich Franciscan theological tradition, along with a Marian model of receptivity to God’s Word and Spirit.
Principles: For all students, theology is the summit of liberal education, and a capstone for integrating studies across the liberal arts and sciences and in professional programs, in accord with the University’s mission. This is so because the truths theology considers are the highest truths about God and man, and they reveal the full significance and the coherence of other truths relevant to human life.
For undergraduate majors and graduate students, the study of theology is a necessary preparation for competent academic and apostolic work for Christ and the Church, in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Fulfillment: The fulfillment of our mission entails reasoned investigation of God’s Word in Scripture and sacred Tradition, in the light of faith, in accord with the teaching of the magisterium. It also entails study of various theological issues and movements in the historical development of Christianity. Finally, it entails not only mastery of that which is proper to theology as an autonomous discipline, but also, from the perspective of such mastery, dialogue with other disciplines, insofar as our faculty are able to engage in it and draw students into it.
Programs: In the Bachelor of Arts program, we apply faith and reason in these ways to foster some fluency in the Church’s theological discourse, from the past to the present. Besides the BA in Theology, the Theology Department offers a BA major in Catechetics and Evangelization to prepare our graduates to serve the Church more effectively as religion teachers, catechists, youth ministers, and other in services involving instructing others in the Faith. In keeping with our affirmation of the Franciscan theological tradition, we also offer a Franciscan Studies Minor. Thirty-four credit hours in theology (not including THE 102) are required for the Theology Major.
Note: For non-majors, THE 101 and THE 110 are prerequisites for all upper division theology courses (except THE 102, THE 103, THE 115 and THE 341 which have no prerequisites).
In the Master of Arts Program, we foster a more advanced level of spiritual insight, critical inquiry, and historical understanding on the part of our graduate students, along with the ability to apply theology in pastoral ministries. As a result, graduates will be prepared for professional ecclesial service (e.g., diocesan, parochial) or for further graduate study and academic work.
The catechetics specialization, an option in the MA Theology program, prepares graduate students to grasp the intelligibility and coherence of the divine mysteries, in order to equip them to apply proper pedagogical and apostolic means for conveying the scriptural, doctrinal, moral, and liturgical aspects of the faith, as it is lived in communion.
Assessment Learning Goals
By the end of their academic program, theology majors should be able to:
- Demonstrate reasonable competency in the basic categories of the discipline, particularly sacred Scripture, systematic theology and moral theology.
- Understand theology from within an ecclesial context, which is to say, from within the faith-commitments of the Roman Catholic Church.
- Utilize effective theological methods of research and argumentation.
Catechetics Major
For undergraduate students who wish to increase their preparation for actual teaching ministries in the Church (including teaching in Catholic schools, RCIA, adult education, CCD, youth ministry, and others), the Theology Department offers a major in catechetics.
Youth Ministry Concentration
The Youth Ministry Concentration in the Catechetics Major prepares students for full- time professional work in the field of youth ministry and also helps them discern if that career is right for them. It provides in-depth academic study into documents pertaining to the work of evangelization and catechesis and applies that information into youth ministry settings. It also trains students in practical techniques for ministry with youth, providing them many opportunities for youth ministry-based presentations that can be evaluated by professors with professional experience in that field. Students learn about the development of the adolescent mind and experience firsthand what the ministry is about. Built upon the foundation of catechetics and theology that they experience in the Catechetics Major, this concentration empowers youth ministers to do effective and successful professional ministry in the third millennium.
Admission to the Catechetics Major
All students admitted to Franciscan University of Steubenville stating a preference for a major in catechetics are admitted according to the University admission criteria. These students are placed in pre-catechetics (PRC) and receive academic advising in the Office of Catechetics. Students in pre-catechetics will be an integral part of Franciscan University of Steubenville’s campus community.
Admission to pre-catechetics does not guarantee admission to the Catechetics Pro- gram. Pre-catechetics students must apply in writing to be admitted to the Catechetics Program during the spring term freshman year at a time designated by the Catechetics Department. Characteristics of academics (minimum QPA 2.5 and completion of required course work) and personal commitment to the catechetical profession are considered as part of the admission process for the major. Those students wishing to transfer to the Catechetics Major at the sophomore level from another school must be admitted to Franciscan University. These applicants will be evaluated for admission by the same characteristics as students in pre-catechetics at Franciscan University. Students applying to the Catechetics Major will be notified in writing of their admission status prior to the beginning of the fall term of their sophomore year. Once students are admitted to the Catechetics Major, they must maintain a 2.0 (C) or better in all catechetics courses and in the required theology classes. An over GPA of 2.0 is required to remain in and to progress in the Catechetics Major.
The Office of Catechetics will admit as many qualified students as the faculty, resources, and facilities can reasonably serve without detriment to the quality of professional catechetical education.
Once a student is admitted to the Catechetics Major, the student may expect to progress toward graduation in a timely manner when:
- The student follows the prescribed program, as outlined in the Catechetics Handbook.
- The student maintains a cumulative quality point average of 2.0.
- The student remains in “good moral character” standing.
- The student earns a C or above in all required catechetics courses.
- The student does not earn less than a C in two catechetics courses.*
*A student who earns less than a C in two catechetics courses is subject to dismissal from the catechetics major even if a catechetics course has been repeated in which a grade lower than a C originally was earned and a grade of C or better has replaced the original grade.
Criminal Background Checks
Catechetics students may be subject to local, state, or national criminal background and/ or child abuse history checks. Fees for such checks vary from area to area or from time to time.
Assessment Learning Goals
At the completion of the BA in catechetics the student should be able to:
- Demonstrate reasonable competency in the basic categories of the discipline, particularly knowledge of sacred Scripture, dogmatic and moral.
- Demonstrate an understanding of Catholic doctrine and practice from within an ecclesial context, which is to say, from within the faith-commitments of the Roman Catholic Church relative to the ministry of catechetics.
- Effectively communicate the teachings of Christ and his Church in a variety of ministry contexts through writing, witness and presentations.
Theology Course Descriptions
Catechetics Course Descriptions