School of Arts and Letters

American Indian Studies Program | Art | Communication, Theatre, and Art Department | Theatre Program | English Department | Department of Global, Cultural and Languages Studies | French | German | Ojibwe | Russian | Spanish | Humanities | Department of History and Politics | Medieval and Renaissance Department | Music Department | Philosophy | Theology and Religious Studies Department | The Braegelman Catholic Studies Program | Women's and Gender Studies Program

American Indian Studies Program

This program provides opportunities for St. Scholastica students to study American Indian history, contemporary developments and tribal cultures, as well as to interact with American Indian professionals and peers. Knowledge of American Indian contributions to our social, political, economic and scientific development will enable students to develop a broader view and a deeper appreciation of our national heritage.

Director: Barbara King, M.S.W.

American Indian Studies minor

American Indian Studies offers a 24-credit minor designed to complement programs in a variety of different majors. The objectives of the minor are to:

• Promote an awareness and understanding of the history, culture and philosophy of American Indians.
• Recognize the different life experiences of American Indians.
• Improve the ability of students to integrate this knowledge with their future professional careers.

Each of the following minor courses are worth 4 credits: INS 2201, 2202 (HIS 2201, 2202) and 3301 (PHL 3301); selection of one course from either INS 2203 or 2204 (ART 2204); and one course from INS 3308 (HIS 3308), 3320 or 4401. Four additional credits are needed to complete the minor. Students may petition the department to take alternative elective courses.

 

Outcomes

Objectives of the program include courses that will:

• Address the methodological and historiographical issues involved in any approach to American Indian studies.
• Utilize various theoretical models for interpreting various areas of discipline, i.e. history, literature, philosophy, etc.
• Focus on changing from an "additive" to "inclusive" understanding of how gender and race impacts the American Indian life experience.
• Focus on the value of incorporating the everyday experience of ordinary people in the creation of American Indian history.
• Provide an understanding of American Indian life experience which will provide a mirror and window on student's own assumptions about race, class and gender.
• Explore the history and differences in oral and written communication among American Indians.
• Require correct grammar and punctuation in all written work.
• Require the student to be brief but thorough in written communications; explore the value and importance of seeing through the eyes of others.
• Examine the role of race and class in the shaping of American Indian history and culture; explore the issues of American Indian cultural identity.
• Examine what constitutes knowledge of the spiritual practices and belief systems of American Indian communities.
• Be able to understand the life experience of American Indians and apply the knowledge to contemporary issues.
• Understand paradigms and paradigmatic approaches to political action and processing information.
• Examine what constitutes knowledge of art forms and music and its application to everyday life.
• Explore the issues of American Indian cultural identity through art and music.

All students, both Indian and non-Indian, are encouraged to select courses as electives from the core courses listed above. Students may also select courses to fulfill the curricular area distribution requirements.

Art

We are constantly surrounded by visual stimuli, but we rarely take time to reflect on them or participate in their creation. Art courses offer a chance to do both. If, as Abbe Dubes claims, "The first purpose of art is to touch us," a study of visual principles and the cultural and historical contexts for art production can deepen our responses and strengthen our ability to connect with others through original creations.
Art is a means of problem solving, a way of knowing, a unique form of communication, one of the ways in which human beings are distinct from other species. Art can be a powerful means of creating empathy and communicating truth. The art major prepares the student to develop a clear personal expression as a visual artist in a chosen medium. Students will also demonstrate technical skill and the ability to evaluate and critique their own work as well as the work of other artists.

Program director: Po-Lin Kosuth, M.F.A.

Art major

The 38-credit major consists of 18 credits in foundation courses (ART 1105, 1120, 1124, 1126, and 4577) and 20-24 credits in one of three concentrations. Painting/Drawing (ART 2121, 2221, 3321, 3421, 4521, 4621, 2220, 2320, 3420, and 2122), Media Art (ART, 2041, 2122, 2307, 3241, CTA 3041, 3141 and 3341), or Photography (ART 1107, 2207, 2307, 3327, and 4427). Additionally, there are other credits available for electives beyond the 38 credits.

Art major outcomes

Students will:

1. Master technical skill to produce artwork in the chosen medium.
2. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the role of an artist.
3. Demonstrate aesthetic awareness and critical judgment of artwork.

Art minor

The art minor requires 22 credits, including 14 core credits, ART 1120, 1124, 1126, 4477 and 8 credits of art electives.

An art minor is a good complement to any major in any field.

Communication, Theatre, and Art Department

Communication is the process of conveying messages to others, whether in a one-to-one encounter, in a public speech to many, in a mass medium that reaches millions, or in an artistic venue. Communicators know how to design messages for a variety of media and how to change that message depending on the audience or the medium. Good communicators know that effective messages are structured differently for speech, print, photography, film, visual art, radio, theatre or television.
Knowledge of many areas is essential to successful structuring of these messages; e.g., language, rhetoric, culture, history, art, music, drama, technology and science. Communication is by its very nature a liberal art. Effective and accurate communicators are needed in this information age. Imaginative people, who can speak, write and produce messages for a variety of media, are valuable.
In addition to the conventional Communication major, the department offers majors in Art, Journalism, and Public Relations.
Four minors are offered: Communication, Art, Theatre, and Photography.
Chair: Merry Renn Vaughan, Ph.D.

Art major: see listing under ART.

Communication major

The Communication major in the Communication, Theatre, and Art Department prepares students to design, adapt, and analyze mediated and interpersonal messages appropriate for specific audiences in a variety of settings. The students enrolled in this program will be able to create and critique persuasive arguments and conduct research. The liberally educated Communication major understands the rights and responsibilities of communicators and the historical and contemporary contexts of the field.
The Communication major requires 46 credits in CTA, including a core of: CTA 1114, 2240 or approved study abroad experience, 3445, 4414, 4445, 4 credits in film, ENG 2105, an approved upper level writing course. 16 credits of CTA electives beyond the core are also required, including 8 upper-division credits. (This requirement allows a self-designed emphasis.) A minimum grade of "C" must be maintained in all required classes. A minor in another area is required.

Communication major with Film Studies Concentration

Those students who have an interest in studying film may concentrate their electives in the Communication major entirely on film. This concentration would be comprised of film theory and criticism courses rather than film production courses. Students who complete this major and concentration will not only have grounding in general communication theory and media analysis, but also an area of specialization in film theory and criticism.
The Communication major requires 46 credits in CTA, including a core of: CTA 1114, 2240 or approved study abroad experience, 3445, 4414, 4445, 2201, ENG 2105, thesis project, 4 credits in 2220, 2301, 4220, and one upper-division film elective. A minimum grade of "C" must be maintained in all required classes. A minor in another area is required.

Admission to the Communication major and Communication major with Film Concentration

Students need to apply to the Communication major after completing 8 CTA credit hours but before completing 24 credit hours of CTA courses and have completed ENG 2105 with a grade of B- or higher. The CTA credits taken prior to admission to the major must average a C+ (2.3). Students apply to the major by writing a brief essay, completing the application to the major change of major form with a current unofficial transcript attached, and being interviewed by departmental faculty. The department will admit students who perform well in the interview, write an excellent essay, exhibit appropriate behavior for a future professional, and who conform to the deadline.

Communication major outcomes

1. The Communication major prepares students to create messages that are appropriate for a specific audience in a variety of settings or media on a variety of topics.
2. The Communication major prepares students to create and critique persuasive arguments.
3. The Communication major prepares students to fulfill personal and career goals by being able to recognize, analyze, and work to resolve legal, ethical, and social issues related to professional practice.
4. The Communication major prepares students to interpret the rhetorical situation and respond accordingly in the exchange (be a good communicator).
5. Students who complete the film concentration would have an additional Communication Literacy component in regard to understanding the history and development of film as an art form, primary theories of film aesthetics, and the capability to intellectually critique a film.

Journalism major:

see listing under JOURNALISM.

Public Relations major

The Public Relations major provides a basic foundation for students who will work in a variety of settings. These students will be able to design appropriate messages for specific audiences using a number of media. The interdisciplinary nature of this program reflects the liberal arts focus of the College.
The Public Relations major requires 46 credits including: CTA 1014, 1114, 2240 or approved study abroad experience, 3445, 4404, 4414, 4417, 4424, 4434, 4445, 4555, ENG 2105, MGT 3550. A minimum grade of "C" is required in all required CTA classes for this major.

Admission to the Public Relations major

Students need to apply to the Public Relations major after completing 8 CTA credit hours but before completing 24 credit hours of CTA courses and have completed ENG 2105 with a grade of B- or higher. The CTA credits taken prior to admission to the major must average a C+ (2.3). Students apply to the major by writing a brief essay, completing the application to the major/change of major form with a current unofficial transcript attached, and being interviewed by departmental faculty. The department will admit students who perform well in the interview, write an excellent essay, exhibit appropriate behavior for a future professional, and who conform to the deadline.
Students in this major must be accepted into the major prior to enrolling in the internship.

Public Relations major outcomes

1. The Public Relations major prepares students to create messages that are appropriate for a specific audience in a variety of settings or media on a variety of topics.
2. The Public Relations major prepares students to create and critique persuasive arguments.
3. The Public Relations major prepares students to fulfill personal and career goals by being able to recognize, analyze, and work to resolve legal, ethical, and social issues related to professional practice.
4. The Public Relations major prepares students to infer potential outcomes of communication choices.

Communication minor

Twenty credits are required in CTA 1114, 2240, 4445 and two additional 4-credit CTA electives with at least one upper-division course. A minimum grade of "C" is required in all required CTA classes for this minor.

Photography minor

The visual image is ubiquitous in American culture. One cannot venture far without seeing photographs used in news, entertainment, advertising, sports and other applications. Photography has also played a key role in shaping our collective memory of watershed events. Photography is communication. Photography is art. Students who revel in creative image-making and want to use the camera as an expressive tool would find value in the photo minor at St. Scholastica. A photo minor dovetails with related careers, especially in the advertising, public relations, graphic design and publication fields.
Photography Minor Coordinator: Edward Smith.
The Photography minor requires at least 22 credits to include ART/CTA 1107, 2207, 2041, 3327, 4427, 4999. The independent study in Photography is a project agreed upon between the student and photography instructor that results in a student exhibition. Students may substitute a topics course in photography for one of the required courses.

Photography minor outcomes

1. Students will master technical film and print processing skills in black and white, color, and some 19th century printing techniques and appropriate aesthetic display of these photographs.
2. Students will learn about digital photography and be conversant in using modern digital photographic manipulation software.
3. Students will continuously study photography aesthetics and be able to distinguish major principles of composition across a variety of photographic applications.

Theatre Program

The Theatre Program at The College of St. Scholastica provides opportunities for theatre minors, and students majoring in other fields to develop a sense of aesthetics through exposure to theatre as a performing art. Students who perform develop responsibility for their own work. This collaborative art form also requires students to be responsible to the entire production team. The curriculum of the Theatre Program stresses an understanding of theatre history and dramatic literature and improves skills in performance and technical theatre. This combination of learning, work, and artistic expression is a unique part of the liberal arts. The College of St. Scholastica Theatre Program is distinguished from professional preparation programs in that the production selection is firmly grounded in academic, not populist, plays and the program emphasis is on student learning and participation.
Theatre Program coordinator: Merry Renn Vaughan, Ph.D.

Theatre minor

Requires 22 credits in CTA 2100 (4 cr.), 3330, 3331, and

1. Performance Emphasis: CTA 2150 and one of the following: CTA 2250, 4150, 4250, 4999.
2. Technical Theatre Emphasis: CTA 2100 - Technical (2 cr.), 2250, and one of the following: CTA 2150, 4150, 4250, 4999.

All Theatre minors are required to work on a minimum of four productions with at least one technical theatre practicum. The technical theatre practicum can be taken for zero credits if option one is chosen.

Theatre minor outcomes

1. Students will develop a general understanding and appreciation of the major periods of theatre history and the major pieces of dramatic literature.
2. Theatre students will develop a sense of responsibility for their own performance as well as for the entire production.
3. Theatre students will develop skills for use in performance and technical theatre that will allow the student to work in theatre beyond the collegiate environment. The students will understand how to effectively communicate a play to an audience through both performance and technical elements.

English Department

Businesses, both for profit and nonprofit, as well as state and federal agencies expect employees to have the communication skills essential in today's world of work. With an English major an individual will develop those skills important to success and satisfaction in public and personal life. In addition to business and governmental work, St. Scholastica English majors enter law school, medical school and a variety of graduate programs. They teach middle, junior and senior high school students and, most importantly, read and write.
The English faculty is committed to fusing liberal arts and professional programs in an effort to serve the needs of students and nurture a community of learners. The English faculty undertakes the task of giving English majors a critical understanding and appreciation of literature and the development of the English language. The faculty seeks to teach majors how to read a text critically and how to respond intelligently in writing. The faculty strives to prepare graduates who use the English language effectively and creatively. In addition the faculty fosters the recognition that writing and reading are ways to explore the human condition as well as learn and develop personally.
Chair: Thomas Zelman, Ph.D.

English major

The English major (without teaching licensure) requires a minimum of 40 credits in English; 24 of those credits must be in courses numbered 3000 or above. Majors should have successfully completed or been exempted from ENG 1110; this courses does not count among the 40 English credits required for this major. Specific requirements include five courses as follows: one course from the genre sequence (ENG 2250, 2251, 2252), three courses from the period surveys (ENG 3310, 3311, 3320, 3321), one course from the advanced writing offerings (ENG 3300, 3301, 3360, 3362, 3364).
Although the English major (without teaching licensure) allows considerable freedom in choosing courses, students should consult carefully with their advisors. Advisors can help students shape their programs to fit career goals - for example, to develop a deep literary background in preparation for graduate study in English, to develop writing, reading and analytical thinking skills in preparation for law school, or to develop communication skills in conjunction with courses in Communication or Management in preparation for a career in business or government.
Students planning to use the English major as preparation for professional graduate programs (for example, law, journalism or library science) may wish to seek advice from English faculty members and others. The College's pre-law advisor is James Crane, a member of the English Department.

English major with Middle and Secondary School Education

The English major with teaching licensure requires a minimum of 40 credits in English; 24 of those credits must be in courses numbered 3000 or above. The student must plan to take courses in the areas listed below. Courses marked with an * are required by the English Department in order to meet English standards and the licensure requirements of the Minnesota Board of Teaching. Interested students should also see the Secondary Education Licensure Program requirements published by the Education Department.
ENG 1110 does not count among the 40 English credits required for this major. Also, the following courses - ENG 4440, ENG 4445, EDM 3220 and the CTA courses - are required for licensure but do not count toward the 40-credit total required for the English major. These requirements are subject to change.
Composition: *ENG 3300 or 3301.Students must complete ENG 1110 and CTA 1102 prior to admission to the major. Students must have knowledge of traditional grammar terminology and its application prior to registering for student teaching.
Genre: *ENG 2250, *2251, *2252.
Children/Young Adult Literature: *EDM 3220
American and British Literature: *Any two courses from the period surveys: ENG 3310, 3311, 3320, 3321.
Language Study: *ENG 4430
Teaching Methods: *ENG 4440 and ENG 4445.
Oral Communications: *CTA 1102.
Communications: *CTA 1114 and one of the following: CTA 1107, 2150, 2214, 2205, 3041, 4150, 4420.

English minor

A minor in English requires a minimum of 20 credits in ENG; 8 of those credits must be in courses numbered 3000 or above. Minors must also take at least one course from the genre sequence (ENG 2250, 2251, 2252). ENG 1110 does not count toward the English minor.
English Departmental Policies:
* Admission and Application to Major: Students intending to major (with or without licensure) should take at least three or four ENG courses before applying. The genre courses (ENG 2250, 2251, 2252) are highly recommended; any of the British Literature or American Literature survey courses (ENG 3310, 3311, 3320, 3321) would also serve. Students should apply for admission to the major in the spring semester of the sophomore year. A minimum College of St. Scholastica cumulative grade point average of 2.7 is required for acceptance. At the time of application, students will write an application to major essay and undertake a departmental interview with English faculty.
* Departmental Assessment: In conjunction with their advisor, majors will assist the department in its ongoing assessment by developing a portfolio of their writing culled from courses and other sources. They will submit this portfolio anonymously for departmental review in their senior year and participate in an exit interview with English faculty. This process is for departmental assessment alone and in no way affects an individual's standing in the department or graduation from the College with a major in English.

Departmental outcomes

Students will:

1. Analyze, evaluate and place in context literary works from various cultures.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of the conventions of genres.
3. Demonstrate an ability to understand and hold various points of view and lines of reasoning in tension.
4. Demonstrate personal and intellectual engagement in responding to literary works.
5. Use language in creative ways to explore self and the human condition.
6. Demonstrate an ability to write for a variety of audiences in a variety of forms.
7. Articulate an understanding of the impact literary study has on their lives.
8. Demonstrate knowledge of grammar and mechanics and the conventions of standard English.

Department of Global, Cultural and Languages Studies

The Department of Global, Cultural and Language Studies strives to advance the understanding of cultural processes that shape and transform social, economic, political, and personal identities in an increasingly interconnected world. The program uniquely fulfills the College's commitment to "responsible living and meaningful work" through the pursuit of critical thinking and self-knowledge, exposure to a variety of cultural and disciplinary perspectives, and in particular through a passion for social justice.
Students majoring in Global, Cultural and Language Studies examine topics related to culture, power, place, identity, globalization, development, and international issues. Through this coursework students practice and master transcultural and translinguistic skills as well as theoretical and analytical tools which they then apply through experiential learning in the form of an internship and off-campus experiences. The goal is ultimately to direct student engagement with concerns of equality and social justice in both their local communities and the wider world.
Central to the orientation of the Department is the idea that language and culture are interconnected, not independent of one another. As such, their study requires an intentionally interdisciplinary and participatory approach that deliberately integrates the study of language, literature, history, politics, anthropology and the arts to develop a multifaceted understanding of intercultural relations.
The faculty's expertise in languages, literature, and the arts provides a distinctive approach to global studies by placing such symbolic systems at the heart of learning, allowing students a nuanced investigation of individuals' and groups' worldview and ways of knowing. Both substantive and transformative, this approach equips students with the knowledge and tools necessary to analyze culture through a broad institutional perspective and a more intimate field experience reaching toward intercultural competence and global literacy.
Chair: David Schuettler, Ph.D.

Departmental outcomes

In the Department of Global, Cultural and Language Studies students will:

• Understand language as integral to intercultural competence;
• Achieve world language fluency at the intermediate-mid level following ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) Proficiency Guidelines;
• Articulate the role of culture in shaping perception, behavior, attitudes and beliefs;
• Analyze the issues and problems posed by living and working in an increasingly interconnected global community;
• Apply interdisciplinary approaches to formulate creative solutions to contemporary global challenges;
• Evaluate how the integrated knowledge of another language and culture informs actions leading to social justice and peace.

Core courses required for a major in GCL:

Completion of 8 credits of one language beyond 1104 with a minimum GPA of3.0 8 credits

GCL 1101	Introduction to Intercultural Studies	4 credits
GCL 2111	Migration, Diaspora, Identity OR HIS/POL 2001: Introduction to Political Science	4 credits
GCL 3101	Advanced Social and Cultural Theory	4 credits
GCL 4555	Experiential Learning/Study Abroad/Internship	0-6 credits
GCL 4001	Senior Seminar	2 credits

Plus two of these four courses:

GCL 2201	Peaceful Resolution of Conflict	4 credits
GCL 3301	Human Rights	4 credits
GCL 3001	Politics of Globalization	4 credits
GCL 4402	Environmental Politics	4 credits

 

Plus one of these two courses:

GCL 3302	Europe Today	4 credits
GCL 3303	The Other Americas	4 credits

Plus 4 credits of Cultural elective:

HIS/WMS 2231	Cultural Anthropology	4 credits
GCL 2050	Introduction to Mexico	2 credits
GCL/HUM 2101	Cross-Cultural Understanding	4 credits
GCL 2220	Dance, Gender and Culture	2 credits
GCL 2220	Popular Music and Political Movements	4 credits
GCL 3202	Culture through Film	2 credits
GCL 3250	Voices of the Earth	4 credits
GCL 3304/HIS 3301	Modern Russian History	4 credits
GCL 3401	Health Care across Cultures	4 credits
GCL 4411	Strangers in their Own Land	4 credi

Total minimum credits required
for GCL major: 44 credits
Minor in Global, Cultural and Language Studies: GCL1101 plus 16 other credits in GCL. In addition students must complete 8 credits of language study beyond 1104 with a minimum GPA of 2.75.

American Sign Language

The ASL program includes two full years (sixteen credits) of language study. Students will have the opportunity to understand deaf culture and its dynamics as well as to articulate their responses to relevant social aspects and values of the deaf culture and the community.

French

The French program includes language study at the beginning and intermediate levels using a communicative approach, as well as more advanced coursework that provides students the ability to pursue more in-depth study of French and Francophone literature, culture, and linguistics. Several courses in the French sequence count toward a major or minor in Languages and International Studies in addition to a minor in French.
French minor: 20 credits beyond FRN 1111 including FRN 3301, FRN 3303 or 3304 and FRN 3305.

German

The German program includes over two years of German language study based on a communicative approach emphasizing listening, speaking, reading and writing skills, as well as cultural studies. CSS Students have the opportunity to participate in the St. Scholastica/Leipzig Exchange Program, with students from the Leipzig Medical Training Institute in Germany.
German minor: Minimum of 20 credits beyond GMN 1111, and including GMN 1112, 2201, 2202. Remaining credits may be fulfilled by any other GMN courses, GCL 3401 (Europe Today), or GCL 3202 (German Film offering, Sec. 002) courses and Study Abroad options. All minors are required to participate in a summer language program abroad, preferably at the Goethe Institute (four weeks/4 cr.) or with the St. Scholastica/ Leipzig Exchange Program (two weeks/2 cr.). GCL 4555 (GCL Internship) and other credited study abroad programs may be substituted with permission of the instructor, who also reserves the right to substitute requirements when warranted.

Latin

Long before French, Spanish or the other Romance languages came to be, people spoke, shopped, negotiated and read in Latin. Latin vocabulary continues to be found in medical terminology, the sciences, and theology. The Latin program offers a full year (8 credits) of language study introducing grammar, syntax and basic vocabulary, with an aim toward reading fluency and some degree of oral expression. Students begin to examine the culture and society in which this language flourished, as well as its effect on post-classical cultures and languages. It is an excellent complement to the Medieval and Renaissance Studies minor.

Ojibwe

The Ojibwe language is spoken by many Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) people in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Canada. During recent generations, Anishinaabe communities - in partnership with non-Indian allies - have been engaged in a process of revitalizing the language, nearly lost for a variety of historical reasons. Courses are open to all students who are interested in Ojibwe language and way of life.
The language embodies the beliefs and cultural practices of the Anishinaabe people, so students learn their origins and meanings as well as the language skills.
Language and culture complement each other. One cannot be learned without the other.
The Ojibwe language describes more than the physical world; therefore, emotions and spiritual states are expressed in the form of verbs, and many things are understood as animate.

Russian

The Russian language and culture program includes three years of Russian language study with particular emphasis on speaking and listening skills. To supplement this basic language sequence, the College participates in an ongoing series of faculty and student exchanges during the regular academic year with the Karelian State Pedagogical University in Petrozavodsk, Duluth's sister city in Russia. In addition, American students of Russian may participate in a five week summer Russian language camp in Petrozavodsk operated by the Pedagogical University, or they may want to help host Russian students who come to an English language camp at the College in alternate summers.
Russian minor: Minimum of 20 credits beyond RUS 1111, including RUS 1112 and RUS 2201- 2202. Students must also take either RUS 2280 or HIS 3301, as well as either RUS 2209 or RUS 3301-3302. (Other study-abroad experiences may be accepted in fulfillment of RUS 2209.)

Spanish

The Department of Global, Cultural and Language Studies at The College of St. Scholastica offers both a major and a minor in Spanish. The courses in the program combine academic and experiential learning to prepare students with the linguistic and cultural skills to engage in responsible living and meaningful work in Spanish-language contexts. Through the exploration of language, history, culture, literature, service-learning, and contemporary issues in the Spanish-speaking world, the major and minor encourage communicative competency and the appropriate interpersonal/intercultural skills in both foreign and domestic settings. The programs prepare students with a solid background for work in or continued learning about Spanish and Hispanic cultures. Students may pursue a Minnesota K-12 license to teach Spanish by completing the Spanish major and the appropriate education courses as specified below.
Additional courses are being developed for the Spanish curriculum. Please consult the on-line version of the catalog for the most current information.

Requirements for the major in Spanish

Core Courses: 16 - 22 credits required.

SPN 2101 SPN 2150	Intermediate Spanish I or Intermediate Spanish I in Mexico	4 credits
SPN 2102	Intermediate Spanish II	4 credits
SPN 3101	Advanced Spanish in Context I	4 credits
SPN 3102	Advanced Spanish in Context II	4 credits
	An Internship or Service-Learning placement in Spanish	0-6 credits

 

Civilization and Culture courses: 4 credits required.

SPN 3601	Civilization of Spain	2 credits
SPN 3602	Civilization of Latin America	2 credits

 

Literature courses: 6 credits required.

SPN 2514	Hispanic Poetry	2 credits
SPN 3516	Hispanic Short Stories	2 credits
SPN 3901	Hispanic Women Writers	2 credits
SPN 3951	Masterpieces of Hispanic Literature	4 credits
SPN 3777	Topics in Hispanic Literature	2-4 credits

 

Elective credits: (May include additional courses in Culture/Civilization and Literature): 14 credits required.

ENG 2280	Literature in Translation*	4 credits
HIS/GCL 3307	Latin American History	4 credits
GCL 2050	Introduction to Mexico	2 credits
GCL 3202	Culture Through Film (Hispanic Films)	2 credits
GCL/SPN 3303	The Other America	4 credits
SPN 3150	Spanish Conversation in Mexico	4 credits
SPN 3777	Topics in Spanish	2-4 credits

Total credits required for

Spanish major: 40 - 46 credits

* Only when the topic is Spanish language literature in translation.

• No more than 4 credits taught in English may count towards the major.
• Coursework taken while studying abroad in non-CSS programs may replace courses in the program with the prior consent of a Spanish advisor.
• Study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country is strongly recommended, including for the K-12 Teaching Preparation Track.

K-12 Teaching Preparation Track

Students pursuing a Minnesota K-12 license to teach Spanish must complete the following:

• The Spanish major
• SPN 3440 Spanish Teaching Methods course (4 cr.)
• SPN 3445 Spanish Methods Field Experience (1 cr.)
• Middle/Secondary Education requirements (see Education Department for details)

Requirements for the minor in Spanish

• Twenty credits beyond the level of SPN 1112. Students who test out of SPN 2101 and/or SPN 2102 will have the value of the credits for these courses counted towards the minor.
• SPN 3101 or SPN 3102. Similar courses in a study abroad program may replace this course with prior approval from CSS Spanish faculty. Prerequisite: SPN 2102.
• At least one Spanish language literature course.
• Completion of one of the following civilization or culture courses: GCL/SPN 3303, GCL/HIS 3307, SPN 3601, or SPN 3602. In lieu of these courses, students may participate in a semester-long program to a Spanish-speaking country, with the prior consent of CSS Spanish faculty.
• Up to one course taught in English may count towards the minor. These courses include GCL/SPN 3303 (The Other America), HIS 3307 (Modern Latin American History), and GCL 3202 (Culture Through Film, Hispanic Films). Other courses in English may count with prior approval from CSS Spanish faculty.
• GCL 4555 (GCL Internship) may count towards the minor with prior approval from CSS Spanish faculty.

Department of History and Politics

The Department of History and Politics at St. Scholastica offers a number of programs, including a major and minor in History, a minor in Political Science, and a minor in American Indian Studies. The department also contributes to the major in Social Studies Secondary Education, and to the liberal arts component of general education for all St. Scholastica students. It strives to cultivate creative and critical thinking; to foster an appreciation for the richness and diversity of human experience and for the meaning of human dignity in varied historical and social contexts; and to encourage responsible work on behalf of human values, justice, and the fuller realization of human potential.
History, the department's core discipline, is the critical study of the human past. Encompassing all spheres of human experience, inquiry, belief and aspiration, history is the most integrative of humane disciplines. It satisfies a deep need to know who we are, both as individual persons sharing a common humanity and as members of various groups (whether based on gender, class, ethnicity or religion, or whether local, national or global). The deeper is our historical knowledge, the deeper is our self knowledge. And only with this type of knowledge can we formulate wise goals to help guide our future, again both as individuals and collectively. The study of history is an indispensable part of a liberal education; it enables students to make informed judgments on a wide range of public issues and to argue their positions cogently.
Political science examines the origins, uses, justification and distribution of power in society, as well as the relationship between power and other social "goods" such as wealth, rights and liberties. The nature, organization and functions of the state, as the sovereign center of political power, are among the main subjects of politics. Political science can be both descriptive and normative. When descriptive, it investigates how power, wealth and rights actually are distributed. When normative, political science (or political philosophy) explores how they ought to be distributed. Politics, in short, is about how societies are governed, how competing ideas about what is best for society are articulated and resolved, and how decisions in one part of the world affect other parts of the world. The study of politics provides an opportunity to understand not just how societies work, but also how to make them better.
History, one of the classic liberal arts, is an excellent preparation for graduate studies as well as many professions: education, law, politics, public policy, civil and foreign service, archival and library science, museum studies, historic preservation and public history. A minor in political science can prepare students for a range of career opportunities not only in law, but in government, journalism, business or interest-group advocacy.
Chair: Randall A. Poole, Ph.D.

History major

A History major must successfully complete 36 semester credits in history, at least 20 of which must be completed at St. Scholastica. Required courses consist of HIS 3206 (Historiography and Historical Methods) and a 4000-level seminar. In addition, students must complete at least one course from each of the following fields (total of 12 credits): United States history, World history, and European history. At least 20 of these credits must be upper-division credits (3000 or higher). Application process: Students apply for a major in History at the end of their sophomore year; they are expected to have a 2.75 average and should submit a brief essay to the department chair explaining why they wish to major in history. The History major is a bachelor of arts degree program.

History minor

A History minor must complete 20 credits in history, with at least 12 being completed at St. Scholastica. Required courses consist of HIS 3206 (Historiography and Historical Methods) and a 4000 level seminar.

Political Science minor

The minor consists of a total of 20 credits, 12 of which must be: POL 2001 (Introduction to Political Science), HIS 3310 (U.S. Foreign Relations), and PHL 2223 (Political Philosophy).The remaining eight credits will be selected from the following courses: CTA 4417 (Mass Media Law and Ethics), GCL 3301 (Human Rights), POL 3331 (American Government), POL 3001 (Politics of Globalization),POL 4402 (Environmental Politics), POL 2280 (Rethinking Religion and Culture after 9/11), SWK 3360 (American Social Welfare Policy),and GCL 3200 (Popular Music and Political Movements). In addition, Political Science minors are strongly advised to study in the Washington D.C. Semester Program at American University (contact the department chair for application information).

Social Studies Secondary Education major

This is an outcome-based major approved by the Minnesota Board of Teaching. It provides Social Studies licensure for grades 5-12. This program requires the completion and assessment of outcomes in the social sciences (anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science, psychology, sociology); the integration of these disciplines; and teacher education. Basic social science outcomes, as specified by the Minnesota Board of Teaching, are achieved through the following courses: HIS 1101 or 1102; HIS 1110 and 1111; HIS 2201 or 2202, 3206, 3214 and 3327; HUM 1174; POL 2001 or 3331; PSY 1105; SOC 1125;HIS/WGS 2231; SSC 3900 and SSC 3905. In addition to fulfilling these basic outcomes, each student must complete an additional four HIS credits. Students must also complete general requirements for Middle/Secondary licensure listed in the Education section of this catalog. Each candidate will meet with departmental members for an informal evaluation prior to admission. The Social Studies Secondary Education major is a bachelor of arts degree program.

Departmental outcomes

Students of history:

1. Acquire knowledge and understanding of US, European, and other areas of world history, as well as of international history, intellectual history and the history of ideas, cultural history, and religious history.
2. Appreciate the role of race, class, ethnicity and gender in history (social history).
3. Evaluate primary documents and historical scholarship, and acquire knowledge of major trends in historiography.
4. Plan, conduct, and present historical research projects.
5. Understand how history shapes ideas and practices of citizenship and liberal democracy, struggles for social justice, and human values.
6. Appreciate the integral nature of history and of the liberal arts and sciences.

Humanities major

The Humanities major affords students an opportunity to create, with some limits, an individual program of study in one or more of the humanities disciplines included in the School of Arts and Letters. The humanities disciplines are central to a liberal arts education. At this college the departments and programs included in the School of Arts and Letters are: Art; Communication, Theatre, and Art; English; History and Politics; American Indian Studies; Global, Cultural, and Language Studies (including American Sign Language, French, German, Latin, Ojibwe, Russian, Spanish); Medieval and Renaissance Studies; Music; Philosophy; Theology and Religious Studies; Women and Gender Studies. A student choosing a Humanities major has the opportunity to study the broad relationships and connections among the humanities disciplines, while also focusing on those of particular interest and significance. A major in Humanities is an excellent, multifaceted preparation for many non-specialized careers; the emphasis on reading, writing and critical evaluation of a broad range of historical/theoretical/ artistic developments gives a graduate skills essential to personal fulfillment and professional success in the world, a world which demands effective communication skills, multicultural understanding and the ability to identify and articulate an understanding of and position on a range of issues and problems.
A student graduating with a B.A. in Humanities from The College of St. Scholastica will:

1. Demonstrate understanding of the relationships and connections among the humanities disciplines studied.
2. Demonstrate understanding of the basic and essential principles of at least one School discipline.
3. Analyze knowledgeably a problem germane to the School disciplines or critically evaluate a proposition pertinent to the chosen field of study.
4. Communicate effectively an analysis of a problem or evaluation of a proposition.

Coordinator: Tammy Ostrander, Ph.D.
Plan A: A comprehensive major for students wishing a broad liberal arts education. Courses are chosen to achieve breadth.
Requirements: 48 credits from the offerings of any three of the following departments and/or prefixes listed under the School of Arts and Letters (ART, CTA, ENG, GCL [ASL, FRN, GMN, OJB, RUS, SPN], MUS, PHL, TRS, WGS), HIS, INS, with 16 credits coming from each of the three chosen departments/prefixes. At least 24 credits must be upper division courses (numbered 3000 or higher), with at least four credits of these upper division courses coming from each of the chosen departments/prefixes. Some leeway is allowed in the above requirements, according to the needs of the student's program and subject to approval of the School Dean. The 48-credit requirement is fixed.
Plan B: Primarily intended for the student who is designing his/her own major within the Humanities. Courses are chosen to achieve depth in two areas.
Requirements: 48 credits from the offerings listed under the School of Arts and Letters and any of its departments/prefixes. At least 24 credits must be upper division courses (numbered 3000 or higher). At least 24 credits must be from one discipline; at least 12 of these credits upper division. Some leeway is allowed in the above requirements, according to the needs of the student's program and subject to the approval of the School Dean. The 48-credit requirement is fixed.

Journalism major

The Journalism major in the Communication, Theatre, and Art Department provides a basic foundation for students who wish to pursue careers in newspapers, magazines, TV and radio broadcasting, and online journalism outlets. The undergraduate journalism program culminates in a B.A. degree in journalism. The students enrolled in this program will be able to demonstrate a working knowledge of the principles and practices they will need to perform as top-flight professional communicators. In addition to core courses within the major, students will take undergraduate coursework that consists of a variety of other subjects such as history, economics, government, sociology and psychology. This exposure acquaints students with fundamental problems and issues they will encounter in their careers.
The Journalism major requires at least 46 credits in CTA, including: CTA 1014, 1114, 2214,2240 or approved study abroad experience, 2514, 3341, 3445, 4214, 4414, 4417, 4445 ENG 2105. A minimum grade of "C" must be maintained in all required classes.

Admission to the Journalism major

Students need to apply to the Journalism major after completing 8 CTA credit hours but before completing 24 credit hours of CTA courses and have completed ENG 2105 with a grade of B- or higher. The CTA credits taken prior to admission to the major must average a C+ (2.3). Students apply to the major by writing a brief essay, completing the application to the major/change of major form with a current unofficial transcript attached, and being interviewed by departmental faculty. The department will admit students who perform well in the interview, write an excellent essay, exhibit appropriate behavior for a future professional, and who conform to the deadline.

Journalism major outcomes

1.  The Journalism major prepares students to create messages that are appropriate for a specific audience in a variety of settings or media on a variety of topics.
2. The Journalism major prepares students to create and critique persuasive arguments.
3. The Journalism major prepares students to fulfill personal and career goals by being able to recognize, analyze, and work to resolve legal, ethical, and social issues related to professional practice.
4. The Journalism major prepares students to integrate principles and practices with broader liberal arts and science courses in order to understand the potential outcomes of various choices made during communication exchanges.

Medieval and Renaissance Studies Program

Medieval and Renaissance Studies offers an interdisciplinary minor focusing on western culture from late antiquity through the early modern period. The minor encompasses 20 credits from a range of disciplines, including history, philosophy, languages, literature, economics, music, art and theology. Core courses give a foundation for study of medieval and Renaissance thought and cultures; elective courses provide opportunities to pursue particular areas of interest. Students may count no more than two electives from any given discipline (e.g., history, English, music) toward completing the minor. With careful planning, students can integrate coursework in the General Education Program to develop an interdisciplinary focus in medieval and Renaissance studies.
Coordinator: William Hodapp, Ph.D.

Core courses - 8 credits

MER/ENG 2220	Medieval and Renaissance Worlds in Literature	4 credits
MER 4444	Seminar: Medieval and Renaissance Studies	4 credit

Elective courses - 12 credits

CTA/ENG 3330	Theatre: Greek - Elizabethan	4 credits
ECN 3322	Medieval European Economic History	4 credits
ENG 3320	British Literature I	4 credits
ENG 4400	British Literature II	4 credits
ENG 4410	Individual Author: Chaucer	4 credits
HIS 1101	World History I	4 credits
HIS 2212	Medieval Europe	4 credits
HIS 3212	Renaissance and Reformation in Global Perspective	4 credits
HIS 3303	History of Great Britain	4 credits
LTN 1103	Beginning Latin Language and Culture II	2 credits
MER 3777	Topics in Medieval and Renaissance Studies	2 or 4 credits
MUS 3310	History of Medieval and Renaissance Music	4 credits
PHL 3302	History of Ancient and Medieval Philosophy	4 credits
PHL 3304	History of Renaissance and Modern Philosophy	4 credits
PSC 4150	Science and Culture	4 credits
SPN 3601	Civilization: Spain	4 credits
TRS 1110	Introduction to Catholicism	4 credits
TRS 2120	The Christian Faith in Art: The College of St. Scholastica in Rome	4 credits
TRS 2401	Benedictine Tradition	4 credits
TRS 3240	Sacraments and Liturgy	4 credits
TRS 4440	Women Mystics	4 credits

 

Music Department

"Let us rise in chanting that our hearts and voices harmonize."
(The Rule of St. Benedict, Ch. 19)

An education in music leads to an understanding of ways to explore the nature of existence, communicate to others and create works of enduring value. The mission of the Music Department is to serve students of all levels of interest and skill by empowering them to experience and express themselves through music and, in so doing, to help them exemplify Benedictine ideals of academic excellence, cultural development, personal integrity and community service.
Music courses help students develop skills and knowledge in music theory, music history and literature, and music performance. All areas of music study help students develop an understanding of aesthetic effects produced by the materials, organization and cultural context of a work of art.
Music majors may choose among four concentrations: Music Performance, Music Education, Music Literature and Music Management. Music Performance students may specialize in piano pedagogy. Music Education students choose one of two tracks leading to K-12 licensure: vocal music education or instrumental music education. Graduate credit may also be obtained in early music, although no graduate degree is offered. See "Graduate Program" for information and course descriptions.
Chair: LeAnn House, Ph.D.

Music major

Concentrations within the music major offer options to students who plan to pursue a profession in music (Music Performance, Music Education, Music Management) as well as students who want their music studies to provide a strong liberal arts foundation from which to pursue a range of professional interests (Music Literature).

Music Performance concentration

MUS 1101, 1102, 1302, 1421 or competency, 2111, 2112, 2251, 2297, 2298, 2411 or competency, 2412 or 2413 or competency, 3111, 3112, 3310, 3311, 3312, 4297, and four credits of music electives other than music lessons and ensembles. Music Performance majors must also take at least 24 credits of music lessons, at least four of which must be in the major instrument/voice at 4000 level, with a maximum of 32 credits allowed. An ensemble (MUS 1211, 1212, 1213, 1214, 3211, 3212, 3213, 3214, 4211, or approved off-campus ensemble) must be taken each semester for a total of at least eight semesters with a maximum of 12 credits allowed. MUS 1390 must be taken each semester. General education language requirement must be passed in French or German (or Italian).

Music Education concentration

MUS 1101, 1102, 1302, 1421, 2111, 2112, 2251, 2252, 2297, 2298, 2411, 2412, 2413, 3111, 3112, 3309, 3310, 3311, 3312, 3298, 3411, 3412, 3413 or 3414, 3415, 3416 or 3417, 4297. Language requirements must be fulfilled in French, German, or Spanish (or Italian). See also the Education Department for requirements for Secondary Licensure. Music Education students must take a minimum of 12 credits of music lessons on the major instrument/voice, completing the 4000 level, with a maximum of 24 credits allowed. An ensemble (MUS 1211, 1212, 1213, 1214, 3211, 3212, 3213, 3214, 4211, or approved off-campus ensemble) must be taken each semester for a total of seven semesters. At least four semesters must be in choir, band, or orchestra and three semesters must be in other ensembles. Music lessons and ensembles need not be taken while student teaching. MUS 1390 must be taken each semester.

Music Management concentration

MUS 1101, 1102, 1302, 1421 or competency, 2111, 2112, 2251, 2297, 2298, 2411 or competency, 2412 or competency, 2413 or competency, 3111, 3112 and two of these three courses: 3310, 3311, 3312; MGT 2120, MKT 2320; twelve credits of upper division management electives to be chosen with advisor. Music Management students must take at least 14 credits of music lessons on the major instrument/voice, studying at least one semester at the 3000 level, with a maximum of 24 credits allowed. An ensemble (MUS 1211, 1212, 1213, 1214, 3211, 3212, 3213, 3214, 4211 or approved off-campus ensemble) must be taken each semester for a total of at least seven semesters with a maximum of eight credits allowed. MUS 1390 must be taken each semester. Electives in foreign languages and Management Communication are strongly recommended.

Music Literature concentration

MUS 1101, 1102, 1302, 2111, 2112, 2251, 2298, 2411 or competency, 2412 or 2413 or competency, 3111, 3112, 3310, 3311, 3312, 2-credit senior paper or project (MUS 4888). Music lesson requirement: 8 credits, including at least six semesters of music lessons in the main instrument/voice and piano lessons until keyboard proficiencies are completed. Ensemble requirement: a minimum of four semesters of ensemble. MUS 1390 must be taken each semester.

Music minor

MUS 1101, 1102, 1302, 2251; at least 10 credits combined total of music lessons and ensembles - minimum of two semesters of lessons, minimum of two semesters of ensembles; four credits of electives chosen with the consent of the department chair from MUS 2111, 2112, 2411, 2412, 2413, 3111, 3112, 3309, 3310, 3311, 3312 or 3281. Total of 26 credits.
Opportunities for additional experiences include:

1. Teaching children in the St. Scholastica Music Preparatory Department under faculty guidance.
2. Conducting or accompanying church choirs.
3. Playing or singing in community ensembles.
4. Performing for events on and off campus.

Admission

At the completion of the sophomore year, students make formal application to the department. Students not qualified by completion of their second year may need additional time to complete upper-division courses.

Minimum admission requirements are:

1. Junior-level standing.
2. (A) For Music Performance, Music Education, and Music Management students: admission to 3000-level of music lessons (includes giving a sophomore recital) and completion of MUS 2298 Keyboard/ Sight-singing Proficiency.
   (B) For Music Literature students: two semesters of music lessons on the main instrument/voice.
3. Cumulative GPA of 2.0.

Retention requirements:

Students must earn a minimum of C- in all courses required for the major and remain in good academic standing with the College to maintain status as a Music major.
All Music majors (except senior Music Literature students) take music lessons in their major performance area each semester until performance requirements are satisfied. Performance finals are required each semester on the major instrument. Students may take a maximum of three music lessons/performance classes each semester. Music lessons may be taken for one, two or four credits (four credit lessons require 50-minute lessons) each semester. See specific requirements for each concentration (above). Class piano or piano lessons must be taken each semester until completion of MUS 2298.
All Music majors (with exceptions noted above) participate in an ensemble each semester. Students in ensembles are expected to participate in all performances on and off campus and to attend any necessary extra rehearsals. See specific requirements for each concentration given above. Ensembles may be taken for one or zero credits.

Outcomes

Music major graduates will demonstrate:

1. Skills and knowledge to convey musical ideas effectively in performance.
2. Knowledge of and research competence in music history and literature.
3. Analytical skills and knowledge of music theory, including application in compositional processes.
4. Aesthetic awareness and critical judgment of musical works and performances.
5. The ability to work and learn independently in projects such as recitals and research papers.

Philosophy

Philosophy is an activity of inquiry as well as a body of knowledge. It is the sense of wonder with which even our everyday experiences are approached. Etymologically the word "philosophy" means "love of wisdom" in Greek, and the concern of wisdom with lived experience and with leading a good life remain central to the philosophical enterprise. The starting point for the philosophical project is human reason confronting the world of personal and interpersonal experience. The end is understanding reality and making good decisions promoting human and worldly well-being.
Philosophers critically examine basic assumptions in any area of study or life, then try to draw conclusions based on sound reasoning. The Philosophy Department serves the broader mission of the College by offering courses designed to help the student develop the ability to think clearly and critically and to make decisions on valid interpretations of reality and defensible values.
Chair: Steven Ostovich, Ph.D.

Philosophy minor

PHL 1105, 2214 and 12 additional credits approved by the department.
A philosophy minor would be a useful addition to any major program. Philosophy practices students in the critical thinking skills that serve the work of analysis and interpretation at the heart of the Arts and Sciences; these skills also prepare students to assume leadership roles in the professions. The minor curriculum of core courses in logic and ethics plus three more PHL courses selected with advisement keeps the minor a live option for students no matter what their major.
The minor curriculum also is flexible and can be tailored to a student's interests and goals. For example, students who want to add a philosophy minor to a major in a discipline in the School of Arts and Letters might focus on aesthetics and critical theory in their philosophy courses; students majoring in the health sciences or business could study more ethics in relation to their majors; natural science majors could develop a critical awareness of the history of science and metascience through the study of modern philosophy; and pre-Law majors could strengthen their background in political philosophy.
The philosophy minor also prepares students for further study of philosophy in graduate school.
The College does not offer a major in philosophy, but for students interested in intense philosophical study beyond the minor and/or in preparation for graduate study in philosophy, law, business, etc., it is possible to do a Humanities major with philosophy as the primary disciplinary component. Please see the Humanities section of this catalog.

Program outcomes

Through philosophy courses the student is helped to:

1. Develop and hone critical thinking skills.
2. Identify and develop values which affirm life and personal, social, and environmental well-being.
3. Exercise good judgment in matters regarding truth, goodness, and beauty and be able to defend the responsibility of those judgments.
4. Learn the history of philosophy as a cultural phenomenon.

Faculty
Steve Ostovich, Ph. D. (Marquette), chair
Albert Nephew, Ph. D. (Marquette)
Drew Mannetter, Ph. D. (Wisconsin-Madison)

Theology and Religious Studies Department

The Theology and Religious Studies Department is at the heart of the Catholic Christian presence at St. Scholastica and, as such, represents the center of the College's Benedictine Catholic identity. Our unique charism is to lift up the theological disciplines as vital to the College's mission by providing opportunities for students to gain a critical appreciation for faith and religion. In so doing, the dynamic of Anselm's axiom that theology is "faith seeking understanding" is loosed to stimulate and broaden students' critical thinking skills, to contribute to their moral, ethical, and spiritual development, and to shape their attitudes, values, and interests in ways that will enable them to become valuable contributors to society and to provide leadership for society's transformation.
Theology and Religious Studies represents an ideal liberal arts major that is attractive to graduate schools and employers alike because of the insights that students gain into the most profound questions of human existence and the skills that they acquire in critical analysis and problem solving. Although explicitly shaped by the Benedictine Catholic tradition in which we stand, we engage and reflect on that heritage in dialogue with other religious traditions. In order to meet the needs of a diverse student body, the department offers a broad curriculum that includes courses in theology, biblical studies, ethics/moral theology, religion and culture, spirituality, and world religions.
The department offers a major in Theology and Religious Studies with several concentrations. It also offers a minor in Theology and Religious Studies.
Chair: Denise Starken, Ph.D.

Theology and Religious Studies major:

Students majoring in Theology and Religious Studies choose one of the following concentrations: Theology and Religion; Pastoral Ministry; or Youth Ministry and Religious Education. Majors complete the following coursework (40 credits total):

 

1. 12 semester credits from among departmental core courses:
   Four credits in Theology, selecting from among:

    

   • TRS 1101 Introduction to Christian Theology
   • TRS 1102 Sin, Suffering and Salvation (addition)
   • TRS 1110 Introduction to Catholicism
   • TRS 1122 Faith, Foundations, and Great Ideas

 

2. 16 semester credits from among departmental area courses:

    

   • 4 credits in Theology (TRS 3240, 3315, 3350, or appropriate TRS 4777)
   • 4 credits from Biblical Studies (TRS 3110, 3120, 3130, or 4130)
   • 4 credits from Moral Theology (TRS 2101, 3310, 3311, or appropriate 4777)
   • 4 credits from World Religions (currently listed as topics courses (TRS 3777 or 4777)

 

3. 12 additional semester credits, with requirements for each concentration as follows:

    

   • Theology and Religion: 12 credits in 3000/4000 level TRS electives with advisement
   • Pastoral Ministry: TRS 2110, Introduction to Ministry; TRS 4555, Internship in Pastoral Ministry; 4 credits in 3000/4000 level TRS elective
   • Youth Ministry and Religious Education: TRS 2110, Introduction to Ministry; TRS 4408, Theory and Method of Teaching Religion; TRS 4555, Internship in Pastoral Ministry

The Department also offers a Minor in Theology and Religious Studies. Students pursuing a minor are required to complete 24 credits as follows: 8 credits from among department core courses and 16 credits from among all department courses, 8 credits of which must be in 3000/4000 level TRS courses.
The College also offers a major and a minor in Catholic Studies. The Braegelman Program in Catholic Studies is designed for students interested in deepening their knowledge of Catholicism's rich tradition and its interaction with culture. Students who wish to know more are welcome to contact Fr. William Graham at WGraham@css.edu or visit the Catholic Studies website.

Program outcomes

Students who complete the major in Theology and Religious Studies will demonstrate:

1. Basic knowledge in the areas of systematic foundational theology, biblical studies, moral theology, and world religions.
2. Effective use of theological resources.
3. Theological reflection by engaging spiritual and religious traditions with human experience.
4. Ability to participate in religious and theological dialogue.
5. Skills for ethical reflection, decision-making and action, in both their personal ethical lives and in the area of social ethics and justice.
6. Ability to read, write about and discuss religious and theological topics.
7. In the case of majors who concentrate in areas of ministry, skills of effective ministry, including the teaching of religion, retreat work, preparation of prayer and worship services, organization of groups and activities (especially activities oriented to creating a just world), and self care.

The Braegelman Catholic Studies Program

Catholic Studies at the College of St. Scholastica continues the College's Benedictine tradition of rigorous engagement with the Catholic intellectual tradition. The College seeks to send forth thoughtful leaders, inspired by the Gospel, well schooled in the liberal arts, committed to serve and to transform the world. Those engaged in Catholic Studies examine religious ideas and ideals, and participate in the ongoing study of Catholic thought and culture. They seek dialogue with Catholics of all mind sets, with Christians from other denominations, believers from other faith traditions and all, including non-believers, who seek the truth with sincerity. The program was endowed by the Sisters of St. Scholastica Monastery and named for Sister Athanasius Braegelman, president of the College from 1942-1954, and Sister Bernice Braegelman, who taught Scripture and other classes at the College from 1941-1972.
The Braegelman Catholic Studies Program introduces students to the Catholic intellectual tradition on which the very idea of a modern university is based. The tradition sweeps across and includes all fields of study with the conviction that all seeking is search for truth and those who seek truth will find God. The program invites and facilitates dialogue between faith and modern culture. The interdisciplinary nature of the study highlights for students the complementary interaction of faith and reason. The curriculum, beginning with and grounded in theology and philosophy, must then be both broad and diverse as it engages students with the transformative realities of the arts and sciences. The curriculum is designed to appeal to the student of any faith tradition who seeks greater appreciation for the heritage on which The College of St. Scholastica is built and which has shaped western culture. The major is designed to fit nicely with any number of other fields of study and will work well as a double, or second, major for many students. Therefore, this interdisciplinary program of Catholic Studies will invite the participation of faculty in the fields of theology, history, the arts, the social and natural sciences, philosophy, and English.

Catholic Studies major:

36 credits as follows: TRS 1101 OR 1110;1103 OR 1104 OR 1105; 3310, 3350, the Catholic Studies Seminar and 16 credits, chosen with the help of the program director, from TRS and the arts, philosophy, social sciences and natural sciences. At least 8 of these credits must be at the 3000 or 4000 level. Students will be encouraged to select courses that demonstrate the depth and breadth of the Catholic intellectual tradition.

Catholic Studies minor:

20 credits as follows: 12 TRS credits and 8 additional credits from TRS, the arts, philosophy, social sciences and natural sciences. At least 4 of these credits must be at the 3000 or 4000 level.

Other Opportunities in Theology and Religious Studies:

Catholic Studies Certificate:

16 credits as follows: at least 12 TRS credits and 4 additional credits from TRS, the arts, philosophy, social sciences and natural sciences. Students will be encouraged to select courses that demonstrate the depth and breadth of the Catholic intellectual tradition.
Director: The Reverend William C. Graham, Ph.D.

Women's Spirituality Certificate:

See Women's Studies Program

Admission and retention procedures and policy

Formal application for admission to the Theology and Religious Studies major should be made during the spring semester of the sophomore year. The criteria which are considered for admission to the program follow.

1. Applicants must have completed at least four Theology and Religious Studies courses before applying.
2. Criteria for admission:
   a. Junior standing
   b. Cumulative GPA of 2.0 (on a 4.0 scale)
   c. Cumulative GPA of 2.7 in all courses required for the Theology and Religious Studies major
   d. "C" grade or better in all courses required for the major.
3. Retention in the Theology and Religious Studies major is contingent upon maintaining the acceptable academic standards listed above, plus satisfactory professional and academic integrity.

Women's and Gender Studies Program

The Women's and Gender Studies Program provides opportunities for students to think beyond the boundaries of traditional gender roles in academics, in institutions, and in everyday life. The program includes a minor in Women's and Gender Studies as well as a certificate in Women's Spirituality. The program follows an interdisciplinary approach, encouraging students to explore diverse experiences and perspectives. Individual courses seek to transform the learner's world view by giving careful attention to the scholarship of the discipline from multicultural perspectives. Students integrate classroom knowledge with hands-on service learning opportunities.
Director: C. Neal Keye, Ph.D.
Associate Director: Jill Dupont, Ph.D.

Women's Studies minor

The Women's Studies minor requires 20 credits within two schools, including at least three departments.
The following courses are required:
WGS 1011 Introduction to Women's Studies
WGS 4555 Women's Studies Practicum/ Seminar
The following courses are electives:
CTA 2525 Media, Race and Theory
CTA 3525 Feminist Criticism of Media Text
ENG 1130 Introduction to Women's Literature (I, IV)
ENG 3370 Studies in Women's Literature (offered every other year)
HIS 3320 Women in United States History I (VII).
HIS 3321 Women in United States History II (VII)
HIS/WGS 3324 African American History I (I,VII)
HIS/WGS 3325 African American History II (I,VII)
HIS/WGS 3350 Feminism and Globalization: Women, Religion and the Body
HUM 2150: Ethnicity and the Performing Arts
INS 3320 American Indian Women: Myth and Reality (I, II)
LIS 2220: Dance, Gender,& Culture
MUS 3309: World Music
PHL 3360 Philosophies of Feminism (WI)
PSY 3340 Psychology of Gender (offered every other year)
SOC 2231 Cultural Anthropology (I, II)
SOC 2433 The Family and Society (I, II)
TRS/WGS 2243 Women and Religion (X)
TRS 3380 Women's Spirituality and Literature (I,WI)
TRS 4440 Women Mystics (X,WI)
WGS 2777 Topics in Women's Studies
Various departments offer courses which are applicable to women's studies. Check with the coordinator for current offerings on the schedule.

Women's Spirituality Certificate

The Women's Spirituality certificate requires 16 credits of coursework and a Benedictine Immersion Retreat.
Required Capstone Experience
Benedictine Immersion Retreat, 0 cr.
TRS/WGS 2243 Women and Religion (X)
TRS 3380 Women's Spirituality and Literature (I,WI)
The following courses are electives:
TRS 2401 Benedictine Tradition (X)
HUM 3340 Spiritual Living: 21st Century (X,WI)
HUM 3378 Spirituality and Prayer (X,WI)
PHL 3360 Philosophies of Feminism
TRS 4440 Women Mystics (X)
WGS 1011 Introduction to Women's Studies (I)