Course Catalogue 2026-2027

This an introduction to the main concepts and terminology developed by thinkers between the fifth and fourteenth centuries. Special attention is given to scholastic philosophy. We will cover topics such as the relation between faith and reason, the existence and nature of God, human life and happiness, virtue and vice, and the difference between divine and human law.

This course introduces students to the origins of philosophy in classical antiquity, from the 7th c. BC to the 4th c. AD. The course will treat the most important Greek and Latin philosophers. Important topics that will be considered are cosmology and physics, philosophical theology, moral and political philosophy, with an emphasis on Plato and Aristotle, their sources and followers or critics.

This course introduces students to the origins of philosophy in classical antiquity, from the 7th c. BC to the 4th c. AD. The course will treat the most important Greek and Latin philosophers. Important topics that will be considered are cosmology and physics, philosophical theology, moral and political philosophy, with an emphasis on Plato and Aristotle, their sources and followers or critics.

This course introduces logic, critical thinking, and the philosophy of language. It presupposes that human beings are social and linguistic creatures endowed with the gift of communicating, meaning acquisition, and transmission. Language has a well-defined structure, a set of logical and grammatical rules that enables people to communicate and understand themselves and each other effectively. This course contains three parts. The first part is logic as an art of reasoning, including deductive reasoning and categorical and propositional logic. The second part, critical thinking, is related to philosophical and scientific reasoning but deals with informal and formal fallacies in ordinary, everyday reasoning and argumentation. The third part focuses on theories of meaning (from the ancient to the contemporary authors), pragmatic theories, and various expressive linguistic forms. The course will instruct students to express themselves clearly in speech and writing, which will be indispensable in their further theological studies.

This course introduces logic, critical thinking, and the philosophy of language. It presupposes that human beings are social and linguistic creatures endowed with the gift of communicating, meaning acquisition, and transmission. Language has a well-defined structure, a set of logical and grammatical rules that enables people to communicate and understand themselves and each other effectively. This course contains three parts. The first part is logic as an art of reasoning, including deductive reasoning and categorical and propositional logic. The second part, critical thinking, is related to philosophical and scientific reasoning but deals with informal and formal fallacies in ordinary, everyday reasoning and argumentation. The third part focuses on theories of meaning (from the ancient to the contemporary authors), pragmatic theories, and various expressive linguistic forms. The course will instruct students to express themselves clearly in speech and writing, which will be indispensable in their further theological studies.

This course is an introduction to the Quran and will familiarize students with the hallmarks of both traditional Muslim and western scholarships. It will cover topics such as the collection of the Quran, abrogation, mysterious letters and the Quranic sciences. Students will become acquainted with some of the main classical and modern commentaries and will learn to identify poetic figures and organizational techniques that structure the Qur'anic text. Knowledge of Arabic, though useful, is not required.

An introduction to the foundations of Catholic moral theology (Part 1 of 2). Among topics to be studied are scripture, natural moral law and the law of the Gospel, anthropology, relationship between faith and morality, freedom and law, responsibility, etc.

Students wishing to specialize in Biblical Studies are often required to study Hebrew and Greek (and some programs even require Aramaic or Syriac). However, students not wishing to specialize in Biblical Studies tend to avoid taking courses in biblical languages. This tends to compromise their understanding of the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible, New Testament/Greek Bible, the Apocryphal texts, Talmudic texts, and Rabbinical literature. This course offers students the chance to be familiarized with biblical languages—mainly Hebrew and Greek—tools, and resources enabling them to better understand such texts. While the mere knowledge of the Hebrew and Greek alphabet makes it possible for students to access the interlinear Bible and dictionaries, this course goes beyond that to explore basic grammar and syntax to better assist students with exegeting biblical texts. Students will also be trained to use Interlinear Bibles, Concordances, Lexicons, and Commentaries in the original languages. Biblical texts selected will aim to highlight the value of knowing the text in the original language as opposed to translation.

Students wishing to specialize in Biblical Studies are often required to study Hebrew and Greek (and some programs even require Aramaic or Syriac). However, students not wishing to specialize in Biblical Studies tend to avoid taking courses in biblical languages. This tends to compromise their understanding of the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible, New Testament/Greek Bible, the Apocryphal texts, Talmudic texts, and Rabbinical literature. This course offers students the chance to be familiarized with biblical languages—mainly Hebrew and Greek—tools, and resources enabling them to better understand such texts. While the mere knowledge of the Hebrew and Greek alphabet makes it possible for students to access the interlinear Bible and dictionaries, this course goes beyond that to explore basic grammar and syntax to better assist students with exegeting biblical texts. Students will also be trained to use Interlinear Bibles, Concordances, Lexicons, and Commentaries in the original languages. Biblical texts selected will aim to highlight the value of knowing the text in the original language as opposed to translation.

An introduction to foundations of Catholic moral theology (Part 2 of 2). Among the topics to be studied are conscience, aspects of moral decision-making, virtue and vice.

Basic principles of Christian ethics, with special attention to the pastoral application of moral theology.

Basic principles of Christian ethics, with special attention to the pastoral application of moral theology.