Courses

• STH CT 800: Field Practicum
  This course encourages theology students to take advantage of opportunities for practical experience in area churches and/or other related organizations as an extension of their theological training in the School of Theology. A credit- bearing course, Field Practicum is established as an elective course that can be taken for one-half credit in any semester. Any student may enroll in CT 800 for a maximum of four semesters, or 2 total credits. A maximum of 2 credits can be applied to degree requirements for a master's-level degree (MDiv, MTS, MSM) as free electives. These elective credits may not be substituted for major or minor coursework in a STM, DMin, ThD, or PhD program but can augment any of these post-master's degrees.
• STH TA 710: Music in World Religions I: The Abrahamic Traditions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam)
  Music is an integral part of the liturgies of almost every major religion. It is a traditional element of many rituals connected with the life cycle, and is often used as a way of mediating one's relationship to God. This course seeks to put both religion and its music in cultural and historical context. It will use interdisciplinary methodologies including theological studies and musical analysis. It aims to provide a basic framework for understanding the issues surrounding the duties and practices, rituals, scriptures, articles of faith, holy days, prayers, and denominational differences for each religion in a way that is comprehensible to the non-musician.
• STH TA 711: Music of the World's Religions II: The Asian Traditions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikkhism)
  Music is an integral part of the liturgies of almost every major religion. It is a traditional element of many rituals connected with the life cycle, and is often used as a way of mediating ones relationship to God. This course seeks to put both the religion and its music in cultural and historical context. It will be using interdisciplinary methodologies including theological studies and musical analysis. It aims to provide a basic framework for understanding the issues surrounding the duties and practices, rituals, scriptures, articles of faith, holy days, prayers and denominational differences for each religion in a way that is comprehensible to the non-musician. Musical training is preferred but not essential.
• STH TA 721: Seminary Singers
  Open to all students who are interested in singing. Participation in one weekly chapel service, all concerts, and tours. Credit given only on completion of the second consecutive semester's work.
• STH TA 722: Seminary Singers
  Open to all students who are interested in singing. Participation in one weekly chapel service, all concerts, and tours. Credit given only on completion of the second consecutive semester's work.
• STH TA 801: Sacred Music Practicum
  Mandatory for all MSM students. Covers topics relating to the practical duties of a church musician such as: handbell choirs, children's choirs, conflict resolution, professional concerns, organ pedagogy, the art of accompaniment, site visits, vocal technique, repertoire, resources, composing and arranging for the church, improvisation, organ building and maintenance, keyboard skills.
• STH TA 804: Seminar: Anthems for the Church Choir
  Historical survey of music repertory for American church choirs: study of performance of various periods and genres of music. Consent of instructor with special consideration given to MSM and SFA students.
• STH TA 805: Church Music for Non-Musicians
  This course is for those with little or no previous music training. It will teach music literacy, basic musicianship skills, rudimentary keyboard skills, introduction to singing the service, and musical leadership. It will include an examination of historic and contemporary theologies of church music; a survey of the musical forms used in worship by the Church (with an emphasis upon the selection and use of hymns and service music contained in denominational hymnals); musical resources for worship leaders; hiring and working with musicians; introducing new music and definitions of ‘quality’ in music. There will be guest lectures, demonstrations, and required attendance at a number of University or local sacred music concerts.
• STH TA 808: Marsh Chapel Choir
  Audition required. Schedule includes Sunday worship in Marsh Chapel and several major concerts.
• STH TA 810: Hymns and Their Music
  Study of the history of congregational song from biblical practice to the present day. Emphasis will be given to the development of theological, textual, and musical patterns, with special attention to incorporating both historic and emerging materials in worship. Strongly recommended for all MSM students; valuable for MDiv and doctoral students with special interest in worship.
• STH TA 820: The Church and the Arts
  Aims to facilitate understanding of sacred art for its intrinsic worth and to assess how it may be used to enhance worship in the future. It will deal systematically with the theology of architectural space, church furnishing, vestments, stained glass, and decorative work. Students will be taught to look, interpret, and use the technical vocabulary of art and architecture and will develop skills for making value judgments about quality and content of art. Includes field trips to area churches and to the Museum of Fine Arts.
• STH TA 830: Passions & Requiems
  An examination of the legacy of music written for liturgical and non-liturgical use, using longer text, tracing the origins, formulary, and development of the texts (including discussion of the authors). Case studies will form the basis of further inquiry. Cultural, social and historical context of the first performance will be discussed, along with an examination of the theology behind the text setting. There will be comparative analysis of other examples of the same genre, discussion of post-Reformation changes in text and approach, and national differences in style and technique.
• STH TC 715: Introduction to Preaching
  An introduction to the theology and practice of preaching within the context of Christian ministry and worship. Students develop skills necessary for preparation, composition, delivery, and critique of sermons. Required of all M.Div. students in the Pastoral Ministry track.
• STH TC 723: United Methodist Polity
  Covers the polity, structure, procedures, and ritual of the United Methodist Church along with the basic structure of and ecclesial concepts contained within its Book of Discipline. Designed to meet one of the requirements for membership in a UMC Annual Conference.
• STH TC 801: Contextual Education I
  Graduate Prerequisites: STH TC 703 and STH TC 708.
  Supervised practice of ministry in a congregational setting or community agency combined with participation in a peer reflection-learning group focused on the integration of theology and practice. MDIV CORE REQUIREMENT.
• STH TC 802: Contextual Education II
  Graduate Prerequisites: STH TC 801.
  Graduate Prerequisites: STH TC 801. Continues and presupposes STH TC 801 in the spring semester. MDIV CORE REQUIREMENT
• STH TC 803: Contextual Education III
  Normally continues STH TC 802 (see course description for TC 801). Can be taken for variable credit.
• STH TC 804: Field Education IV
  Normally continues STH TC 803.
• STH TC 808: Sermon Studio
  This class will be conducted like a studio class in theatrical performance where students are encouraged to take risks, be creative, and get immediate and interactive feedback on their work. While the sermon is not a performance piece, we deliver sermons to a culture that demands performance quality work from professional orators. Therefore, as preachers, we must approach the sermon with diligence, earnestness, and willingness to rigorously practice the craft. The Sermon Studio is a class designed to help students of homiletics further develop and practice the art form. Each three hour class will begin with a teaching topic from the primary text, and then we will have four to five half-hour segments for students to workshop sermons and get immediate feedback on their work. The goal of the class is to have students get up and preach as frequently as possible, so that they become more comfortable and adept with the art form. The class will seek to create an environment that emphasizes creativity, regular practice, and feedback as the primary means of developing artful and effective sermons.
• STH TC 810: The Pastoral Life
  This class is intended to help seminarians entering pastoral ministry develop effective strategies that will allow them to fully enjoy the richness and beauty of their vocation.