Courses

The listing of a course description here does not guarantee a course’s being offered in a particular term. Please refer to the published schedule of classes on the MyBU Student Portal for confirmation a class is actually being taught and for specific course meeting dates and times.

• STH TH 853: Christianity in Colonial Latin America
  Christianity in Colonial Latin America is a graduate-level survey course that introduces students to the historical trajectory of Christianity in Latin America from the arrival of Christopher Columbus (1492) to the period of the Latin American wars of independence (1791-1821). Attention is given to the encounter with pre-Colombian religions as well as the transactional adaptation of core Christian theological, institutional, and ascetical traditions. Accordingly, special consideration will be given to theological discourses of the other, the adaptation of ecclesiastical institutions such as the episcopacy, and missionary practices. Reading selections include primary source material as well as secondary scholarly literature. Students will have the opportunity to acquire both a general appreciation for the historical trajectory of Christianity during the colonial period as well as an in depth understanding of selected topics intended for independent research. (Cluster 1)
• STH TH 859: The Social Gospel in American Religion
  This course examines the impact of the social gospel movement on American religious history. Focused primarily upon historical and theological developments in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the social gospel's emphasis on what contemporaries called "social salvation" had a major impact upon wider developments in Protestantism, Catholicism, and Judaism. The course will explore important leaders and movements associated with the social gospel, as well as examine how this tradition influenced a range of religious-based social movements that extend into the 21st century. Please note that this course cannot be used to satisfy the Church History II requirement for School of Theology masters-level students. (Cluster 1)
• STH TH 869: Religious History of Boston
  The Greater Boston area contains one of the richest historical legacies in the United States. This course examines distinctive aspects of that historical legacy, by focusing upon the religious history of Boston. The course will include selected visits to specific Boston area historical sites. (Clusters 1 and 2)
• STH TH 902: Christianity Beyond Early Modern Europe
  The course is dedicated to an in depth study of the reach of Christianity in the early modern period (c. 1450-c.1650). Our narrative follows the path of early modern Catholicism from fifteenth-century Europe, through the ascent of the Portuguese and Spanish seaborne empires, and examines the role of the missionary religious orders in the processes of Christianization and inculturation.
• STH TH 915: Radical Christian Spiritualities (DMin)
  'Radical Christian Spiritualities' offers an in-depth discussion of a variety of forms of radical Christian spirituality. It takes a historical approach to the study of eight modern expressions of radical Christian spirituality and relates them to the notion of transformative leadership. The aim of the course is to equip students with methodological tools for the historical examination and appropriation of spiritual practices. Its narrative parallels the diachronic development of global Christianity from the sixteenth to the opening decades of the twenty-first century
• STH TH 920: History of American Theological Liberalism
  American Theological Liberalism is a doctoral-level seminar that provides an overview into the historical and theological development of liberal theology in the United States. Through reading a variety of primary and secondary sources, the course is designed to provide students an historical and theological overview into the development of liberalism and assess the ongoing significance of theological liberalism in church and society today.
• STH TH 925: The Bible in the Reformation
  Examination of the role of the Bible in the reformations of the sixteenth century, including the development and divergence of Reformation hermeneutics in late medieval and Renaissance context. Special attention will be given to the vernacular translation and popular presentation of the Bible in the sixteenth century press and pulpit.
• STH TH 927: Early Modern Piety
  The literature and practice of Christian devotion between the Reformation and Pietism, in national and confessional contexts within Early Modern society. Catechisms, hymnals and prayerbooks in production, distribution, and use. Special attention to the relation between theology and forms of devotion, public and domestic piety, and to the devotional roles of women and children.
• STH TI 801: In-Service Contextual Ed 1
  Supervised practice of ministry in a congregational setting focused on the integration of theology and practice. MDIV CORE REQUIREMENT. Background check is required. FOR STUDENTS IN THE INSERVICE M.DIV. PROGRAM ONLY.
• STH TI 802: In-Service Contextual Ed 2
  Graduate prerequisite: STH TI 801. Continues and presupposes STH TI 801 in the spring semester. M.DIV CORE REQUIREMENT. Background check is required. FOR STUDENTS IN THE INSERVICE M.DIV PROGRAM ONLY.
• STH TI 813: In-Service Seminar: Pastoral Care
  Foundational principles and practices in caring for congregants and community members will be addressed in this seminar. Setting of appropriate boundaries will be explored here as well. Online course (Clusters 2 and 3)
• STH TI 814: In-Service Seminar: Pastor as Spiritual Guide, Counselor, Coach
  This seminar explores the different roles and responsibilities a pastor must nurture in order to minister effectively with parishioners. Strategies for maintaining role consistency and setting appropriate boundaries will be studied. Online course (Clusters 2 and 3)
• STH TI 815: Leading From Within: Nurturing Spiritual Leadership in Self and Congregation
  This seminar explores principles and strategies essential for effective leadership in the congregation. Leadership will be explored as a spiritual practice that requires attention to one's spiritual formation in order to be an effective practitioner. Online course (Clusters 2 and 3) FOR STUDENTS IN THE INSERVICE M.DIV. PROGRAM ONLY.
• STH TI 817: Mission and Outreach for the Local Congregation
  This seminar examines theological foundations for engaging the congregation in the wider community and explore strategies for helping local churches participate in such engagement. Online course
• STH TJ 910: Proseminar in Practical Theology
  This doctoral seminar for practical theology majors introduces the primary changes that are under way in practical theology as a discipline, reviews the methodologies upon which these changes are based, and examines the implications of these changes.
• STH TJ 940: Ecclesiology
  This course asks the question, "What is the church?" in dialogue with Christian theological figures and schools representing Roman Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox Christian traditions. While one of the aims of this course is that students be conversant with those voices, it ultimately aims at the student's ability to articulate the ecclesiology of his or her own community and to bring that to bear on the contemporary situation and particular problems of Christian practice in church and society.
• STH TM 815: Christian Mission
  Exploration of biblical, historical, theological, political, and cultural perspectives on the world mission of the church. This course is a requirement for United Methodist MDiv students pursuing ordination in the United Methodist Church. (Clusters 1 and 3)
• STH TM 835: Asian Christianity
  This course explores the dynamism, co-option, stagnation and renewal of East Asian Christianity throughout its history--from the 7th century to the 21st. Special attention is given to Christianity's complex interaction with the religious, political, and social realities of Japan, China, and Korea. Students are introduced to important Christian leaders and movements across the centuries, and they investigate the implications of East Asian Christianity's recent expansion both at home and abroad. (Clusters 1 and 2)
• STH TM 856: Women in World Christianity: Histories, Lives, Issues
  This course explores the history of women in the Christian movement from the early centuries to the present, with particular focus on women in global context from the 19th to 21st centuries. Starting with the reality that women make up the majority of Christians in the world, the course explores texts and sources for researching women's history, including hagiographies and biographies, spiritual and theological writings by women, women's mission literature, and gender analysis. The historic leadership roles of women as sisters, deaconesses, evangelists, missionaries, pastors, and social reformers will be examined. Selected issues for contemporary reflection include church controversies over women's leadership, women in evangelical/Pentecostal churches, and gendered social movements. (Clusters 1 and 2)
• STH TM 863: African Christianity: Narratives, Beliefs, and Practices
  This course examines the history of Christianity in Africa, with focus on the 19th-21st centuries. It pays particular attention to themes in African theology, gender and social action, environmentalism, Pentecostal spiritualities, African missions, and church/state relations-- including issues of colonialism and democratization. A highlight of the course will be a conference on African Christian Biography with leading scholars, in late October. (Clusters 1 and 2)