Course Description
A biographical survey of significant Catholic figures in the Americas whose faith, thought, and actions continue to shape our cultural landscape in the realms of cinema and television, politics, economics, morality, and religion. A multi-media approach showcases figures from Martin Sheen to Flannery O'Connor to Pope Francis.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students will be assigned additional readings, added or
more extensive written assessments, and a 15-20 minute research
presentation not assigned to undergraduate students. These
additional requirements will draw from sources, especially
primary sources, not assigned to undergraduate students.
Graduate students will be assessed according to additional
and/or more intensive criteria, such as breadth and depth of
analysis, synthesis, and evaluation of sources.
Athena Title
Figures American Catholicism
Prerequisite
Third year standing or fourth year standing or permission of department
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
• To encounter, analyze, and evaluate the cultural contributions of significant historical and contemporary Roman Catholic figures originating in the Americas. • To teach students research methods and to foster independent research. • To strengthen high-level critical thinking skills, such as analysis, synthesis, and evaluation, by means of activities and assessments, such as reading, reflection, discussion, essays, papers, reports, and examinations. • To strengthen skills in written composition by means of activities and assessments, such as reflection questions, essays, papers, reports, online discussions, and examinations. • To strengthen skills in oral expression and dialogue by means of activities and assessments, such as presentations, discussions, debates, and oral examinations. • To enhance and facilitate computer literacy by the use of word processing, the E-Learning Commons (eLC), web-based research, and multi-media course materials and assessments. • To assist in the continued development of moral and ethical reasoning and reflection by encouraging creative thinking regarding individual and community concerns and needs, the challenging of prejudices and stereotypes, and examining rational and ethical bases of constructive social interactions.
Topical Outline
I. A History of Catholics in the Americas II. In the Chair A. Oscar Romero B. Pope Francis III. In the Streets A. Elizabeth Ann Seton B. Dorothy Day IV. In the Pages A. Thomas Merton B. Flannery O'Connor V. On the Screen A. Martin Sheen B. Stephen Colbert
Syllabus