Bachelor 1 Theology
Length: 1 year (can be spread over 2 calendar years)
Preparing for degree : Bachelor of Arts in Theology
Detailed program
YEAR 1 OF THE BACHELOR’s IN THEOLOGY
COURSE CONTENT
You can download the above detailed program in PDF format for Year 1 of the Bachelor’s in Theology.
At the bottom of this page is the list of courses. By clicking on the title of each, you can see the course presentation and the detailed outline of each course.
TO VALIDATE THE COMPLETION OF YEAR 1 OF BACHELOR’S IN THEOLOGY
Take the quiz for each course
Submit 10 assignments/papers for the different courses studied
Take the two in-person exams (semester 1 exam, semester 2 exam). Each exam covers all the courses validated by an assignment in the semester concerned.
THE BIBLE
The first step of the Bachelor’s is an introduction to the Bible, in particular the issues of its historicity and "truth". Students are initiated to spiritual reading in order to truly savor the Bible’s meaning in the manner of the fathers of the Church. This implies learning to distinguish between the text’s different meanings: literal, spiritual, and moral. Scientific exegesis also enables understanding of various books according to their inner history, their structure, their literary genre.
PHILOSOPHY
A thorough understanding of philosophy is essential for theology. Indeed, many theological concepts are rooted in philosophical tradition. For example, what do we mean when we say that in Jesus Christ there is only one person, but two natures: human and divine? The word "person" can be understood in various ways according to whether one expresses oneself in Greek (hypostasis) or Latin (persona)? The same goes for the word "nature" (phusis or natura).
The first year of Bachelor’s includes an introduction to the history of philosophy, from the Presocratics to Plato and Aristotle, and an introduction to metaphysics.
TRINITARIAN THEOLOGY AND THE HISTORY OF EARLY CHRISTIANITY
The first year of theology is also devoted to the study of the Triune God, both one and three, following the history of Christian thought through the great ecumenical councils and the development of Christianity in the first centuries.
PROPHETS AND THEOLOGY
During the second part of the first year, students further explore the Bible through discovery of the prophets. The curriculum also covers an Introduction to Theology as well as courses in Fundamental Theology and Moral Theology.
ACQUIRED COMPETENCIES:
KNOWLEDGE:
- Have read the fundamental Books of the Bible.
- Have got to know the different literary genres of the Bible.
- Have understood the main lines of the theology of Revelation.
- Have acquired a basic philosophical knowledge.
- Have read the great texts of the pre-Socratic philosophers.
SKILLS:
- Have acquired a good methodology.
- Have become able to read a text of the New Testament by highlighting its links with the Old Testament.
- Have become able to put into perspective the different meanings of Scripture.
- Have become able to benefit from this "intelligence of Scripture" that Jesus communicated to his apostles and, after the Resurrection, to the pilgrims of Emmaus.
- Have become able to know how to orient oneself in the world of philosophy.
FLEXIBILITY
Enrollment happens daily. As soon as the registration process is completed, students receive a code that allows them to access the Domoodle teaching platform and begin studying. Each academic year can be spread over two calendar years without the need to re-enroll or pay tuition fees again.
List of Courses
Church History Part I
Christianity is an historical religion; it’s a religion about an historical event: Jesus' life, death and resurrection. But there may be conflicts between the pastoral and the historical points of view.
A Brief History of Medieval Philosophy I
Can we be both Christians and genuine philosophers? Are faith and philosophy mutually exclusive, or not?
A Brief History of Medieval Philosophy II
Can we be both Christians and genuine philosophers? Are faith and philosophy mutually exclusive, or not?
The Trinitarian Christology of Hans Urs von Balthasar
In sum, the Father’s kenosis to the Son, and the kenosis of the Father and the Son to the Holy Spirit correspond to the very essence of God which can only be love.
Professeur Fr. Chukwudi Onyinyechukwu ANOLIEFO, op
Patristics : An Introduction to the Fathers of the Church
An introduction to the Fathers of the Church, from Ignatius of Antioch to John of Damascus: Writers, doctors, pastors, the Fathers of the Church
Introduction to Sacred Scriptures
The course aims at furnishing the student withe the appropriate tools for a meaningful of the Biblical text, with particular reference to its spiritual, liturgical and pastoral context. The course will further aim at providing a basis familiarity with, and a critical assessment of contemporary exegetical methods.
Introduction to Philosophy
The course aims to show that from its origins through the early efforts made by the earliest oriental thinkers before the era of ancient great Greek thinkers, philosophy has remained a branch of knowledge concerned with fundamental questions concerning existence, human values, language, knowledge and many other matters.
Introduction to the Pentateuch
All the Bibles, either Hebrew or Catholic or Protestant or Orthodox, agree on the first part of the Biblical Canon, that is the Pentateuch.
Introduction to Fundamental Theology
We derive our inspiration from at least two distinct traditions: the Jewish and the Christian. It is important that we should be aware of this! A whole set of questions are implied here. What is the relationship between God and the Jewish traditi on, God and Jesus, God and the church?
Liturgy
Liturgy is primary theology.
Introduction to the Gospel of Mark
The Gospel of Mark is distinctive within the New testament. It may be the oldest Gospel, but it post-dates some of Paul’s letters, from which we already have a good picture of the preaching of Peter and Paul. Mark paints Jesus in down to earth human form, willing to change his mind, vulnerable to the opinions of others, and especially those of the ones who opposed him.
An Introduction to the New Testament using the Historical-Critical Method
The first thing to say is that the New Testament is the second half of the Christian Bible, and follows the Old Testament and what Protestants call the Apocrypha – mostly intertestamental writings which continue to speak of God’s grace and his care for his people, the people of Israel. The New Testament is about Jesus, a Jew from Israel, who lived and died and was brought back to life again by God.