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Course Descriptions

Required Philosophy Courses

*Note: PLJ is the designation for Saint Louis University courses in the College of Philosophy and Letters.
For additional details  see 
Curriculum  and Course Sequence

PLJ 3000 Logic and Epistemology (3)
An introduction to an Aristotelian account of logic and the acts of the mind and to the nature and possibility of knowledge, with a focus on developing and articulating a realist philosophy that provides a foundation and guiding inspiration for future courses and studies.

PLJ 3100 Ancient Philosophy (3)
An historical introduction to the thought and texts of principal Greek and Roman philosophers from the Pre-Socratics to the Neo-Platonists, with special emphasis on Plato and Aristotle.

PLJ 3150 Philosophy of Nature (3)
An introduction to the Aristotelian philosophy of nature (investigating change and motion in sensible bodies) and to the philosophy of science (investigating the significance and practice of scientific inquiry), especially in relation to Catholic belief and practice.

PLJ 3200 Medieval Philosophy (3)
An historical introduction to the thought and texts of principal philosophers of the medieval period, with special emphasis on Augustine and Aquinas.

PLJ 3300 Philosophical Anthropology (3)
A comprehensive examination—through a critical engagement with historical and contemporary sources—of the nature of the human person as an incarnate being possessing freedom, subjectivity, and powers of knowing. The course includes both Thomist and personalist perspectives.

PLJ 4000 Metaphysics (3)
An introduction to the foundation of philosophy, the science of being, emphasizing an Aristotelian-Thomistic perspective while also addressing modern and contemporary views.

PLJ 4100 Modern Philosophy (3)
An historical introduction to the thought and texts of principal philosophers of the modern period (17th through 19th centuries), with special emphasis on Descartes, Hume, Kant, and Hegel, concentrating on their metaphysical and epistemological arguments.

PLJ 4250 Natural Theology (3)
A continuation of the study of metaphysics, treating the subject of being in relation to its principle and end, God as Subsisting Infinite Being and First Cause, and the nature of human knowledge of Him.

PLJ 4310 Ethics (3)
This course introduces ethics by beginning with Saint Thomas’ account of the final end, action, virtues, and law as found in his Summa Theologiae. The course will conclude with Pope John Paul II’s intervention into moral theology, Veritatis Splendor.

PLJ 4350 Political Philosophy (3)
An historical and systematic introduction to the study of the human as a political being, focusing on such topics as the nature, origin, and purpose of political order and its relation to transcendent truths, with readings from historical and contemporary sources.

PLJ 4800 Contemporary Philosophy (3)
An historical introduction to the thought and texts of principal philosophers of the contemporary period (19th century to the present), focusing especially on their metaphysical and epistemologicarguments.

PLJ 4865 Philosophy Capstone: Faith and Reason (2)
This course provides a capstone to the philosophy curriculum by considering themes from various parts of philosophy as focused in the prism of the relation between faith and reason and by building connections to the study of theology. The primary text for the course will be Pope John Paul II’s Fides et ratio and key topics will include the relation of faith and reason and the threefold character of philosophical inquiry as realist, metaphysical, and sapiential.


Required Theology Courses

PLJ 1050 Catechism I: Catholic Doctrine (3)
This course is a comprehensive treatment of the teachings and beliefs of the Catholic Church. Highlighting the Catechism of the Catholic Church (Part One: The Profession of Faith), the class examines the meaning of faith rooted in the Scriptures and Catholic Tradition.

PLJ 2050 Catechism II-III: Catholic Morality (3)
This course is a comprehensive introduction to the moral teachings of the Catholic Church.

PLJ 3060 Introduction to Scripture: Biblical Hermeneutics and Fundamental Theology (2)
The course expounds on the basic concepts and criteria used in Biblical Sciences: word, Revelation, transmission, Truth in Scripture, Canonicity, authenticity, integrity, Magisterium, tradition.

PLJ 4050 Christian Prayer I (1)
This course covers the basics of spiritual theology, prayer and its development and presents the insights of some of the spiritual masters ending with a treatment of some contemporary issues regarding spirituality and prayer.

PLJ 4050-02 Christian Prayer II (1)
This course covers the Spiritual life known through the theological virtues, the living attachment of the whole person to the Holy Trinity as known and contemplated in the doctrine and worship of the Catholic Church.


Electives

John Paul II’s Philosophy of the Human Person (2)
Our primary goal is to understand the human person as revealed in the writings of Karol Wojtyla/John Paul II. A secondary goal is to understand the way in which John Paul is a philosopher. Perhaps he can serve as a model.

Aesthetics (2)
This course is an historical and systematic treatment of philosophical aesthetics, or the rational account of the principles that govern art and beauty.

Philosophical Themes in Newman (2)
This course examines philosophical themes in the work of Bl. John Henry Cardinal Newman, including such topics as reason, emotions, conscience, authority, and the self.

Science, Philosophy, and Gender (2)
The guiding questions for the course are “What is a man?” and “What is a woman?”. These questions will be considered from the viewpoints of science, philosophy, and theology. The bulk of the course will engage science, biology, genetics, endocrinology, obstetrics, and psychology. The aim here is to consider man and woman in their biological structures, procreative activities, and psychological development. Along the way homosexuality and transgenderism will be discussed. A philosophical synthesis will follow, attending to man and woman in terms of body, soul, nature, person, and the hierarchy of reality. Some theological ramifications will conclude the course.

Contemporary Magisterium on Priesthood (1)
For pre-theologians preparing for entrance into Theology: a survey of Vatican II and post-conciliar documents on priestly identity and ministry.

Ministry in an Hispanic Cultural Setting (2)
This course will be an introduction to the practice of Hispanic Ministry in the US Church. It will explore key theological-pastoral foundations and developments from an intercultural perspective. We will pay special attention to pastoral-ecclesial issues that face our contemporary ecclesial reality. Themes to be covered include the mission of the church in a multicultural context, ecclesial demographics; issues of inculturation, contemporary social-pastoral issues affecting Hispanic Catholics, Hispanic cultural faith practices and traditions, and best-practices in Hispanic ministry.

Rudiments of Singing (2)
This class will be structured as a pedagogical choir, focusing on all the requisite skills for singing including ear training, sight-singing and vocal development without the added pressures or constraints of performance preparation.  The course will be tailored to the individual needs of the students enrolled in the course.

Rudiments of Keyboard Theory (2)
An introduction to music theory taught from the perspective of the keyboard.   Designed for the student who wants to learn how to read standard music notation and learn how to “pluck out” a basic tune on the keyboard (a useful skill for learning new hymns and chants).  The course will be tailored to the individual needs of the students enrolled in the course.  No prior experience required.

History of Western Art Music I (2)
Ancient to Baroque: A concise survey of music written in the Christian West for the Church and the concert stage through listening, source readings, and discussion.  This semester will focus on the roots of Western Art Music in ancient Greece and Rome and trace its development through the Middle Ages, Renaissance and Baroque periods.     No pre-requisites.

History of Western Art Music II (2)
Classical to Modern: A concise survey of music written in the Christian West for the Church and the concert stage through listening, source readings, and discussion.  This semester will continue to look at the development of Western Art Music starting in the 18th century.  No pre-requisites.  (History I is not required for History II)

History of the Crusades (2)
This course covers the history of the Crusades from 1095-1571 and responds to contemporary misinterpretations.

The Medieval Papacy (2)
This course will survey the history of the popes from Saint Sylvester I to Pius II.

History of the Inquisitions (2)
This course covers the development, growth and decline of the inquisitions in Europe from the 12th to 17th centuries and responds to the contemporary misunderstanding of the inquisitions.

Greek I (3)
Greek II  (3)
Greek III (3)
Latin I (3)
Latin II (3)
Latin III (3)
Latin IV (3)