Online courses may be applied towards the Master of Arts in
    Theological Studies degree with a concentration in
    catechetics. Presently no more than 20 credits of the MA’s
    required 42 credits may be earned online, but we expect to have a
    completely-online MA program by the end of 2010.  

    The Apostolic Catechetical Diploma (ACD) is grated by the
    Holy See in recognition of a catechist’s competence and
    personal commitment to teach Catholic doctrine in
    communion with the Magisterium.  The course requirements for
    the diploma are the same as those for the MA, and students may
    earn both simultaneously or either without the other.  The Advanced
    ACD requires a bachelor’s degree, but the Basic ACD does not.

    The course requirements for the MA and/or ACD are as
    follows:

    EDUC630: Teaching the Faith: Part 1 (3 credits)
    An introduction to Catholic Religious Education, including an
    examination of the ministry of catechetics, an overview of key Old
    and New Testament figures and events, and a thorough study of the
    Creed and the seven Sacraments, based on the Catechism of the
    Catholic Church (parts 1 and 2), with practical and creative ways to
    implement these teachings in a classroom.

    EDUC631: Teaching the Faith: Part 2 (3 credits)
    A continuation of EDUC 630 focusing on the moral life
    (commandments, virtues and beatitudes) and the life of prayer (with
    explanation of several prayers and devotions throughout the liturgical
    year) and how to teach them. The course covers Parts 3 & 4 of the
    Catechism of the Catholic Church, and concludes with the role of
    catechesis in the mission of the Church as seen in the General
    Directory of Catechesis.

    EDUC 602:  The Catechetical Tradition:  a study of the teaching
    Church and the historical process of its development, including St.
    Augustine and Classical Catechesis, Christendom and St. Thomas
    Aquinas, the Catholic Reformation and the Roman Catechism, the
    Enlightenment, Vatican I, Modernism, Vatican II, the renewed
    Catechumenate and the Catechism of the Catholic Church.  

    EDUC 603:  Catechetical Norms and Methods:  a study of
    Magisterial documents pertaining to religious education and
    evangelization, and the application of these norms to various
    parochial and diocesan ministries, including teaching methods for
    various ages, textbook selection, youth ministry, RCIA, and
    organization and direction of a parish catechetical program.

    EDUC 605:  Liturgy and Sacraments: the liturgical and
    sacramental life of the Church, including the meaning of sacrament,
    their institution by Jesus Christ, and their efficacy, with special
    attention to the Eucharist. Also includes the Prayer of the Church, the
    Liturgical Cycle, and sacramentals.

    EDUC 606:  Apologetics:  the reasonable explanation and
    defense of the Catholic Faith utilizing Scripture, theology, Church
    history, and philosophy to explain Catholic beliefs and practices,
    such as Tradition, the Papacy, justification, the Real Presence, the
    Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Communion of Saints.

    PHIL 602:  Philosophy of God and Man: a philosophical
    examination of the proofs for the existence of God, the nature of the
    human person, the human intellect and will, and the immortality of the
    human soul.

    PHIL 603:  Philosophical Errors: a study of some of the false
    philosophies of man and God, especially in so far as these form the
    intellectual basis for the errors and shortcomings in contemporary
    popular thought and in Biblical exegesis, with a critique of these
    theories and a comparison of them with the philosophy of St.
    Thomas Aquinas.  Includes Platonic idealism, essentialism,
    nominalism, rationalism, empiricism, phenomenalism, Marxism,
    positivism, utilitarian and pragmatic philosophies, Nietzsche,
    modern theories of the state, and the nature and limits of natural
    science.  Extensive review of St. Thomas Aquinas’ philosophy of
    being, knowledge, and man.

    SCRI 606:  Old Testament: a survey of the historical, wisdom, and
    prophetical books of the Old Testament as a preparation for the New
    Testament era.

    SCRI 607:  New Testament: the New Testament within its
    historical milieu, with special attention to its fulfillment of the Old
    Covenant and doctrinal significance.

    THEO 601:  God the Father: an examination of the first article of
    the Creed, using both reason and faith.  Focused primarily on the
    Person of the Father, the course considers both the intra-Trinitarian
    life (divine nature, Persons, relations, attributes) and divine relations
    with creation (the material universe, the creation of man in the divine
    image, the fall, and the promise of redemption). Other related
    questions may include the creation of the angels, the meaning of
    original sin, and theories of evolution.  

    THEO 602:  Christology: the Person and nature of Jesus Christ
    and the mystery of the Incarnation.  It explores the historicity of the
    Gospels, Jesus’ earthly life, His teaching, miracles, three-fold office,
    and redemptive mission carried out in the Pascal Mystery.  It also
    focuses on Christological controversies, significant councils and
    magisterial documents concerning Jesus Christ.

    THEO 603:  Holy Spirit & Ecclesiology: a study of the Person of
    the Holy Spirit, both within the Trinity and within the mystery of the
    Church, as expressed in Scripture and Tradition.  Lumen Gentium
    and Gaudium et Spes receive particular attention.  The Blessed
    Virgin Mary, grace, and the universal call to holiness are also studied
    in relation to the mystery of the Church.  

    THEO 604:  Moral Theology: the fundamental principles of moral
    theology in light of the revelation of God’s law and the grace of
    Christ.  Reason and Revelation are brought to bear on what it means
    to live a morally good life as a preparation for eternal life.  Topics
    include:  the nature of morality and its ultimate end, the vocation of
    beatitude, freedom and the morality of human acts, the nature of sin
    and the problem of cooperation in evil, moral conscience, the
    passions and the virtues, the commandments and the natural law, the
    question of moral absolutes, and a survey of contemporary trends in
    moral theology.  

    Students who wish to earn the MA and/or ACD must have a
    bachelor’s degree and be admitted to the graduate school.  
    Degree/diploma candidates must maintain a “B” average (3.0),
    and degree candidates must pass the comprehensive exam
    after completing all required courses.

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    Christendom College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges
    and Schools, and does not discriminate against any applicant or student
    on the basis of race, sex, color, or national origin.

    Notre Dame Graduate School of Christendom College
    4407 Sano Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22312
    Tel: 703-658-4304   
    Email: ndgs@christendom.edu
    Website: www.christendom.edu/grad
M.A. in Theological Studies & Apostolic Catechetical Diploma
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