Theological Inquiry Application Form – REVISION 5-2-2015
Name:
Course Number:
Course Title:
Department:
College:
Date submitted:
The semester when you first expect the course to be taught:
THEOLOGICAL INQUIRY
I. Description of Purpose and Content
As a university committed to the Catholic intellectual tradition, LMU values the critical
understanding of faith, encourages rigorous inquiry, and seeks the intellectual, moral, and
spiritual transformation of its students. LMU therefore believes that we should reflect critically
and creatively on ourselves and on our relationship to others, the world, and the divine. Toward
that end, courses in Theological Inquiry raise fundamental questions of existence as these
questions are embedded in religious traditions. Such questions include: Is there a divine and
what does that mean? What does it mean to be human? What is the purpose of life? Students
will grapple with questions of ultimate concern, examine the ways in which religious
communities take up these questions, and come to appreciate the intrinsic value of theological
inquiry and its relation to meaningful action.
Theological Inquiry involves the history and development of religious traditions as well as the
interpretation and analysis of religious texts. In particular, therefore, the course must illustrate
how foundational Christian sources (such as scripture and other significant religious texts)
wrestle with fundamental questions in the context of Christian faith and practice. The course
must also include attention to how questions of ultimate meaning are approached in diverse
religious contexts, either within Christianity or within Christianity in dialogue with other religious
traditions.
HOW DOES YOUR COURSE FIT THIS CATEGORY?
1. Please provide a course description and explain how your course fits the overall
purpose and content of this Core category. Include any learning objectives specific to
your course.
[BOX for text, limit 500 words]
2. Please provide a preliminary list of readings and/or textbooks for the course.
[BOX for text, limit 300 words]
3. Please describe possible assignments (or types of assignments) for your course. For
longer assignments, you may include an additional attachment(s).
[BOX for text, limit 500 words]
II. Learning Outcomes
HOW DOES YOUR COURSE ASSESS EACH LEARNING OUTCOME? How do you
measure whether and to what extent students have achieved the learning outcomes
below? Referring to the assignments your described in Part I, please explain for those
outside of your field how your course addresses each of this Core category’s learning
Theological Inquiry Application Form – REVISION 5-2-2015
outcomes. (Please note that a single assignment may address multiple outcomes, and
that for learning outcomes asking that students “value” particular issues or concepts, the
course does not need to assess student opinion or belief but level of engagement with
that issue or concept.)
Students will:
1. Identify and analyze foundational theological questions.
[BOX for text, limit 300 words]
2. Interpret religious sources critically and creatively.
[BOX for text, limit 300 words]
3. Connect ultimate questions to Christian faith and practice.
[BOX for text, limit 300 words]
4. Assess diverse religious approaches and contexts.
[BOX for text, limit 300 words]
5. Appreciate the intrinsic value of theological inquiry and its relation to meaningful action.
[BOX for text, limit 300 words]
III. Defining Characteristics
1. Theological inquiry is distinctive from other kinds of inquiry in that it probes questions of
faith, the divine, and ultimate meaning in the context of religious thought and practice.
Therefore, courses in Theological Inquiry must examine these questions in relation to
how they are taken up by religious traditions and how they affect religious communities
of belief and practice.
2. The course must emphasize written and oral analysis of primary sources.
3. The course must address how ultimate questions are approached in diverse religious
contexts.
4. While the course must engage Christianity, it may also engage other religious traditions.
HOW DOES YOUR COURSE MEET THESE REQUIREMENTS?
What do students do (e.g., solve, research, read, write, revise, practice, collaborate,
review, study, perform) and what do you provide as an instructor (e.g., in-class
instruction, written feedback, reading/viewing assignments) to address the
characteristics above (you may use the numbers above to refer to specific
characteristics)? You may refer to assignments or readings listed in Part I. Note that a
single assignment or form of instruction (e.g., lecture, discussion, group work) may meet
multiple requirements.
[BOX for text, limit 500 words]
To submit your proposal, you should:
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Send the proposal electronically to newcore@lmu.edu
CC your chair and Dean on the proposal. Your chair and dean can approve your
Theological Inquiry Application Form – REVISION 5-2-2015
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proposal by sending an e-mail message stating approval to newcore@lmu.edu.
Once we receive you chair's and dean's approval, your course proposal will be reviewed
by the appropriate core area committee of the UCCC. No proposal will be reviewed by a
core area committee without both your chair's and dean's approval.
The core area committee may approve the proposal, request revisions (this is very
common), or reject the proposal. Rejections may be appealed to the full UCCC.
Once the course is approved, you will receive word from the UCCC, who will copy your
chair and dean.