0100A THEOLOGY 1: SACRED SCRIPTURE & THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS CHRIST
The first semester introduces students to the biblical narrative of Salvation History through a critical study of the structure of various literary genres, the senses of Scripture, and sources of Divine Revelation. In exploring the overarching question, “What is it to be human?” students will journey through the stories of the Old Testament through the lens of God’s covenant with humankind anticipating an encounter with Jesus Christ. Beginning with the book of Genesis and continuing through the Prophets, students will be invited to reflect upon their own life story woven into God’s ongoing story of salvation. The second semester continues asking the anthropological question, “What is it to be human?” looking to the perfect response in God’s gift of himself in the person of Jesus. The four gospels will be the primary readings in our study of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Beginning with the Annunciation and Mary’s “yes” that brought the humanity of God into existence, students will explore ways in which they can say yes to God guided by the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Through an exploration of the gospels, students will develop an understanding of the Kingdom of God revealed in the new and eternal covenant in Jesus Christ.
Length of Course: Year
Open to Grade: 9

0101A THEOLOGY 1: CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW, SCRIPTURE AND JESUS CHRIST
Theology 101 was created for students who have not studied religion in either a school or church setting or have a limited knowledge of the Christian faith. The course provides foundational understandings of a Christian worldview that will inform the study of Sacred Scripture and prepare the student for future grade level Theology classes. The pace of the class will accommodate for exploration of unfamiliar concepts, while the structure and content of this course will generally follow that of Theology 1. The first semester begins with knowledge foundational to Christianity, such as an understanding of God as a Trinity of persons and the nature and relationship between these divine persons and humankind. Students are then introduced to the biblical narrative of Salvation History through a critical study of the structure of various literary genres, the senses of Scripture, and sources of Divine Revelation. In exploring the overarching question, “What is it to be human?” students will journey through the stories of the Old Testament through the lens of God’s covenant with humankind anticipating an encounter with Jesus Christ. Beginning with the book of Genesis and continuing through the Prophets, students will be invited to reflect upon their own life story woven into God’s ongoing story of salvation. The second semester continues asking the anthropological question, “What is it to be human?” looking to the perfect response in God’s gift of himself in the person of Jesus. The four gospels will be the primary readings in our study of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Beginning with the Annunciation and Mary’s “yes” that brought the humanity of God into existence, students will explore ways in which they can say yes to God guided by the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Through an exploration of the gospels, students will develop an understanding of the Kingdom of God revealed in the new and eternal covenant in Jesus Christ.
Length of Course: Year
Open to Grade: 9
This class is only open to students who have no previous Religion classes.

0200A THEOLOGY 2: THE CHURCH CONTINUES CHRIST’S MISSION
The first semester continues the biblical narrative of Salvation History culminating in the life and teachings of Jesus in the Gospels and expressed through the early Christian community and the biblical books of the Acts of the Apostles and the New Testament Letters. Students will grow to understand that in and through the Church, they encounter Jesus Christ. As Jesus founded the Church, the Holy Spirit was sent to sustain this living Body of Christ and continue Christ’s work in the world. Students will grow in their knowledge of the Trinitarian God and the relationship between the persons of the Trinity. The two natures of Jesus Christ will be studied as will be an understanding of the role of the Holy Spirit in the life and vitality of the Church. Through biblical references students will examine different images of the Church and the marks of the Church – One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic – will be explored as will the sacramental life of the Church.
Length of Course: Year
Open to Grade: 10

0300A THEOLOGY 3: CELEBRATING & LIVING THE GOSPELS
The first semester helps students understand that they can encounter Christ today in a full and real way in and through the sacraments, and especially through the Eucharist. Students will examine each of the sacraments in detail so as to learn how they may encounter Christ throughout life in these sacramental celebrations. Additionally, students will reflect on the efficacy of the sacraments and on their nature as sacramental people as members of the universal sacrament that is Church. The second semester helps students understand that the person of Jesus Christ and God’s plan for human happiness are the foundations of Christian morality. Students reflect on their nature as being made in the image of God whose moral choices are their loving response to God. Students are invited to explore their relationships with God and others in light of the Gospels and the teachings of the Church. They will delve into the complexity of moral decision making and develop a process for discerning right from wrong in both a personal and social context. Students will explore concepts of justice and the common good and apply moral principles to these issues.
Length of Course: Year
Open to Grade: 11

0300F THEOLOGY 3: PHILOSOPHY IB HL 1
g) UC Approved, NCAA Approved
The first semester helps students understand that they can encounter Christ today in a full and real way in and through the sacraments, and especially through the Eucharist. With an introduction to Plato and Augustine as well as to Aristotle and Aquinas, students develop a comprehension of the underlying philosophical foundations for sacramental theology. Students will examine each of the sacraments in detail so as to learn how they may encounter Christ throughout life. Additionally, students will reflect on the efficacy of the sacraments and on their nature as sacramental people and as members of the universal sacrament that is Church. The second semester helps students reconcile the complementary roles of reason and faith in approaching the metaphysical questions of “Who 6 are we? Why am I here? Is there an afterlife? Does God exist? Why is there evil? What is my purpose in life?” (Fides et Ratio, 1998). These course questions are examined through the lenses of classic and medieval philosophy (Plato, Augustine, Aristotle, Aquinas) as well as Enlightenment and modern philosophical movements (Suarez, Descartes, Kant, Hobbes, Maritain, etc.) to explore what it means to be a human being. Additionally, students pursue the question of free will for the understanding of human nature and its relationship with God and society (CCC, nos. 1749-1756). Students examine challenges to the belief in God’s existence and to the existence of a human soul, evaluating some arguments for God’s existence and the unity of soul and body (CCC, no. 365).
Length of Course: Year
Open to Grade: 11
Prerequisite: A, B- or higher in Academic English or a C or higher in Honors English both semesters.

0400F THEOLOGY 4: PHILOSOPHY IB HL 2
g) UC Approved, NCAA Approved

The Morality and Ethics course introduces students to moral and ethical reasoning, beginning with an examination of the Moral Law and Natural Law derived from Divine Inspiration, as explained by Aquinas and others. It will also uncover the depths of the Ten Commandments as a moral guide and ethical systems founded on absolute moral truths. Students continue reflecting on their human nature as being comprised of a unity of body and soul who seeks to the Good and who seek to model their lives on the life of Jesus Christ. Additionally, the schools of virtue ethics (through Aristotle and contemporary virtue ethicists), deontology (Immanuel Kant and contemporary deontologists), utilitarianism (John Stuart Mill and contemporary utilitarians), existentialist ethics, the Common Good, and theories with lesser influence are explored and compared with the Christian ethical perspective. Lastly, students examine the question of free will and determinism. The Comparative Communities of Faith focuses first on ecumenism and interreligious dialogue as articulated in the Catholic Church documents of Nostra Aetate and Gaudium et Spes. The course helps students to understand the way in which the Catholic Church relates to other Christian denominations. Additionally, students will comprehend the Catholic approach to non-Christian faith traditions, specifically Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Students will also come to appreciate the diversity of non-Catholic faith communities, their Scripture, beliefs, rituals, and central ethics, and ways in which respectful dialogue and understanding can lead to unity. Secondly, students build on the foundation of God’s Revelation that finds fulfillment in Jesus Christ to uncover important spiritual truths in both Christian and non-Christian communities of faith. Students also critically reflect on questions and theories of God’s existence (teleological, cosmological, ontological) and the problem of evil.
Length of Course: Year
Open to Grade: 12
Prerequisite: IB Full Diploma Candidacy

0463A THEOLOGY 4: MINISTRY OF CHRISTIAN VOCATION / SOCIAL JUSTICE, RIGHTS AND COMMUNITY
The Ministry of Christian Vocation helps students to understand the ways in which God calls us to live and the ways in which we respond to God’s call, in prayer, discernment, and self-examination. Beginning with the student’s own spiritual profile and various models of spirituality in the Church (mendicant/Franciscan/Dominican, Ignatian, monastic/Benedictine), the course guides students in opening to the call of God, listening to God’s voice in their lives, and living with God in the world. Students then apply their developing spiritual insights to examining the vocations of married life, single life, and consecrated life, learning what it means to live in service of others and the value of fulfilling a vocation in service to the Christian community. Social Justice, Rights and Community guides students in exploring and understanding the foundational principles of social justice, human rights, and the role of community. The social teachings of the Catholic Church regarding human dignity, poverty, discrimination, workers’ rights, solidarity, care for the creation, and just peace from the foundation for an inquiry into secular views on justice, such as the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and John Rawls’ Theory of Justice. This course aims to inspire students to promote peace, forge advocacy roles, and provide service to others, applying theory to practice in areas such as economic rights, human trafficking, homelessness, and poverty Throughout both semesters, students will serve and lead the faith community of SMCHS, planning and coordinating school Masses, school prayer services, retreats at all grade levels, praise and worship activities, and most importantly, are encouraged to create new opportunities for the 7 SMCHS community. In order to both plan and implement these areas of ministry, students must be willing and able to attend meetings and events after school, before school, and/or on the weekends.
Length of Course: Year
Open to Grade: 12
Prerequisite: Because of the nature of this class and what is expected of the students in the class, all interested students are required to complete the Spring application process which includes a written application, teacher recommendations, in person interview and a service check.