Rationale.FoundationCoursesinCLASCoreCurriculum

TheFoundationCoursespreparestudents“tothinkrigorously,soastoactrightlyand to serve humanity better” (Pope John Paul II, Ex corde ecclesiae). In thesecourses,studentsconsiderthattheuniverseandhumanexistencehaveadeepermeaning invitingdiscovery. Individually and collectively, they focuson conceptsand themes that are central to the global intellectual tradition, with a specialemphasisonCatholic,Christian,andAugustinianapproachestofourfundamentalquestions:

WhoamI?IntheAugustineandCultureSeminars,studentsfocusonthequestionofidentity.Augustine’s account of his own restless search is at the heart of the ACSexperience. In the first seminar, students study texts Hebrew and Christianscriptures,GreekandRomanantiquity,Augustine,andtheHighMiddleAges,andisdedicatedtounderstandingthefoundationsofoursharedintellectualtradition.Inthesecondseminar,studentsstudythequestionofidentitywithtextsfromtheRenaissancetothemodernera.

WhatcanIknow?InthePhilosophycourse,Knowledge,Reality,andSelf,studentsexplorephilosophical responses to the questions: how we can know, what is real, andwhat is thenatureofhumanexistence.Throughthestudyof foundational texts,the course also explores the dialogue between classical, Christian, secular, andskepticalperspectivesonthesequestions.

WhatdoIbelieve?IntheTheologyandReligiousStudiescourse,Faith,Reason,andCulture,studentsexploretheinterrelationshipsamongChristianfaith,reason,andhumanculture through the academic lenses of theological and religious studiesdisciplines. They embark on a journey that engages them in the quest of faithseekingunderstandinginthecontextofcontemporaryglobalreligious,theological,andculturalpluralism.

How should I live? The course, TheGood Life: Ethics and ContemporaryMoral Problems,provides critical reflection onhuman flourishing, both in their own lives and forthe communities around them, by studying distinctive and viable visions of themoral life. The particular focus is on Christian, especially Roman Catholic,Augustinian accounts but also on alternative accounts of the moral life thatemerge from other traditions. Students explores the significance of differentvisions through an examination of various contemporary moral questions

Rationale.FoundationCoursesinCLASCoreCurriculum

concerning their relationship to themselves, to others, and to the naturalenvironment.