Concentrations

The Catholic Studies Concentration forms MDiv students in the diversity of the Roman Catholic tradition as they prepare for lay ministry, doctoral work, or leadership in Catholic institutions such as parishes, schools, and dioceses. The concentration provides an orienting point in the MDiv for Catholic students and those with an interest in the Catholic tradition, offering the flexibility to pursue a variety of vocational paths and interests.  In addition to the list below, distinguished visiting faculty from across the country regularly offer Catholic Studies courses that may be taken in place of or in addition to these requirements.

Coordinator
Tony Alonso
Email the coordinator

18 Hours (minimum)

Curricular Requirements

Core Course (3 credits):

• HC672/ST678.  Modern Catholicism

One course in Liturgical/Sacramental History or Theology (3 credits):

• HC669/W669. The History and Theology of Eucharistic Worship 
• ST627/W627. Theology of Church and Sacraments
• ST628/W628. Liturgical Theology
• ST631. Christian Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and Renewal
• HC617. Early Christian Worship

Required course for History of Christianity (HC) 500-Level Common Requirement (3 credits):

• HC502. Medieval Christian Thought

Experiential Course (at least 3 credits): 

In order to gain formation and practical experience in a Catholic setting, students must complete Contextual Education I, Contextual Education II, or a Ministry Internship in a Catholic context or in a setting in which they can be under the direct supervision of a Catholic leader. (CE551a/b; CE 552IIa/b; CE545R in a setting approved by Director of Catholic Studies)

Two Elective Courses* (6 credits):

• SR665/HC665 Catholicism in America: Migration, Transnationalism, & Devotion
• SR612/CC612. The Church and Disabilities 
• ST644. U.S. Latino/a/x Theologies
• ST653. Christology in Feminist, Womanist, and Mujerista Theologies
• ST618. Theology, Art and Urban Spaces
• ST619. Liturgy and Architecture 
• ST645. Ecclesiology 
• ST672. Trinitarian Praxis: The Trinity, The Human Person, and the Christian Life
• ST690. Contemporary Systematic Theology
• HC503. History of Theology from the Reformation to the Twentieth Century
• HC609. Early Monastic Thought and Practice
• HC612. Doctrines and Creeds of the Early Church 
• HC614. Earliest Christian Belief about the Holy Spirit
• HC618/ES618. Ethics of Aquinas
• HC620. Theology in the Monastic Tradition
• HC621. Seminar in Thomas Aquinas
• HC623. Theology of Augustine
• HC625. Theology of Thomas Aquinas
• HC629. Mystical Theology
• HC641. Early Christian Women
• HC642. History of Clergy and Their Office
• HC685/ES685. History of Canon Law
• PT515. The Art and Practice of Christian Prayer
• M655/CC655. The Church on the Border
• WR640. Religions of Atlanta
• Students are encouraged to pursue other elective courses beyond this list that engage the local and global diversity of the Catholic Church. Other courses and/or directed studies may be approved in fulfillment of the elective requirement by the Director of Catholic Studies

The concentration in Chaplaincy introduces students to the breadth of contexts in which one can serve in caregiving ministry while also providing depth in the practices of spiritual care. This concentration is ideal for those seeking APC board certification as a chaplain, eventual pursuit of licensing as a pastoral counselor, or other nonprofit leadership roles that require significant direct care of spiritual needs.

Coordinator
Danielle Tumminio Hansen
danielle.elizabeth.tumminio.hansen@emory.edu

More Information: Chaplaincy at Candler

Practicum Requirement and Prerequisite Recommendation:

Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) (CE 546R) is required and may be taken for credit (up to 6 hours) or for a 0 credit option (CE 548R).

Concentrators who have not taken PC501CE in conjunction with CEI are strongly encouraged to take PC502 as one of their IAM Common Requirement courses.

Curricular Requirements:

15 Credits (minimum)

Core Requirements (6 credits minimum)

• CHP501: Introduction to Chaplaincy (3 credits)
• WRxxx: A 3 credit course in World Religions (WR) or an approved course taken outside of Candler in addition to the course used to fulfill the MDiv WR Common Course requirement. Students cannot use the MDiv WR course requirement to fill this WR credit. A MDiv student with the chaplaincy concentration will have taken at least two WR courses by graduation.

Additional Courses (9 credits)

The remaining 9 credits will be chosen from among the following electives. Other electives may be approved in advance by the Concentration Coordinator. Concentration electives below may also count for MDiv Common Requirements. All courses are offered for 3 hours of credit unless otherwise noted. CEE versions of classes on this list (e.g. NT622CEE) also fulfill the same requirements for the concentration.

• OT616. Job
• OT617. Psalms
• OT659/OT 659CEE. Texts of Terror
• NT622/NT 622CEE. The New Testament and Healing
• ST605. Providence, Evil and Suffering
• ST610. Redeeming the Body
• ST651. Theologies of Hope and Liberation
• ES585. Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Human Rights
• ES609. Theology of Social Ministry
• ES610. Religion, Ethics, and Public Intellectuals
• ES620. Black Theology and Ethics
• ES621. Christian Sexual Ethics
• ES624. Feminist and Womanist Ethics
• ES632. Pastoral Ethics
• ES651. Biomedical Ethics
• ES652. Health Care Ethics
• ES654. Health as Social Justice (2 hours)
• ES656. Religion, Science, and Morality
• ES671. Skills in Conflict Transformation I (1 credit)
• ES672. Skills in Conflict Transformation II (2 credits)
• ES674. Approaches to Criminal Justice Ministry
• ES675. Restorative Justice
• ES678. The Morality of Peace and War
• RP660. Reading Lives: Narrative and Identity
• RP648. Readings in Psychology of Religion
• RP649. Psychology of Moral Development and Education
• RP651. Shame, Guilt, and Reconciliation
• SR536. Religion and Health in Context: HIV
• SR593. Religion and Health: Sexual and Reproductive Health
• SR615. Immigration, Religion, and the American Church
• SR650. Faith and Healing: Transforming Communities
• SR653. Religion and Public Health
• SR658. Health and Healing: Understanding the Role of Religion
• PC610. Crisis Ministry
• PC615. Theological Dimensions of Pastoral Care
• PC628. Care for Marginalized Populations
• PC630. Pastoral Care of Adolescents
• PC640. Pastoral Care of Women: International Perspectives
• PC 645/WR 645. Spiritual Care in African Religious Traditions
• PC650/PC 640CEE. International Perspectives on Pastoral Care
• PC660. Reading Lives: Narrative and Identity Formation
• Special Topics in Pastoral Care

The concentration in Criminal Justice Ministries contributes to the formation of religious leaders who are equipped to constructivley engage issues and persons connected to the criminal justice system through work both in congregations and communities. Possibilities include ministry in prisons, mentoring of youth in juvenile facilities, congregational support for reentering citizens, educational offerings in prison, jails, and detention centers, and policy advocacy.

Coordinator
Elizabeth Bounds
Email the coordinator

15 Hours (minimum)

Curriculum Requirements

Both of the following (6 credits):

• Core Course:  PT674/ES 674. Approaches to Criminal Justice Ministry
• Experiential Course (at least 3 credits): Con Ed 1 (CE 551a/b Arrendale, Metro RYDC, DJJ, or Transition Center), Con Ed 2 (CE 552a/b at a site approved by Concentration Coordinator), or a Ministry Internship (CE545R) at a criminal justice site and/OR one quarter teaching in the Certificate in Theological Studies at Arrendale State Prison for women (or offered programming at a comparable site, such as the Metro Transitional Center or the Metro Youth Detention Center), usually for Directed Study credit.

The remaining 9 credits will be chosen from among the following electives:

• BI605 Feminist Interpretation of Bible
• OT 617 Psalms
• OT 648 Exile and Restoration
• OT 659 Texts of Terror: Strategies for Interpreting Troublesome Texts from the Hebrew Bible
• NT 540 Teaching the Bible
• HC 618 Ethics of Aquinas
• HC 650 Sin and Salvation (Wesleyan and Methodist Perspectives)
• HT/RP 651 Shame, Guilt, and the Rites of Reconciliation
• ST 607 Doctrine of God
• ST 620 Black Theology and Ethics
• ST 641/ES 641 Christology and Ethics
• ST 647 Theology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer
• ST 651 Theologies of Hope and Liberation
• ST 653 Christology in Feminist, Womanist and Mujerista Perspectives
• ST 677. Theological Arguments for Criminal Punishment Reform
• ES 585 Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Human Rights
• ES624 Feminist and Womanist Ethics
• ES 654 Health as Social Justice (2 hours)
• ES 663 Religion, Violence, and Peacebuilding
• ES 669 Theology of Ethics and Reconciliation
• ES 671 Skills in Conflict Transformation I (1 hour)
• ES 672 Skills in Conflict Transformation II (2 hours)
• ES 675 Restorative Justice
• ES 684 Constitutional Law: Religion and State
• M/CC 623 The Church’s Mission with Children in Poverty
• SR/CC 515 Methods of Social and Congregational Analysis
• SR/HC 633 African-American Religion and Culture
• SR 536 Religion and Health in Context: HIV
• SR 593 Religion and Health in Context: Sexual and Reproductive Health
• SR 617 Redeeming Memories: Cultural Memory, Christian Witness, and Social Genocide
• SR 630 The Methodist Church and Race
• SR/CC 650 Faith and Health: Transforming Communities
• SR 653 Religion and Public Health
• CC 501 Church and Community Ministries
• CC 502 Church and Community Development
• CC 511 Urban Ministries
• CC/LA 645 Nonprofit Leadership and Management
• PC 501CE Contextualized Introduction to Pastoral Care (when taught in conjunction with prison-related Con Ed I sites)
• PC 502 Pastoral Care in the Parish
• PC 628 Care for Marginalized Populations
• P 620/RE 632 Prophetic Voices for a New Century
• P 622 Preaching Politics
• RE 515 The Art of Teaching
• RE 527 Peace Building with Youth: Unlearning Violence, Learning Nonviolence
• RE 610 Be(com)ing Christian: Theology, Education, and Public Life
• RE/CC 632 Community Ministries as Religious Education
• RE 645 Teaching Peace in Congregations
• ES/LA 560 Principles and Practices of Moral Leadership
• W 603 Liturgy, Spirituality, and Common Formation
• Other courses (including courses from Emory School of Law, other ATA schools, etc.) with approval of the concentration coordinator

The concentration in Formation and Witness allows students to explore in greater depth issues of Christian formation, mission, and public witness as matters of both personal and ecclesial practice.

Coordinator
Arun Jones
Email the coordinator

12 Hours (minimum)

Curriculum Requirements

One of the following foundational courses (3 hours):

• RE 501 Religious Education as Formation and Transformation
• EV 501 Enabling an Evangelizing Church

At least one course on the history, theology or psychology of Christian formation (3 hours):

• HC 640CEE Contextual Education Elective: History of Clergy
• HC 502 Medieval Christian Thought
• HC 609/609CEE Early Monastic Thought and Practice
• HC 614 Earliest Christian Beliefs in the Holy Spirit
• HC 629 Mystical Theology
• RP/RE/ES 649 Psychology of Moral Development and Education
• RP 653 William James: Psychology, Religion, and Ethics
• SR 621 Howard Thurman: Spirituality and Community
• ST 681 Sex, Sin, and Salvation: The Christian Doctrine of the Human Person
• Selected special topics courses (HC or RP in particular) may also fit this category

At least one course on the practice of Christian formation (3 hours):

• EV 511 Renewal and Revitalization of the Church 
• EV/M 697 Evangelism Travel Seminars
• LA 503/LA 503CE Leading the Congregation
• RE 503 Images of God
• RE 670B/PT 670B Technology for Ministry
• RE 610 Be(com)ing Christian
• SR 630 Methodist Church & Race
• SR 631 Methodism, Race, Gender, and Sexuality
• Selected special topics courses (RE in particular) may also fit this category

At least one course in Missions (M) or Preaching (P) (other than P 501) (3 hours):

• Includes any course (except P 501) with an M or P course number or cross-listing or
• PC 628 Care for Marginalized Populations

The Justice, Peacebuilding, and Conflict Transformation concentration forms religious leaders who are equipped to constructively engage conflict within their congregations and communities by providing a structure for students to reflect theologically on violence, justice and peacebuilding, to study nonviolent alternatives, and to practice skills in conflict transformation. This concentration provides a focal point within the MDiv for those whose vocation includes the constructive engagement of conflict within their contexts of ministry.

Coordinator
Ellen Ott Marshall
Liz Bound (2020-2021 academic year)
Email the coordinator

15 Hours (minimum)

Curriculum Requirements

Both of the following foundational courses (3 hours):

• ES 671 (1 hour) Skills in Conflict Transformation
• ES 672 (2 hours) Skills in Conflict Transformation II

The remaining 12 hours will be chosen from among the following electives:

• OT 659/OT 659CEE Texts of Terror: Strategies for Interpreting Troublesome Texts from the Hebrew Bible
• OT 648 Exile and Restoration
• OT 670/OT 670CEE The Bible and Care of the Earth
• HC/RP 651 Shame, Guilt, and the Rites of Reconciliation
• ST 651 Theologies of Hope and Liberation
• ST 647 Theology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer
• ST 659 Theology of Martin Luther King, Jr.
• ES 609/M 619 Theology of Social Ministry
• ES 628 The Civil Rights and the Black Consciousness Movement
• ES 629 Life and Thoughts: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
• ST 644/ES 644 Political Theology and Community Organizing
• ES 663 Religion, Violence and Peacebuilding
• ES 663CEE Contextual Education Elective: Religion, Violence, and Peacebuilding
• ES 669 Theology of Ethics and Reconciliation
• ES 678 Morality of Peace and War
• ES 673 Voices of Nonviolence
• ES 654 Health as Social Justice (2 hours)
• M/CC 655 The Church on the Border
• SR 635 Christian Communalism in America
• SR 620/CC 619 Nonviolent Strategies of Social Change
• SR 621 Howard Thurman: Spirituality and Community
• SR 625 Ecclesiology in Action
• RE 526 Empowering Youth for Global Citizenship
• RE 645CEE Teaching Peace in Congregations
• RE 527 Issues in Educational Ministry with Youth: Unlearning Violence: Learning Nonviolence
• Selected special topics courses may also fit this concentration when designated on the course schedule.

The concentration in Leadership in Church and Community educates students in the analytic frameworks, critical perspectives, practices, skills and practical theological patterns of reflection necessary for effective leadership in contemporary churches and community organizations.

Coordinators
Brett Opalinski
Email the coordinator

12 Hours (minimum)

Curriculum Requirements

Students may choose from among the following electives:

• CC 501 Church & Community Ministries
• CC 511 Urban Ministries
• CC 619/SR 620 Nonviolent Strategies for Social Change
• CC/LA 645 Nonprofit Leadership & Management
• CC 650/SR 650 Faith and Health: Transforming Communities
• CC/M 655 The Church on the Border
• ES 629Life & Thoughts: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
• ES 632 Pastoral Ethics
• ES 669 Theology of Ethics & Reconciliation
• ES 673 Voices of Nonviolence
• LA 501 Introduction to Religious Leadership & Administration
• LA 503/LA 503CE. Leading the Congregation
• OT 670/OT 670CEE The Bible and Care of the Earth
• PC 628 Caring for Marginalized Populations
• RE 645/RE 645CEE Teaching Peace in Congregations
• RE 527 Issues in Education Ministry with Youth: Empowering Youth for Global Citizenship
• SR 621 Howard Thurman: Spirituality & Community
• SR 607 Morality in American Life
• SR 625CEE Ecclesiology in Action
• SR 630 Methodist Church & Race
• SR 631 SR 631 Methodism, Race, Gender, and Sexuality
• ST 644/ES 644 Political Theology and Community Organizing
• Any other course listed or cross-listed as CC or LA
• Selected special topics courses (CC, LA, and some PT courses in particular) may also fit this concentration when designated on the Candler course schedule.

The concentration in Religion, Health, and Science provides students with greater depth of reflection on the relationship between faith communities and the sciences, especially the health sciences. In particular, it explores issues of social justice within the church as well as in the larger society.

Coordinator
Emmanuel Lartey
Email the coordinator

12 Hours (minimum)

Curricular Requirements

One of the following foundational courses (3 hours):

• CC 650/SR 650 Faith and Health: Transforming Communities
• SR 658 Health and Healing: Understanding the Role of Religion
• SR 698 Religion & Public Health

At least one course in the category communal, public, global or social justice dimensions of health and religious life (courses vary from 2-3 hours):

• BSHE 504* Social Behavior in Public Health
• BSHE/GH 563* AIDS: Public Health Implications
• BSHE 565* Violence As a Public Health Problem
• BSHE 567* Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender Identities and Public Health
• BSHE 572* Health Care Issues in Minority Populations
• CC 501Church & Community Ministries/
• CC 501CE Contextualized Church & Community Ministries
• GH 507/ES 654 Health as Social Justice
• GH 557* Global Health: Anthropological Perspectives
• GH 573* Gender Sexuality and Global Health
• M/EV 642(D) Religion, Culture (Society) & Mission in Latin America
• M 650 Mission & International Health
• WS 385** Women, Health & Development

At least one of the courses listed in categories A or B below. The courses are grouped in categories for informational purposes only. Students are not required to take course from both A and B categories, but may choose to do so.

A. Ethical, theological or Biblical perspectives on religion and health or religion and science (courses vary from 2-3 credit hours):

• GH 570* Ethnography, Reproductive Health and Religious Ethics
• ES 654 Health as Social Justice
• GH 508* Health and Human Rights
• NT 622CEE New Testament and Healing
• OT 670CEE The Bible and Care of the Earth
• SR 536 Religion & Health in Context: HIV
• ST 673 Natural Science and the Doctrine of Creation

B. Practices related to religion, health and science with an emphasis on individuals and families (courses vary from 1-3 credit hours):

• GH 503* Psychosocial Issues for Vulnerable Children & Families: A Global Perspective
• GH 541* Technology of Fertility Control
• PC 615 Responding to Suffering: Theological, Psychological and Philosophical Dimensions
• PC 640 Pastoral Care of Women
• PC 650 Global Perspectives in Pastoral Care
• PC 650CEE Contextual Education Elective: Global Perspectives in Pastoral Care
• PC 628 Caring for Marginalized Populations
• PC 670/671/672 Pastoral Care Modules: All Topics

*Courses offered at the Rollins School of Public Health, permission required for enrollment. Refer to http://www.sph.emory.edu/cms/current_students/enrollment_services/index.html for course offerings. Contact the appropriate Departmental Advisor for permission. Forward email permission for enrollment to candlerregistrar@emory.edu to be enrolled in the class.

**Courses offered in the Women’s Studies department, permission required for enrollment. Refer to http://womensstudies.emory.edu/index.htm for schedules and instructor contact information.

The concentration in Religion and Race provides students with greater depth of reflection on the history, construction, expression and influence of race and ethnicity in contemporary society.

Coordinator
Marla Frederick
Email the coordinator

12 Hours (minimum)

Curricular Requirements

At least one course on the history of race (3 hours):

• AAS 190* History of African American Education
• BCS 601 Introduction to Black Church Studies
• HIST 362* History of the Caribbean
• HIST 566* African Historiographies
• HIST 585* 20th Century Black Experience
• LAS 270* Cultures of Latin America
• M/EV 642(D) Religion, Culture (Society) and Mission in Latin America
• HC/SR 633 African American Religion and Culture

At least one of the following courses on the construction of race, or another appropriate course (3 hours):

• ANT 585* Brazil: Race & Ethnicity
• CC/M 647 Theologies & Ecclesiologies of Brazil
• ILA 790* Theorizing Diaspora (or equivalent)
• SR 621 Howard Thurman: Spirituality and Community
• WS 585* Race, Gender and Sexuality in Post-Colonial Africa (or equivalent)
• SR645 Race, Class, and the Making of American Religion

At least two of the following courses on the expression and influence of race, or other appropriate courses (6 hours total):

• AAS 190* African American Poetry: The Black Arts Movement to Hip Hop
• AAS 247* Racial and Ethnic Relations
• AAS 345 The Black Freedom Struggle
• AAS 385* Black Music: Culture, Commerce and Racial Imagination
• BI 617 African American Biblical Interpretation
• BI 620 Bible, Race, and Reception History
• CM 620 Music and Worship in the Black Church
• ES 625 Sexuality in the Black Church
• ES 629 Life & Thoughts: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
• EV/M 697 Evangelism Travel Seminar
• LAS 490RSWR* Caribbean Women Writers
• PC 650 Global Perspectives on Pastoral Care
• SOC 247* Racial and Ethnic Relations
• SR 607 Morality in American Life
• SR 630 Methodist Church & Race
• SR 631 Methodism, Race, Gender, and Sexuality
• WR 624 Rastafari Religion

Students are encouraged to take at least one course in a department or unit of Emory University outside of the Candler School of Theology.

*Courses offered outside Candler - offerings/availability unknown. Refer to http://www.emory.edu/home/academics/programs/college.html for a list of departments with links to departmental schedules. Instructor permission is required for enrollment. Forward email permission for enrollment to candlerregistrar@emory.edu to be enrolled in the class.

The concentration in Scripture and Interpretation provides students with additional depth and proficiencies in the interpretation, teaching, proclamation or context of the Bible.

Coordinator
Joel LeMon
Email the coordinator

12 Hours (minimum)

Curricular Requirements

Foundational Requirements (not included in the 12 hours):

• OT 501 Interpretation of the Old Testament I
• OT 502 Interpretation of the Old Testament II
• NT 501 Interpretation of the New Testament I
• NT 502 Interpretation of the New Testament II or Exegetical Elective (EE)

Additional Requirements

Upon selection of the Scripture and Interpretation concentration:

Choose between two language options: full language instruction in either Greek or Hebrew (6 hours) or concise language instruction in both Greek and Hebrew (6 hours):

• BL 511 Introduction to Biblical Hebrew I AND
• BL 512 Introduction to Biblical Hebrew II

OR

• BL 515 Summer Hebrew (6 hours)

OR

• BL 521 Introduction to Biblical Greek I AND
• BL 522 Introduction to Biblical Greek II

OR

• BL 525 Summer Greek (6 hours)

OR

• BL 510 Concise Hebrew AND
• BL 520 Concise Greek

At least two courses two additional courses. Options for these courses include various (a) exegetical courses (focusing on a single text); (b) synthetic, integrative, or thematic courses (comparative reading across texts); or (c) hermeneutical or contextual courses (appropriating texts for a particular setting) (6 hours):

Any BI, OT, or NT elective not incuding those used for foundation requirements

Other courses may also fit the concentration but these are subject to approval by the concentration coordinator. Such courses are often cross-listed with BI/BL/OT/NT numbers.

Notes:

1. Students with waiver/substitutions for any foundation courses, must use the courses substituted for the foundation courses as foundation courses rather than as additional courses in the concentration.
2. Elementary language instruction can be done at other institutions (e.g., Columbia Theological Seminary or other schools in the ATA Consortium), but fulfillment of language requirements in these cases must be approved by the concentration coordinator.
3. Proficiency in a language via work done prior to matriculation at Candler must be demonstrated to the concentration coordinator. Students who demonstrate proficiency may use the language requirement to take additional work in the language of their choice or work in different languages. Alternatively, those units may be devoted to further courses within the concentration.

The concentration in Society and Personality explores the personal and social dynamics of religious experience, practice and community with keen attention to their felt meaning, cultural expression and institutional embodiment. Through psychological, sociological and cultural inquiry, it enables students to engage and interpret faith lived out in love, work and public witness in local churches, national denominations and global movements, across lines of gender, race, generation and nation.

Coordinator
Geoff Goodman
Email the coordinator

12 Hours (minimum)

Curricular Requirements

• RP/RE/ES 649 Psychology of Moral Development and Education
• RP 653 William James: Psychology, Religion, and Ethics
• RP 655 Life Cycle & Generativity
• Any other course listed or cross-listed as RP or RLPC (GDR seminars)

• SR 536 Religion & Health in Context: HIV
• SR 593 Religion & Health in Context: Sexual and Reproductive Health
• SR 601 Sociology of Religion
• SR 613 Gender in U.S. Religion
• SR 621 Howard Thurman: Spirituality and Community
• SR 620/CC 619 Nonviolent Strategies for Social Change
• SR 625 Ecclesiology in Action
• SR 630 Methodist Church & Race
• SR 631 Methodism, Race, Gender, and Sexuality
• SR 642 Black Institutions Then and Now
• SR 645 Race, Class, and the Making of American Religion
• SR/CC 650 Faith & Health: Transforming Communities
• Any other course listed or cross-listed as SR or RLSR (GDR seminars)

The Theology and the Arts concentration involves theological reflection on and critical engagement with musical, visual and literary arts.

Coordinator
Khalia Williams
Email the coordinator

15 Hours (minimum)

Curricular Requirements

12 hours from among the following courses:

• CM 610 Congregational Song
• CM 620 Music and Worship in the Black Church
• HC 502 Medieval Christian Thought
• OT 616 Book of Job
• OT 617/OT 617CEE The Psalms
• OT 624 Bible and/as Poetry
• OT 624CEE Contextual Education Elective: Bible and/as Poetry
• RE 515 The Art of Teaching
• ST 655 Theology & Literature
• W 501 Introduction to Public Worship
• W 502 Methodist Worship
• W 622 Worship Practicum: Service of Word & Initiation
• W 623 Worship Practicum: Eucharist
• W 624 Worship Practicum: Weddings & Funerals
• W 627/ST 627 Liturgical Theology
• W 632 Contemporary Christian Worship: Origins, Theory, Practice
• W 638 Planning Christian Worship
• W 642 Worship Practicum: Writing Liturgical Texts
• W 643/644 Christian Year Celebrations
• WR 624 Rastafari Religion

Capstone (3 hours):

• A course of your choice (may also be a directed study or MDiv Thesis), taken at the end of your concentration coursework and designated as Capstone in consultation with the Concentration Coordinator and instructor for the course and then reported to the Candler Registrar.

The following courses offered outside Candler will fulfill Concentration requirements. 100-400 level courses must be contracted up to graduate level to be counted toward the MDiv degree and the concentration.  Offerings/availability unknown, contact the individual department for information. Departmental listings/links are available at: atlas.emory.edu 

• ARTHIST 470 Defying Death: Art & Afterlife in Ancient Rome
• ARTHIST 719 Controlling the Cosmos: Kingship in Ancient Egypt
• ARTHIST 729 Architecture & Ritual in the Sanctuary of the Great Gods, Samothrace
• ARTHIST 739 Medieval Art as Text for the Illiterate
• ARTHIST 739 A Puzzling Mirror: The Image of God in Medieval Art
• ENG 357WR Southern Literature
• ENG 387R Literature & Religion
• ENG 389R Special Topics in Literature: Reading Alice Walker
• ENG 389RWR Special Topics: Literature and Film
• ENG 389RWR Special Topics: Literature and Psychology: On Going Mad in America
• FILM 373 African American Women and Cinematic Representations
• FILM 392S Genre Studies: The Western
• FILM 405 Experimental/Avant Garde Cinema: Gender & Sexuality in Experimental Film
• MUS 511 Choral Literature I
• MUS 512 Choral Literature II
• MUS 516 Impoverisation and Service Playing
• MUS 528 Organ Literature
• MUS 536 Organ Construction and Design
• MUS 541 Vocal Pedagogy
• MUS 572R Special Topics in Choral Literature
• MUS 590A Sacred Music Colloquy
• MUS 590B Sacred Music Colloquy
• REL 387R Literature & Religion

The concentration in Theology and Ethics provides students an opportunity to explore the ways in which theology and ethics inform each other as complementary disciplines oriented to critical reflection on the proper shape of Christian faith and practice in the world.

Coordinator
Steffen Loesel
Email the coordinator

12 Hours (minimum, not including required foundation hours)

Curricular Requirements

Both of the following foundational requirements (not included in the 12 hours):

• ES 501 Christian Ethics
• ST 501 Systematic Theology

It is recognized that students will generally not have completed both these courses when they enroll in the concentration. The concentration is designed with the expectation that some concentration requirements can be fulfilled prior to or concurrently with completion of ES 501 and ST 501. If waiver/substitution is approved for either or both foundation courses or transfer credit takes the place of these courses, the substitution courses or transfer courses will fulfill the foundation requirement and cannot be used to fulfill the 12 hours required below.

One course in theology: any ST or Theology designated HC course, not including HC 501, HC 500-Level or ST 501 (3 hours):

• HC/ES 618 Ethics of Aquinas
• HC 623 Theology of Augustine
• HC 627 Theology of Luther
• HC 629 Mystical Theology
• HC 669 The History & Theology of Eucharistic Worship
• ST/W 627 Liturgical Theology
• ST 623 Theology of Karl Barth
• ST 644 Latino/a/x Theologies
• ST 647 Theology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer
• ST 655 Theology & Literature
• ST 679 Contemporary Anglican Theology
• ST 687 Womanist Theology & Narrative Identity
• Any other course listed or cross-listed as HC (Theology designated course only) or ST (not including HC 501, HC 500-Level courses, and ST 501)

One course in Christian ethics: any ES course, not including ES 501 (3 hours).

• HC/ES 618 Ethics of Aquinas
• ES 625 Sexuality & the Black Church
• ES 629 Life & Thoughts: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
• ES 630 Kierkegaard as Religious Ethicist
• ES 632 Pastoral Ethics
• ES 654 Health as Social Justice (2 hours)
• ES/NT 655 Issues in New Testament Ethics
• ES/RP/RE 649 Psychology of Moral Development and Education
• ES 663 Religion, Violence, and Peacebuilding
• ES 669 Theology of Ethics and Reconciliation
• Any other course listed or cross-listed as ES (not including ES 501)

Either one additional course in theology or ethics from those listed in 1 or 2 above, or the following course (3 hours):

• SR 621 Howard Thurman: Spirituality and Community

Concentration Capstone (to be taken during final year in the program) (3 hours):

• An upper-level ES, ST, or Theology designated HC course of your choice (may also be a directed study or MDiv Thesis), taken at the end of your concentration coursework and designated as Capstone in consultation with the Concentration Coordinator and instructor for the course and then reported to the Candler Registrar.

The Traditions of the Church concentration allows students to reflect on aspects of Christian tradition and history in a focused way, enabling them to develop historical and denominational interests with explicit attention given to interpretative and methodological questions.

Coordinator
Anthony Briggman
Email the coordinator

12 Hours (minimum)

Both of the following foundational requirements (not included in the 12 hours):

• HC 501 andHC 500-Level Common Requirement Course

Three courses relating to the Church’s history and tradition (9 hours):

Courses that fulfill concentration requirements are divided into three categories. The three courses students take to meet concentration requirements may be from any category. Students are not required to complete a course from each category.

The first category includes those courses students may self-select without any consultation with the concentration coordinator. These include all HC courses, with the exception of  HC 501  and the HC 500-level course taken to fulfill the degree requirement. In addition, some ST, BI, DS, ES, and EV also count.  If you take more than one HC 500-level course, those beyond the first one can count toward this requirement.

• HC 620 Theology in the Monastic Tradition
• HC640CEE Contextual Education Elective: History of the Clergy
• ES 629 Special Topics in Ethics: Life & Thoughts of MLK, Jr.
• HC/ES 618 Ethics of Aquinas
• HC 623 Theology of Augustine
• HC 627 Theology of Luther
• HC 629 Mystical Theology
• HC 653 Reality of God
• HC/W 669 The History & Theology of Eucharistic Worship
• M/EV642(D) Religion, Culture (Society) & Mission in Latin America
• SR 621 Howard Thurman: Spirituality and Community
• ST 647 Theology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer
• Any other HC course (not including HC 501 and the HC 500-level course taken to fulfill your HC 500-level common requirement )

The second category are courses that would qualify for concentration credit if there is a term paper or other major project that focuses on an historical aspect of the Christian tradition. To count for the concentration, these courses require an explanation of the project, the approval of the concentration coordinator, and the consent of the course instructor indicating that the proposed project is practical and consonant with the goals of the course. Approval must be secured before the start of the semester in which the course is taught. These courses include but are not limited to the following:

• CM 610 Congregational Song
• ES 630 Kierkegaard as Religious Ethicist
• M 609/M 609CEE Global Church in God’s Mission
• OT 670/OT 670CEE Bible & Care of the Earth
• P 642 Women and Preaching
• RE 503 Images of God
• WR 624 Rastafari Religion

The third category of courses that fulfill Traditions of the Church are taught elsewhere in the university and in the ATA, especially but not limited to the Law School, History Department, Art History, ITC, and Columbia Seminary. All courses outside Candler must meet Candler requirements for graduate work and receive the explicit approval of the concentration coordinator prior to the start of the semester.

Denominational courses beyond the introductory can fulfill concentration requirements, including those offered at ITC and Columbia through the ATA.

Required Concentration Capstone (to be taken during final year in the program) (3 hours):

• An upper-level HC or other appropriate course of your choice (may also be a directed study or MDiv Thesis), taken at the end of your concentration coursework and designated as Capstone in consultation with the Concentration Coordinator and instructor for the course and then reported to the Candler Registrar.

The World Christianity Concentration contributes to the formation of MDiv students through the analysis of Christianity in diverse contexts around the world across areas of study. It enables students to gain competency in the study of Christianity as a global phenomenon and helps to equip them for ministry and church leadership in culturally and internationally diverse Christian communities. Through attention to a variety of theories, models, rationalities, and methodologies central to world Christianity, the concentration will also help to prepare students to pursue doctoral work in this field of study. It provides a structure for students to focus 15 units of their coursework on issues pertinent to this area of study.

Coordinator
Deanna Womack
Email the coordinator

15 Hours (minimum)

Curricular Requirements

Core courses (3 credits)—choose one*

• HC 509 The Making of Global Christianity (Hanciles)
• HC 676 Modern Christianity as a Global Phenomenon (Hanciles)
• EV/HC/M653. World Evangelism in an Age of Empire (Jones)

*Any course on this list not utilized as a “core course” may be selected to fulfill elective requirement courses may be selected as electives)

One course related to the students’ designated/preferred regional area in world Christianity (3 credits)** NOTE: Selection of this course requires approval from the Concentration Coordinator and may include the following:

• travel seminars (M 697/EV 697; ES 697; and others)
• directed study projects
• courses with strong coverage of a geographical region—especially those in which contexts outside the Western world form a primary focus.
• CE 545. Ministry Internship
• M698. Special Topics in Christian Missions
• WR698. Special Topics in World Religions
• Appropriate Emory College or GDR Courses
• International study or international internships

**Must be located outside the student’s original context or homeland.

Two Electives (6 credits)

• *EV/M642. Religion, Culture, and Mission in Latin America (de Souza)
• EV/M/WR697. World Methodist Evangelism Seminar (de Souza, Hanciles, Jones, Womack)
• ES697. Moral Leadership in Context: Travel Seminar (Franklin)
• HC/M610. Survey of African Christianity: From Apollos to Adelaja (Hanciles)
• HC/M675. Modern Christianity as a Global Phenomenon (Hanciles)
• HC698. Pacific Crossings (Kim)
• M612. The Church in Asia (Jones)
• M/CC647. The Theologies and Ecclesiologies of Brazil (de Souza)
• M/CC655. The Church on the Border (Marquardt)
• M/CC660. Short-Term Missions and International Development
• M/SR634. Globalization and the Church’s Mission (Hanciles)
• PC640. Pastoral Care of Women: International Perspectives (Scheib)
• PC650/PC650CEE. International Perspectives on Pastoral Care (Lartey)
• SR615. Immigration, Religion, and the American Church (Hanciles)
• ST652. Global Feminist Theologies (McDougall)
• ST653. Christology in Feminist, Womanist, and Mujerista Theologies (McDougall)
• ST698. Critical Issues in Global Anglicanism (Kwok)
• ST698. U.S. Latino/a Theologies (Alonso)
• WR624. Rastafari Religion (Erskine)
• WR630. Sacred Space in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam (Corrie, Ziada)
• WR645. Spiritual Care in African Religious Cultures (Lartey)
• WR651. History and Practice of Christian-Muslim Relations (Womack)
• WR673. Krishna Meets Jesus (Jones)
• WR640. Religions of Atlanta (Marquardt)

***May include courses under section 1 not utilized as a “core course”

Capstone Course (3 credits)

Students are required to undertake a substantive writing project to fulfill this concentration.

Fulfilling this requirement requires consultation with the concentration coordinator. There will generally be two options:

• a directed study (3 credits)
• an MDiv thesis (3 credits)