Aided by the specific contributions of philosophy and theology, university scholars will be engaged in a constant effort to determine the relative place and meaning of each of the various disciplines within the context of a vision of the human person and the world that is enlightened by the Gospel, and therefore by a faith in Christ, the Logos, as the center of creation and of human history. --John Paul II

Languages

LAS 121: Latin I. Students are introduced to the basic grammatical principles of Latin and acquire a basic vocabulary. The fruits of one’s labours are quickly seen as students begin to translate passages from the New Testament. (4 Credits, Full Year. Pre-requisite: none. Zakrzewski)

LAS 123: French I. The course assumes no previous knowledge of French. Basic grammatical structures are taught, and reinforced through listening, speaking, reading and writing. The basic text is Bragger’s and Rice’s Allons-y:  Le Français par étapes, supplemented with repetitive oral exercises, real conversations, songs, proverbs, maxims, riddles, etc. The course includes a strong cultural component. (4 Credits, Full Year,  Pre-requisite: none.  Zakrzewski)

LAS 221: Latin II. Students rapidly review the grammatical principles taught in Latin I, and then go on to complete the grammatical study of Latin. More emphasis is placed on reading, which focuses upon the New Testament, but includes selections from a variety of other sources. Intensive study will be made of the final sixteen chapters of John F. Collins’ A Primer of Ecclesiastical Latin. (4 Credits, Full Year. Pre-requisite: LAS 121: Latin I or permission of the instructor.  Zakrzewski)

LAS 223: French II. Building on the knowledge of French gained in LAS 123: French I, this course will work to increase the student’s vocabulary, knowledge of and facility with grammar, and written and oral competence in French to an intermediate level. (4 Credits, Pre-requisite: LAS 123: French I or permission of the instructor. Next offered in 2008-2009.)

LAS/THE 224: Introduction to New Testament Greek. “Latin-speaking men, whom we have here undertaken to instruct, need two other languages for a knowledge of the Divine Scriptures, Hebrew and Greek, so that they may turn back to earlier exemplars if the infinite variety of Latin translations gives rise to any doubts,” says St. Augustine. By drawing upon the grammatical knowledge already acquired in the Academy’s Latin courses and concentrating upon the vocabulary that is most frequent in the New Testament, students will, after a brief introduction to Koine Greek grammar, begin reading the New Testament with the help of lexical aids. With practice, the students will begin to appreciate the nuances present in the original text of the New Testament that are not always evident in translation. This course will enable students to read through the New Testament in the original language while consulting Kubo’s A Reader’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. The Gospel of Mark will be read in this course. (3 Credits, Pre-requisite: LAS 221 or permission of the instructor. Not offered in 2007-2008)

LAS 321: Latin III. The purpose of this advanced-level course is to impart fluent reading proficiency in a wide variety of Latin writings, including selections from St. Thomas Aquinas, the Fathers of the Church, Medieval Poetry, Hymns, the Old Testament of the Vulgate, some Classical works, and modern Church documents. The course will include a review of Units 29-35 of Collins’ Ecclesiastical Latin with extensive exercises supplemented by F. L. Moreland and R. M. Fleischer’s Latin: An Intensive Course. (4 Credits, Full Year. Pre-requisite: LAS 221: Latin II, or permission of the instructor. Zakrzewski)

LAS/THE 324: Intermediate New Testament Greek. “The original [Scriptural] text, having been written by the inspired author himself, has more authority and greater weight than even the very best translation, whether ancient or modern.” (Pius XII). Building upon the vocabulary and skills learned in LAS/THE 224: Introduction to New Testament Greek, students will read the Gospels of John and Matthew. The vocabulary of the Gospels will be emphasized, so that by the end of the course students will be able to read through the four Gospels in Greek without needing to consult a lexicon. This in turn will allow them to keep in practice in Greek while reading and meditating upon the scriptures in the original language. As students through practice become more proficient in Greek, they will more deeply appreciate the richness of the original texts. (3 Credits, Pre-requisite: LAS/THE 224 or permission of the instructor.  Not offered in 2007-2008)

LAS/THE 326: Introduction to Biblical Hebrew. “Latin-speaking men, whom we have here undertaken to instruct, need two other languages for a knowledge of the Divine Scriptures, Hebrew and Greek, so that they may turn back to earlier exemplars if the infinite variety of Latin translations gives rise to any doubts,” says St. Augustine.  This course teaches Hebrew Grammar, and those Hebrew words occurring 50 or more times in the Old Testament.  Students are thus both able to analyze particular texts in the original language as well as read through text with the aid of Armstrong, Busby, and Carr’s A Reader’s Hebrew-English Lexicon of the Old Testament. (4 Credits, Full Year. Pre-requisite: permission of the instructor. Not offered in 2007-2008)

Fine Arts

The musical tradition of the universal Church is a treasure of inestimable value, greater even than that of any other art. The main reason for this pre-eminence is that, as a combination of sacred music and words, it forms a necessary or integral part of the solemn liturgy. --Second Vatican Council

LAS 090: Chorus. “To sing is to pray twice,” St. Augustine observed. The desire to worship and praise God fittingly has inspired some of the most beautiful music in history, including the sublime psalmody and hymnody of Gregorian chant. This course introduces students to chant notation and simple pieces of music drawn from the riches of the Church’s musical tradition. This course may be taken pass/fail to satisfy the Academy's music requirement, or in conjunction with Liturgy for the Laity for academic credit.
(1 Credit, Full Year. Pre-requisite: none. Staff)

LAS 091: Introduction to Fine Arts. This course presents students with an overview of the development of the Fine Arts in Western Culture, starting with primitive art, and moving through Greco-Roman Art, Medieval Art, the Renaissance and Baroque, and the Modern period. Students will deepen their appreciation for the Fine Arts by copying some of the great masterpieces in drawing format, with guidance from the instructor. Two tours of art collections will also be part of the program. (1 Credit, Full Year. Pre-requisite: none. Milan)

LAS/LIT 095: Drama Practicum. This course requires extensive hands-on work on a major theatrical production. Students must complete at least 45 hours of work on such aspects of the production as stage management, costume direction, and acting. Competence in the selected area must be demonstrated. (1 Credit. Full Year. Pre-requisite: none. C. Schintgen)
 
LAS 101: Ecclesiastical Music. This course provides an overview of some of the great pieces of liturgical music, from Palestrina and Byrd, to Bach, Mozart, and modern composers. Proper appreciation of what is good, beautiful, and fitting in different liturgical settings will be emphasized. (3 Credits [includes LAS 090: Chorus]. Co-requisite: LAS 090: Chorus. Not offered 2007-2008)

LAS/LIT 106: Introduction to Drama. This course involves extensive hands-on work on a major theatrical production, as per LAS/LIT 095, as well as readings, discussions and applications of theoretical approaches to drama, and workshops on dramatic technique. (2 Credits [includes content of LAS/LIT 095: Drama Practicum], Spring. Pre-requisite or Co-requisite: LAS/LIT 095: Drama Practicum. Not offered 2007-2008)

LAS/THE 107: Liturgy for the Laity. While still a Cardinal, the present Pope observed both that “Liturgical education today, of both priests and laity, is deficient to a deplorable extent” and that the area of liturgy is “one of the clearest examples of the contrast between what the authentic text of Vatican II says and the way in which it has been understood and applied.” These deficiencies should be addressed, as “The liturgy is the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed; it is also the font from which all her power flows” (Second Vatican Council). This course will examine how this truth applies to the laity, including how and why the laity should direct all their activity toward the liturgy as the “summit” of their lives, and how and why the liturgy may give power to all the ordinary activities of daily life.  (3 credits [includes the credit for LAS 095], full year.  Co-requisite or Pre-requisite: LAS 095.  Pelton)

LAS 111: Catholicism and the Arts. “The fine arts are rightly classed among the noblest activities of man’s genius... holy Mother Church has always been the patron of the fine arts and has ever sought their noble ministry...The Church has, with good reason, always claimed the right to pass judgment on the arts, deciding which of the works are in accordance with its traditions of faith, holiness, and law.” (Second Vatican Council). This course provides a historical survey of the fine arts, with the intent of familiarizing students with the Church’s standards of art, especially as manifest in the finest historical art work. Thus, students will be able to rightly appreciate and judge the merits of the fruits of some of “the noblest activities of man’s genius.” (2 Credits. Pre-requisite: none. Not offered 2007-2008)

Social Sciences

LAS 150: Psychology. This course will introduce to the student the major subfields of psychology including Biopsychology, Cognitive psychology, Social psychology, Clinical psychology, Developmental psychology and Health psychology.  The study of these fields of inquiry will cover a review of the role of research and the areas of learning, memory, sensation, motivation, emotion and related topics of personality, psychological disorders and their treatment. (3 Credits,  Pre-requisite: none. Next offered in 2008-2009. Gignac)

LAS/THE 163: Economics and the Social Teaching of the Church. The production and consumption of material goods are the identifying characteristics of a society that defines itself as “industrial.” While such production and consumption should not be the sole activities of man, they are an important component of his activity, and one worthy of special consideration while dwelling in an “industrial society.” The Church provides guidance for man in this area through her social teaching, but to intelligently apply this teaching to oneself, one must also understand the economic principles that guide society. This course will provide an introduction to the basic concepts of economics and a brief history of economics so that the students may intelligently read the Church’s social documents. After surveying the social documents, historical attempts of Catholics to apply the Church’s social teaching to economic life will be examined. (3 Credits. Pre-requisite: none. Not offered 2007-2008)