religious Studies

Graduation requirement: 4 Years

Religious Studies requirements include the teaching of church doctrine, the development of community through prayer, and the performance of annual service in the community. Students are required to earn a passing grade for service each year of attendance at Ursuline in order to graduate.
Retreat Fees: Fees for retreats will be billed to tuition account
    Grade 9      $10-20
    Grade 10     $15-25
    Grade 11     Day of Fellowship $75-$90. One overnight retreat $100-$120
    Grade 12     Two-Night retreat $160-$180

SCRIPTURE STUDIES (SCRIPTURE)

Grades 9	Required	1 Year
This course is designed to give students the opportunity to learn about the Scriptures in light of contemporary research and interpretation. In the first semester the course will focus on the Hebrew Scriptures within the context of their history, culture, and literary roots. The personalities, events, and themes of the Hebrew Scriptures will help students parallel their own questions of life, as they explore the relationship between God and God’s people. This course will also explore New Testament writings and the students will study, through a historical-critical approach, the life, ministry and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. The values and person of Jesus will complement the student’s understanding of the formation of the Gospels and of contemporary life during the time of the Roman Empire. Students will learn to analyze scripture and be encouraged to incorporate biblical truths into their own lives. In addition to scripture, the students are introduced to Roman Catholic beliefs, prayer/worship, doctrine, ritual and practices. The development of the Ursuline religious order will also be introduced.

WORLD RELIGIONS (WORLD REL P)

Grades 10	Required	1 Semester
This course will focus on major world religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Judaism, Islam, and Christianity) by presenting the characteristic elements of each. The religions will be viewed as living bodies that develop and evolve in relation to one another. Students will approach each religion from the context of origins and history, theology, and sacred writings. Discussion will focus not only on what religions say or write in books but on what people do in following their religion and what the religion does for them. This course seeks an appreciation and understanding of the major world religions.

CHURCH HISTORY (CHURCH HIST P)

Grades 10	Required	1 Semester
This course is an overview of the history of Western Christianity. In this foundation course, the student will explore the core beliefs, doctrines, rituals, and customs of the Roman Catholic Church. Beginning with the Apostolic Church, students will study the Acts of the Apostles and other early Christian writings. They will understand how the Church evolved within the Roman Empire and study the interaction of various cultures within the Church and the Church’s influence on various cultures. Major personalities and events in European history will be the context for the growth of the Church from the fall of Rome through the Reformation to Vatican II Council. Various themes such as prayer, scripture, spirituality, the lives of the saints and martyrdom will be discussed within an expanding church. Specific writings and Church documents will serve as a springboard for discussion of the development of basic doctrine and sacraments within the historical context. As students gain an exposure and appreciation of Christians from other eras they can better understand the current challenges of Christian living.

ETHICS (ETHICS)

Grades 11	Required	1 Semester
In this course a study is made of the basic components of Christian ethics necessary for making good decisions on the vital issues of our times. Students will learn about the pluralism of ethical theories, which are common in the modern world. They will understand the human person as an intelligent animal with a free will and the duty to form and follow their conscience. The various external factors, which influence the development of personal morals, will be investigated and students will criticize their own moral code in light of these. Students will have an opportunity to test their moral beliefs though an investigation of some of the moral dilemmas commonly encountered by individuals as members of family, nation, and world.

SOCIAL JUSTICE 1 (SOC JUST)

Grades 11	Required	1 Semester
This course is designed to give students the opportunity to explore issues of justice in our modern society. It presents the development of Church teachings on social justice and proposes responses to justice issues in keeping with those teachings. It asks students to look critically at our life, our society and our world. The course will challenge students not simply to learn information but also to change their behaviors and take action. This course will employ a social-analytic approach to justice related themes that include hunger, poverty, racism, the environment, sexism, militarism and issues of care for the elderly. Course work includes the development of a service project to be implemented in the senior year.

FAITH (FAITH)

Grades 12	Required	1 Semester
The course gives students the opportunity to investigate their beliefs in God, and the application of that faith to their lives. The Nicene Creed is reviewed and discussed. Students compare their personal creeds with that of the Christian community. The life of Jesus is explored as a challenge to create a personal faith. Through these considerations, the students are called to take responsibility for their lives now and in the future. (The Senior Service Project is an integrated component of this course.)

CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLES (CHRLS)

Grades 12	Required	1 Semester
This course is designed to introduce students to the many options available to them as they respond to adult life from a faith-filled perspective. They are challenged to assume responsibility for their lives now and in the future. They consider the lifestyles of those who are single, those who are religious, those who are called to Orders, and those who are married. Students study the developmental tasks of young adulthood and the issues and choices in each of the lifestyles in light of the Christian message. (The Senior Service Project is an integrated component of this course.)

CAMPUS MINISTRY

Grades 10,11,12	by Department Selection	1 Year
Prerequiste: Students for the UHS/CN Campus Ministry Team will be selected through an application and interview process during January. Through this course students will demonstrate mastery of the required student outcomes for their respective year of religion while assisting the UHS/CN Campus Ministry Team in the preparation and achievement of the service, retreat and liturgy segments of the Campus Ministry Program. The course will provide an applied, student-centered approach to covering the core subject matter of World Religions, Church History, Ethics, Social Justice, Faith and Christian Lifestyles.