Course Cluster Lists

School of Theology Course Clusters

Courses offered in the School of Theology (and certain courses available elsewhere in the University) are organized into three Curriculum Clusters. In both the MDiv and MTS degree programs, students must distribute a portion of their elective courses equally among these three clusters (see individual degree programs for details). Cluster 1 courses focus on “Texts and Traditions.” Cluster 2 courses focus on “Engaging Contemporary Contexts.” Cluster 3 courses focus on “Theories and Practices of Leadership.” Core courses are not located in any one cluster. Neither are doctoral seminars, for which MDiv and MTS students are ineligible (without instructor’s permission).

Courses Clusters
STH CT 800 Field Practicum (free elective only)
STH TA 710 Music in World Religions I: The Abrahamic Traditions 1 3
STH TA 711 Music in World Religions II: The Asian Traditions 1 3
STH TA 715 Organ Seminar 3
STH TA 721 Seminary Singers 3
STH TA 722 Seminary Singers 3
STH TA 801 Music Ministry: Methods and Materials 3
STH TA 804 Seminar: Anthems for the Church Choir 3
STH TA 805 Church Music for Non-Musicians 3
STH TA 808 Marsh Chapel Choir 3
STH TA 810 Hymns and their Music 1 3
STH TA 815 World Religions in Boston 2 3
STH TA 820 Church and the Arts 1 3
STH TC 715 Introduction to Preaching 3
STH TC 723 United Methodist Polity (free elective only)
STH TC 801 Contextual Education I Core
STH TC 802 Contextual Education II Core
STH TC 803 Contextual Education III 2
STH TC 804 Contextual Education IV 2
STH TC 807 UMC General Conference 1 3
STH TC 808 The Sermon Studio 3
STH TC 810 The Pastoral Life 3
STH TC 811 Pastoral Leadership/Church Administration 3
STH TC 813 Spirituality and Ministry in Multicultural Contexts 2 3
STH TC 814 The Jazz of Preaching 3
STH TC 816 Homiletical Options 3
STH TC 817 Introduction to Christian Worship 1 3
STH TC 819 The Sacraments: Rites and Theologies 1 3
STH TC 821 The Gospel and Empire 2
STH TC 823 Spiritual Guidance in the Christian Tradition 1 3
STH TC 825 Prayer & Social Engagement 2 3
STH TC 828 Women’s Theologies and Ministry 2 3
STH TC 829 Spiritual Autobiographies 1 3
STH TC 833 Sung Faith 1 3
STH TC 835 Evangelism & Contemporary Cultures 2 3
STH TC 836 Race, Gender, and Ethnicity in Church 2 3
STH TC 837 Vocation, Work, and Faith 2 3
STH TC 838 Church Renewal 3
STH TC 839 Suffering and Healing 2 3
STH TC 842 Urban Ministry Models for the 21st Century 2 3
STH TC 844 Classics in Christian Spirituality 1 3
STH TC 845 Parish Preaching 3
STH TC 847 Faith and Film 2 3
STH TC 849 Narrative Sermons 3
STH TC 851 Preaching and Worship in the African American Traditions 3
STH TC 852 Spirituality and Leadership 3
STH TC 854 Leadership in Times of Change 2 3
STH TC 861 Theologies of Church Music 1 3
STH TC 862 The Liturgical Year 3
STH TC 863 Reading and Writing Rites of Passage 2 3
STH TC 867 The Gospel and Popular Culture 2 3
STH TC 868 Worship in the Anglican and Wesleyan Traditions 1 3
STH TC 869 Prophetic Preaching, Pastoral Ministry, and Social Change 3
STH TC 871 Spiritual Formation for Peacebuilders 2 3
STH TC 872 Animals and Healing 2 3
STH TC 878 Sabbath: Theology and Practice 1 3
STH TC 880 Preaching Apocalyptic Texts 3
STH TC 890 New Church Development 3
STH TC 900 Topics: Liturgical Studies Doctoral
STH TC 909 Spiritual Autobiographies Doctoral
STH TC 912 Classics in Christian Spirituality Doctoral
STH TC 919 The Sacraments: Rites and Theologies Doctoral
STH TC 960 Theologies of Preaching Doctoral
STH TE 805 Growing in Faith: Ministries with Children, Youth, and Young Adults 3
STH TE 808 Creative Pedagogy 3
STH TE 811 Doing Theology Aesthetically 1 2
STH TE 812 Introduction to Christian Education 3
STH TE 821 Adult Religious Education 3
STH TE 822 Spirituality and Liberative Pedagogy 3
STH TE 845 Education and Religion 1 3
STH TF 701 Reading the World: History, Theology, Contexts I Core
STH TF 702 Reading the World: History, Theology, Contexts II Core
STH TF 703 Practices of Faith I Core
STH TF 704 Practices of Faith II Core
STH TF 801 MTS Contextual Education Core
STH TF 808 Travel Seminar 2
STH TF 810 Global and Community Engagement Capstone 2
STH TF 811 Church & the Arts Capstone 2 3
STH TF 821 Contextual Education 1: Dual Degree SSW students Core
STH TF 822 Contextual Education 2: Dual Degree SSW students Core
STH TF 901 Doctoral Colloquium 1 Doctoral
STH TF 902 Doctoral Colloquium 2 Doctoral
STH TH 812 Christianity in Late Antiquity 1
STH TH 817 Varieties of Early Christianity 1
STH TH 820 History of Western Christian Spirituality 1
STH TH 821 History of United Methodism (free elective only) 1
STH TH 823 Modern Christian Biography 1
STH TH 825 The Medieval Church 1
STH TH 826 Reformations 1
STH TH 827 History of American Christianity 1
STH TH 832 Modern Church History 1
STH TH 847 Global Christianity 1 2
STH TH 848 World Christianity 1 2
STH TH 854 Life and Works of Bartolomé de Las Casas 1
STH TH 855 Women and American Religion 1
STH TH 870 Calvin and the Reformed Tradition 1
STH TH 876 Martin Luther King, Jr.: Leadership in Context 1 3
STH TH 902 Christianity Beyond Early Modern Europe Doctoral
STH TH 910 History of Christian Mission Doctoral
STH TH 920 Seminar on History of Theological Liberalism Doctoral
STH TH 925 The Bible in the Reformation Doctoral
STH TH 930 History of Missiology Doctoral
STH TH 937 Proseminar in Historiography Doctoral
STH TH 945 20th Century American Religion Doctoral
STH TH 971 Luther and the Radical Reformers Doctoral
STH TJ 910 Proseminar in Practical Theology Doctoral
STH TJ 940 Ecclesiology Doctoral
STH TJ 976 Advanced Research in Practical Theology Doctoral
STH TM 801 Christian Mission in a Religiously Plural World 1 2
STH TM 808 Three Missionary Faiths and Their Importance for Global Development 2 3
STH TM 815 Christian Mission 1 3
STH TM 848 Emergence of Christianity as a Global Movement 1 2
STH TM 853 Mission Enacted: Faith-Based and Nongovernmental Organizations 2 3
STH TM 856 Women in Mission and World Christianity 1 2
STH TM 857 Mission and Development 2 3
STH TM 858 Creating Resilience Amidst Resource Scarcity 2 3
STH TM 859 The Future of Ecumenism and the Transformation of World Christianity in the 21st Century 1 2
STH TM 910 History of Christian Mission Doctoral
STH TM 930 History of Missiology Doctoral
STH TM 931 Readings in Contemporary Missiology Doctoral
STH TN 721 New Testament Introduction Core
STH TN 723/724 New Testament Greek 1 & 2 (Courses are a sequence. Both courses must be successfully completed to receive credit) 1
STH TN 803 Jesus in the Gospels 1
STH TN 804 The Christian Bible: A History 1
STH TN 805 Pauline Studies 1
STH TN 806 Gospel of John 1
STH TN 808 From Jesus to Christ 1
STH TN 809 The Open Heaven: Apocalyptic Literature in Early Judaism and Christianity 1
STH TN 810 The Social Setting of Early Christianity 1 2
STH TN 813 Letter to the Romans 1
STH TN 815 Jesus and Paul on Poverty and Economic Issues 1 2
STH TN 816 Greek Reading 1 1
STH TN 817 Greek Reading 2 1
STH TN 826 Corinthian Correspondence 1
STH TN 827 Gender in Early Christianity 1 2
STH TN 833 Ephesus: Archaeology in the New Testament 1 2
STH TN 838 Friendship in Paul’s Letters to the Philippians 1
STH TN 841 Luke–Acts 1
STH TO 704 Hebrew Bible Core
STH TO 723/724 Biblical Hebrew 1 & 2
(Courses are a sequence. Both courses must be successfully completed to receive credit)		 1
STH TO 802 The Prophetic Tradition 1
STH TO 804 Ezekiel 1
STH TO 807 History of Israelite Religion 1
STH TO 808 Isaiah 1
STH TO 813 Proverbs 1
STH TO 814 Cultural Background of the Hebrew Bible 1
STH TO 815 Hebrew Reading & Exegesis I 1
STH TO 816 Hebrew Wisdom 1
STH TO 819 Hebrew Reading & Exegesis II 1
STH TO 821 Psalms 1
STH TO 829 Genesis 1
STH TO 835 Current Issues in Biblical Interpretation 1
STH TO 838 Biblical Interpretation from Hispanic and Latin American Perspectives 1 2
STH TO 841 The Book of the Twelve 1
STH TO 846 Middle Egyptian I 1
STH TO 847 Middle Egyptian II 1
STH TO 851 Akkadian 1 1
STH TO 852 Akkadian 2 1
STH TR 802 Sociology of Religion 2
STH TR 818 Race, Gender & Ethnicity in American Religion 2
STH TR 820 Intro to Black Church Studies 2
STH TR 830 Values and Practices in Developing Health Communities 2 3
STH TR 840 American Evangelicalism: Conservative Protestants in the United States 2
STH TR 850 Sociology of Congregational Life 2
STH TR 909 Sociology of Black Religion Doctoral
STH TR 910 Qualitative Methods in the Study of Religion Doctoral
STH TR 940 Seminar in Religion and Social Change Doctoral
STH TR 964 Seminar in Social Theory and Religious Identity Doctoral
STH TS 500 Encountering ET: Spirit, Science, and Space 2
STH TS 800 International Conflict & Ministry of Reconciliation 2 3
STH TS 804 The Religious Thinking of Howard Thurman 1 2
STH TS 805 The Spirit and Art of Conflict Transformation 3
STH TS 806 Religion and Conflict Mediation 2 3
STH TS 810 Principles & Practices of Forgiveness 3
STH TS 818 Christian Thinking about Moral Decisions 1 2
STH TS 822 Ethical Leadership of Martin Luther King, Jr. 1 3
STH TS 829 Christian Ecological Ethics and Political Issues 2
STH TS 845 Christian Social Ethics 1 2
STH TS 854 BU Ethical Tradition 1
STH TS 862 Global Ethics in Cultural Contexts 2
STH TS 863 Ethical Leadership and African American Moral Traditions 1 3
STH TS 867 Christianity and Ecology in Community Contexts 2
STH TS 877 Principles & Practices of Restorative Justice 3
STH TS 894 Being Church in the 21st Century: Congregational Clinic 3
STH TS 896 Religion, Economics & the Common Good 2
STH TS 899 Sacred Earth: Indigenous People’s Ecological Traditions 1 2
STH TS 929 Christian Ecological Ethics and Political Issues Doctoral
STH TS 950 History of the Social Teachings of the Churches Doctoral
STH TS 951 Contemporary Social Teachings of the Christian Churches Doctoral
STH TS 957 Seminar: The Church and Human Rights Doctoral
STH TS 961 History of Western Ethics and Social Philosophy Doctoral
STH TS 962 Global Ethics in Cultural Contexts Doctoral
STH TT 731 Theology & World Religions 1
STH TT 732 History of Christian Theology 1
STH TT 733 Constructive Theology 1
STH TT 802 The Quest for God and the Good 1
STH TT 803 Resurrection: Eschatology for the 21st Century 1
STH TT 806 Theology and Literature 1
STH TT 808 Zen Buddhism 1
STH TT 811 Mysticism & Philosophy: Medieval Jewish Perspectives 1
STH TT 813 Religion and Science: Theology of Entanglement 1
STH TT 815 Introduction to Chinese Religion 1
STH TT 816 Atheisms and Theology 1
STH TT 818 The Holy Spirit 1
STH TT 819 Institute of Philosophy and Religion 1
STH TT 821 Topics in Philosophy and Religion 1
STH TT 825 John Wesley’s Theology Today 1
STH TT 828 Liberal Evangelical Christianity 1
STH TT 832 Paul Tillich 1
STH TT 833 Religion and Science
STH TT 837 Doing Theology in a Global Context 1 2
STH TT 838 Religious Thought 1
STH TT 840 Images of Christ in World Christianity 1 2
STH TT 841 Christian Encounters with Hinduism 1 2
STH TT 842 Lab Placement 2
STH TT 844 War and the Human 2
STH TT 845 Spirituality, Medicine, and Health 2
STH TT 849 Queer Theory and Theology 1 2
STH TT 852 Theological Thinking for Everyday Life and Ministry 1 3
STH TT 854 Classic Jewish Thought 1
STH TT 855 Theology of Christian Mysticism 1
STH TT 856 Preaching to the Modern World: Preaching Theological Challenges 2 3
STH TT 857 Postmodern Theology and Spirituality 1
STH TT 858 Theologies of Dialogue and Comparative Theology 1 2
STH TT 861 Varieties of Religious Naturalism 1
STH TT 862 Theologies of Liberation 1 2
STH TT 865 The Religious Dimensions of Whitehead’s Thought 1
STH TT 866 Feminist and Womanist Theologies 1 2
STH TT 871 Science Literacy and Boundary Questions 1 2
STH TT 872 Science Literacy and Boundary Questions 2 2
STH TT 874 Contemporary Theological Systems 1
STH TT 889 Theologies of Sexual Identity 1 2
STH TT 890 Topics in Speculative Philosophy: The Axiology of Thinking 1
STH TT 898 Theology and Trauma 2
STH TT 899 Schleiermacher 1
STH TT 901 Core Texts and Motifs: Western Traditions Doctoral
STH TT 902 Core Texts and Motifs: Eastern Traditions Doctoral
STH TT 911: The Rise of Neo-Confucianism: Daoxue and Beyond Doctoral
STH TT 913: Religion and Science: Theology of Entanglement Doctoral
STH TT 923 Philosophical Cosmology Doctoral
STH TT 925 Topics in Speculative Philosophy Doctoral
STH TT 928 Theology Proseminar Doctoral
STH TT 929 Proseminar in Comparative Theology Doctoral
STH TT 932 Paul Tillich Doctoral
STH TT 934 Schleiermacher Doctoral
STH TT 945 Spirituality, Medicine, and Health Doctoral
STH TT 946 Advanced Systematic Theology I: God and Creation Doctoral
STH TT 947 Advanced Systematic Theology II: The Human Condition Doctoral
STH TT 948 Advanced Systematic Theology III: Sanctification and Religious Life Doctoral
STH TT 949 Hermeneutics for Preaching and Teaching Doctoral
STH TT 956 Preaching to the Modern World: Preaching Theological Challenges Doctoral
STH TT 961 Varieties of Religious Naturalism Doctoral
STH TT 966 Feminist & Womanist Theologies Doctoral
STH TT 974 Religious Experience Doctoral
STH TT 998 Theology and Trauma Doctoral
STH TX 800 Magical Texts: Literature & Practice 1
STH TX 801 Confucian Religion 1
STH TX 802 Buddhism in America 1 2
STH TX 806 Readings in Classical Hebrew 1
STH TX 811 Gender in Medieval Christian Mysticism 1 2
STH TX 812 The Heretical Jew 1 2
STH TX 814 Islam and the West 1 2
STH TX 815 Archaeology in the Holy Land 1
STH TX 816 Traditional African Religions in the Diaspora 1 2
STH TX 818 Jewish Mysticism 1
STH TX 820 The Holy City: Jerusalem in Time, Space, and Imagination 1
STH TX 822 History of Judaism 1
STH TX 823 Classic Jewish Thought 1
STH TX 824 Rabbinic Literature 1
STH TX 825 Topics in South Asian Religions 1
STH TX 826 Topics in Religion and Literature 1
STH TX 827 Topics in American Religion 1
STH TX 828 The Modern Jew 1 2
STH TX 830 Topics in Ancient Christianity 1
STH TX 831 Topics in Religion and the Visual Arts 2
STH TX 834 Dead Sea Scrolls 1
STH TX 835 Judaism in the First Century 1
STH TX 836 Women, Gender, and Islam 1 2
STH TX 837 Gender and Judaism 1 2
STH TX 838 Atlantic History 1
STH TX 839 Representations of Muhammad 1
STH TX 841 Hermeneutics 1
STH TX 842 Magic, Science, and Religion 1
STH TX 843 Islam in Global Perspective 2
STH TX 844 Islamic Mysticism: Sufism 1
STH TX 845 Islamic Law 1
STH TX 846 Problem of Evil 1
STH TX 847 Muslim Societies: An Interdisciplinary History 1
STH TX 848 Zionism and the State of Israel 1 2
STH TX 849 Religious Thought in America 1
STH TX 850 Philosophy of Religion 1
STH TX 853 The Quran 1
STH TX 854 Religion and the Problem of Tolerance 2
STH TX 855 Religion and Politics in South Asia 2
STH TX 856 Modern Islam 1 2
STH TX 858 Oral Tradition as Verbal Art 2
STH TX 859 Jewish Bioethics 2
STH TX 860 Daoist Religion 1
STH TX 861 Wisdom Tradition in Ancient Israel and Judaism 1
STH TX 862 Chinese Medicine 1 2
STH TX 863 Hinduism in America 2
STH TX 864 Early Christian Women 1
STH TX 866 American Catholic Narrative 2
STH TX 867 Topics in Religion and Literature in East Asia 1
STH TX 868 Symbol, Myth, and Ritual 1
STH TX 869 Science and Christianity 2
STH TX 871 Topics in Medieval Religious Culture 1
STH TX 873 Antisemitism 1
STH TX 874 Religion and International Relations 2
STH TX 875 Culture, Society, and Religion in South Asia 2
STH TX 876 Midrash: Classical Rabbinic Biblical Interpretation 1
STH TX 878 Buddhist Literature 1
STH TX 879 Maimonides 1
STH TX 880 Topics in East Asian Religions 1
STH TX 881 Rumi and Persian Sufi Poetry 1
STH TX 883 Religion in Pre-Colonial Africa 1
STH TX 884 The Holocaust 1
STH TX 887 Anthropology of Religion 1
STH TX 888 Dante’s Hell 1
STH TX 889 Moses and the Origin of Monotheism 1
STH TX 890 New Testament Literature 1
STH TX 891 Critique of Religion 1
STH TX 892 Philosophical Approaches to Religion 1
STH TX 893 Topics in Religion and Sexuality 2
STH TX 896 American Jewish Experiences 2
STH TX 897 Islamic Theology and Philosophy 1
STH TX 898 Indian Philosophies of Religion 1
STH TX 899 Representations of the Holocaust in Literature and Film 1 2
STH TY 704 Intro to Pastoral Care and Counseling 3
STH TY 803 Psychology of Religion 2
STH TY 806 Theories of Human Development 2
STH TY 811 Object Relations and the Study of Religion 2
STH TY 814 Womanist Psychologies of Religion 2
STH TY 821 Psychoanalysis and Spirituality 2
STH TY 826 Psychodynamics of Marriage and Family 2
STH TY 842 Pastoral Psychology of Healing 2
STH TY 854 Pastoral Theology and Psychology 2
STH TY 855 Pastoral Care and Community Justice 2
STH TY 857 African American Pastoral Theology 2 3
STH TY 864 Pastoral Psychology: The Self 2
STH TY 870 Pastoral Psychology of Groups 2 3
STH TY 901 Counseling Psychology of Religion Doctoral
STH TY 903 Psychology of Religion Doctoral
STH TY 906 Theories of Human Development Doctoral
STH TY 911 Object Relations and the Study of Religion Doctoral
STH TY 926 Psychodynamics of Marriage and Family Doctoral
STH TY 964 Pastoral Psychology: The Self Doctoral
STH TZ 803 Humanities Approaches to Religion 1
STH TZ 911 Research Internship Doctoral
STH TZ 912 Jr. Teaching Internship Doctoral
STH TZ 913 Sr. Teaching Internship Doctoral
CAS HI 868 Science and American Culture 1 2
CAS HI 869 Science & Christianity in Europe and North America Since 1500 1
CFA MU 640 Composer Arvo Pärt 1
CFA MU 740 Topics in Music and Liturgy: The English Tradition 3
GRS PH 643 Philosophy of Mind 1 2 3
GRS PH 670 Philosophy of Physics 1 2
GRS PH 672 Philosophy of Biology 1 2
GRS PH 871 Philosophy of Science 1 2
GRS RN 796 Social Science Approaches to Religion Doctoral
MET AR 550 Raising Funds and Grant Writing for Nonprofit Organizations 3
MET AR 711 Capital Campaigns 3
MET AR 723 Individual Fundraising 3
MET AR 750 Financial Management for Nonprofits 3
SSW CP 770 Clinical Practice with Individuals 2 3
SSW CP 771 Clinical Practice with Groups 2 3
SSW CP 772 Clinical Practice with Families 2 3
SSW CP 803 Clinical Practice and Trauma 2 3
SSW FE 803 Field Education III 2 3
SSW FE 804 Field Education IV 2 3
SSW HP 735 Implications of Racism for the Practice of Social Work 2 3
SSW HP 744 Spirituality and Social Work Practice 2 3
SSW MP 759 Communities and Organizations: Analysis and Intervention 2 3
SSW MP 773 Human Services Management 2 3
SSW MP 775 Strategic Management, Community Organizing 2 3
SSW MP 781 Community Organizing 2 3
SSW MP 783 Planning and Program Development 2 3
SSW SP 741 Social Work Practice Ethics 2 3