Loyola University Chicago

Loyola University Chicago's Institute of Pastoral Studies (IPS) will begin offering courses leading toward the M.A. in Pastoral Studies via online distance-learning beginning with the Fall Semester. Students can take all or part of the 36-hour master's degree program through online courses.

Founded in 1964, IPS is one of the first and most prestigious education-for-ministry programs in the nation. It is one of the few university-based programs that offers an online curriculum identical to its on-campus courses. Students can pursue courses in Chicago daytime and evenings during the week, on weekends, and through intensive courses during the summer. Students are able to take as many as three courses online each semester. The courses are also available for non-degree seeking student.
 

The structured on line curriculum, designed to provide a solid first-degree experience in education for ministry, includes courses in scripture, pastoral theology, and ministerial skills, as well as concentrations in Youth Ministry, Spiritual Direction, Life-long Adult Religious Formation, Social Justice Ministry, and Healthcare Ministry. Required courses include:

IPS 570  Introduction to Theology and Ministry
IPS 402  Church and Its Mission
IPS 417  The Literature of Ancient Israel
IPS 416  Christian Origins: An Exploration of the New Testament
IPS 530  Christian Doctrine and Its History: Grace, Christ and the Spirit
IPS 541  Liturgy and the Christian Sacraments
IPS 553  Moral Theology and Catholic Social Teaching
IPS 555  Human Person and Psychological Development

CHURCH AND MISSION
(IPS 402-002)
Class #5105
Online
Instructor:  Heidi Russell
Based on the postmodern encounter of religion and science and the new view of cosmology that has resulted, this course proposes a new paradigm from which to understand the church and its ministries. This course involves us in communion as the heart of church, with attention to authentic human development. It examines the relationships of community and institutional structure and highlights the mission of the church to society. We focus on the church as an evolving experience of reform and its aftermath. Jesus to Augustine, Christendom, Tridentine Reform and Vatican II are the historical periods that anchor this course. The church is both product and transformer of culture--each age bringing new challenges. Entering as we are the third millennium this course will look at four contemporary themes: Feminization, Spiritualization, Globalization and the Next Generation seeing Catholic identity (one, holy, catholic and apostolic) from the perspective of a new (quantum) cosmology or story of the universe. We’ll explore how existing resources can be used to respond creatively to best teach and minister in new times, and identify new resources as needed.


THE LITERATURE OF ANCIENT ISRAEL
(IPS 417-001)
Class #3765
On line
Instructor:  Richard Ascough
The Hebrew Bible contains many texts written by diverse authors over a period of a millennium and held sacred by Jews and Christians.  It is a rich, diverse, and exciting collection from historical, literary, archeological, and theological perspectives.  In this course we will investigate all of these features of the Hebrew Bible and discover together the riches that the Hebrew Bible has not only for historical understanding but for present-day contexts of pastoral ministry and personal spiritual growth.  By utilizing the online learning environment and applying principles of student-centered learning we will highlight major turning points in the story of the people of Israel.  Each week students will use the course website to engage the material, the instructor, and one another in stimulating and thought-provoking exercises that will bring the Hebrew Bible to life.


CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING
(IPS 551-002)
Course #5111
On Line
Instructor:  Mary Elsbernd 
The Catholic social teachings tradition has been a "best kept secret." Yet this teaching has emerged from centuries of faith-based social action and practices as well as fostered and encouraged such action. This course on the social encyclicals explores key values and themes as well as the underlying theology and anthropology. The course also examines the social ethical method, the encyclical as a literary form, and the role of experience and practices in the development of the social encyclical tradition. Assigned readings focus on the social encyclicals themselves, with commentaries and a description of their historical context to aid understanding. Papers and participation in class based on assigned readings complete course components.
Required Texts:
---Himes, Kenneth R. (ed.). Modern Catholic Social Teaching. Commentaries and Interpretations. Washington D.C.: Georgetown University Press, 2005.
---Mich, Marvin L. Krier. Catholic Social Teachings and Movements. Mystic, CT: Twenty-Third Publications, 1998.
---O’Brien, David J. and Thomas A. Shannon. Catholic Social Thought. The Documentary Heritage. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1992.  (NOTE: The Encyclicals in this book will be available electronically so choose your preference.)


LITURGY AND THE CHRISTIAN SACRAMENTS
(IPS 541-002)
Class #3658
On line
Instructor:  Robert O'Gorman
Humans search for ultimate meaning. This is perhaps the difference between "man" and "man's best friend." Since we can't touch the ultimate, and can't fully comprehend it, we turn to symbols which bridge the gap between what we know and what our Divine instinct senses and seeks. Sacraments are the church’s way of making this connection between the worldly and the sacred (body and spirit) making our awareness of this partnership real. The Catholic sacramental vision of the world sees God in and through all things. God gives us the ultimate sacrament in Jesus, with us in human form. The Church - the body of Christ’s presence - is "the sacrament of Jesus."
The course will look at the seven Catholic sacraments from three perspectives: 1) what is a sacrament, 2) what is the place of sacraments in our life and in the human story 3) how do we live them?
Scope of the Course's Objectives:
-Gain a Deepened Understanding of the Organic as well as Catholic Nature of Sacraments and Sacramental Life -Acquire a Greater Sensitivity of Sacramental Awareness
-Formulate a Personal Theology of Sacraments
-Reclaim the Vatican II Sense of the Immanence of the Sacraments
-Refocus the Spotlight of the Sacraments on the People’s Lives
-Grow in the Ability to Teach, Counsel and Administer and the Sacraments
Dimensions of the Course:
-Organic Nature of Sacraments and Ritual
-The nature of symbol
-Catholic sacramental imagination (Jesus, Mary, Church, and Sacrament)

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION, EVANGELIZATION, AND CULTURES
(IPS 485-002)
Class #5272
On Line
Instructor:  Eileen Daily
This course will explore the various ways that religion and culture interact, and their implications and ramifications for evangelical and religious education. How culture affects the living and learning of religion and how religion contributes to culture will be investigated.
Contemporary cultural influences such as the arts, literature, cybernetics, economics, globalization, and individualism will be explored. Expectations various cultural precincts have for religious/spiritual enterprises will be noted as well as the expectations religious/spiritual precincts have for cultures.
Attention will be given to the way Roman Catholic catechetical curricula have been shaped by Catholicism's characteristic mode of interacting with cultures.
Course participants will achieve a deeper understanding of the ways cultures affect religion and the ways religion affects cultures, and how these interactions affect evangelization and religious education.

SPIRITUAL PATHS AND WORLD RELIGIONS
(IPS 403-002)
On Line
Class Number: 5459
Instructor:  Heidi Russell
Greater knowledge and understanding of religious and spiritual traditions is an absolute necessity today. Recent international events, the cybernetic age, and worldwide immigration patterns as well as the frequency of interfaith marriages and the popularity of interfaith prayer services contribute to a developing new context for church ministers and service professionals. This course, in addition to presenting the origins, histories, beliefs, scriptures, and rituals of the world's religions, focuses on enhancing spirituality and renewing religious identity in the contemporary world. Resources available to parish ministers, hospital chaplains, religious educators and social service professionals will be highlighted as part of this course.

THEOLOGIES OF SUFFERING
(IPS 404-001)
(IPS 404-002)
On Line
Class Number
Instructor: Daniel Lunney
This course will focus on theologies of suffering and their implications for pastoral care and ministry.  The course will explore the experience of suffering and the diversity of theological discourse surrounding such experience.  Specific attention will be given to the role of pastoral counseling.  The course seeks to be a seminar in practical theology, a place where students and instructor can engage in serious conversation about suffering and its possible meaning for ministry.  Lectures, an accent on group discussion around a rich bibliography and weekly student reflection essays constitute the body of the course.
Course Objectives:
-To survey the literature of human suffering in various cultures with particular attention to Christian theologies of human suffering and evil.
-To build one’s own theology of suffering and care.
-To develop one’s individual skills in understanding the possible meaning or meaningless of suffering and death.
-To gain knowledge about possible strategies designed to aid in the ministry of pastoral care.
-To think, speak, and write carefully and clearly about human suffering and the possible ways in which ministry can be helpful to person experiencing the presence of the mystery of suffering in their lives, a universal reality.
-To grow in tolerance regarding the diversity of theological perspectives related to issues of human suffering and death.

CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE AND ITS HISTORY:  GRACE, CHRIST AND THE SPIRIT
(IPS 531-001)
On Line
Class Number:  5440
Instructor:  Robert Ludwig
Today many Christians have little or no understanding of how the New Testament experience became translated into Christian doctrine; many have little or no insight into how Christian theology today understands the dynamics of sin and grace, the notion of salvation, the role of Jesus Christ as understood by Christian faith.  This course is an overview of fundamental Christian theology--from the New Testament, to Augustine, to Aquinas, to Karl Rahner--focused on the core doctrines of grace, Christ, and Trinity.  Students will pursue an understanding of the experiential foundations of core Christian doctrine and see the evolution of interpretation from early centuries to the present.  Much of the course will explore contemporary, pastoral understandings of Christian doctrine.  We will move between experience and doctrine and back to experience, helping students gain insight into both as they come to understand the dynamic process that leads from experience to doctrine-and, in theology, back again to experience and to ministry.  What theologians refer to as "soteriology"--theology of salvation--is the heart of this course, which will involve significant reading and writing assignments as well as in-class discussions.  This is a basic theology course for anyone involved in Christian ministry.

CHURCH DOCTRINES ON CATECHESIS AND RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
(IPS 487-002)
On line
Class Number:  5454
Instructor: Daniel Gast
After a brief survey of the history of catechesis prior to the 20th century, we will trace the development of catechetical ministry in the United States with reference to the universal and national Church documents that supported, challenged, and continue to influence the work.  The course is designed for catechetical practitioners.  Assignments and discussions of the document will draw insight from four critical filters: tradition; culture; history; present practice.  Participants will develop electronic portfolios of catechetical resources that serve professional and ministerial applications in parish and educational settings.
Required Texts:
---Mongoven, Anne Marie.  The Prophetic Spirit of Catechesis: How We Share the Fire in our Hearts.  Pailist Press, 1999.  (Peprback).
Participants are expected to have access to these major documents:
---Catechism of the Catholic Church (Second Edition)
---Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults
---United States Catholic Catechism for Adults
---Sharing the Light of Faith: the National Catechetical Directory.  USCC, 1979.
Some documents to be studied are accessible on-line.  There will be a packet of readings prepared by the instructor available in class and provided at cost.