The courses listed below for 2017-2018 are tentative and subject to change. They should not be taken to reflect official Graduate Theological Union catalog listing.
CRITICAL THEORY FOR RELIGIOUS LEADERS: A WRITING INTENSIVE COURSE (FALL 2017)
“Thinking begins in provocation” (Gilles Deleuze). Rich theoretical traditions call forth questions for religious leaders about how we make about how we make meaning, interpret history, form opinions, understand ourselves in relation to the world around us, meaning, interpret history, form opinions, understand ourselves in relation to the world around us, and decide how to act. In this introduction to critical theory, students engage key thinkers on contemporary culture, to critical theory, students engage key thinkers on contemporary culture, religion, and social change, as well as each other, in order to develop a theoretical toolbox and skills needed to read, think, and write effectively. After closely reading major texts in feminist thought, postcolonial thought, critical race
theory, and queer theory, students practice how to reconstruct arguments, consider historical/cultural context, develop one’s own position, and apply theory to religious leadership. This is a hybrid course, which meets Wednesdays 2:10-5:00pm, in a live video session, open to both high- and low-residence students. Highly recommended to SKSM students in their first term.
PREREQUISITES: None.
COMMUNITY INTERNSHIP INTEGRATIVE REFLECTION SEMINAR (FALL 2017 & SPRING 2018)
Students involved in community internships will meet together for reflection on their work, as it is only through the processes of theological reflection and critical reflection on experience that field work becomes field education. This class includes readings, discussions and writings and is designed to broaden and to deepen students’ analytic perspective on their field site contexts and on their roles as religious leaders and professionals. Students will be grow in their ability to think and learn in a praxis oriented way, that is, allowing situations of practice to deepen and challenge their academic knowledge about theo/alogies, and allowing their academic knowledge of theology to deepen and challenge their practice of leadership. In field-based experiences the depth of students’ learning depends entirely upon how well they can implement praxis oriented learning. This is a Hybrid course, using Adobe Connect technology, and can be taken for 1 or 2 semesters.
HEALTH ETHICS (JANUARY 2018)
Week-long intensive, Starr King School for the Ministry.
Health and medicine lie at the intersection of thea/ologies, morals, and our bodies. This course provides a foundation in bioethics and the complexities of health, illness and health care. Students develop the ability to apply ethical theory and biopolitical knowledge to public health and clinical issues. Topics include: end-of-life decision-making, the care of vulnerable populations, genetic/reproductive technologies, and organ donation. The course includes a laboratory component, in which students lead analysis of key concepts and ethical problems in order to produce valuable arguments for bioethical debate as well as pastoral leadership. This course has four components: (1) pre-reading and assessment; (2) a collaborative story-catching project; (3) week-long January intensive; and (4) a final exam or research paper.
Rev. Dr. Megan Ruth Visser 