Marquette Announces New Major in Catholic Theology Released: Nov. 14, 2006 Marquette University will offer a new major in Catholic Theology beginning in fall 2007. The major will replace an existing teaching major in religious studies and will focus on theological training for Catholic school teachers. Theological training for high school theology teachers has been part of the national discussion for more than a decade.  The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), published, in 2003, a new edition of the National Directory for Catechesis called upon Catholic colleges and universities to develop theological education programs that meet the needs for religious instruction of Catholic youth.  In 2005, the USCCB published “Renewing Our Commitment to Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools in the Millennium.”  It said: “We must provide a sufficient number of programs of the highest quality to recruit and prepare our future diocesan and local school administrators and teachers so that they are knowledgeable in matters of our faith, are professionally prepared, and are committed to the church.”  The guideline indicates that such programs should be created in a collaborative manner between the educational institution and diocesan educational leadership.  The Marquette program does just that. Dr. Michael McKinney, dean of the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences at Marquette, said the major in Catholic Theology was developed in conjunction with the Archdiocese of Milwaukee’s newly revised curriculum for theology in Catholic high schools and will meet the standards for high school theology teachers that the archdiocese is expected to set. “Curriculum standards are being proposed in dioceses across the country, and yet this is one of the first programs developed specifically for such teachers,” said Rev. John Laurance, S.J., chair of the Theology Department.  “Our program addresses an urgent need for improved theological and religious education that has been identified in the last decade or so.”   Laurance said the department’s more general theology major introduces students to Christian and Jewish traditions, as well as world religions. The Curriculum The major in Catholic Theology will require 36 credits in theology, including eight required courses, Introduction to Theology; Old Testament Overview; New Testament Overview; Theology through the Centuries; Jesus the Christ; Church; Sacraments; Special Topics in Moral Theology, three Theology electives and a Theology seminar. The major is designed to prepare students to become effective teachers and, therefore, all students must also take 19 credits in the School of Education.  Those required courses are: Introduction to Schooling in a Diverse Society, Psychology of Human Development in Children and Adolescents in a Diverse Society, Using Technology for Learning and Assessment, Literacy in the Content Areas, Teaching in the Middle School, and Strategies in Religious Education.  The School of Education courses also require a total of 80 hours of field work in the classroom. Office of Marketing and Communication Contacts Brigid O'Brien Miller Director of University Communication Phone: (414) 288-7445 Send e-mail Anne Broeker Sr. Media Relations Specialist Phone: (414) 288-0286 Send e-mail