RELIGIOUS STUDIES

5540 US History 3: American Pop Cultural Studies (11, 12)

2.5 Credits 40 Minutes, 1 Semester This highly interdisciplinary survey course will examine modern American History through the lens of popular culture. Throughout United States history, pop culture has both reflected and helped to shape society’s values. Students will look primarily at film, music, television, and other forms of mass entertainment to examine how popular culture has informed ideas about history, politics, race, gender, fears, war, and much more. Skills emphasized and practiced include analytical reasoning and writing, interpreting and challenging media and written sources, and engaging in peer discussions using technology. Prerequisite: Students must have taken or are currently taking, U.S. History II. (NCAA, Communications Concentration)

5550 Civics: Active Citizenship in the 21st Century (11, 12)

2.5 Credits 40 Minutes, 1 Semester American citizens enjoy the democratic privilege of having a say in the public policy decisions that impact their lives, and the guaranteed right to express their opinions and beliefs to those entrusted with the power to make such decisions. The purpose of this course is to prepare students to take advantage of this privilege and exercise these rights in this increasingly challenging era of “fake news” and unlimited ability to publish information on the Internet. Emphasis will be placed on providing students the necessary knowledge of the decision-making process, and on building communication skills. Students will have the opportunity to investigate public policy issues that matter most to them, find and evaluate sources of information, and develop strategies and skills to impact decision making. The goals of this course include not only preparing students to be active citizens, but also to prepare students for the research and communication expectations of college. (NCAA, Communications Concentration)

RELIGIOUS STUDIES

6100/6110 Religion 1: The Revelation of Jesus Christ in Scripture (9)

5 Credits 80 Minutes, 1 Semester With a thematic approach, students become familiar with the origins of faith, the convictions of key Biblical figures and the life and teachings of Jesus. This knowledge is used to assist students in reflecting on their own religious beliefs and as a vehicle to help them understand the past and meet their responsibilities in the future as people of faith.

6200 Our Catholic Faith (Religion 2) (10)

5 Credits 80 Minutes, 1 Semester The course is designed to help students understand the basics of the Catholic faith. They will explore the Apostles’ Creed, the Sacraments, prayer and personal morality. Students will investigate the sources of the Catholic faith and its application to their lives.

6300 Morality and Social Justice (Religion 3) (11)

5 credits 80 minutes, 1 Semester Students will learn how to make ethical, moral decisions with the guidance of an informed conscience. Students will also learn how to apply the seven principles of Catholic social teaching to contemporary social issues. These principles, rooted in Scripture, will help them to formulate and apply an authentic Christian response to unjust societal structures that threaten the dignity of the human person and the environment.

6320 Honors Religion 3 (Service) (11)

5 Credits 80 Minutes, 1 Semester The Honors Service Course is for students who enjoy community service. The course is open only to Juniors in the second semester, and they will focus on the Religion 3 curriculum in the Spring. Students will plan, organize and participate in service projects for the Notre Dame Community. This course will develop leadership skills useful in college and beyond. Acceptance into this course will involve an application process. Students will be expected to complete 50 hours of service per semester, up to half of

which can be earned at school, during the school day. (Communications Concentration)

6400 World Religions and Christian Vocation Religion 4 (12)

5 credits 80 minutes, 1 Semester This course will challenge students to understand what it means to respond to God’s call in their own lives through the single, married or priestly state. In a broader context, students will learn how people since the beginning of time have responded to the call of God through various world religions including Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Islam and Christianity. (Communications Concentration)

6410 Honors Religion 4 (Academic) (12)

5 Credits 80 Minutes, 1 Semester In addition to the basic Senior curriculum described in Religion 4, students will study philosophies related to each unit. An interest in the search for meaning and a willingness to analyze philosophical works are required. This course is recommended for students interested in an advanced academic approach to religious studies. Prerequisite: 90 average in Religion 3. (Communications Concentration, Applied Science Concentration)

6420 Honors Religion 4 (Service) (12)

5 Credits 80 Minutes, 1 Semester The Honors Service course is for students who enjoy doing community service. This course is open only to Seniors in the first semester and they will focus on the Religion 4 curriculum in the Fall. Students will plan, organize and participate in service projects for the Notre Dame community. This course will develop leadership skills useful in college and beyond. Acceptance into this course will involve an application process. Students will be expected to complete 50 hours of service per semester, up to half of which can be earned at school, during the school day. (Communications Concentration)

6500 Peer Leadership (10, 11)

2.5 credits 40 minutes, 1 Semester This elective is offered to Sophomores and Juniors in the Fall semester. It is designed to help students integrate classroom experience with school and community leadership. Students will learn how to effectively communicate with others to foster an environment of inclusion and service in the Notre Dame community while acting as mentors to members of the Freshmen class. The application process to join Peer Leadership must be completed by students in the spring of Freshman or Sophomore year. It is expected that Peer Leaders attend a 3-day Peer Leadership camp in the third week of July. (Communications Concentration)

6510/6515 Peer Leader Practicum (10, 11)

2.5 credits Period 9, 2 Semesters This companion course to the Peer Leadership elective, taken during the same academic year, requires completion of various service projects from July to June of the academic year. Students will meet several times with their teacher outside of the classroom to plan and complete projects whose primary goal is to foster a mentoring relationship between Peer Leaders and students of the freshman class while serving the wider Notre Dame community. This course will

receive a Pass/Fail grade.

6520 Introduction to Western Philosophical Thought (10,11,12)

2.5 Credits 40 Minutes, 1 Semester This course is an introduction to the methods, problems, and theories of the main branches of Western Philosophy and the fundamental questions raised in regard to reality, truth, power, meaning, purpose, and valid reasoning from ancient times to the present. The central themes of Ethics, Political Philosophy, Free Will & Determinism, Philosophy of Mind, Epistemology and Logic will be addressed, in a topical course format, organized around a set of key questions that invite conversation, analysis, and discussion among the students aimed at developing critical thinking skills. (NCAA, Applied Science Concentration)