ATTENTION: SAINT MICHAEL'S COLLEGE STUDENTS

THE102: Foundation of the
Catholic Doctrine

A Comprehensive Study in Apologetics and Fundamental Theology

THE102: Foundation of the Catholic Doctrine

Course Specifications

Course Title:
THE102: Foundation of the Catholic Doctrine

Level:
Associate Degree (100-level)

Credits: 3.0

(Payment Plans Are Available)

Registration Investment:

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Course Description:

This comprehensive theological course examines the rational foundations of Catholic faith through Fr. Joseph Clifford Fenton's acclaimed work on apologetics and fundamental theology.

The course covers proofs of God's existence and nature, cogent arguments demonstrating that the New Testament is a reliable historical document revealing Divine Revelation, and evaluation of New Testament miracles.

Students will explore how the Catholic Church was able to convert multitudes of people to a faith that made great demands on people, while offering mainly spiritual rewards of Saint Paul, establishing the credibility of Catholic doctrine.

Through rigorous philosophical and theological analysis, participants will master the intellectual tools necessary to articulate and defend the foundations of the Catholic faith in contemporary contexts.

Course Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

  • Articulate and evaluate classical philosophical proofs for the existence and attributes of God

  • Demonstrate mastery of fundamental theology as the rational foundation for Catholic doctrine

  • Assess the historical reliability and authenticity of the New Testament documents

  • Explain the relationship between natural reason and supernatural divine revelation

  • Analyze the evidential value of miracles in establishing the credibility of Christian claims

  • Defend the divine origin and mission of the Catholic Church through rational argumentation

  • Distinguish between natural knowledge of God and supernatural revelation

  • Apply principles of apologetics to contemporary challenges facing the Catholic faith

  • Understand the concept of motives of credibility in rational belief

  • Synthesize philosophical and theological arguments into coherent presentations of Catholic truth

Target Student:

This course is designed for:

  • Graduate students in theology, philosophy, or religious studies

  • Seminary students preparing for ordained ministry and pastoral work

  • Catholic educators and catechists seeking advanced theological formation

  • RCIA directors and adult faith formation coordinators

  • Apologists and evangelists desiring deeper intellectual foundations

  • Advanced undergraduate students majoring in theology or philosophy

  • Lay Catholics pursuing serious theological study and faith development

  • Those preparing for Catholic teaching or apologetic ministry

  • Religion instructors at the secondary or collegiate level

  • Individuals converting to Catholicism seeking intellectual grounding

  • Doctoral students specializing in fundamental theology or apologetics

Prerequisites:

  • Introduction to Catholic Theology or equivalent coursework

  • Basic Philosophy (including logic, epistemology, and metaphysics) or instructor approval

  • Familiarity with Sacred Scripture, particularly the New Testament

  • Understanding of basic Church history and doctrine

  • Reading comprehension and analytical skills at the graduate level

  • Willingness to engage rigorous philosophical and theological arguments

Course Curriculum

The course will cover the following major topics:

Part I: The New Dispensation and the Old Law

Module 01: The Work of Apologetics

Module 02: The Concept of Revelation

Module 03: The Characteristics of Revelation

Module 04: The Possibility of Revelation

Module 05: The Necessity of Revelation

Module 06: The Discernibility of Revelation

Module 07: The Process of Proof

Module 08: The Historical Evidence of Jesus of Nazareth

Module 09: The Claims of Jesus

Module 10: The Doctrinal Content in the Message of Jesus

Part II: The Trinity and Incarnation

Module 11: The Doctrinal Content in the Message of Jesus

Module 12: The Doctrinal Content in the Message of Jesus

Part III: The Redemption and the Church

Module 13: The Apostolic Witnesses

Module 14: The Holiness and Wisdom of Jesus

Module 15: The Testimony of Miracles

Module 16: The Resurrection

Module 17: The Witness of Prophecy

Module 18: The Church as a Motive of Credibility

Module 19: The Conclusion of Apologetics

Module 20: The Story of Apologetics

Materials Included

Course lessons, readings, and assignments in the portal, drawn from the course texts below.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church and Dei Verbum are read free online at vatican.va.

Assessment and Certification

The course is graded on a 1,000-point scale: sixteen written assignments (25 points each), ten graded discussion responses (10 points each), a Midterm Examination after Module 5 (100 points), a Scripture Analysis Paper (100 points), a Personal Integration Essay (100 points), and a Final Comprehensive Examination (200 points).

A passing score of 80 is required on both examinations.

On completing all requirements, students receive the Course Completion Credential for THE101.

Grading scale: A 93–100 · A− 90–92 · B+ 87–89 · B 83–86 · B− 80–82 · C+ 77–79 · C 73–76 · C− 70–72 · D+ 67–69 · D 63–66 · F below 63.

All written work in APA format (7th edition).

Enrollment and Policies

  • Asynchronous online — study on your own schedule, with 12 months of access from enrollment

  • Rolling enrollment — start at any time

  • Assignments are submitted through the course portal (.docx or .pdf), named LastName_FirstName_THE101_Assignment#.docx

  • Late submissions accepted up to 3 days, with a 10% penalty per day; work more than 3 days late receives zero credit

  • Saint Michael's maintains a strict honor code: plagiarism or academic dishonesty results in a zero for the assignment and referral under the college's Academic Integrity Policy

  • Instructor: Rev. Dr. Sean Alexander, Chancellor

Textbooks

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