jagienka | course conundrums

Alright, I'm getting closer to sorting out my class schedule for this semester. This is how it looks so far.

HDS2944: Meaning Making (Audit) - a required class that I need to take since I'm doing field ed this year, but I can audit it (although I still have to do all the work.

Johannine Writing in History and Theology - fulfills 1 of 3 'Scriptural Interpretation' classes I need to take
This course will study the Johannine writings (Gospel and Epistles) with a view to highlighting their distinctive literary and theological contribution to early Christianity. While the main focus will be on the Gospel and its reception the role of the Epistles will also be explored with regard to aspects of the history of the community. Issues such as the sources and cultural milieu of the writings, the relationship with other branches of contemporary Judaism and the historical dimension of the gospel will also be discussed.

African Religions - fullfills 1 of 3 'Other Religion' classes I need to take
This course is a basic introduction to the history and phenomenology of traditional religions of the African peoples. Using diverse methodological and theoretical approaches, the course will explore various forms of experiences and practices that provide a deep understanding and appreciation of the sacred meaning of African existence: myth, ritual arts, and symbols selected from West, East, Central, and Southern Africa. African indigenous religions encounter with Islam and Christianity; its revival in Europe and USA and its encounter with modernity.

(Looks interesting and outside my comfort zone/knowledge.)

Feminism and Catholicism: Bodies in Context - 99% sure I'm getting into this one, but I need the final okay from the prof.
This course will engage Catholic feminist theological and ethical positions that are in dialogue with, and that offer constructive proposals in response to, the Catholic magisterium's positions with respect to issues of body, sex, gender, and sexuality. It will provide an opportunity to gain critical appreciation of the history of Catholic feminist theological and ethical thought on these topics, as well as to develop analytical skills for interpreting and constructing theological and ethical claims. The course will, in contextualizing Catholic feminist work, engage other Christian feminist, mujerista, womanist, and queer theological as well as feminist and queer theoretical and postcolonial interventions on body, sex, gender, and sexuality.

(It's a fun class, pure and simple. I don't *need* to take it, it doesn't fulfill requirements, I just want to. :P )

Folklore and Mythology 114 : Embodied Expression/Expressive Body: Dance in Cultural Context - waiting to hear if I got into it (silly limited enrollment) - Might try to get it to count for 'Preaching & Worship Art of Ministry)
This seminar examines the ways in which dance creates and expresses ideas, values, and emotions of personal and cultural significance in ritual, theatrical and social contexts. By observing dance on film and in live performances, participating in dance workshops, and reading ethnographic, historical and theoretical texts, we attempt to understand the emergent meaning of dance from the perspective of both performers and spectators.

And then there's Latin. The choice right now is between the following two courses: (input allowed but might be ignored. :P)

Latin Bam : Latin Prose Selections (Late Antique and Medieval)
The course begins with a review of fundamentals and an introduction to the world of Medieval Latin. The reading consists first of short selections of biblical and patristic texts and later of extensive readings in a sixth/seventh century philosophical/scientific compendium, Isidore of Seville's Etymologiae, and in a selection from the voluminous opera of an early twelfth century scholar, Honorius Augustodunensis. The two main emphases will be on consolidating knowledge of syntax and on developing translation skills. Attention will also be paid to questions of style and artistry, as well as to cultural and historical contexts of the readings.

Readings in Christian Latin: Hildegard of Bingen and the Gospels
Reading and analysis of Hildegard of Bingen's \Expositiones evangeliorum/ with attention to genre, exegetical and homiletic tradition, intertextuality, and questions of gender and authority. Requirements include: secondary readings on Hildegard's works, medieval exegesis, monastic culture, medieval religious women; a research project based on the homilies' sources. Prerequisite: completion of an intermediate Latin course or the equivalent.

Scheduling wise, I prefer the second latin course - it only meets once a week on wednesday afternoons as opposed to mwf 9-10am. However, it strikes me as a more difficult course. Topic wise, I think I'd enjoy both of them. I think they'll both be a bit of a struggle, but really, I need to take one of them so I can finish my language requirement this semester. Oh, how I wish MDiv students could just take placement exams in languages for the requirement. The Hildegard course counts for Scriptural Interpretation & Arts of Ministry... I might be able to get the medeival latin to count as scripture, but I also need those silly arts of ministry classes. *scowls*

I'm also thinking of auditing:

History of Christian Thought: The Medieval West
The course will survey the main features of Christian theology from the 11th through the 15th centuries. We will focus on the particular genres, modes of argumentation, questions, and goals of theology as it emerges in multiple contexts within the medieval West.

I have most of the books for this class already, and other friends are auditing it as well, and it'd be nice to get the refresher.

So, yeah, I might just be insane. I think naamah's insanity is rubbing off on me. I'm definitely taking at least two of the courses Pass/Fail because that just makes things less stressful. The question is which two...

I am super thrilled about my field ed placement - I get to be pretty much the assistant chaplain at Suffolk University, working primarily with the Catholic grad students but also doing a lot of interfaith stuff. It should be fun and it seems like I get to do whatever I want there, which is nice and i'll be working closely with the Paulist Center which makes me smile.