Moral Theology (Th 201)

Course Requirements 

Catalog description:   Introduces moral foundations and selective ethical issues individual and social morality on the basis of Christian revelation.   

Required Texts: 

Catechism of the Catholic Church. 2^nd ed., (Vatican: Liberia Editrice Vaticana, 2000).   

Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (Washington, D.C. : United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2006).         

Mark Lowery, Living the Good Life:  What Every Catholic Needs to Know about Moral Issues (Ann Arbor:  Servant Publications, 2003).

Miscellaneous texts that will will be distributed in class and/or are available at this website. 

 

All students are required to have internet access.   

Every registered student can have internet access free of charge through an account on the Caldwell College network (the account also includes an email address).  The network account is provided automatically to full-time students and upon request to Continuing Education students.   A valid college account provides, and is required for, access to all campus computers. 

Note:  There is no need for students in this course who have an internet account with another provider to obtain or to use a Caldwell account unless they want to use a Caldwell College computer. 

 

Course Objectives:

1.  To investigate the nature of the human person, human happiness, human acts and the good life as they are evident to reason.

2.  To examine the goal of human life and how it is attained as these have been revealed in Christ.

3.  To explore fundamental questions such as: a) what is happiness and where it is to be found; b) what is the nature and purpose of human freedom and what is itss relationship to moral responsibility; c) what makes an act morally good or morally bad; d) what is conscience, e) how can conscience know the truth about the moral quality of particular acts, and  f) what is necessary to inherit eternal life.

4.  To learn the principles of moral decision making.

5.  To gain an understanding of both “natural law” and the objections which are raised against it.   

6.  To understand the moral theory called “proportionalism,” and the objections which are raised against it. 

7.  To learn the specifics of good moral conduct in the various spheres human life as evident to reason and as taught by the Christian religion and the Catholic faith. 

8.  That students make progress in reading and thinking critically, and writing correctly and with precision.

 

Student Objectives:

1.  To arrive on time for all classes.

2.  To read all assignments carefully.

3.  To look up all words that are not understood, to re-read anything that is not comprehended on the first reading, to make a note of all questions that arise in the course of reading the assignment, and to come to class prepared to discuss the readings.   

3.  To pay attention in class and to take good notes.

4.  To hand all assignments in on time.

5.  To pass all quizzes and exams.

 

Assessments and Grading

1.  Quizzes = 30%

Regular quizzes (announced and unannounced) will test mastery of material already presented and satisfactory completion of the reading assignments.   

Unless otherwise stated, there will be one quiz every week on course material and reading assignments.  These regular quizzes will require students to answer questions without access to texts or notes.

 In addition there will be several open-note timed quizzes -- that is, quizzes in which students are able to use their class notes to find the answers but will have a limited time to do so.  These quizzes will be more frequent in the beginning of the semester and will continue until the instructor is satisfied that students have acquired, and are exercising, the skills of taking and organizing the notes they need in order to master the course material.

 

2.  Short Papers = 20%

Ten one-page papers will be assigned.  Papers must conform to the “Rules for Papers.”

Papers will be graded on the accuracy, thoughtfulness, and fulfillment of the assignment according to the instructions given.  No A’s will be given to papers that have more than one grammar or spelling error.   And any violation of the college’s or the instructor’s policy on Academic Integrity will be rigorously enforced.  See below. 

Papers must be given to the instructor as hard copies unless permission has been granted in advance to submit the assignment in electronic form.   Students who have an excused absence for the class in which a paper is due may presume permission to submit the paper electronically. 

3.  Midterm Exam = 20%.     

4.  Cumulative final exam = 25%

5.  Class Participation = 5%.

The class participation grade is determined according to the character and quality of a student’s presence and participation in class.  Absences, tardiness and the inability to answer the questions on the reading for a given day or to demonstrate comprehension of material already taught in class count against this grade.   The instructor reserves the right to call upon students whether or not they volunteer to answer.                

 

Grading, Attendance and Classroom policies

Grade scale: A = 93-100%, A- = 90-92%, B+ = 87-89%, B = 84-86%, B- = 80-83%, C+ = 77-79%, C = 70-76%, D+ = 67-69%, D = 60-66%, F =  below 60%.

Note:  When a letter grade is given for a particular task, the mean numerical value is used for averaging.  For example, if a student receives a B+, an 88 is entered on the computer.  If a student receives a minus grade for which there is no minus in the College system, the lowest numerical grade assigned to that letter is entered on the computer.  For example, a C- is entered as a 70.

 

1.  Class participation. Students are expected to attend and be on time for all classes. Unexcused absences affect the class participation grade which will be reduced one full grade (for example, from B to C) for every unexcused absence after the first absence in a class that meets once per week, or for every two unexcused absences after the second absence in classes that meet twice per week.      Likewise, tardiness will count against the participation grade -- three unexcused tardies count as one unexcused absence.  The instructor reserves the right to impose a heavier penalty for unexcused tardiness that exceeds 7 minutes. 

 

NOTE

a.  For an absence or tardy to be excused, the student must produce written documentation from a college official, doctor, or law enforcement agency. 

b.  There will be no make ups or extra time given to students who miss a quiz because of unexcused lateness to class and no extra time for those who begin a quiz late because they are tardy to class without a written excuse.   

c.  Written Work.  Quizzes and other written class work must be done in blue or black pen.  Nothing written in pencil or a light colored ink will be accepted.  Homework assignments (papers, etc.) must be typed in dark ink.   

 

3  All make-up work is entirely the student’s responsibility – finding out whether work is missing, submitting it, etc.  When students miss class it is entirely their responsibility to find out what was missed and to learn of any changes in assignments (reading, quizzes, papers) that may have been announced in class.  Missing one class is never an excuse for not being properly prepared for another class.  In addition:   

 

a.  Under normal circumstances there will be no opportunity to make up missed quizzes.  Rather, the lowest quiz grade will be dropped at the end of the semester in classes that meet once per week and the lowest two quiz grades will be dropped in sections that meets twice per week.   If there is a case in which a student in the night (which meets once per week) has excused absences for two missed quizzes, he may make up the second missed quiz if he makes an arrangement to do so within seven days of returning to school.  Likewise if a student in the day class (which meets twice per week) has excused absences for three missed quizzes, he may make up the third missed quiz if he makes an arrangement to do so within seven days of retuning to the college. 

2.  There is a one day (twenty-four hours) grace period for papers.  Papers which come in after that will lose a full grade for every day later. Any paper which is handed in after the papers have been returned to the class will receive an F regardless of its quality.  An F, however, is always much better than a zero. 

 

4.  Attention student athletes and others who have a college excuse to  miss class:  College excuses for class absences will, of course, be honored.   However, students excused from one class are expected to arrive at the next class completely prepared.  That is, no extensions will be given for work or quizzed due or given on a day an athlete is in class.   

 

3. Absences. Students who wish to inform the instructor that they will miss a particular class or, having missed a class, wish to explain the reasons should do so by email NOT phone.   Such messages are to be sent to DrPristas@aol.com. 

 

4. Academic Integrity. Caldwell College’s policies with respect to Academic Integrity will be strictly enforced.  Any student who is found to be in violation will receive a zero for the assignment involved in the offense and be reported to the Office of the Vice-President and Dean for Academic Affairs where a file of offenders is kept.  A second violation (whether in this course or in connection with a violation in another course) will result in an FX in this course (failure due to violation of academic integrity) and could result in suspension or dismissal from the College.              Students who have questions about what constitutes a violation of the policy should consult the college catalog, the instructor, their academic advisors or the writing center. 

NOTE:  It is possible that particular assignments in this course will involve stricter penalties – as it is the instructor’s right to establish.  These will be announced at the time the assignment is given. 

 

5. Cell phones, Snacks, Beverages, Tobacco and Hats. Students must turn their cell phones and pagers off before entering the classroom.  Students found to be text messaging will be asked to leave the class and marked absent for the day.  If a student needs to be available to receive an emergency phone call, he or she must alert the instructor to his circumstances before class begins.  Beverages and snacks which can be consumed quietly and unobtrusively are permitted.  Hats may not be worn.   Further, all students will be required to remove all headgear before beginning a quiz or test.

 

6. Coming late and leaving early.  Students who arrive late are to enter quietly and take the empty seat nearest the door.  Any student who arrives after attendance has been taken must see the instructor after class to ensure that their presence is recorded in the roll book. Students whose tardiness or absence is unexcused will NOT be given make-ups or extra time on quizzes, tests or exams.   Students who must leave early are asked to tell the instructor before class begins, to sit near the door and to exit quietly.

 

7. Getting up, etc. Students are to come to class prepared to spend 75-90 minutes in class without getting up or leaving the room for any reason – unless an emergency arises.   With respect to any student who leaves the room for reasons that cannot be objectively verified, the instructor reserves the right to forbid the person to return to class before the end of the period.   No student will, under any circumstances, be permitted to leave the classroom during a quiz, test, or exam without first handing in the testing instrument. 

 

8.  Accommodation of Disabilities:  Any student who has a documented disability and is in need of academic accommodations must contact the Office of Disability Services (973-618-3645) and notify the professor of this course.  Students are required to provide written documentation of their disability in order to be eligible for accommodations.  Accommodations are individualized and in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

 

9.  Other matters.  Students are to conduct themselves in a courteous and professional manner at all times.