August
21, 2003
Featured
in The
Evangelist
Through
the help of Web-based technology and the University of Notre
Dame's Satellite Theological Education Program (STEP), Catholics
can enroll in academic and sometimes interactive studies
about their faith.
The
courses are designed to help people strengthen their individual
grasp of Scripture, doctrine and spiritual studies.
"We
want to place the academic resources of the University of
Notre Dame in the service of the whole Church," said
STEP director Thomas C. Cummings.
All
of the courses are developed by professors from Notre Dame's
Department of Theology, and the topics include Scripture,
Eucharist, Christology, the Creed, Ethics, and Liturgy.
Courses are six weeks in duration and require no advanced
computer or theology training.
Students
enrolled in STEP represent more than 80 different dioceses
in the United States. STEP has also welcomed students and
applicants from Botswana, Canada, England, Ireland and Vietnam.
Two
basic types of courses are offered. Open Enrollment courses
include "Creation: Christian Doctrine for Catechists,"
"The Creed: We Believe... ," "Images of Christ
Through The Ages," "Liturgy: A Guide for the Perplexed,"
"An Introduction to the New Testament" and "On
Prayer." The courses last six weeks and cost $79 per
course. They are offered several times a year.
Limited
Enrollment courses, which are offered only once a year,
last six weeks and include "The American Catholic Experience,"
"American Catholicism since Vatican II: Challenge of
Change," "The Christian Conscience and Ethical
Dilemmas: Guidance from the Catholic Tradition," "Eucharist:
Source and Summit of the Christian Life," "From
Proclamation to Scripture: An Introduction to Biblical Literary
Forms in the Gospels," "An Introduction to the
Letters of St. Paul," and "An Introduction to
Sacraments." Limited Enrollment course tuition is $134.
For
more information, go to http://step.nd.edu.
