Module #1 Introduction to the Early Christian Church Origins of Christianity, the Apostolic Age, and the spread of Christianity in the 1st century
Module #2 The Life and Teachings of Jesus Christ Exploring the life, ministry, and teachings of Jesus and their significance for the development of Christianity
Module #3 The Apostles and the Early Christian Communities The role of the Apostles, the establishment of early Christian communities, and the spread of Christianity in the Mediterranean world
Module #4 Persecution and Martyrdom in the Early Church The Roman Empires persecution of Christians, the impact of martyrdom on the Church, and the development of Christian theology
Module #5 The Emergence of the Catholic Church The establishment of the Church hierarchy, the role of the bishop, and the development of Catholic doctrine
Module #6 The Council of Nicaea and the First Ecumenical Councils The significance of the Council of Nicaea, the development of the Nicene Creed, and the importance of ecumenical councils
Module #7 The Church Fathers and Early Christian Theology The contributions of key Church Fathers, such as St. Augustine and St. Jerome, to the development of Christian theology
Module #8 The Rise of Monasticism The emergence of monasticism, the role of monks and nuns, and the impact on the Church and society
Module #9 The Conversion of the Roman Empire The conversion of Emperor Constantine, the end of persecution, and the Churchs relationship with the Roman Empire
Module #10 The Church in the Early Middle Ages The Churchs role in the development of Western civilization, the rise of feudalism, and the Investiture Controversy
Module #11 The Carolingian Renaissance and the Revival of Learning The cultural and intellectual achievements of the Carolingian Renaissance and its impact on the Church
Module #12 The East-West Schism and the Byzantine Church The Great Schism of 1054, the differences between Eastern and Western Christianity, and the development of the Byzantine Church
Module #13 The Crusades and the Medieval Church The causes and consequences of the Crusades, the role of the Church, and the impact on Christian-Muslim relations
Module #14 The High Middle Ages and the Rise of Universities The cultural and intellectual achievements of the High Middle Ages, the rise of universities, and the development of scholasticism
Module #15 The Mendicant Orders and the Friars The emergence of the mendicant orders, the role of friars, and their impact on the Church and society
Module #16 The Avignon Papacy and the Western Schism The Avignon Papacy, the Western Schism, and the crisis of papal authority
Module #17 The Renaissance and the Catholic Reformation The cultural and artistic achievements of the Renaissance, the Catholic Reformation, and the Counter-Reformation
Module #18 The Council of Trent and the Tridentine Church The significance of the Council of Trent, the reforms of the Tridentine Church, and the impact on Catholic doctrine and practice
Module #19 Missionaries and the Expansion of Catholicism The role of missionaries, the expansion of Catholicism to the Americas, Africa, and Asia, and the impact on indigenous cultures
Module #20 The Enlightenment and the Churchs Response The challenges of the Enlightenment, the Churchs response, and the development of modern Catholic thought
Module #21 The Nineteenth-Century Catholic Revival The Catholic revival, the Ultramontane movement, and the Churchs response to modernity
Module #22 The Second Vatican Council and the Modern Church The significance of Vatican II, the reforms of the Council, and the impact on Catholic doctrine and practice
Module #23 The Church in the Contemporary World The challenges facing the Church in the modern world, ecumenism, and interfaith dialogue
Module #24 The Role of Women in the Catholic Church The history of women in the Church, the role of women religious, and the contemporary debate on womens roles
Module #25 Course Wrap-Up & Conclusion Planning next steps in The Rise and Expansion of the Catholic Church career
