Course Descriptions

Religious Education Department

The ninth grade religion course deals primarily with faith and justice through an in-depth study of the Hebrew Scriptures (the Old Testament) The course also delves into many essentials of the Catholic Christian faith, such as the Liturgy and the Sacraments. Along with acquiring knowledge concerning issues of faith and justice, all students are invited to go beyond the facts to begin creating a fully integrated life animated by Gospel values. The class seeks to foster growth in our students toward becoming “Men for Others” as well as persons of prayer.

Christian Service Learning: As a Catholic school in the Spirit of Brother Edmund Rice, O’Dea calls all students to a life of service to others. Each semester students are required to complete Christian Service Learning hours and write a paper that together are weighed as 20% of their semester final grade.

Title: New Testament
Grade: 10
Credits: 2.0

This course is designed to give the O’Dea sophomore a more profound understanding of the wisdom, power, and applicability of the New Testament Scriptures and the Person of Jesus Christ. Students read, study, discuss, and reflect on Jesus’ life, ministry, ethics, teachings, and his personal invitation to spiritual discipleship. The New Testament Scriptures are examined in depth to discover the complex layers of meaning, truth, and insight into the philosophy of Christ and the Kingdom. The course focuses on a practical application of the message of Jesus to living daily life in the contemporary setting of adolescent life. A key foundation of the course is Catholic Social Teaching and ethical standards of the Christian life. The early Christian Church and it’s contribution to Christianity are profiled in the final quarter of the course.

Christian Service Learning: As a Catholic school in the Spirit of Brother Edmund Rice, O’Dea calls all students to a life of service to others. Each semester students are required to complete Christian Service Learning hours and write a paper that together are weighed as 20% of their semester final grade.

Title: Christian Morality
Grade: 11
Credits: 2.0

The objective of this course is to introduce the moral reasoning process in the Christian life. To this end we explore the basics of the natural law, our human dignity and the law of love. We examine the sacraments and the life of grace as the immediate source of our ability to live the Christian life. Finally we look at contemporary moral issues through the lens of the teaching of the Catholic Church with an emphasis on understanding and conscience formation.  The course uses an academic discussion format and relies heavily on scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Christian Service Learning: As a Catholic school in the Spirit of Brother Edmund Rice, O’Dea calls all students to a life of service to others. Each semester students are required to complete Christian Service Learning hours and write a paper that together are weighed as 20% of their semester final grade.

Title: Justice and Peace
Grade: 12
Credits: 1.0

This course is designed to examine key principles of Justice in our domestic and global communities. The primary lens is the framework of Catholic Social Teachings and its Seven Key Themes. Numerous topics are addressed including the Gospel Call to identify the face of Christ in “the least ones”, human rights, homelessness, poverty, incarceration, environmental justice, and racial/ gender justice.

Christian Service Learning: As a Catholic school in the Spirit of Brother Edmund Rice, O’Dea calls all students to a life of service to others. Each semester students are required to complete Christian Service Learning hours and write a paper that together are weighed as 20% of their semester final grade.

Title: Poverty in America Honors
Grade: 12
Credits: 1.0

Poverty in America is an interdisciplinary Religion/Social Science course that explores the perspectives of sociology, economics, political science, philosophy and theology in relationship to the causes, consequences and solutions to the problem of poverty. Through readings, speakers, videos and seminars, students develop an understanding of the causes and effects of poverty and the Church’s social teaching and scriptural call for the “option for the poor.” This course qualifies the student to receive five college credits from Matteo Ricci College of Seattle University. An additional fee must be paid to Seattle University in order for the student to receive the college credits.
Additional Fee to Seattle University if college credit desired
Registration in this course requires departmental approval.

Christian Service Learning: As a Catholic school in the Spirit of Brother Edmund Rice, O’Dea calls all students to a life of service to others. Each semester students are required to complete Christian Service Learning hours and write a paper that together are weighed as 20% of their semester final grade.

This course exposes the student to the major religious traditions of the world beyond Christianity. It begins with the topic of Ecumenism and the various ways the two billion Christians in the world relate to the four billion non-Christians. We move on to explore the ancient paths of Hinduism and Buddhism. Later we examine the historical and contemporary dimensions of Judaism and Islam. The course seeks to broaden the horizons of our seniors, cultivate a respectful tone of dialogue, and prepare them for a religiously diverse world in their university life and beyond.

Christian Service Learning: As a Catholic school in the Spirit of Brother Edmund Rice, O’Dea calls all students to a life of service to others. Each semester students are required to complete Christian Service Learning hours and write a paper that together are weighed as 20% of their semester final grade.

In this honors level course, students will examine the major religious traditions of the world beyond Christianity. The course will include a focus on Ecumenism and the various ways the two billion Christians in the world relate to the four billion non-Christians. In addition, the course will explore the ancient paths of Hinduism and Buddhism. Furthermore, the students will consider the historical and contemporary dimensions of Judaism and Islam. The primary objective of this course is to broaden the horizons of our seniors, cultivate a respectful tone of dialogue, and prepare them for a religiously diverse world in their university life and beyond. Consistent with an honors level course, the students enrolled in this course will be evaluated based upon a higher level of expectation and performance. The students will be assessed on a completion of a portfolio for the class. The course is part of the Seattle Univeristy, Matteo Ricci program and students completing the course will have an opportunity to purchase college credit.

Christian Service Learning: As a Catholic school in the Spirit of Brother Edmund Rice, O’Dea calls all students to a life of service to others. Each semester students are required to complete Christian Service Learning hours and write a paper that together are weighed as 20% of their semester final grade.

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