Religious Studies

Graduation Requirements: 40 Credits

Religious Studies 1 (10 Credits)
Religious Studies 2 (10 Credits)
Religious Studies 3 (10 Credits)
Senior Religious Studies (10 Credits)* One semester of a Capstone Course (either Senior Synthesis or Spiritual Journey) and One semester of an Elective (World Religions, Introduction to Philosophy or Christian Service)

*Please note: The abbreviations P, H and AP are all UC/CSU approved courses
P = UC/CSU approved; H = Honors; AP = Advanced Placement

Religious Studies Courses

Christian Service

REGISTRATION CODE: R406
STATUS:
CREDITS: 5
CAMPUS: DLS
PREREQUISITES: Application, 11th grade Religion Teacher
recommendation, and interview
LEVEL: 12th grade

The Christian Service course is a seminar-style course where students will be guided through the process of compiling an individual senior service project. Students will research an issue of their choice related to Catholic Social Thought, perform direct service in the community related to to this issue, offer a proposal based on their research and service experience to address their chosen issue, and present their findings to a panel of teachers and students for review. Students will further be instructed on the different levels of service, structural analysis, Catholic Social Thought, and advocacy for justice.

INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY - P

Introduction to Philosophy - P

REGISTRATION CODE: R410
STATUS: UC/CSU & NCAA Approved
CREDITS: 5
CAMPUS: DLS & CHS
PREREQUISITES: None
LEVEL: 12th grade

In this course, students will become familiar with major thinkers such as Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Aquinas, Locke, and Kant and such philosophical positions as Rationalism, Empiricism, and Determinism through a systematic study of four areas of philosophical investigation. These four areas include: consideration of our human nature, epistemology, philosophy of God, and the mind-body connection. Its focus will be on increasing the ability of students to read for comprehension and understanding, think critically, and communicate effectively through both the spoken and written word. Students will analyze the wisdom found from philosophical thought, both classic and contemporary, with the intention of considering their effect on their everyday lives and lived faith.

Religious Studies 1 - Foundations of Catholic Christianity

REGISTRATION CODE: R102
STATUS:
CREDITS: 10
CAMPUS: DLS
PREREQUISITES: None
LEVEL: 9th grade

This course introduces the freshman student to De La Salle High School, the history and tradition of the Christian Brothers, and the student’s membership and participation in the Lasallian heritage. This course assists freshmen in arriving at a clearer focus about themselves and their faith. They will be asked to consider more mature and thoughtful approaches to issues concerning their own growth, questions about God, and human destiny, as well as personal and social responsibility. Particular emphasis will be placed on the sacraments of the Catholic Church, the liturgical and prayer life of the Catholic Church, the foundational teachings of the Church, as well as the background of how the Church came to be. By the end of this course all freshman students should be fully acclimated into the Lasallian Catholic tradition of De La Salle High School.

Religious Studies 2 - Sacred Scripture - P

REGISTRATION CODE: R203
STATUS: UC/CSU Approved
CREDITS: 10
CAMPUS: DLS
PREREQUISITES: None
LEVEL: 10th grade

Religious Studies 2--Sacred Scripture will focus on the Holy Text of Christians--the Bible. During the fall semester, students will begin with an historical and critical study of the origins of the Bible and be introduced to a Catholic approach to Scripture. Students will study themes and stories found in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) including learning the history of the Hebrew people from Abraham to the birth of Jesus. In the spring semester, the focus is shifted to the New Testament where the person and divinity of Jesus as recorded in the four Gospels, as well as early Christian writings by Paul and other New Testament authors are studied. An emphasis is placed on the themes of salvation history, God’s covenant, and Jesus’ revelation and manifestation of God’s love to all humankind.

Religious Studies 3 - Living The Gospel - P

REGISTRATION CODE: R302
STATUS: UC/CSU & NCAA Approved
CREDITS: 10
CAMPUS: DLS
PREREQUISITES: None
LEVEL: 11th grade

This course invites students to explore their relationships with God, themselves, and others in light of the Church’s teaching in the areas of Morality and Social Justice. Students will delve into the complexity of moral decision making and develop a process for discerning right from wrong in both a personal and social context. This will include a consideration of the personal and social dynamics that go into morality and ethical decision-making in light of Church teaching. The issue of justice, particularly social justice, will be studied, and a process for Christian moral decision-making will be learned and applied to contemporary issues of morality and justice with an emphasis on Catholic Social Teaching.

Senior Synthesis

REGISTRATION CODE: R403
STATUS: Pending
CREDITS: 5
CAMPUS: DLS
PREREQUISITES: None
LEVEL: 12 grade

Senior Synthesis is a discussion based, single-sex course only offered to De La Salle students that seeks to address the spiritual, personal and social issues confronting the student who will be graduating. This course challenges the senior to integrate all that he has learned in his previous religious studies classes with his lived experience. The focus of all the units in this course will be an exploration and response to the following questions: How is the presence of God experienced in the student's life? How does the unit inform, support and challenge the student's relationship with God, himself and others? This course culminates with a final project that synthesizes their experience and is presented to the class.

Social Advocacy - P

REGISTRATION CODE: R501sa
STATUS: UC/CSU & NCAA Approved
CREDITS: 5
CAMPUS: CHS
PREREQUISITES: None
LEVEL: 12th grade

Note: Some sites may also require a current TB test and immunization record.

Social Advocacy empowers motivated seniors to explore how Gospel values can inform and lead action to bring about a more just world. Students enrolled in this class will focus on a social justice issue, investigate the cultural, economic, political, and social structures and forces at play, and develop real world solutions. This class will guide students in how to transform a passion for justice, love and care for the “dear neighbor" to developing initiatives working towards a solution. In the process of developing solutions, students possible learning activities may include: research, interview or perhaps shadow subject matter experts, participate in service immersions, and visit pertinent sites. The final assessment will include a presentation of the research and student solution (which may take the form of a written grant, public policy, non-profit proposal, etc.).

Spiritual Journey

REGISTRATION CODE: R402
STATUS:
CREDITS: 5
CAMPUS: DLS and CHS
PREREQUISITES: None
LEVEL: 12th grade

This course invites students to reflect on how they encounter the divine in their lives by reading, analyzing, and discussing the spiritual journeys of others. The accumulated wisdom and spiritual teachings of the men and women of many religious traditions who have gone before us can serve as guides for our own personal spiritual journey. Journal-type reflection questions will assist each student to concretely identify his/her options for a lived spirituality.

World Religions - P

REGISTRATION CODE: R401
STATUS: UC/CSU & NCAA Approved
CREDITS: 5
CAMPUS: DLS and CHS
PREREQUISITES: None
LEVEL: 12th grade

World Religions is an introduction to the comparative study of the great religious traditions of the world. Religion is a way humankind has responded over the centuries to the mystery of God and living a life with meaning and purpose. This course will examine the major religions of the world including Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Islam and others. Topics related to the earliest forms of religious expression and religion’s role in the modern world will be explored.