I am teaching university classes again this year!

I didn't expect this, but the university I taught at last year has asked me back to teach again. So I will be teaching classes there part time in addition to my duties at the parish. I'm very excited as I enjoyed teaching quite a bit last year.

Here are my course descriptions for both the fall and the spring semesters:

1st Year Classes

World Literature and Cultures
This course looks at various cultures both historical and current by surveying their writings. Though the reading assignments will be given as English translations, there will be times in class where they are read and discussed in their original language so that we might gain a deeper understanding of the text. There will be no examinations in this course, but expect frequent short essays on what we have covered.


World History 101
It is impossible, of course, to cover the entirety of the world's history in a single semester. For this reason this class focuses on specific figures and events throughout history that were the catalysts of change. As much as possible these historical events can be related back to current events so expect readings to come from both the textbook and recent news items. There will be no examinations in this course, but expect frequent short essays on what we have covered.


2nd Year Classes

Comparative Religion
This class will not be a traditional religions 101 survey class. Instead we will focus on the impact religion in general has had on society and culture throughout history with a particular interest on current events. Our textbooks will be the newspapers, the popular media, and the holy books themselves. The class will involve no exams, but be prepared to write regular short essays.


Utopian Societies in Literature
There has been a long tradition in society of punishing those who speak out against those in power. Thus there has been an equally long tradition of finding ways around those punishments. One of the best loved and most fascinating has been the literary creation of imaginary peaceful and perfect "utopias" in order to demonstrate the folly of the current standing government. These utopian visions still exist today in the form of "science fiction" and continue to serve the same purpose. This class will read a variety of utopian stories from the past to the present (as well as watch some current movies and television shows). There will be no examinations, but be prepared to write regular short essays on what you have read and seen.


I've just realized that I'm going to need my own car...

-Fr. Kurt