Religious Studies
The Religious Studies Department aims to prepare young men and women for college and to equip them to advance Gospel values within a global society of varied cultural and religious worldviews. The Department affirms the Catholic tradition that faith and reason are two necessary and complementary sources of knowledge. Accordingly, the Department’s curriculum teaches students about Catholic doctrine and practice, presents objective principles that can form a common rational foundation for a universal vision of a moral global society, and explores how personal decisions and social structures can hinder or enhance human well-being. Academic study, reflection, dialogue, worship, prayer, the experience of Christian community, and 100 hours of service all converge in the curriculum to cultivate in each student the character and skills that will further Gospel values interpersonally, locally, nationally and globally.
| Academic Year | College Preparatory Classes | Elective College Preparatory Classes |
|---|---|---|
| Freshman | Introduction to Catholic Christianity | |
| Sophomore | New Testament Studies | |
| Junior | Personal and Social Ethics | Ethics, Culture, and Justice: California Ethics, Culture, and Justice: El Salvador Ethics, Culture, and Justice: India Ethics, Culture, and Justice: Native American Experience Ethics, Culture, and Justice: South Africa |
| Senior | Global Business Ethics |
Introduction to Catholic Christianity - Grade 9 - Year-long course
Introduction to Catholic Christianity assists students in developing an understanding of the Catholic Christian experience of the presence of God in all aspects of creation and human experience. This experience is most fully realized in the person of Jesus Christ who remains present and active through the Holy Spirit in the community of believers. Students will explore both the Scripture and Tradition of the Church through which the faith community knows Christ. Students will have the opportunity to discover and experience how the Catholic Community celebrates this presence of Christ through its sacramental prayer and worship, most especially through the Eucharist which is “the source and summit of the Christian life” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1324). Throughout the course, students will reflect on the specific challenges associated with adolescent development and the Christian response to these challenges. They will examine their personal faith in response to cultural pressures in order to make responsible, informed decisions. Students will also complete 25 hours of Christian Service as part of the AMHS graduation requirement.
UC/CSU not approved
New Testament Studies- Grade 10 - Year-long course
This course provides a scholarly foundation about Jesus as a historical person and as the Christ of Christian faith through a study of the Christian scriptures, with particular emphasis on the person, message, and deeds of Jesus. Through reading selections from the Gospels and the Pauline epistles, students examine who the historical Jesus was and why he came to be recognized as the Christ of Christian faith. We study the content, structure, genres, and theological development of Christian scriptures as we examine Jesus’ Gospel message. Students continue to develop biblical exegesis skills commenced in the freshman year course.
The second part of this course focuses on character development. The primary question posed is: What kind of person am I becoming, and what kind of person do I want to become? Students begin formulating their answers to this question as we examine the process by which an individual makes moral decisions. We investigate and analyze the Christian approach to moral decision making as exemplified by Jesus and systematized by Aquinas, centering on the classical virtues. We compare and contrast this with the ethical systems of schools of philosophy, behavioral and social sciences, and popular culture. We then extend this examination of virtue into the realm of character development as we analyze how moral behavior is shaped by individual character as a product of virtue and vice through case study analyses of contemporary ethical issues. Students will also complete 25 hours of Christian Service as part of the AMHS graduation requirement.
UC/CSU not approved
Personal & Social Ethics - Grade 11 - Year-long course
Personal & Social Ethics is designed to aid students in facing the moral challenges of young adulthood. Students will discover that morality is more than just following the dictates of their parents and institutions concerning right and wrong. They will begin to discover and develop for themselves a sense of conscience that will guide them throughout adulthood. Throughout this course, students explore the components of moral decision-making and are encouraged to form a personal conscience rooted in the Roman Catholic tradition. Students will be challenged to reflect, analyze, synthesize and apply the principles learned in this course to personal and social issues. Special emphasis is placed on studying social justice issues and the major tenets of Catholic social teaching. Students will complete 25 hours of Christian Service as part of the AMHS graduation requirement.
UC/CSU approved course
Ethics, Culture, and Justice: California - Grade 11 - Year-long Course
Ethics, Culture and Justice: California is designed to aid students in facing the moral challenges of young adulthood. Students will discover that morality is more than just following the dictates of their parents and institutions concerning right and wrong. They will begin to discover and develop for themselves a sense of conscience that will guide them throughout adulthood. Throughout this course, students explore the components of moral decision-making and are encouraged to form a personal conscience rooted in the Roman Catholic tradition. Students will be challenged to reflect, analyze, synthesize and apply the principles learned in this course to personal and social issues, especially those particular to California. This course places special emphasis on the study of social justice issues and the major tenets of Catholic social teaching, particularly through studying the history and current events in the state and recent experiences of the Catholic Church in California. Students will balance their classroom study, and witness a deepening of their social consciousness by participating in class field trips to places such as Emergency Housing Consortium, Glide Memorial Church, and the John XXIII Center during the school year. The course will culminate in an eleven-day class immersion trip to different locations in California such as St. Anthony’s Foundation in San Francisco, Save the Bay in San Jose, a migrant farm-working community in Salinas, and Dolores Mission in Los Angeles in the summer of 2011. By participating in the class immersion trip, students will complete 25 hours of Christian Service as part of the AMHS graduation requirement.
UC/CSU approved course
To qualify: Application process (application due February 2, 2010), and department approval
Ethics, Culture and Justice – El Salvador - Grade 11 - Year-long course
Ethics, Culture and Justice: El Salvador is designed to aid students in facing the moral challenges of young adulthood. Students will discover that morality is more than just following the dictates of their parents and institutions concerning right and wrong. They will begin to discover and develop for themselves a sense of conscience that will guide them throughout adulthood. Throughout this course, students explore the components of moral decision-making and are encouraged to form a personal conscience rooted in the Roman Catholic tradition. Students will be challenged to reflect, analyze, synthesize and apply the principles learned in this course to personal and social issues. This course places special emphasis on the study of social justice issues and the major tenets of Catholic social teaching, particularly through studying the history and recent experience of the Catholic Church in El Salvador. Students will balance their classroom study, and witness a deepening of their social consciousness by completing their 25 hours of Christian Service and by participating in a class immersion trip to El Salvador in June 2011. Students will live and work with Salvadoran families for one week in the village of Guarjila, Chalatenango, and then spend the last four days visiting important religious and historical sites in the capital city of San Salvador. To participate in this course students must also be taking concurrently Spanish Level III or higher. Spanish vocabulary and conversation will be used throughout the course in preparation for the class immersion trip in June 2011. By participating in the class immersion trip, students will complete 25 hours of Christian Service as part of the AMHS graduation requirement.
UC/CSU approved course
To qualify: Concurrent enrollment in Spanish III or above, application process (application due February 2, 2010), and department approval.
Ethics, Culture and Justice – India – Grade 11 - Year-long course
Ethics, Culture and Justice: India is designed to aid students in facing the moral challenges of young adulthood. Students will discover that morality is more than just following the dictates of their parents and institutions concerning right and wrong. They will begin to discover and develop for themselves a sense of conscience that will guide them throughout adulthood. Throughout this course, students explore the components of moral decision-making and are encouraged to form a personal conscience rooted in the Roman Catholic tradition. Students will be challenged to reflect, analyze, synthesize and apply the principles learned in this course to personal and social issues. This course places special emphasis on the study of social justice issues and the major tenets of Catholic social teaching. Special emphasis is placed on specific ethics and justice issues of India. Students will study aspects of India’s rich history as it relates to contemporary issues. Some of these topics include the evolution of Hinduism and caste system, the role of Islam and Christian expansion, British colonization, the creation of an Indian and Pakistani state, post-colonial development, and the complex and evolving role of women in religion, family, and society. Students will balance their classroom study, and witness a deepening of their social consciousness by completing their 25 hours of Christian Service and by participating in a class immersion trip to India in the summer of 2011. Students will visit several cities in India including Delhi, Agra, and Bangalore. Students will visit schools, orphanages, temples, mosques, and churches, the Taj Mahal, and a variety of other cultural centers. By participating in the class immersion trip, students will complete 25 hours of Christian Service as part of the AMHS graduation requirement.
UC/CSU approved course
To qualify: Application process (application due February 2, 2010), and department approval
Ethics, Culture and Justice – Native American Experience – Grade 11 - Year-long course
Ethics, Culture and Justice: Native American Experience is designed to aid students in facing the moral challenges of young adulthood. Students will discover that morality is more than just following the dictates of their parents and institutions concerning right and wrong. They will begin to discover and develop for themselves a sense of conscience that will guide them throughout adulthood. Throughout this course, students explore the components of moral decision-making and are encouraged to form a personal conscience rooted in the Roman Catholic tradition. Students will be challenged to reflect, analyze, synthesize and apply the principles learned in this course to personal and social issues. This course places special emphasis on the study of social justice issues and the major tenets of Catholic social teaching. Special emphasis is placed on specific ethics and justice issues related to the Native American experience within the context of U.S. history. Some specific topics of study include the cultural treatment of Native American peoples, especially the Navajo, Hopi and White Mountain Apache Indians, and the challenges they face today. In addition to an overview of specific tribes, the course will examine unique cultural, artistic, and spiritual contributions of Native Americans. Special emphasis will be place upon inter-religious dialogue between Native American Spirituality and Catholicism. Students will balance their classroom study, and witness a deepening of their social consciousness by completing their 25 hours of Christian Service and by participating in a ten-day class immersion trip to Arizona and New Mexico in June 2011. Students will perform service work on the Navajo and White Mountain Apache Reservations, visit the Heard Museum in Phoenix, participate in an Apache sunrise ceremony and sweat lodge, and tour the Hopi Mesas, and the ruins at Chaco Canyon in New Mexico and Canyon de Chelly in Arizona. By participating in the class immersion trip, students will complete 25 hours of Christian Service as part of the AMHS graduation requirement.
UC/CSU approved course
To qualify: Application process (application due February 2, 2010), and department approval
Ethics, Culture and Justice – South Africa - Grade 11 - Year-long course
Ethics, Culture and Justice: South Africa is designed to aid students in facing the moral challenges of young adulthood. Students will discover that morality is more than just following the dictates of their parents and institutions concerning right and wrong. They will begin to discover and develop for themselves a sense of conscience that will guide them throughout adulthood. Throughout this course, students explore the components of moral decision-making and are encouraged to form a personal conscience rooted in the Roman Catholic tradition. Students will be challenged to reflect, analyze, synthesize and apply the principles learned in this course to personal and social issues. This course places special emphasis on the study of social justice issues and the major tenets of Catholic social teaching. Special emphasis is placed on the cultural and political history of South Africa. Students will study the unjust structure of apartheid and its dismantling, the efforts of the young democracy to repair the legacy of apartheid, and the human impact of the current HIV/AIDS crisis in South Africa. Particular attention will be given to the role of the Christian faith in the struggle for freedom and justice. Students will balance their classroom study, and witness a deepening of their social consciousness by completing their 25 hours of Christian Service and by participating in a sixteen-day class immersion trip to South Africa in June 2011. Students will spend a week in Johannesburg where they will tour Soweto and other cultural landmarks, visit high schools and volunteer at children’s shelters. Following an overnight visit to Pilanesberg Game Preserve, students will spend a week in Cape Town where they will visit schools, orphanages, churches, and other cultural centers. By participating in the class immersion trip, students will complete 25 hours of Christian Service as part of the AMHS graduation requirement.
UC/CSU approved course
To qualify: Application process (application due February 2, 2010), and department approval
Environmental Ethics – Grade 12 – Semester course
Recent global environmental changes unparalleled in the four and a half billion years of earth history have resulted in environmental issues that raise fundamental moral and religious questions about the relationship of humans to their natural environment. What things are intrinsically valuable? Do non-humans (e.g. other animals, natural objects) have rights? How do these rights intersect with our understanding of human rights? What is our moral responsibility toward future generations? How can we ensure equitable development that does not destroy the environment? In this course, students will explore those forces that create environmental injustices and environmental racism in order to understand its causes as well as its consequences. Guided by Catholic Social Teaching in dialogue with multi-cultural, religious, and spiritual perspectives, students will reflect on the sacredness of the natural world, the interdependence of all life, and the possibility of an inter-faith approach toward resolving environmental crises. In the context of their own developing spirituality, students will apply social justice principles to specific local, regional, and global environmental problems with the goal of identifying potential actions they can take to contribute to global solutions. Students will complete 25 hours of Christian Service as part of the AMHS graduation requirement.
UC/CSU approved course
Global Business Ethics – Grade 12 – Semester course
Global Business Ethics is a survey of the ethical dimensions of contemporary business practice generally, with special emphasis on the ethical implications of global business enterprise. The principles and pillars of Catholic social teaching -- subsidiary, solidarity, respect for human dignity and the common good, and a preferential option for the poor -- will establish the foundation of this course as students investigate and analyze contemporary issues in local, national and global economies. Students will explore the entrepreneurial vocation with an emphasis on character and virtue, and apply this to an examination of corporate social responsibility and the globalization of business. In developing an informed conscience, students will apply social justice principles to specific local, national, and global economic problems with the goal of identifying potential actions they can take to contribute to global solutions. Students will complete 25 hours of Christian Service as part of the AMHS graduation requirement.
UC/CSU approved course
Mission to Education- Grade 12 - Semester course
Mission to Catholic Education is both a course of study and a practicum for seniors designed to provide experiences of leadership, service, and ministry. Students will study childhood and early adolescence and learn of the tremendous challenges and opportunities for growth in these periods of life. They will learn practical communication and teaching skills to help them empower young students and motivate them to learn. Students will learn about advocacy as one of the final stages of service and will complete an advocacy project on behalf of the needs of children. Students will explore issues such as bullying, body image, substance use, nutrition and hunger in relation to learning. Students will learn how Catholic schools address these and other issues, and continue to serve immigrants and diverse ethnic, religious, and socio-economic communities. Students will study the spiritual development of children and explore ways to teach the gospel to youth in new and creative ways. Most importantly, students will witness their faith by participating in a supervised practical application of their studies by serving at a school of the Diocese of San Jose on a consistent, weekly basis during school hours. Through tutoring, mentoring, and facilitating discussions and workshops, students will develop a long-term relationship with younger students and with a particular class. They will spend time individually and communally reflecting upon value of their service and its effect on their lives. Students will grow as educators and ministers, and explore possible career paths in Catholic education. By participating in the class, students will complete 25 hours of Christian Service as part of the AMHS graduation requirement.
UC/CSU approved course
Religion and Globalization – Grade 12 – Semester course
Religion and Globalization is designed to aid students in facing the challenges of growing in faith while being a global citizen in a diverse religious environment. In keeping with the Catholic Church's call to interfaith dialogue (Nostra Aetate), students will explore how diverse religions strive for the common good, justice and human dignity in a global context. Guided by Catholic Social Teaching in dialogue with multi-cultural, religious, and spiritual perspectives, students will begin to develop an appreciation for non-western religious traditions as they investigate the possibility of a global ethic based on commonality in core values and ethical principles. Topics include the responses of major religions to globalization, their contributions to peacemaking and their cooperative efforts in response to global poverty and environmental degradation. In developing an informed conscience, students will apply social justice principles to specific local, national, and global issues with the goal of identifying potential actions they can take to contribute to global solutions. Students will complete 25 hours of Christian Service as part of the AMHS graduation requirement.
UC/CSU approved course
Introduction to Philosophy - Grade 12 - Semester course
Introduction to Philosophy explores the fundamental questions that have been pondered by people since the beginning of civilization. The origins of philosophy, the theory of knowledge, the theory of being, the philosophy of religion, and the philosophy of freedom will be investigated through the analysis of a wide variety of great thinkers that span the entirety of civilization and the different disciplines of thought. The stated purpose of the class is for the students to develop their own personal philosophy that they will use as a starting point in discovering their own answers to the fundamental questions of life.
UC/CSU approved course
