University of St. Thomas
09/09/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 09/09/2024 14:19
UST-Houston and Word on Fire Institute launched their M.A. in Evangelization and Culture
In partnership with Word on Fire (WoF) Institute, the University of St. Thomas-Houston successfully launched a first-of-its-kind accredited master's degree in Evangelization and Cultureduring the summer of 2024 with anoptional on-campus summer institute. The 100% accredited online degree courses are underway in the current fall semester taught by professors from both Word on Fire and UST.
The program is a deliberate response to the current challenges of polarization, skepticism and narcissism facing the world today.
Dr. Tom Harmon, UST's associate director of Catholic Studies asserts, "Learning theology with a laser-sharp focus on forming culturally adept evangelists is exactly what is needed now."
He explained that students in the new program engage rigorously with the thinkers, ideas, and practical methods necessary to effectively proclaim the Gospel's peace and joy to a secularized and tech-saturated world.
Dr. Matt Petrusek, senior director of Word on Fire Institute, added, "The M.A. degree in Evangelization and Culture aims to supply the Church with intelligent, high-spirited and culturally agile evangelists who are well-equipped to identify and engage with the 'seeds of the Word' wherever they exist in the world, especially the digital world."
Partnership Development: Word on Fire and UST Launched a Digital Evangelization Series
In May 2021, Word on Fire Catholic Ministries founder, Bishop Robert Barron, delivered the UST keynote address at Commencement. Then, in February 2022, the University and Word on Fire partnered to launch a groundbreaking digital evangelization series with UST's newly founded MAX Studios. The digital series featured compelling Catholic influencers sharing their trailblazing experiences in using media technology to better connect with their audiences.
Summer 2024: Launch of an M.A. in Evangelism and Culture degree program
In this next phase of their partnership, the Catholic university and the Catholic media organization are using the new degree program to educate and form students in the Word on Fire and UST ethos - and prepare them to evangelize as professionals in a contemporary context.
"All courses in the program present theology through the lens of evangelization," Dr. Harmon said, "and teach students how to employ the Church's rich philosophical, theological, moral, and artistic traditions to draw individuals into, or back to, the Church."
Among the core curriculum courses are Christology for Evangelists, Biblical Studies for Evangelists, and Reading & Writing for Evangelists. The core curriculum will be supplemented by elective courses such as Dante for Evangelists and Spirituality for Evangelists. In addition, the degree plan will offer an optional "new media" course, a practical technical class on creating good online content to reach young people where they spend their time.
As the world faces unprecedented challenges, the University of St. Thomas-Houston and Word on Fire Institute are preparing passionate evangelists to connect and bring hope and renewal to our communities. Discover how this new program can be your gateway to making a meaningful impact. For more details, visit here.