Departments & Courses
Religious Studies
SHC Graduation requirement: One course required for each semester of attendance
UC/CSU Admissions requirement: None
Our Mission:
Inspired by our founders and in the spirit of the US Bishops’ secondary schools curriculum framework, SHC’s Religious Studies Department helps our students realize and deepen their relationships with God and with others. We embrace the Lasallian Vincentian mission to provide faith formation and education that prepare students to become service-oriented leaders with a commitment to living the Gospel.
Our Goals:
The goal of the SHC Religious Studies Department is to educate students to be people of Faith, Action, Integrity, Thought and Hope who:
- Analyze ideas presented through various media in light of Gospel values.
- Articulate an understanding of Lasallian and Vincentian values and traditions, in particular as they give meaning and life to the SHC community.
- Create meaningful written, oral and visual projects and presentations that demonstrate an understanding of course concepts, both collaboratively and independently.
- Demonstrate an understanding of Catholic teachings as outlined in the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’Framework.
- Analyze moral issues guided by the Gospel and the teachings of the Catholic Church in order to make informed ethical decisions.
- Demonstrate an understanding of justice and its critical application to past, present and future issues.
To see student work from our History of Christian Art class, click here for examples from a "Church as Servant" assignment and here for examples of "Illuminated Block Capital Letters."
Courses in this Department
This course examines general ethical principles and their application in real world situations, the formation of a personal conscience, and stages of moral reasoning. In the light of Catholic Christian teachings and their own lived experience, students are challenged to examine individual and societal values and practices. Individually and in collaboration, students analyze the ethical implications of topics including poverty, racism, capital punishment, abortion, technology, warfare and environmental stewardship. As they develop their understanding of human vocation, students reflect on how their values might shape their future life choices and commitments to God, self, family and society.
Note: This course meets UC college preparatory elective criteria ("g").
This course satisfies graduation requirements for both Religious Studies and Visual & Performing Arts. The course explores the timeline and events in the rise of Christianity, while developing critical skills and aesthetic vocabulary in order to understand how art was (and is) a vehicle for religious expression. Students will study important historical works of art and will create art in a variety of mediums as they respond to the methods, materials, and styles of those works. As they deepen their ability to perceive and to analyze art, students will be expected to articulate their own artistic opinions.
Note: this course meets UC Visual and Performing Arts criteria ("f") and satisfies SHC’s Religious Studies graduation requirement.
This year-long course introduces ninth graders to the academic study of religion and Scripture. Students will first gain an understanding of what religion is and why it matters by studying its sociological, philosophical, spiritual, and social justice components. Students will then apply their understanding of different religions and worldviews in a survey of the Hebrew scriptures and the faith development of the Hebrew people. Students will critically read the Old Testament and relate the teachings of the Hebrew people to their own lived experiences, while also developing a foundational understanding of the teachings and values of Catholicism. Throughout the course, students will develop critical thinking skills as they compare and contrast the belief systems, histories, and spiritualities of various religious traditions. Students will explore the role of religion in society and how to animate the social justice principles of the Catholic faith. Multiple viewpoints and voices will be presented to engage and empower students as scholars, researchers, and service-oriented leaders.
Note: this course meets UC college preparatory elective criteria ("g").
The Lasallian/Vincentian Leadership class is for seniors interested in developing their leadership skills through a model of Christian servant leadership. Using the life and writings of the four founders, students will explore and practice their own call to leadership in our community, and build the leadership skills necessary to positively influence their communities in the future. As part of the summative assessment for this course, students serve as leaders at retreats during the school year (and may miss other classes besides Leadership.) In the spring prior to taking the course, students complete a questionnaire about their interests, passions, and intentions as leaders. Leadership students may be asked to represent the school at off-campus events during the year, and, while not a course requirement, are strongly encouraged to attend a Kairos retreat
This experiential course is designed to directly assist students in discovering how to create a life worth living — a life that is insightful, learned, creative, caring, ethical, resilient, engaged, and deeply well. What does it mean for a person to flourish, rather than to simply survive, or to discover God’s plan unfolding in life? What practices help one embrace and cultivate focus, compassion, courage, wisdom, and inclusion, or manage anxiety while being productive? Each student will have an opportunity to engage in evidence-based practices that are selected to cultivate a sense of purpose and skills to facilitate a meaningful life.
Note: this class meets UC college preparatory elective criteria ("g").
Students will explore the meaning and practice of justice and service by examining contemporary, philosophical and religious theories of justice with emphasis on Catholic social teaching. Each week, students will spend a portion of class time at a service internship site located near SHC; these community service internships augment a reflective understanding of service and a critical analysis of social justice.
The course explores the pivotal contributions of major and minor women in the Old and New Testament. Students will study the impact of these women on both Judaism and Christianity, and will explore the historical and rhetorical contexts for the use of male-centric language throughout the Bible. Our central questions will be how do we as 21st readers of the ancient text interpret some of the more difficult texts about women, and how can we respond to their examples of faith-filled lives?