Anna Maria College is deeply rooted in the Worcester diocese. Our alumni are ministering throughout the diocese, and our faculty include lay ministers, teachers, deacons, priests and religious sisters serving the Church in Worcester. Anna Maria College offers graduate and undergraduate education degrees, and the education faculty bring a wealth of teaching knowledge and experience to our students.

Career and ministry focus includes the following areas:

• Religious education in the parish
• Adult faith formation
• Ministry and teaching within Catholic schools

THE 704 Methods in Religious Education
Explores teaching methods appropriate to the presentation of religious concepts from preschool through adult education in school and parish settings. This course includes classroom environment, classroom management techniques, and developmental theories.

THE 602 Foundational Theology
Examines the fundamental concerns present in all theological inquiry. The course presents a specific framework for understanding a theology of faith, a theology of revelation, a theology of tradition, and a theology of Sacred Scripture. 

Choose two elective courses:

THE 604 God and the Human Person
Studies the nature of the human person in light of the doctrines of creation, revelation, sin, the grace of transformation in Christ, and community. Contemporary issues in Christian anthropology will also be addressed.

THE 606 Introduction to the Old Testament
Focuses on the development, style, and interpretation of books and writings of the Old Testament.

THE 608 Introduction to the New Testament
Explores the development of the Gospels and other writings of the New Testament that highlight the early Church’s understanding of the meaning of life and the message of Jesus.

THE 610 Jesus: Fully Human, Fully Divine (Introduction to Christology)
Presents a historical and systematic study of the person and work of Jesus Christ as the object and foundation of Christian faith.

THE 612 The History and Mission of the Church
Examines the origins, nature, and mission of the Church. Topics include theological literature, popular religion, doctrinal developments, the role of the papacy, and the interaction between Christianity and culture. 

THE 614 Moral Theology, Christian Ethics, and Society
Focuses on major themes of moral theology and on how Christian, especially Catholic tradition, offers guidance for ethical decision-making. The course also explores the interrelationships among moral theology, Christian ethics, and contemporary society.

THE 616 Sacramental and Liturgical Theology
Explores the history, doctrine, theory and praxis of sacraments and liturgy within the Roman Catholic Church.

THE 620 Spiritual Identity and Faith Formation
Facilitates self-understanding and explores stages of faith and styles and of spiritual journeying through a holistic approach to the Christian spiritual life. The course draws on selected readings, reflection, and prayer to achieve these objectives.

THE 702 Foundations of Religious Education
Examines the foundational principles underlying religious education and their practical application in various educational settings. This course includes a study of the dominant approaches to religious education as described by the leading educational theorists. It explores a range of curriculum models promoting a lifelong faith.