A Catholic theology class could be held in a local church if professors in the Department of Religious Studies get their questions answered.
"We always need to know that the course is being taught as an academic course rather than as a set of beliefs," said Roger Bresnahan, acting chairman of religious studies.
Clare Johnson, a theology-in-residence professor from the University of Notre Dame, said she is confident her theology class at St. John's Student Parish will be accepted as credit at MSU.
Johnson is expected to teach three sections of the Introductory Catholic Theology course in the spring at St. John's Student Parish, 327 M.A.C. Ave.
But religious studies professors have yet to see a syllabus, and said without following the proper procedures to ensure a transfer of credits, the theology class might not be a legitimate stand-in.
"The people at St. John's claim they already have approval from MSU to transfer the course, but as I understand it no one in the department had a chance to look at the syllabus, which is normal before a course would approve for transfer," Bresnahan said.
Officials at St. John's Student Parish could not be reached for comment.
Johnson said the parish is starting to communicate with the Department of Religious Studies.
"The program is officially sponsored by Notre Dame," she said. "MSU students will enroll at Notre Dame and the credits will transfer to MSU."
The Notre Dame classes are advertised as an alternative for Introduction to Biblical Literature, a new religious studies course offered by the department this fall.
The class, taught by Assistant Professor Chris Frilingos, offers students a chance to learn the texts of Christianity and Judaism.
"It's a historical study and also a study that includes critical approaches to the study of religion," Frilingos said. "Biblical themes and figures and events are cited in the history of western literature - it's good for students to have some familiarity with these canons."
The writings covered include the Hebrew Bible, or the Old Testament, and the New Testament. Deuterocanonical texts, such as the first and second Maccabee books considered to have authority by Catholic and Orthodox religions, also are included.
A concern about the Notre Dame class sections is whether an objective view of religion will be presented, MSU professors said.
"The course is listed as a theology course and in Catholic institutions theology is the study of a religion from a Catholic point of view," Bresnahan said. "We'd have to be sure that it's really an academic study of the Bible rather than reinforcing people's beliefs."
Johnson said her classes will offer a critical point of view of the Bible from both a Jewish and Christian historical perspective.
As of yet, the Department of Religious Studies has not heard directly from Johnson.
