“University teachers should seek to improve their competence and endeavour to set the content, objectives, methods, and results of research in an individual discipline within the framework of a coherent world vision,” Pope Saint John Paul II wrote in his 1990 apostolic constitution on Catholic universities, Ex Corde Ecclesiae. “Christians among the teachers are called to be witnesses and educators of authentic Christian life, which evidences attained integration between faith and life, and between professional competence and Christian wisdom. All teachers are to be inspired by academic ideals and by the principles of an authentically human life.”

Recognizing the important role professors can play not only as instructors but also as mentors and models, the Rover staff presents the following recommendations for courses offered in the 2015 spring semester.

 

Business

Angela Engelsen will be teaching a section of “Business Law: Contracts and Agency,” next semester.  The course examines the background of the legal process and the judicial system, torts, contracts and the Uniform Commercial Code and agency law.  Engelsen is a devoted teacher who wishes to tie her courses into the university’s mission, and readings will include selections from Aquinas, among others.  Business Law is a required course for business students.

Laura Hollis, a Rover faculty advisor, is teaching three sections of “Business Law: Contracts and Agency,” as well as the course “Introduction to Entrepreneurship.”  This course serves as the foundational course for entrepreneurship minors and introduces students to competing definitions of entrepreneurship and its role in free market enterprise as an engine of economic growth.  Hollis is an engaging, fiery, and passionate teacher who is eager to engage with students.

 

Economics

Kirk Doran, a Rover faculty advisor, is teaching “Principles of Microeconomics.”  Doran is an accomplished economist who illustrates complex concepts with simple, humorous examples.  He is a thoughtful professor who holds extensive office hours, takes time to get to know his students, and genuinely cares about their success in his class.

Bill Evans is teaching a course on “Health Economics.”  The class will focus on how economists analyze topics related to the production of health and the delivery of health care in the United States, and also satisfies the writing-intensive requirement for the economics major.  Evans is the department chair as well as co-founder, with James Sullivan, of the Lab for Economic Opportunities, which seeks to discover research-driven solutions to poverty in the U.S.

Timothy Fuerst is offering a course on “Asset Pricing Theory” in which the theoretical foundations of financial asset pricing will be examined.  Topics will include the capital asset pricing model, stochastic discount factors, arbitrage pricing theory, the efficient market hypothesis, and option pricing.  Fuerst is a relative newcomer to Notre Dame and is enthusiastic about the mission of the university. He is one of the most-cited economists in the world.

 

English

Margaret Doody is a renowned scholar whose knowledge of Jane Austen and her contemporaries makes it seem as if she knew them personally.  As such, you can expect interesting class discussions and a great reading list from her classes (she’s actually edited half of the books she assigns in class).  She assigns quite a bit of reading per class, so be prepared to work as homework tends to be lengthy.  Definitely don’t pass up a chance to take one of her classes (specifically “Thinking with Abbeys” next semester); if anything, her quirky sense of humor and ambiguous accent will keep you engaged throughout the semester.

Tim Machan does an excellent job of bringing together the historical and literary aspects of a time period in a comprehensive way, and his class “The Vikings,” will be sure to enlighten students of the enthralling literary history of Scandinavia.  Machan entertains you the entire class (the hour fifteen flies by), while encouraging you to think critically about why literary texts were so popular in their timeframe.  Also, the class is about the Vikings.  Can life get better?  I submit that it cannot.

If you are hoping to take your Literature University Seminar next semester, take it with Kate Marshall.  She is a passionate professor who is sure to give you interesting readings and lead a discussion that is relevant and thought-provoking.  She will make you want to contribute to the discussion.

John Sitter is teaching “Literature and Ecology,” a thought-provoking and relevant class that satisfies the university literature requirement, and also can satisfy a requirement for the sustainability minor.  This class will make you want to join the English major; you will read nature poetry as well as modern environmental novels that cause you to think about what it means to be part of the natural world.  The readings are quite fun, as well!  Sitter is an excellent, genuine professor who will help improve your writing and push you to think about issues in a different light.

 

French

Required for the French major and supplementary major, “Conversational French” is a dialogue-intensive course in which your speaking and understanding skills will improve immensely.  We are blessed at the university to have Marie-Christine Escoda-Risto teaching this course in the spring semester.  She will help improve your comprehension and speaking skills, while also providing a fun, interactive classroom environment.

 

History

John Deak, a scholar of World War I and Central Europe, is teaching “German History 1740-1870” and the senior seminar, “The Great War.”  Deak is an energetic and innovative scholar with an infectious passion for exploring the past, and any of his courses would be great choices for majors and non-majors alike.

Father Bill Miscamble, CSC, is offering two courses in the spring, “US History since 1877,” a freshman course, and the upper-level “US Foreign Policy in the Cold War.”  A devoted Rover advisor and esteemed historian, Fr. Bill’s sense of humor, dedication to students, and engaging classes make him a popular choice among students.

Thomas Noble is teaching “The World of the Middle Ages” next semester.  Noble specializes in religious history among other things, knows about 10 different languages, and has translated many crucial texts in his field.  This popular class is well worth the effort, especially since this is his last semester teaching this course.

Also recommended are Steven Brady, Catherine Cangany, Brian Krestenko, and Tadeusz Mazurek.

 

Italian

Christian Moevs is teaching “Dante II” (in English) in the spring.  Moevs is a thoughtful and approachable intellectual who treasures his relationships and conversations with students.  The course is an overview of the Divine Comedy, focusing on Purgatorio and Paradiso.  Moevs is an excellent professor and guide to reading this brilliant poet.

Cross-listed in several other departments, Vittorio Montemaggi is once again teaching the popular course, “Meaning, Vulnerability, and Human Existence.”  This soul-nourishing course focuses on texts of Dante, Augustine, Aquinas, Shakespeare, Dostoyevsky, and Primo Levy, and gives students a forum in which to grapple with the titular concepts.  The class is as much about personal and spiritual growth as it is about the fantastic material.  Montemaggi is a true scholar whose faith animates his teaching, and whose capacity to cultivate a classroom community is unmatched.

 

Mathematics

For all the business majors out there, Alan Huebner would be a great choice for Statistics for Business Majors I.  He genuinely cares about whether or not students understand the material, making himself available during class for questions, and especially during office hours.  He makes statistics interesting, which is a feat not many mortals can achieve.

 

Philosophy

In a joint seminar entitled “Under the Radar,” Monsignor Michael Heintz and Fred Freddoso will be leading in-depth readings of lesser-known Catholic philosophers and theologians.  Take this class to become a better Catholic intellectual at the hands of two of Notre Dame’s finest professors.

Sean Kelsey is teaching on Aristotle in a class of the same name.  Take this majors course not only for the excellent topic but also to experience the quality teaching of Kelsey.

John O’Callaghan will be teaching “Aquinas on Human Nature,” a must for any student wishing to know more about himself or herself.  Learn from one of the best Aquinas scholars on campus in an in-depth and thought-provoking manner.

Other excellent picks include Jeffrey Speaks, Adrian Reimers, and Fred Rush

 

Political Science

Rover advisor Patrick Deneen will be teaching “Liberalism and Conservatism,” a course exploring the intellectual foundations of contemporary political ideology.  Deneen, a popular speaker at campus events and one of the country’s leading political philosophers, is a perennial favorite among students.  His class is not to be missed.

Phillip Muñoz, another Rover advisor, will teach “Constitutionalism, Law, and Politics II: American Constitutionalism,” a course in the political science department that is cross-listed with the Constitutional Studies minor.  As the founding director of the Potenziani Program in Constitutional Studies, he has in-depth knowledge of the subject matter to be covered in this class.

Also recommended are Michael Desch, Matthew Hall, Mary Keys, and Gladden Pappin.

 

Program of Liberal Studies

Andrew Radde-Gallwitz, the Program’s newest member, will be teaching “The Bible and its Interpretation.”  Radde-Gallwitz is an incredibly approachable and helpful teacher who will assuredly improve your writing with meaningful suggestions.

Thomas Stapleford is teaching the first of two PLS science tutorials, entitled “The Fundamental Concepts of Natural Science.”  Take this class to explore Aristotle, Euclid, and other thinkers who have made notable contributions to the study of the natural world.

 

Theology

Sister Ann Astell is offering two courses, “Foundations of Theology” and “Philosophical Women Theologians: Edith Stein and Simone Weil.”  The former is a university seminar that fulfills the first theology requirement.  The latter focuses on Stein and Weil’s respective spiritual journeys and intellectual quest, examining their historical, political, philosophical, and of course, theological significance.  Sister Astell’s kind demeanor, love for students, and vast knowledge make her classes excellent additions to any schedule.

John Cavadini, one of the Rover faculty advisors, will be teaching “The Catholic Faith,” a course fulfilling the second university requirement in theology.  This class uses the Catechism of the Catholic Churchas its primary text, and incorporates several other works from the early Church.  Cavadini, who is also the Director of Notre Dame’s Institute for Church Life, is one of the top theologians in the world and a fabulous teacher who cares deeply for his students. Cavadini is also teaching a one credit course, “On Human Dignity,” that will explore the theological presuppositions of the concept of human dignity focusing primarily on documents from the Second Vatican Council and the writings of John Paul II and Benedict XVI.