The Religious Studies Department aims to prepare and to equip students to contribute to the world from a foundation of Gospel values. Students study Catholic doctrine and practice as they prepare to live in and contribute to a pluralistic society. In addition to providing knowledge of the doctrinal content of catechetical instruction for high school-age young people, the Religious Studies curriculum is also designed to help these young men and women develop the necessary skills to answer or address the real questions that they face in life and in their faith development. Students are challenged on a personal level with Catholic morality and are called to analyze how social structures can be a vehicle for the enhancement of all people. Academic study, reflection, dialogue, worship, prayer, and service all converge in the curriculum to help students respond on multiple levels: interpersonally, locally, nationally, and globally.
Recognizing the unique position of Religious Studies in the moral formation of young women and men, the AMHS Religious Studies Department teaches to the AMHS Graduation Outcomes while embracing the six interrelated tasks of catechesis outlined by the USCCB Department of Education in the National Directory for Catechesis #20 (2005):
Journey Through Scripture: Foundations of Catholic Faith assists students in understanding the Catholic Christian experience of the presence of God in all aspects of creation and human experience. Students explore both the Old and New Testaments with an emphasis on contextual interpretation to reveal religious truths and how these truths shape Catholic belief and practice. Students will examine their personal faith in response to themes such as the goodness of Creation, our need for community, what it means to be “made in the image and likeness of God,” and covenant. With this foundation, students will connect Jesus’ command to love one another to the Hebrew prophets’ understanding of justice. Throughout the course, students will reflect on the role of narrative as a vehicle for understanding their own identities relative to ongoing Salvation History. Students will complete 20 hours of Christian Service as part of the AMHS graduation requirement.
Students will deepen their understanding of Jesus Christ, the fullness of God’s Revelation, as they encounter him in the living Body of Christ, the Catholic Church. They will recognize Christ present and active in their lives and in the community through the visible and vibrant mission of Church, defined by her four characteristics – one, holy, catholic and apostolic. The foundations of the Church in their historical and scriptural context will guide students in recognizing the sacred nature of the Church and engage them to actively participate with the community in the living Body of Christ. Also, they will be encouraged to serve as witnesses to the Gospel in the world today. Students learn the moral concepts and precepts that govern the lives of Christ’s disciples. Through critical analysis, exegesis, and personal reflection on daily living and relationships, students develop strategies for making choices consistent with the Gospel values of compassion, love and commitment. Students will complete 20 hours of Christian Service as part of the AMHS graduation requirement.
Social Justice leads students toward a deeper understanding of the rich tradition of Catholic Social Teaching (CST). Students begin by examining the foundations of CST in Scripture and Tradition. Students then explore that teaching as they examine how the Church responds to rapid and far-reaching changes in society. Later units explore specific social issues, such as protecting human life at its beginning and its end, poverty and hunger, war and peacemaking, economic justice and environmental justice. Students will be challenged to reflect, analyze, synthesize and apply the principles learned in this course to personal and social moral concerns in order to participate in the creation of a more just society. Students will complete 20 hours of Christian Service as part of the AMHS graduation requirement.
UC/CSU Approved Course
ECJ: California leads students toward a deeper understanding of the rich tradition of Catholic Social Teaching. The course starts by examining the foundations of Catholic social teaching in Scripture and Tradition. Students then explore that teaching as they analyze the Church’s response to rapid and far-reaching changes in society. Later units explore specific social issues, such as protecting human life at its beginning and its end, poverty and hunger, war and peacemaking, economic justice and environmental justice with a focus on social issues that present challenges to human life and dignity in the history and current events in the state and recent experiences of the Catholic Church in California. Students will be challenged to reflect, analyze, synthesize and apply the principles learned in this course to personal and social moral concerns in order to participate in the creation of a more just society.
The course-associated immersion trip enables students and teachers to develop a community of mutual concern in service to the community in which they travel. In the summer of following their junior year, students will balance their classroom study and witness a deepening of their social consciousness by visiting and participating in service learning projects at locations throughout the state, including St. Anthony’s Foundation in San Francisco, Save the Bay in San Jose, a migrant farm-working community in Salinas, and Dolores Mission in Los Angeles. This immersion trip brings students into an encounter with the world so that they participate in the pursuit of justice. This immersion trip awards service hours for senior year; during the course of junior year students will complete 20 hours of Christian Service as part of the AMHS graduation requirement.
UC/CSU approved course
ECJ: Central America is designed to aid students in facing the moral challenges of young adulthood. Students will discover that morality is more than just following the dictates of their parents and institutions concerning right and wrong. They will begin to discover and develop for themselves a sense of conscience that will guide them throughout adulthood. Throughout this course, the student explores the components of moral decision-making and is encouraged to form a personal conscience rooted in the Roman Catholic tradition. Students will be challenged to reflect, analyze, synthesize and apply the principles learned in this course to personal and social issues. This course places special emphasis on the study of social justice issues and the major tenets of Catholic social teaching, particularly through studying the history and experience of the Catholic Church in Central America.
Students will balance their classroom study and witness a deepening of their social consciousness by completing their 20 hours of Christian Service through working with the economically poor and disadvantaged during the school year. Their senior year service hours will be completed through a two-week immersion trip to Central America at the conclusion of the course.
To participate in this course, students must also be taking, or have taken, a Spanish Language Level III or higher. Spanish vocabulary and conversation will be used throughout the course in preparation for the class immersion trip.
UC/CSU approved course
ECJ: India leads students toward a deeper understanding of the rich tradition of Catholic Social Teaching. The course starts by examining the foundations of Catholic social teaching in Scripture and Tradition. Students then explore that teaching as they analyze the Church’s response to rapid and far-reaching changes in society. Later units explore specific social issues, such as protecting human life at its beginning and its end, poverty and hunger, war and peacemaking, economic justice and environmental justice with a focus on social issues that present challenges to human life and dignity in the history and current events in India. Students will be challenged to reflect, analyze, synthesize and apply the principles learned in this course to personal and social moral concerns in order to participate in the creation of a more just society.
The course-associated immersion trip enables students and teachers to develop a community of mutual concern in service to the community in which they travel. In the summer of following their junior year, students will balance their classroom study and witness a deepening of their social consciousness by visiting schools, orphanages, temples, mosques and churches in several cities in India including Delhi, Agra, and Bangalore. Students will visit the Taj Mahal and a variety of other cultural centers as well. This immersion trip brings students into an encounter with the world so that they participate in the pursuit of justice. This immersion trip awards service hours for senior year; during the course of junior year students will complete 20 hours of Christian Service as part of the AMHS graduation requirement.
UC/CSU approved course
ECJ: Jamaica leads students toward a deeper understanding of the rich tradition of Catholic Social Teaching. The course starts by examining the foundations of Catholic social teaching in Scripture and Tradition. Students then explore that teaching as they analyze the Church’s response to rapid and far-reaching changes in society. Later units explore specific social issues, such as protecting human life at its beginning and its end, poverty and hunger, war and peacemaking, economic justice and environmental justice with a focus on social issues that present challenges to human life and dignity in the history and current events in Jamaica and the Caribbean. Students will be challenged to reflect, analyze, synthesize and apply the principles learned in this course to personal and social moral concerns in order to participate in the creation of a more just society.
The course-associated immersion trip enables students and teachers to develop a community of mutual concern in service to the community in which they travel. In thesummer following their junior year, students will balance their classroom study and witness a deepening of their social consciousness by spending ten days in Jamaica where they will visit cultural landmarks, schools, and orphanages. The students will serve and learn as they reach out to the poor and marginalized. This immersion trip brings students into an encounter with the world so that they participate in the pursuit of justice. During the course of junior year, students will complete 10 hours of Christian Service as part of the AMHS graduation requirement.
UC/CSU approved course
ECJ: South Africa leads students toward a deeper understanding of the rich tradition of Catholic Social Teaching. The course starts by examining the foundations of Catholic social teaching in Scripture and Tradition. Students then explore that teaching as they analyze the Church’s response to rapid and far-reaching changes in society. Later units explore specific social issues, such as protecting human life at its beginning and its end, poverty and hunger, war and peacemaking, economic justice and environmental justice with a focus on social issues that present challenges to human life and dignity in the history and current events in South Africa. Students will be challenged to reflect, analyze, synthesize and apply the principles learned in this course to personal and social moral concerns in order to participate in the creation of a more just society.
The course-associated immersion trip enables students and teachers to develop a community of mutual concern in service to the community in which they travel. In the summer following their junior year, students will balance their classroom study and witness a deepening of their social consciousness by spending two weeks In South Africa where they will visit cultural landmarks, schools, and children's shelters. The students will serve and learn as they reach out to the poor and marginalized. This immersion trip brings students into an encounter with the world so that they participate in the pursuit of justice. During the course of junior year, students will complete 20 hours of Christian Service as part of the AMHS graduation requirement.
UC/CSU approved course
Seniors are required to take two semesters, one each semester, of electives chosen from the Religious Studies Electives.
Recent global environmental changes unparalleled in the four and a half billion years of earth history have resulted in environmental degradation that raises fundamental moral and religious questions about humanity’s relationship to the natural environment. What is our moral responsibility toward the Earth and its ecosystems? How can we ensure equitable development that neither destroys ecosystems, nor promotes further marginalization of vulnerable people and communities, now and in the future? How do my daily choices and actions contribute to our planet’s suffering? This course applies an integral ecology approach to our world’s complex, multi-faceted environmental crisis. Topics such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and water issues will be examined scientifically, evaluated ethically, and reflected upon spiritually, all towards the goal of acting responsibly to heal the earth as individuals and as members of local, national, and global communities. Selected readings and documentary films provide the basis of content; class discussions, activities, simulations, projects, and seminars provide a platform for students to share and deepen their understanding, and written personal reflections offer the opportunity for students to synthesize and express their knowledge, personal ethics, and spiritual perspectives. Students will complete 20 hours of Christian Service as part of the AMHS graduation requirement.
UC/CSU approved course
Mission to Education offers both a course of study and a practicum for seniors designed to provide experiences of leadership, service, and ministry. Students study the spiritual development of children and explore new and creative approaches to teaching the gospel to youth. Students study childhood and early adolescence to learn about the tremendous challenges and opportunities for growth in these periods of life, and the ways in which Catholic schools address these developmental challenges while continuing to serve immigrants and diverse ethnic, religious, and socio-economic communities. Students witness their faith by participating in a supervised practical application of their studies by serving at a school of the Diocese of San Jose on a consistent, weekly basis during school hours. By participating in the class, students will complete 20 hours of Christian Service as part of the AMHS graduation requirement.
Priority enrollment is given to students who graduated from the schools of the Diocese of San Jose at which they will serve.
Philosophy of Religion aims at critical understanding of the fundamental concepts and doctrines widely held by religious beliefs of various types. In this course students engage in philosophical interpretation, analysis, dialogue and evaluation of religious beliefs in order to explore religions’ responses to the big questions: Why are we here? What does it mean to be human? How shall we live? What does it mean to believe in (or reject) the existence of God? Is there life after death? How can we know? In pursuit of these aims, students examine philosophical discussions by thinkers past and present of such topics as: the attributes of God, arguments for and against God’s existence, the possibility of life after death, and the dialogue between faith and reason. The objective of this course is to equip students with the knowledge and critical skills needed to formulate well-reasoned responses to the course’s questions and arrive at a critical, informed and accurate understanding of what religion is, what it is about, and what value it has in the contemporary world. Students will complete 20 hours of Christian Service as part of the AMHS graduation requirement.
UC/CSU approved course
NCAA Core Course
Religions of the World helps students understand the manner in which the Catholic Church relates to non-Catholic Christians as well as to other religions of the world. This course in comparative theologies starts with foundational questions humans have asked since ancient times and asks students to grapple with their own beliefs as compared to the views of the five major world religions: Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam. Students will examine their own experience and analyze the central beliefs of these world religions. Students learn to recognize the ways in which important spiritual truths can also be found in non-Catholic Christian churches and ecclesial communities as well as in non-Christian religions, and recognize the ways in which other systems of belief and practice differ from the Catholic faith. Students will complete 20 hours of Christian Service as part of the AMHS graduation requirement.
UC/CSU Approved Course
NCAA Core Course
Parker Palmer describes vocation at its deepest level as "something I can't not do." While traditionally understood as a call to religious life, a vocation is more than a job or a title. It is the answer to the question: Who do I want to be? Vocation and Discernment will assist students in answering that question by reading and listening to personal accounts of vocation as well as studying the practice of Christian discernment and decision making. Throughout the course, students will examine the three major questions in discerning a vocation: (1) What brings me joy? (2) What are my gifts? (3) What does the world need of me? The objective of the course is for students to be able to utilize the skills and information learned in the classroom to explore their personal calling in life and discern who it is they truly want to be. Students will complete 20 hours of Christian Service as part of the AMHS graduation requirement.
UC/CSU Approved Course
Department Chair
Christina McDougall