“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,” Bl. Pope John Paul II wrote in 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 presents the following recommendations for the 2012 spring semester.  While we do not have space to recommend every excellent professor in the following pages, we hope that you will consider the following professors in making your course selections.

ENGLISH

A veteran Notre Dame professor, Prof. Thomas Werge is a dedicated teacher who shows a remarkable concern for and kindness to his students.  Discussing the authors like old friends, he has profound insight into literature and a spiritual sensitivity to the Christian themes present in the works of great authors such as Flannery O’Connor and Dostoyevsky.  His detailed, helpful comments on papers challenge you to grow as a writer.  Take God and Evil in Modern Literature.

PHILOSOPHY

Prof. Alfred Freddoso is a stellar prof.  Freddoso has a great sense of humor, and his dramatic impressions of ancient philosophers really bring them back to life.  But don’t let his witty antics fool you – he expects his students to work hard.  He demands a lot, but you’re guaranteed to learn a lot in both his Ancient & Medieval Philosophy and Chesterton classes.

If you’re looking to fulfill your second philosophy requirement or have elective space, take Prof. John O’Callaghan’s Science and Catholicism.  Majors and minors should enroll in Aquinas on Virtue and Law.  Director of the Jacques Maritain Center, O’Callaghan is though-provoking lecturer and a great Thomist.

If you need a second philosophy class, take Morality and Modernity this spring.  David Solomon’s flagship class is structured around Alasdair MacIntyre’s AFTER VIRTUE.  If you have wondered what the good life for man is, you may never find a better (non-theological) answer than from MacIntyre, and you will never find a better exemplar of it than Solomon.  As a prominent philosopher at Rice University once commented, “David Solomon is one of the last great bastions of Western Civilization. “

Notre Dame’s resident expert on the thought of John Paul II, Prof. Adrian Reimers’ class on Human Nature promises to provide a view of the human condition thoroughly grounded in the Catholic tradition – a tradition perhaps best expressed by the writers he knows so well, St. Thomas Aquinas and Ven. John Paul II.

ARCHITECTURE

Prof. Duncan Stroik’s Issues in Sacred Architecture class covers the development of religious architecture (primarily Christian) over the past three millennia and is open to all majors. A typical class includes a lecture or presentation, followed by an animated discussion of the reading.  Particularly if you’ve just come back from studying abroad in Europe or are preparing to go, Stroik’s guidance will definitely help you get more out of the experience.

ART HISTORY

Prof. Charles Rosenberg loves what he teaches and makes it possible for students to love it too. While his class is no easy A, he presents great lectures that are both organized and thorough, and his expectations are clear. His class is more than just IDing slides, as he provides interesting academic articles to supplement the slides and lectures. Prof. Rosenberg is friendly and genuinely interested in getting to know his students. In the spring semester Rosenberg will be teaching Age of Rembrandt: North Baroque, which is open to all students.

HISTORY

A native of Australia (don’t be surprised if he calls you sport) and an expert in American foreign policy, Fr. Bill Miscamble, CSC, is easily one of the best teachers at ND.  Noted for his engaging lectures and deep concern for his students, he will teach U.S. History since 1877 and U.S. Foreign Policy in Cold War in the spring.

Prof. Thomas Kselman is a passionate, dedicated teacher expects a lot from his students. He incorporates cultural history, particularly art, into his classes as well as texts that present a-typical representations of historical events. In the spring, Kselman will teach History of Paris.

A well-respected scholar in the field of American religious history, Prof. Mark Noll’s commitment to teaching is evidenced by his respect for his students, delight in learning, and desire to engage the class. His lectures are engaging and informative, and often marked by his dry wit. World History of 20th Century Christianity promises to be an engaging consideration of the last century’s world-wide growth of Christianity, with a talented historian, committed Christian, and kind teacher as your guide.

An accomplished historian, Prof. Brad Gregory left tenure at Stanford to come to Notre Dame because of its Catholic character.  His enthusiasm for history is obvious, and he is personable and eager to get to know you.  His eloquent lectures are well-organized and packed with information, insights and connections although your hand might hurt at the end of them. In the spring, he will teach Storming Heaven: Christianity in the Reformation Era.

Fr. Tom Blantz, CSC, has been teaching at Notre Dame for many years and is a familiar face to many on campus.  His research focuses on modern American politics, especially the New Deal, and the history of Catholicism in America.  A friendly and knowledgeable prof, he will teach history university seminar and United States since WWII.

Interested in the Middle East?  Want to explore a world your high school teachers never touched, with a forthright guide?  Take the Medieval Iranian World with Prof. Deborah Tor, a terrific professor who cares about her students.  There will never be a dull moment.

CLASSICS

Prof. Tadeusz Mazurek researches the literature and cultural history of Republican Rome, with a particular interest in Roman law, religion and self-rule. Next semester, he will be teaching Greek and Roman Mythology.  This freshman class fulfills the university requirement in literature, while introducing prospective classicists to the field.  Mazurek could not make himself more available to his students, and never fails to entertain with his quick wit and dry humor.

ANTHROPOLOGY

If you are a freshman interested in learning about the foundations of sociocultural anthropology, Prof. Catherine Bolten’s university seminar is the class for you.  Prof. Bolten will share great stories about her field work in Africa and will teach you many interesting things about cultures from all over the world.  Every class and discussion will be interesting and, although she expects you to work hard, there is real satisfaction in the amount of critical thinking required to do well on her papers.

POLITICAL SCIENCE

By the end of Prof. Susan Rosato’s Intro to International Relations class, you will have a fundamental understanding of all of the political calculations of the nation-state ranging from economics to history to international law. Contemporary topics are also incorporated into the course.

For an introduction to political theorists and paradigms, look no further than Prof. Joshua Kaplan’s Political Theory. Not only will you graduate with the tools to navigate critical historical and contemporary debates, you will have encountered one of Notre Dame’s kindest faculty members. Office hours are as accessible as A’s are not; this challenge, however, will stretch your critical thinking and work ethic.

In Prof. Daniel Philpott’s Catholicism and Politics course, you’ll be challenged to form your own opinions about how Catholics should engage political life on issues of social justice, including but not limited to war, abortion, the death penalty, reconciliation in politics, poverty, and immigration. Engaging and enthusiastic, Philpott often brings in guest speakers and shows movies to illustrate broader class themes.

Prof. Mary Keys’ gentle concern for her students’ well-being is matched only her breadth of knowledge in political theory, which spans from the ancients to the medieval, to Locke, de Tocqueville, and other modern political theorists.  You can’t go wrong with any of her classes.  This spring, she will teach Politics and Conscience.

THEOLOGY

Fr. Brian Daley, SJ, is a renowned patrologist, focusing on the early Church and specifically, on the development of doctrine from the fourth to eighth centuries. Fr. Daley is teaching THEO 20201 on God, which should be an excellent course on the theological tradition through the centuries and THEO 40251: Prayer and Mysticism.

The Christian Theological Tradition II is a requirement for all theology majors, as well as for theology-philosophy joint majors. Taught by Prof. Cyril O’Regan, it is arguably one of the most important classes a Notre Dame student could ever take.  You’ll receive a solid foundation in the Christian tradition from the Reformation to the present.

Prof. John P. Meier is one of the greatest scholars of the New Testament, and his recent works on the historical Jesus been cited and recommended in both of Pope Benedict’s Jesus of Nazareth volumes. His One Jesus and His Many Portraits introduces students to the nature of Christology and its historical matrix as the method of approaching the person of Jesus in the New Testament.

Prof. John Cavadini, director of the Institute for Church Life and previous chair of the theology department is teaching The Catholic Faith, which explores the love of God as the theme that provides coherence for the whole of Catholic teaching. This course with Cavadini is highly recommended as a second theology course.

Sr. Ann Astell teaches classes for both the theology department and Medieval Institute and is known for her great contributions to the fields of medieval literature and spirituality. She is sure to enlighten and inspire her students on the thought of the influential and courageous figures of Simone Weil and St. Edith Stein in Women Theologians: Edith Stein and Simone Weil.

Prof. Robin Darling Young is another excellent patrologist; her course the Spiritual Masters of Early Christianity should be considered by any theology major interested in patristic studies and medieval theology, as well as for those who wish to study the tradition of prayer and contemplation. She is also offering a 200-level course called the Monastic Way in History of Christianity.

Still need to take your first theology requirement? Prof. Gary Anderson, renowned Old Testament scholar, and Prof. Daniel Smith are teaching sections THEO 10001-22 and THEO 20001-02 respectively, while Sr. Ann Astell and Prof. John Betz will be teaching university seminars.

PSYCHOLOGY

Anyone who wants to understand social interactions should take Introduction to Social Psychology. Prof. Kari Christoffersen is about to receive her PhD and is a very engaging and enthusiastic prof in the making.  She does a great job of taking difficult theoretical works and translating them to her audience – she wants her students to succeed.

SOCIOLOGY

Prof. Kevin Christiano is an important sociologist with much humility. He is a knowledgeable and engaging lecturer.  This course examines the relationship between religion and culture. From what has taken place due to modernity, to the cult craze, his class, Religion and Social Life, discusses many aspects of the interaction between religion and society.

PLS

PLS13186: Literature University Seminar, Pierpaolo Polzonetti (TR 9:30 – 10:45)

Lose yourself in a semester of classics and sip the Pierian spring of PLS. Prof. Pierpaolo Polzonetti will guide Socratic discussion of early Great Books, inspiring you along the way with his ear for the music of the literature, and engaging you with his wacky sense of humor. Ideal for both those wishing to test the waters of the program and for those needing to fulfill a university requirement, this seminar will introduce you to the best that has been thought and said.

BUSINESS

For business majors or those just interested in learning about the language of business, Prof. Jeff Burks’ course is the ideal choice for Accounting I. His lectures are systematic and thorough (not to mention his Powerpoint slides, which are simply unparalleled). Ask him about the ethical obligations of those in business, and you will be inspired.

Prof. Michael Meyer is by far the best teacher you can get for Managerial Accounting.  He goes above and beyond to make the course interesting and he genuinely cares about his students.  Plus, he writes the tests.

Business Foresight is likely the most dreaded business course at Notre Dame.  This being said, Prof. Chad Harms does a great job at making the class more enjoyable.  He is very accessible to his students and goes to great lengths to help students put together great research projects.

ECONOMICS

Intermediate Micro Theory offers a great opportunity for any student, regardless of your major. Prof. James Sullivan ensures a challenging experience, but is committed to students’ understanding of course material.  You will certainly emerge with an in-depth understanding of microeconomic concepts and some extra knowledge for future interviews.

If you are an economics major, you should give a new class, The Economics of Innovation and Scientific Research, a chance.  Well worth the early start time, Prof. Kirk Doran is engaging and the course material is both interactive and relevant.  Topics include intellectual property, contests, and auctions and the chance to work on a final project on a topic of your choice.

Prof. William Leahy bleeds blue and gold.  He loves Notre Dame, and he wants his students to love this university too.  His freshmen seminar approaches economics on several different planes and always in the context of the common good.  When you begin studying economics with selections from the Bible, you know you’re not in another charts and graphs econ class.  This spring, he will teach social science university seminar and Labor Law.

Have a professor recommendation to share?  Want advice on your course schedule?  Email us at ndirishrover@gmail.com.