Contemporary Christian spirituality is an emerging area of academic study characterized by an interdisciplinary approach. Building on the Pro-Seminar in the first year, the Foundations course will help students understand those significant fields of research that influence and ground the study of spirituality and spiritual writing in the academy. The Foundations course will explore the some of the “classics” of western philosophical tradition, Catholic theological method and content, twentieth century anthropological, sociological, cultural studies and gender studies and educational theory. The goal of this course is to offer some principles and classical distinctions drawn from philosophy, anthropology, sociology, educational theory, and revelation that can help serve as a foundation within which to ground Christian spirituality.