This course is co-taught by Marianne Farina and Christopher Renz. The Academic Forum is a four-semester course required of all DSPT MA students, designed to develop skills for master’s level theological and philosophical research, writing, and professional dissemination. In Academic Forum, Intro 1, normally taken in the 1st semester of their first year in the MA program, students begin with an introduction to master’s the level academic research and the “vocation” of the scholar. They continue to develop research skills through exploration of cognitive styles of research, and the creation of working hypotheses for academic writing. During the scheduled day and time, the course meets on four to six of the weeks of the semester, to be arranged. For DSPT MA students only.