Catholic Social Teaching
MA, PGDip, PGCert

Modules

• Basic Principles and History of Catholic Social Teaching Core

Basic Principles and History of Catholic Social Teaching (Core)

This module covers the basic principles and history of Catholic Social Teaching, drawing on the sources of the tradition in the Bible, the early Church Fathers, later theologians and papal encyclicals placing the tradition in the overall context of Catholic moral theology and its philosophical tradition.

The module will also look at the tradition’s critique of Marxism and unrestrained Free Market capitalism and the distinctions between different types of social thought and teaching.

Credits: 20

• Catholic Social Teaching Applied Core

Catholic Social Teaching Applied (Core)

This will examine in detail the many ways in which the Church has applied social teaching to particular issues: examples would be unemployment, migration, racism, homelessness, war and Europe.

It will also look at the relationship between issues of this kind associated with Catholic Social Teaching and other issues addressed by the wider moral theological tradition such as the sanctity of human life and the institution of the family. Outside speakers who are Catholics prominent in public life are a feature of the teaching of this module.

Credits: 20

• The Theologies of Liberation and Political Theology Core

The Theologies of Liberation and Political Theology (Core)

This module covers together the Theologies of Liberation, looking also at radical movements such as the Catholic Worker communities and also the European and North American tradition of Political Theology.

Credits: 20

• Global Development, the Environment and the Market Core

Global Development, the Environment and the Market (Core)

The last taught module will examine global development and care for the created order, drawing on the work of agencies such as CAFOD and Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’, looking also at the Market, different economic models and business ethics in the light of social teaching and the rest of the Christian theological tradition.

Credits: 20

• Systematic Theology and Contemporary Themes Core

Systematic Theology and Contemporary Themes (Core)

This core module brings together and seeks to interrelate two articulated components:

1. An historical component examining the origins of Christian doctrine (or ‘theology’) by examining foundational controversies in the opening centuries of the Christian church via key patristic texts.
2. A present-day component examining ecclesial and academic controversies, over how best to interpret and perpetuate this theological heritage today.

In addition, students will be introduced to core research skills.

Assessment: Assessment: Essay (3,500 words, 50% of module grade) Exam (2.5 hours, 50% of module grade)

Credits: 20

• Pastoral Theology of Ministry: Scripture and Ministry Core

Pastoral Theology of Ministry: Scripture and Ministry (Core)

The module explores the interface between scripture and pastoral theological methodologies as it reflects on the contemporary practice of ministry. Students will learn how to situate their ministry within scriptural and theological paradigms and thus equip them to undertake the later theological reflection on their ministry leading to a research project.

Assessment: Assessment: Presentation (15 minutes, 20% of module grade), Essay (5,000 words, 80% of module grade)

Credits: 20

• Dissertation Core

Dissertation (Core)

This module, compulsory for the MA, is your chance to dig into an area in depth. It enables you to identify, delimit, research and communicate your findings on a topic of your choice within Theology (understood as the broad range of areas covered by the modules within the MA), with the support of a lecturer to supervise your research.

You will have an introductory short series of classes on research methods and approaches to help in thinking your project through to a proposal before you formally start work on the research.

Credits: 60