Theology
MA, PGDip, PGCert

Modules

• 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

• Human Beings and Human Action Core

Human Beings and Human Action (Core)

This module offers a detailed exploration of some of the central conceptions about the human person in Western philosophical and theological traditions and of central themes and important schools within this tradition.

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

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

• Ecclesiology in Contemporary Perspective Core

Ecclesiology in Contemporary Perspective (Core)

The module examines the historical origins and images for ‘the Church’ as a theological and salvific entity, and considers the trajectory and possibilities for this in the world today. One key reference point on this module is the Second Vatican Council and the teaching of Lumen gentium.

Credits: 20

• Basic Principles and History of Catholic Social Teaching Optional

Basic Principles and History of Catholic Social Teaching (Optional)

The module aims to give a thorough introduction to the principles and history of Catholic Social Teaching, drawing on its sources in the Bible and the Church’s philosophical and theological tradition. It will also look in detail at the fundamental principles of Catholic Social Teaching, such as solidarity, subsidiarity, the dignity of the human person and the family. It will also study in depth the modern teachings of the Magisterium from 1891 to the present day.

Assessment: _Journal Article (2,250 words, 30% of overall grade) Essay (3,500 words, 70% of overall grade)

Credits: 20

• Theologies of Liberation and Political Theology Optional

Theologies of Liberation and Political Theology (Optional)

You will explore a major phenomenon in contemporary Christian theology that highlights the voices of the poor within theological discourse. You will cover topics like:

• theologies of liberation
• Catholic Worker communities founded by the Servant of God Dorothy Day
• political theology
• key 20th-century events, such as Shoah and Nakba.

You will also examine the works of:

• Hannah Arendt
• St Augustine
• Dietrich Bonhoeffer
• Johann Baptist Metz
• Stanley Hauerwas
• Jürgen Moltmann.

Assessment: Assessment: Case Study (2,250 words) Essay (3,500 words)

Credits: 20

• Foundations of Christian Spirituality Optional

Foundations of Christian Spirituality (Optional)

In common with many contemporary academic approaches to the study of Christian spirituality this module adopts an interdisciplinary approach analysing the subject through theological, anthropological and historical perspectives. Having established the relationship between spirituality and theology the module takes historical moments of the story of Christian spirituality and analyses their pastoral and contemporary relevance. 

Assessment: Assessment: Book Review (1,500 words, 30% of overall module grade), Essay (3,500 words, 70% of overall grade)

Credits: 20

• Contemplative and Monastic Spirituality Optional

Contemplative and Monastic Spirituality (Optional)

The module explores the monastic and contemplative traditions of spirituality relating them to the development of Christian spirituality. As well as working with definitions of ‘contemplation’, ‘meditation’, ‘mindfulness’ and ‘mental prayer’ the module takes an in-depth look at the main currents of monastic and contemplative spirituality tracing them from their origins in the medieval Eastern and Western milieus to their present-day applications and relevance. Key figures, writings and themes will be examined.

Assessment: Assessment: Presentation (15 minutes, 30% of module grade), Essay (3,500 words, 70% of module grade).

Credits: 20

• Catholic Social Teaching Applied Optional

Catholic Social Teaching Applied (Optional)

Catholic Social teaching is not simply about basic principles. The Catholic Church has consistently included in magisterial teaching the application, sometimes detailed, of these principles to specific issues and historical situations. This module will examine the most important examples of how this has been done, such as employment rights, racism, international relations, war and peace, the family, the sanctity of life, penal policy, healthcare ethics and the rights of migrants and refugees. There will also be an opportunity to look critically at ways in which politicians have attempted to make use of social teaching ideas. Students will also be able to explore the application of Catholic Social teaching to political questions.

Credits: 20

• Global Development, the Environment and the Market Optional

Global Development, the Environment and the Market (Optional)

• Study of the work of the late scholastics.
• Further study of the early social encyclicals.
• Study of modern social teaching on a range of issues relevant to public policy.
• Study of the relevant applied public policy issues.
• Study of the Church’s teaching on globalisation, the environment and integral human development.
• Study of the response of the Catholic community to development challenges.
• Study of the economic aspects of global development problems and their compatibility with Catholic social teaching.
• Study of the role of ethics in economic and business decision making.

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

Credits: 20

• Spiritual Direction, Psychology and Spiritual Formation Optional

Spiritual Direction, Psychology and Spiritual Formation (Optional)

The module explores the interface between psychological and theological methodologies as it reflects on the interaction between psychotherapy, counselling and spiritual direction.Students will learn how to critically assess the spiritual anthropology of these differing approaches whilst exploring key moments in the development of spiritual direction. Whilst not a training course in either spiritual direction or counselling students will be encouraged to relate the theoretical aspects of the study to contemporary pastoral situations. 

Assessment: Assessment: Presentation (15 minutes, 30% of overall grade), Essay (3,500 words, 70% of overall grade)

Credits: 20

• Mystical Theology Optional

Mystical Theology (Optional)

The module explores the philosophical, historical and psychological conditions of the Christian mystical tradition with particular reference to the medieval tradition of theologia mystica. It will also encompass early Christian understanding of the mystikos and late modern ideas of ‘mysticism’. As well as the Christian tradition it will dialogue with the mystical traditions of other major world religions. 

Assessment: Assessment: Presentation (15 minutes, 30% of overall grade), Essay (3,500, 70% of overall grade).

Credits: 20

• Dissertation Core

Dissertation (Core)

This module enables students to identify, delimit, research and write on a topic of their choice within the field of Theology, Christian Spirituality, or Catholic Social Teaching (understood as the broad range of areas covered by the modules within these MA programmes).

Assessment: Assessment: Dissertation (15000 words, 100% of overall grade)

Credits: 60

• Service Based Learning Research Core

Service Based Learning Research (Core)

‘Service-learning based research’ is a core module required on the MA in Social Justice and Public Service but can be taken as an alternative to dissertation and work placement modules on the listed degrees. It provides students with an opportunity to volunteer or undertake paid work which is of service to the community via a UK registered charity. In the process, they will develop skills, knowledge and understanding about the relationship between theory and practice in an external setting.

Students will undertake a minimum of 150 hours of volunteering or paid work in service of the community for a UK registered charity. It is the general expectation that full-time students will undertake this work unpaid. As we also want to give students who are working in a paid position the opportunity to take this module on MA programmes on which they are enrolled, some students, especially part-time students, may be doing paid work in a charity. This service must be with a UK registered charity unless an exception is granted by the Course Lead. Whilst the volunteering or paid work with a UK registered charity must be approved by the Course Lead, we recognise the precise nature of the activities undertaken may evolve over time and will be out of the control of the Course Lead. However, the role should not be described substantively as a campaigning role.

Assessment: Assessment: Reflective journal (5,000 words, 30% of module grade), Review of Research Articles (3,000 words, 15% of module grade) Report/Paper (5,000 words, 40% of module grade).

Credits: 60