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THEO44430: Understanding Practice in Theology and Religion

It is possible that changes to modules or programmes might need to be made during the academic year, in response to the impact of Covid-19 and/or any further changes in public health advice.

Type Tied
Level 4
Credits 30
Availability Available in 2024/2025
Module Cap None.
Location Durham
Department Theology and Religion

Prerequisites

  • None

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combinations of Modules

  • None

Aims

  • To develop skills and knowledge in the methods and theories around Practice currently utilised within the different disciplines in Theology and the Study of Religion.

Content

  • The course will introduce students to the variety of ways in which the academic disciplines within Theology and Religion evaluate and research the practice of religious communities.
  • The module will be structured around three groups of disciplines. Group 1 will include Biblical Studies, Christian Ethics and Systematic Theology. Group 2 will include Sociology of Religion, Anthropology and History. Group 3 will include Church Growth, Digital Theology, Youth Ministry and Homiletics
  • Each year there will be lectures, readings and seminars drawing on disciplines from each of these three groups.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

  • A developed and critical understanding of methodologies in theology and the study of religion in relation to Practice

Subject-specific Skills:

  • Ability to deploy a variety of methodologies in the study of religion and theology
  • skills in using critically a variety of disciplines to understand practice

Key Skills:

  • Communicate complex information and argument in a clear and orderly way
  • Understanding of a range of complex phenomena
  • Problem posing and problem solving
  • Identification of, respect for and appropriate use of empirical data

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • The module functions as the third module in the Doctor of Theology and Ministry degree (DThM). Through the first module students will have developed core concepts and been introduced to a variety of approaches to theology. This module allows them to refine concepts by exposure to a wider range of methodologies drawn from the range of disciplines within the study of Religion and Theology. The module will be structured around lectures and seminars with a formative assignment on which written feedback is given and a summative assignment of 5,000 words.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotalMonitored
Lectures1060 minutes10 
Seminars1060 minutes10 
Preparation and reading time80 
Preparation and reading in association with formative summative assignments200 
Total300 

Summative Assessment

Component: EssayComponent Weighting: 100%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Essay5,000 words100 

Formative Assessment

2,000 word essay

More information

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