Biblical Studies and Theology
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About this course
This course has alternative study modes. Contact the university to find out how the information below might vary.
**Why this course?**
• With campus-based and online delivery, this course is specifically designed for people who may already have significant life commitments.
• Our staff are committed, practising Christians who represent a diversity of traditions and theological streams: Church of England, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal and evangelical.
• An ideal course for those seeking a formal academic ‘top up’ for their previous experience in Christian service and knowledge of the Bible.
**About this course**
This course is for those who always wanted to study theology at university level, but never managed to find the time. In many instances, their studies, ministry or career took them in a different direction. They now find themselves serving in churches, schools, missional organisations and the third sector, feeling the need for a more structured approach to their study of the Bible and Christian theology.
The Biblical Studies and Theology Certificate of Higher Education equips students with the tools, knowledge and skills they need to effectively study and teach the Old and New Testaments. Students learn how to see their own beliefs and practices within the context of the church’s 2000 year history. And they gain fluency in discussing the major doctrines that have shaped the Christian faith.
Students who successfully complete the course will receive a Certificate of Higher Education which equates to 120 credits at Level 4. They can finish their studies at that point, or continue studying toward our FdA/BTh undergraduate degrees in Theology, Mission and Practice. The content of this course is the same as the first year of these degrees.
Full-time students will attend online classes on Tuesday evenings, and face to face teaching on campus on Saturdays, for a period of 10 months. Part-time students will attend online classes on Tuesday evenings and one or two Saturdays per term, and will gain the Cert HE over two years.
**Skills**
On our Bibilical Studies and Theology Certificate of Higher Education, our priority is ensuring that you graduate with a professional skillset. This incorporates developing the knowledge and skills to effectively study and teach the Old and New Testaments, learning how to see your own beliefs and practices within the context of the church’s 2000 year history and gaining fluency in discussing the major doctrines that have shaped the Christian faith.
Students who successfully complete the course will receive a Certificate of Higher Education which equates to 120 credits at Level 4.
**Career opportunities**
Graduates of the Biblical Studies and Theology (Certificate of Higher Education) program will find themselves equipped with a profound understanding of Biblical Studies and Theology, enabling them to contribute effectively in various roles within their communities and beyond.
These roles may encompass serving as deacons, elders, council members, or administrators within their local churches, guiding Bible study groups and Sunday School classes, leading worship, undertaking missionary work, providing licensed counseling services, engaging in social service endeavours, and assisting within the charity and third sector. Additionally, for licensed educators working in church-affiliated schools, this program offers a valuable foundation.
Furthermore, it presents an excellent opportunity for those considering careers in Christian service, allowing them to explore their calling without the commitment of a longer program. Upon completing this course, a seamless transition into the FdA/BTh program awaits, marking the beginning of an even more profound journey of theological exploration and service.
Modules
Introduction to Theological Formation
This module addresses the nature and challenges of beginning theological study and leads students toward a critical self-awareness of their own learning journey in theology. Skills and knowledge acquisition, alongside character development, are seen as complementary aspects of each student’s theological formation .
Old Testament
Students engage with texts representing the four major genres of the OT corpus: the Pentateuch, Historical Books, Wisdom Literature, and the Prophetic books. In each case, students are presented with a framework within which they can determine the original meaning of the text, and are equipped with interpretive tools that will assist in drawing out the significance of the biblical message for contemporary faith and practice.
New Testament
Students engage with a thorough discussion of the historical, literary, religious and cultural background in both Jewish and Graeco-Roman contexts, as well as focused explorations of the Gospels, Acts, Paul, other epistles and the book of Revelation. Texts are explored to uncover what they tell us not only about Christianity’s founding figures and ideas, but also the communities within which they were written.
Engaging Scripture
This module aims to help students make authentic connections between the biblical text and contemporary thought and practice. Using a framework that distinguishes between discourse located ‘behind’, ‘within’ and ‘in front of’ the text, this will approach the task in two different ways, both of which will be important for later professional contexts.
History of Christian Thought
The history of the Christian church is shaped by its wrestling with fundamental questions relating to the substance of belief, the source of revelation, the nature of the church and the purpose of the church in the world. The purpose of this module is to help students understand their theological formation in historical context and to explore how engagement with these overarching questions has shaped Christian thought and identity from the first century to the present day.
Introduction to Christian Doctrine
This module explores the underlying concepts, figures, methods, and questions in historical and contemporary expressions of Christianity. These underlying concerns will be considered in dialogue with various forms of Christian practice and in dialogue with the doctrinal context of students’ own traditions as well as displaying an awareness of the breadth and diversity of Christian doctrine as it is understood and practiced in the world today.
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Top job areas of graduates
Theology can actually be a very vocational subject —by far the most common move for theology graduates is to go into the clergy and at the moment we have a serious shortage of people willing to go into what is one of the oldest graduate careers. If you want to study theology but don't want to follow a religious career, then there are plenty of options available. 2015 graduates went into all sorts of jobs requiring a degree, from education and community work, to marketing, HR and financial analysis. Postgraduate study is also popular — a lot of theology graduates train as teachers, or go into Masters or even doctoral study - where philosophy and law are very popular postgraduate subjects of study.
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Theology and religious studies
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£22k
£27k
£31k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
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