Programme Specification and Regulations 2011-2012 - BD and Theology Old Regulations

Table of Contents

1. Programme Specification and Regulations for the Bachelor of Divinity (Old Regulations) and Diploma in Theology (Old Regulations)
2. Important information regarding the Programme Specification and Regulations
3. Programme Specification
   1. Title and name of awards
   2. Programme structures and requirements
   3. Entrance requirements
   4. Educational aims and learning outcomes of the programmes
   5. Teaching, learning and assessment strategies
   6. Quality evaluation and enhancement
4. Detailed Regulations
5. Annex A - Structure
6. Annex B - syllabuses and prescribed texts
7. Annex C - Assessment criteria
8. Annex D - Transfer from BD degree (Old Regulations) and Diploma in Theology (Old Regulations) to the BD degree (New Regulations)
9. Glossary of terms
10. Related documents and other sources of information

Educational aims and learning outcomes of the programmes

The main educational aims of these programmes are to offer a challenging, flexible scheme of study invigorated by research. The programmes aim to stimulate curiosity about the Christian religion both past and present and to advance students' powers of engagement with the narrative of Christian theology and related traditions. It is intended that students pursue their own interests using their initiative and thinking out problems themselves.

Graduates of the programmes will have a sound basis for careers not only in the church, but also in the teaching profession, the social services, or other occupations which are concerned with people and their values. The managerial and organisational levels of the voluntary sector are also particularly interested in those with theological expertise. The transferable skills of information retrieval, analysis and presentation are also valued in many other career areas.

A student who is registered for the Diploma in Theology may progress to the Bachelor of Divinity under certain circumstances. Successful completion of the BD degree with honours may allow students to progress to postgraduate study in the degree field or a related area of the arts and humanities.

The programmes aim to:

• promoteindependent critical and evaluative skills, and intellectual curiosity;
• expand knowledge and understanding of Christian theology;
• encourage thoughtful understanding of the Christian tradition;
• promote analytical, creative and imaginative engagement with the complexities of scriptural, intellectual and spiritual traditions of Christian theology;
• expand knowledge and understanding of some non-Christian disciplines;
• encourage self-development into professionally organized and interactive individuals by practicing skills of selection, assimilation and communication in the written domain.

The learning outcomes of the programmes are as follows:

Knowledge and understanding

A student will be able to:

• understand the principal doctrines that define Christian faith;
• interpret and evaluate theological arguments, approaches and methods within each discipline studied;
• deal intelligently and sympathetically with the contexts and formulations of earlier periods;
• understand contemporary theological perspectives;
• demonstrate scriptural, doctrinal, historical and philosophical aspects of theology;
• make effective use of a range of primary and secondary material including being able to apply appropriate subject skills such as an adequate knowledge of a language to make a detailed study of an original text;
• use the appropriate tools for the study of the subject including linguistic, literary and philosophical tools.

Intellectual and cognitive

A student will be able to:

• select and organise material from complex sources;
• conduct detailed analysis of texts, events, doctrines, theories or arguments;
• assimilate and lucidly evaluate alternative views;
• respond with insight and sensitivity to complex ideas.

Transferable

A student will be able to:

• have fluent and effective communication and discussion skills in a written context;
• have a capacity to handle ideas in rational, critical and evaluative ways;
• be open-minded and have a capacity for independent judgments;
• treat conflicting views with respect;
• manage their own learning, including working effectively to deadlines;
• apply skills of close analysis to a variety of texts and contexts; organize information, and to assimilate and evaluate competing arguments.

A BD degree student will have had more practice and experience of studying the subject than the Diploma in Theology student and will therefore achieve a higher level.