Related linksTheology (Certificate of Higher Education), 2007/2008 entry (part-time study)
Aims
This award covers the fields of study that traditionally make up a theology degree: biblical studies, theology, the philosophy and history of religion, ethics, and other related fields. You will acquire a broad knowledge of theology and religion, as well as the skills required for studying scriptural and theological texts in depth.
This award will be of interest to anyone intending to undertake further study in theology or religious studies at degree level. It will also be of benefit if you require a comprehensive award for professional or ministerial reasons. It will appeal to people with a general interest in the subject who would enjoy a focused and stimulating course of study.
Pattern of study
Take the following six modules in numerical order in Year 1 and 2:
Year 1
- Module 1: Jesus and Paul
- Module 2: Introduction to Christian Doctrine
- Module 3: Scripture and Interpretation in the Believing Community.
Year 2
- Module 4: Creation and God
- Module 5: History of Christian and Political Theology: From Augustine to Kant
- Module 6: Ethics: Christian Engagement from Bonhoeffer to Benedict.
You may claim exemption from one of these modules if you have previously taken the Religious Studies core module Approaches to Theology.
Year 3
For your final two modules, choose from the following modules in the Religious Studies programme:
- Module 7: Confronting Scripture I: Revelation, Prophecy, Escatology
- Module 8: Confronting Scripture II: The People of God
- Module 9: Christian Mysticism
- Module 10: Philosophy for Theology
- Module 11: The Philosophy of Religion I: The Nature and Existence of God
- Module 12: The Philosophy of Religion II: God and Evil.
Full details of modules for this programme.
Teaching
Lectures, seminars and class presentations, individually or in groups, and directed study. Class visits may also be arranged where appropriate.
Assessment
100 per cent coursework.
Further study
Students awarded the Certificate of Higher Education may apply for admission to foundation and undergraduate degrees at Birkbeck.
The Certificate may fulfil the entry requirements, and may carry exemption from, first degrees in theology at other higher education institutions. You should consult the relevant admissions officers about your eligibility before applying. Some of our modules provide teaching and learning support to external students preparing for the University of London Bachelor of Divinity examinations.
Year 1
Module 1
Jesus and Paul
Without Jesus and Paul there would be no Christian community. We will explore their teaching, their relationship to each other and their contribution to the emerging Christian community. Students taking this module will acquire study skills that will be useful later in the Certificate of Higher Education in Theology.
Tue 9 Oct 2007, 6.30pm-8.30pm
11 meetings
£110 (£55)
Joseph Stephen King, BA, M.Phil
FFRS096UACB CE: How to enrol
15 CATS points at Level C
This class is no longer available.
Module 2
Christian Doctrine: an Introduction
This module will introduce you to four doctrines: Christology (teachings about Jesus); revelation; the role of Scripture in the tradition; sacraments. Each doctrine will be approached from a different historical perspective, providing an outline of the historical development of doctrine from the early Church to the present day.
Tue 8 Jan 2008, 6.30pm-8.30pm
11 meetings
£110 (£55)
Anne Inman, BTh, MTh, PhD
FFRS097UACB CE: How to enrol
15 CATS points at Level C
This class is no longer available.
Module 3
Scripture and Interpretation in the Believing Community
Mark’s Gospel, traditionally portrayed as a lion, is a book with an edgy, subversive message, as unaccommodating and sharp as its central character. Mark’s Gospel poses riddles, with a story as perplexed and jerky as narrative can stand. This module uncovers some of the secrets lurking in this text.
Tue 20 May-Tue 1 Jul 2008, 6.30pm-9.30pm
7 meetings
£110 (£55)
Katharine Mary Stogdon, Phd
FFRS112UACB CE: How to enrol
15 CATS points at Level C
This class has limited availability.
Year 2
Module 4
Creation and God
This module examines how the Christian doctrine of creation reveals the absolute otherness of God, while affirming at the same time the goodness of creation. We will examine the implications of the doctrine for the God–world relationship, and for the Christian understanding of God as Trinity.
Wed 3 Oct 2007, 6.30pm-8.30pm
11 meetings
£110 (£55)
Anne Inman, BTh, MTh, PhD
FFRS098UACB CE: How to enrol
15 CATS points at Level C
This class is no longer available.
Module 5
History of Christian and Political Theology: From Augustine to Kant
This module explores ideas that created the modern and postmodern world, in the thought of Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Martin Luther, Immanuel Kant, Dietrich Bonhoeffer and contemporary thinkers. We will investigate concepts of human nature, law, virtues, freedom, human rights, liberalism, individualism, community, church and state, plus Christian attitudes to the secular sphere.
Wed 9 Jan 2008, 6.30pm-8.30pm
11 meetings
£110 (£55)
Douglas Knight, BA, MTh, PhD
FFRS103UACB CE: How to enrol
15 CATS points at Level C
This class is no longer available.
Module 6
Ethics: Christian Engagement from Bonhoeffer to Benedict
We begin with the refusal of Dietrich Bonhoeffer to accept the anti-Jewish legislation of the Third Reich. We then follow the course of Christian political and social engagement through to the present, with Pope Benedict’s portrayal of action in the political sphere as a ‘direct duty’ proper to church leaders.
Wed 23 Apr 2008, 6.30pm-8.30pm
11 meetings
£110 (£55)
Anne Inman, BTh, MTh, PhD
FFRS099UACB CE: How to enrol
15 CATS points at Level C
This class is no longer available.
Year 3
Module 7
Confronting Scripture I: Revelation, Prophecy, Escatology
Reading Exodus, Ezekiel, Daniel, John, Hebrews and Revelation, we will look at the priestly, temple and apocalyptic themes in the Old and New Testaments. We will examine the symbolism of Israel's cosmology, the present and future reign of God and the politics of liberation of Israel and Jesus.
Wed 3 Oct 2007, 6.30pm-8.30pm
11 meetings
£110 (£55)
Douglas Knight, BA, MTh, PhD
FFRS113UACB CE: How to enrol
15 CATS points at Level C
This class is no longer available.
Module 8
Confronting Scripture II: The People of God
This module explores one pivotal movement (the Exodus) which is frequently rehearsed within the corpus of Scripture and celebrated within communities of faith. We will also examine two important texts, Deuteronomy and Galatians, that are fundamental to developing Christian theology.
Wed 9 Jan 2008, 6.30pm-8.30pm
11 meetings
£110 (£55)
Joseph Stephen King, BA, M.Phil
FFRS114UACB CE: How to enrol
15 CATS points at Level C
This class is no longer available.
Module 9
Christian Mysticism
This module explores the early Church mysticism of Origen and John Cassian before turning to the great Christian mystics Catherine of Siena and John of the Cross. We will also study the twentieth-century writings of Evelyn Underhill and Karl Rahner’s ‘mysticism of daily life’.
Tue 2 Oct 2007, 6.30pm-8.30pm
11 meetings
£110 (£55)
Anne Inman, BTh, MTh, PhD
FFRS117UACB CE: How to enrol
15 CATS points at Level C
This class is no longer available.
Module 10
Philosophy for Theology
Tue 8 Jan 2008, 6.30pm-8.30pm
11 meetings
£110 (£55)
Marcus J P Pound, PhD
FFRS115UACB CE: How to enrol
15 CATS points at Level C
This class is no longer available.
Module 11
Philosophy of Religion I: The Nature and Existence of God
Does God exist? This module considers the main properties of God, i.e. his nature, and the main arguments for his existence. It also considers religious language itself.
Thu 4 Oct 2007, 6.30pm-8.30pm
11 meetings
£110 (£55)
Karim Esmail, BA, MPhil, MPhil, PhD
FFRS015UACB CE: How to enrol
15 CATS points at Level C
This class is no longer available.
Module 12
Philosophy of Religion II: God and Evil
Thu 10 Jan 2008, 6.30pm-8.30pm
11 meetings
£110 (£55)
Karim Esmail, BA, MPhil, MPhil, PhD
FFRS121UACB CE: How to enrol
15 CATS points at Level C
This class is no longer available.