Theology (MTh)

How will I be taught?

The research and practice-led teaching is delivered by academics based at Cardiff Baptist College. Modules draw on established strengths in biblical studies and in practical and contextual approaches to theology.

You’ll also benefit from their commitment to doing theology in ways that relate to practice and context. This ensures that academic rigour is combined with practical relevance. Your tutors’ experience of professional practice in ministry also informs your teaching. As well as skills of theologically reflective practice, this will help you develop your theological knowledge and understanding in ways that relate to contemporary life and contexts.   

Teaching takes place in small groups and usually uses an interactive lecture-seminar type of approach.   

How will I be assessed?

Assessments are designed to reflect the dual focus of deepening your theological understanding in tandem with enhancing your practice. While there are no exams, there is a diversity of assessment type, which may include presentation, research proposal, literature review, biblical exegesis, theological reflection, and traditional essay.

Many of the assessments invite you to relate your theological understanding in some way to your practice (where appropriate) and to the contemporary context. Often there is an opportunity to co-create an assignment in discussion with the module tutor; and the assessment for the Independent Learning Project can be designed for a specific focus, e.g. a portfolio of sermons with commentary and critical analysis. In this way, all your learning can be made relevant to your particular situation.

The academic skills that will be developed and refined through these assessments will be useful both for further academic study and research, and as transferrable skills for a range of professional contexts. These include skills of researching a topic through literature searches, careful and creative engagement with texts, critical analysis, and putting forward a coherent and sustained argument.    

How will I be supported?

You’ll have access to the small, friendly environment of Cardiff Baptist College, and the full range of student support available to all students at Cardiff University.

You’ll be allocated a personal tutor, who will usually be one of the tutors on the programme. The programme leader is also available as a source of support and advice.

We recognise that some who study on the MTh are returning to academic study after a break. The initial, core module on the programme, although primarily focused on research methods, includes sessions that help to develop the skills you need to work at master’s degree level. The assessment for this module is in two parts, so you will get feedback on your first piece of work quite quickly. All modules include formative as well as summative assessment. That means that you will get expert feedback on work before you have to submit an assignment to be formally marked. All work that you submit will get detailed feedback explaining why you got the mark you received and what you need to do to improve. 

What skills will I practise and develop?

The Learning Outcomes for this Programme describe what you will achieve by the end of your programme at Cardiff University and identify the knowledge and skills that you will develop. They will also help you to understand what is expected of you.

On successful completion of your Programme, you will be able to:

Knowledge & Understanding:

• Apply a deep and systematic understanding of theological knowledge to complex questions.
• Creatively adapt advanced theological methodologies in response to changing situations.
• Synthesise specialist approaches to theological study in unpredictable contexts. 
• Critically evaluate current approaches in theology, being alert to issues of marginalisation in the production of theological knowledge.

Intellectual Skills:

 

• Demonstrate sophisticated skills of analysis of primary and secondary sources.
• Demonstrate intellectual flexibility and powers of evaluation by pursuing independent study and research.
• Respond systematically and creatively to complex issues.
• Decide between different methodological approaches to complex questions. 

Professional Practical Skills:

• Utilise advanced skills of communication, information management and critical reflection. 
• Critically explicate, analyse and evaluate key issues and dilemmas that arise in particular contexts in contemporary society (e.g. churches, charities, educational).
• Demonstrate critical reflexivity in relation to your own involvement in academic research and / or professional practice.
• Utilise advanced skills of reflection on practice in the service of your ministry and/or work.

Transferable/Key Skills:

• Demonstrate initiative, independence, and creativity in solving problems.
• Make informed decisions in the midst of uncertainty and change. 
• Communicate complex ideas clearly and appropriately for both specialist and non-specialist audiences.