What Makes This Course So Special?
The Professional Development Course in Religious Education will allow you to obtain both credits towards a Masters degree and also Church Schools certificates from both the Anglican and Catholic Churches.
A wide range of modules is available as part of the MA Education programme.
Find out more about the subject of Religious Studies at Newport.
Course Intro
This course is for you if you are a graduate or non-graduate with relevant experience that is currently or looking to work in church schools.
The course has been created through a partnership between the University and the Roman Catholic and Anglican communities. In addition to the appropriate Newport credits, students gain certification from the two Churches. The Archbishop of Wales Certificate of Theology will be awarded to those students who complete the first two modules (Christian Theology 1 & 2) and the Archbishop of Wales Certificate in Church School Studies and the Catholic Certificate of Religious Studies (CCRS) will be awarded to those students who continue with their studies and take the MA (Education) module, Reflective Practice in a Church School. These students will then be at the midway point of the taught element of the MA (Education) and may therefore transfer onto the main Masters programme if they so wish.
What you study
Module 1
• Section 1 - Old Testament: Introduction to the formation of the Hebrew Scriptures and how the Church looks at the Old Testament today, particularly in the light of Vatican II and the pronouncements of the Lambeth Conference.
• Section 2: New Testament: Introduction to the historical, geographical, cultural, political and religious background to the New Testament and the use of the New Testament in the Church today.
• Section 3: Jesus Christ: The participants’ own images of Jesus Christ and how such images are shaped by the arts (music/art/architecture), personal history and worship - Creedal statements and their relevance today, with particular reference to the Nicene Creed.
Module 2
• Section 4 - The Church: The meaning and significance of the term Church, the relationship between the different Christian churches, and the relationship of the Christian churches to other faiths.
• Section 5 - Sacraments: Study of the use of signs and symbols in daily life and an overview of the seven sacraments.
• Section 6 - Christian Morality
- Moral decision-making as a universal human activity.
- Basic principles of Christian morality.
- Contemporary moral issues: eg environmental, medical, sexual, social.
MA module
Reflective Practice in a Church School
This module considers management of church schools, curriculum issues, Religious Education KS 1 – 5, moral & spiritual development and the future of church schools.
Students wishing to proceed to the MA must take the core module Research Methodology. In addition they will take one further module which can be related to the RE programme eg Religious Ideas East and West, Faith Community Project, or take another unrelated module from the range available.
Upon successful completion of the taught element above, you undertake a research-based dissertation of 20,000 words.
A programme specification for this course is available.
Where Next?
A Masters degree is required for professional advancement in numerous occupations, and is widely seen as evidence of a successful commitment to high level professional development.
Interview Required
Yes, all applicants who meet the entry criteria are interviewed by the course team.
Assessment
• Module 1 will be assessed by 3 x 1,600 word essays – 1 essay per section.
• Module 2 will be assessed by 2 x 1,600 word essays and 1 presentation on Christian Ethics (or equivalent).
Student Soundbite
“I found the course both useful and stimulating. As a Christian it opened my eyes to thinking about faith in a different way.”