Divinity

The Bachelor of Divinity (BD) degree may be taken as non-Honours or as an Honours degree.

The BD is designed for students who wish specialised and comprehensive study of the Christian tradition. The study of the biblical languages (Hebrew and Greek) by candidates for this degree is encouraged, but not compulsory. The course leading to the non-Honours degree of BD normally takes three years and the Honours degree four years.

Degree Programme Structure & Content

These are the courses currently running, however they may be subject to change:

First Year
The Rise of Christianity; Hebrew Language I/II; Introducing the Hebrew Bible; Religion at Ground Zero; Christian Belief: Its Critics and Defenders; Earliest Portraits of Jesus; NT Greek I/II; Method in Old Testament Study; Basics of World Religions.

Second Year
Old Testament Theology; The Pilgrim City (Mediaeval Church); Christian Doctrine and Practice; What is Truth? John’s Gospel and Letters (English or Greek texts); Paul of Tarsus (English or Greek Texts); Critical Methods of Old Testament Study (English or Hebrew texts); Old Testament Theology (English or Hebrew texts).

Third & Fourth Year (Honours)
Luther, Calvin and the Shaping of Protestantism; Reformation Reason and Revolt; The Theology of the Early Church; The Reformation in Scotland; Interpreting Christian History; Exegesis of Texts from the Hebrew Bible; Languages for Advanced Biblical Study; Contemporary Issues in the Study of the Hebrew Bible; Spirituality, Health and Healing; Playing God? Christian Ethics, Human Agency and Natural Law; Exploring the Tradition of Christian Ethics; Theological and Pastoral Perspectives on the Family); Contemporary Issues in Christian Doctrine; Theology and Philosophy of Religions; Theology of Karl Barth; Modern Christian Thought; God, Christ and Salvation; Contemporary Catholic Thought; 19th and 20th Century Roman Catholic Social and Political Thought; Beginning and Ends of Creation; Advanced Greek; Gospels and Acts-Selected Texts (Greek or English); New Testament Epistles (Greek or English); The World of the New Testament; Social Anthropology of Religion.

Teaching & Assessment

The School of Divinity, History & Philosophy emphasises a flexible approach to teaching and assessment, utilising a combination of small and large group teaching assessed through examinations, essays and presentations. Honours students write a dissertation on a subject of their choice approved by a supervisor.