Bible and the Contemporary World MLitt

The modules in this programme have varying methods of delivery and assessment. For more details of each module, including weekly contact hours, teaching methods and assessment, please see the latest module catalogue which is for the 2018–2019 academic year; some elements may be subject to change for 2019 entry.

Semester 1

In the first semester, students take one compulsory VLE module:

• Theological Issues in Medical Ethics: contemporary debates in medical ethics, including, for example, euthanasia, abortion, human enhancement technologies, and others.

and one or two additional residential modules from the following :

• History of Biblical Interpretation: critically and historically surveys the most common interpretations of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, the Septuagint and the New Testament.
• Theological Engagements with the Arts: Rationales, Methods and Texts: investigates some basic questions of definition and rationale pertaining to the conversation between theology and the arts.
• Religious Experience and Aesthetic Forms: addresses questions related to artistic works in any media from any period.
• The Origins of Christian Theology: examines the beginnings of Christian theology in the New Testament texts and in early Christian writers.
• The Doctrine of the Trinity: the development of the doctrine of the Trinity from the fourth-century conciliar settlements down to the present day.
• A Selected Mediaeval Theologian: allows students to engage at length and in depth with the thought of a single, formative, mediaeval thinker.
• A Selected Modern Theologian: allows students to engage at length and in depth with the thought of a single, formative, modern thinker.
• A Selected Patristic Theologian: allows students to engage at length and in depth with the thought of a single, formative, patristic thinker.

With permission, credit may be taken from other postgraduate taught modules offered by the School.

Semester 2

• Surveillance, Theology and the Bible: thinking critically about surveillance in contemporary life.

Students will begin research for the 15,000-word dissertation early in Semester 2, but will focus particularly on researching and writing from May through to submission in mid-August. Dissertations will be supervised by members of the teaching staff who will advise on the choice of subject and provide guidance throughout the research process.

If students choose not to complete the dissertation requirement for the MLitt, there is an exit award available that allows suitably qualified candidates to receive a Postgraduate Diploma. By choosing an exit award, you will finish your degree at the end of the second semester of study and receive a PGDip instead of an MLitt.