Theology and Religion

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Contents

Theology & Religion at Chichester 3Why study Theology and Religion at Chichester? 5The National Student Survey 6Theology and Religion (BA Hons) 8What our students say 9Course details 10Careers for Theology and Religion graduates 15Staff profiles 18

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The department

Theology & Religion at Chichester

We are committed toeducating students so that theygrow as people and areequipped to contribute to thegood of society.

There are three reasons students arechoosing Chichester:• 100% student satisfaction in the National

Student Survey• A wide range of module choices• Great career options after university

At Chichester we offer an exciting coursewhich gets to grips with the seriousquestions confronting the world. Whetheryou are a religious believer or someoneinterested in finding out more aboutpeoples’ attitudes and faith Chichester willhelp you explore the questions that matter:

• Who was Jesus of Nazareth and what canwe know of his life?

• What do Muslims really believe?• Does God exist?• What do you have to do to live a good

life?• Why do people suffer?• How can society be fairly and justly

organized?

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Why study Theology

and Religion at

Chichester?

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Why Study Theology and Religion at Chichester?

Here are some reasons people give for studying with us:

• 100% student satisfaction in the 2011 National StudentSurvey

• A diverse and exciting range of module choices• Small classes and regular individual tutorials• Enthusiastic and committed staff who love teaching

their subject• Guidance on career choices after university• Good links with Chichester Cathedral• Work Placement modules so you can gain valuable

employment experience

We are a small and friendly department located in anattractive Cathedral City offering a varied and excitingcourse. In this brochure you will be able to find out moreabout the details of our course.

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The National Student Survey is an independentmarket research survey carried out by IpsosMORI. Final year students are asked about theirexperience of the course. In 2011 Chichesterscored 100% student satisfaction (the top markpossible) in Theology and Religion.

The National Student Survey

We also scored 100% satisfaction inthe following areas:

The Teaching on their Course• Staff are good at explaining things• Staff have made their subject

interesting

Tutor Support• Students have received sufficient

advice and support with their studies• Students have been able to contact

staff when they needed to• Good advice was available when

students needed to make studychoices

• The course is well organised and isrunning smoothly

Personal Development• The course has helped students

present themselves with confidence• Students’ communication skills have

improved• Students feel confident in tackling

unfamiliar problems

Learning Support• Library resources and servicesfulfil their needs• Access to IT resources is availablewhen needed

100%Student Satisfaction

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Theology and Religion (BA Hons)

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The course is suitable for thosewho want to study diversereligious traditions, for thoseinterested in Christian theologyand the Bible, for those whowant to explore ethical andphilosophical questions, or forthose who want a mix of themall.

Year One:The first year is a foundation year. You willget a taste of a range of different subjects tohelp you decide what you want to study inmore detail in the next two years.

Years Two & Three:The second and third years are anopportunity to study particular areas in moredepth. You might want to pursue modules inthe area of religious studies or you mightwant to do more Christian theology andbiblical studies. It may be ethics is what youchoose. Two excellent features at Chichester are:1. The opportunity to undertake a large

specialist study in an area that interests you2. Placement modules that give you practical

experience of potential future careers. Alot of students interested in a career inteaching use the module as a way of gettingvaluable experience in the classroom

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Theology and Religion (BA Hons)

What ours students say

I would highly recommend Chichester to anyone wishing to studyTheology and Religion. The small department size has a personal feeland means that links with tutors are strong, and support is alwaysavailable.

Deborah Stacey

The Theology and Religion degree is enlightening and rewarding, itgives you a great insight into the questions that we all are desperate to have answered.

Peter Owen

The Theology and Religion degree is fascinating as it brings togethermany different disciplines, such as philosophy, ethics, biblical studies,world religions, doctrine and worship. The lecturers at Chichester areengaging and supportive, and learning in small and friendly classes has greatly increased my confidence, particularly in group work and presentations.

Rosie Vinter

The Theology and Religion degree at Chichester is fascinating,challenging and thought provoking. It really opens your mind andmakes you think deeply about things you perhaps never had thought about. The relaxed and friendly atmosphere on campus is great.

Emilie Underwood

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Here are the Year One

modules in detail:

Introduction to the Philosophy of Religion

Is religious faith and belief reasonable in ascientific age? What arguments and evidencecan we put forward to address the ultimatequestions of life? How can religious belief andfaith be understood philosophically in ourcontemporary world? How does thelanguage we use help us understand our placein the world? What does it mean to say wedo, or do not, believe in God? The modulewill explore these questions and issues ingreat depth. It will build upon your priorknowledge and understanding and developyour thinking. One of the importantphilosophical skills you will develop is theability to think critically and analytically. Youwill consider diverse evidence and thestrength of different arguments. This skill willhelp you in all your work at the university.The module will ask you to think about themajor questions which confront us all in lifeexamining what has been argued in pastgenerations and assessing its importance andrelevance for today.

Introduction to Biblical Studies

The Bible has had an enormous influence onthe Church and on European culture. It isdifficult to understand and appreciate muchcontemporary film, drama, literature or musicwithout a good knowledge of biblical storiesand teachings. And of course Christian beliefis based on biblical sources. So what does thebible say and what did it mean? This moduleexamines how modern scholars go aboutstudying the Bible.

It begins with the creation stories in Genesisand ends with Jesus and the Gospels.Particular attention is paid to reading texts intheir historical and cultural contexts. Themain stories are compared with otherliterature, such as the creation and floodstories of Babylon. The differences betweenmodern versions of the Bible are explained inthe light of the underlying Greek and Hebrewmanuscripts and techniques of exposition aredeveloped. This module sets you on yourway to understanding this fundamental bookof Western culture.

Introduction to Ethics

How do we live the good life? What is theplace of happiness in our lives, in our moralbeliefs and in the ways in which we organisesociety? How do we find meaning andpurpose in life? This module explores thesequestions drawing on the wisdom and insightof philosophers throughout the ages. Itexplores personal issues such as the role ofresilience, self-confidence and fulfillment. Itexplores broader social issues such as howcharitable should we be to those in need,what is the place of politicians in society, andhow do we preserve our freedoms whilstprotecting ourselves from outside threats. Inaddition we touch on subjects such as theenvironmental crisis and the rights andwrongs of consumer life. The module is astudy of the ethics of living successfully intoday’s world.

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Theology and Religion (BA Hons)

Theology and the Theologian

What does it mean to be a theologian intoday’s world? What are the questions andissues that theologians need to address to becredible in contemporary society? Is thereany reason why people, other than Churchpeople, should listen to theologians? Or isChristian belief a relic from a bygone age?This introductory module is designed toenable you to take the first steps towardsbecoming not only a student of theology, buta practicing ‘theologian’. It will equip you withthe skills necessary so that you can make yourown decisions about the fundamental issuesof theology. You will start to construct yourown ‘take’ on important questions within thediscipline. The module starts you on thejourney of theological investigation anddiscovery.

Introduction to Religious Studies

We live in a world of many different religions.The UK is home to people of diverse faithsand beliefs. One of the most importantquestions we face in society is how we canlive together recognising and respecting ourdiversity. The key to living in harmony isdeeper knowledge and understanding of thebeliefs and practices of contemporaryreligions. In this module we begin theexploration of different religious traditionsthat is available throughout the degree. Weexplore the varied religious beliefs andpractices that exist as well as asking how wecan sensitively and effectively investigatetraditions which are not our own. We askhow our preconceptions influence the waywe approach the study of religious belief andwhat this means for our methodology.

The module prepares you for the furtherstudy of religious traditions which is soimportant for developing understanding andrespect in today’s society.

Introduction to Spirituality

Many surveys point to a decline in churchmembership and religious adherence.However an enormous number of people saythey are spiritual and interested in personalspirituality. What might they mean by theseclaims and how do they relate to theexperiences of the great spiritual writers?This module will explore some definitions ofwhat is meant by the term ‘spirituality’. It willinvestigate how spirituality is understood inNew Age movements and in major worldreligions, especially Christianity. It willintroduce key concepts of Christian spiritualitysuch as: the relationship between personaland corporate prayer; embodied forms ofprayer; and the spirituality of suffering. Thenuances and diversity of the spiritual life willbe explored by investigating a selection ofdifferent writers and traditions.

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Exploring the Bible

The introductory module began the excitingprocess of exploring the biblical texts. Thismodule develops your knowledge and skills bypursuing in more depth an analysis of centralaspects of this foundational book. Itinvestigates key characters such as Abraham,Moses, David, Jesus and Paul. Major issuessuch as the interpretation of Scripture in theEarly Church are explored. Who is it that hasthe right to interpret Israel's foundationaltexts and what is the significance of suchdisputes? The crucial relationship betweenPaul and Jesus is studied, along with the ethicalimplications of their teaching. In this moduleyou move on from introductory study to amore thorough investigation of influential andsignificant individuals and disputes.

Introduction to Church History

If you are interested in understanding themodern world then you need to understandthe history of the Christian Church. Fromthe early conversion of Western Europe tothe missionary movements in Africa and Asia,Christianity has played a crucial role in shapingcontemporary law, politics, society andculture. The question for this module is whathave been the major events in thedevelopment of the Church? What havebeen the disputes and divisions which haveleft us with the Christian diversity we havetoday? What issues have shaped not onlyChurch life but also the cultures and societiesin which the Church is dominant? Beginningwith the world into which Jesus Christ wasborn, moving on to the conversion of theRoman Empire, its fall, the challenge of therise of Islam, the effects of the feudal system,the turbulent events of the Reformation, andthe traumatic impact of the Enlightenmentthe module investigates how the Church haschanged, split and adapted to new challenges.

Theology and Religion (BA Hons)

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Years Two and Three

In Year Two you take one core module inresearch skills. A work placement module isalso available to help you get valuableexperience for life after university.

In Year Three you undertake a major study ina specialized area of your choice. There isalso a further work placement moduleavailable. In addition you chose from thefollowing wide range of modules:

• Theology, Ethics and Society• Islam• Early Christian Doctrines I and 2• Buddhism • Interpreting the Bible• Introduction to Greek NT• Judaism• Themes in 20/21st Century Theology• Major Ethical Thinkers• Christian Worship• History and the Postmodern• Hinduism• Ethics in the Work Place• Christianity and Politics• Old Testament in the New• Trinity and Church• Sacred Space• Women, Gender and Religion• Religion and Schools• Greek Texts• Sacrament: Worship and Theology• Themes in Christian Spirituality

* Not all modules run every year

You will be taught by experienced teacherscommitted to high quality lectures

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A distinctive feature of theTheology and Religiondepartment at Chichester is theattention we pay to the careeraspirations of our graduates.Our aim is to help you pursueyour interest in theology andreligion throughout yourworking life.

Over 91% of graduates (9 out of 10) fromChichester are in jobs or further study sixmonths after graduating making us the best onthe south coast for the second year running.

Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) M 2010

Our graduates can go on to a variety ofcareers in:• Journalism • Law • Publishing• Teaching (primary and secondary)• Personnel management and human

resources • Police service • Politics• Church ministry • Health care & nursing • Community work • Social work

One recent graduate is Rebecca Goldsmithwho works in publishing. She writes,

“I am working at SCM Press. I am the RightsManager and Editorial Assistant. So I amresponsible for foreign rights and translations andany reproductions of SCM material. Plus, aseditorial assistant, I manage the production ofbooks from manuscript to book proofs. I reallyenjoy working in publishing - it is nice to be ableto see something from start to finish. To be ableto hold a book in your hand and know that youfacilitated that is very rewarding and notsomething I think you get to experience in manycareer paths.”

Careers for Theology

and Religion graduates’

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Careers

One popular career choice for those with adegree in Theology and Religion is teaching.We help those who want to pursue thiscareer by:

• Offering an extended placement modulewhich can be undertaken in a school

• Teaching a year two module ‘Religion andSchools’

• Providing modules designed to make sureyou have the knowledge you need for theclassroom

• Ensuring you get good advice fromChichester's PGCE tutor who is amember of our department and teaches anumber of modules

Sarah Beard and Graham Cook are recentgraduates who have successfully gone on toa career in teaching.

Graham Cook writes,

"Since leaving the course Ihave gone on to train tobe an RE teacher,undertaking a PGCEcourse. I have a job linedup at a Secondary School from September.

The degree has given me a great subjectknowledge of world religions and Christiantheology. It is a fantastic course that includes agreat variety of subject matter and teachingstyles. The staff are very supportive andsmaller numbers of students in a lecture reallyallows for all to get the attention and help youneed. Lecturers are very open and encourage awide range of views, playing devils advocatewhen necessary. As for the students there is awide range of backgrounds and beliefs, youngand old, religious or non-religious, part time orfull time, so this course really does cater for all."

Sarah Beard went on to train as asecondary school teacher and now works ina school in Swindon. She writes:

"The Theology andReligion course isinteresting and thoughtprovoking. It offers thechance to explore a widerange of topics fromBiblical Study andSystematic Theology to World Religions, Ethicsand Christian Politics. The lecturers aresupportive and enthusiastic and the library iswell stocked with useful texts and articlesmaking the modules both enjoyable andaccessible. "

Dr Ruth Mantin is PGCE tutor forsecondary RS teaching. She is also amember of the department who will teachyou in years 1, 2 and 3.

She is always happy to advise you on thebest ways of pursuing a career in teachingincluding the best modules to select on thedegree.

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Staff profiles

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The staff at Chichester bring a great amount of enthusiasm, skill and expertise to their teaching.They have often published widely in their teaching area, in some cases writing the mostimportant textbooks which you will study.

Dr Ruth MantinSenior Lecturer

Dr AndrewChandlerDirector of the George BellInstitute

Revd Dr Colin LawlorAssociate Lecturer

Heather BallamyTheologyAdministrator

Elizabeth HolmesAssociateLecturer

Steve SmithAssociateLecturer

The department is diverse, committed to the study of theology and religion, and enthusiasticabout the relevance and importance of our subject.

Professor SteveMoyiseHead of Department

Dr Graeme SmithSenior Lecturer

Dr Piotr Ashwin-SiejkowskiAssociate Lecturer

Canon RebeccaSwyer Senior Lecturer

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Find out moreContact: Dr Graeme Smith, Admissions tutorTel: 01243 816191Email: g.smith@chi.ac.ukWeb: www.chi.ac.uk/theology

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