Courses

 

Masters Programme

 

At Moorlands we have always tried to make our courses relevant to the realities and opportunities of hands-on Christian service. These courses take that principle as far as we have ever taken it. The Moorlands’ Masters programme is all about offering stimulation and encouragement to those who God is currently using to make a difference in the world.

 

The Moorlands postgraduate programmes are designed to help you fulfil your own personal goals, being part-time, relevant and flexible.

 

• Being part-time, they deliver learning opportunities through a combination of study blocks at Moorlands, group discussions and private study while you continue in your job.

• Being relevant, the programmes focus on your work and give you an opportunity for professional development by reflecting on your own practice.

• Being flexible, the programmes offer the possibility of doing a Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma if you are not sure about committing yourself to the full MA.

 

The two MA programmes we offer are:

 

1. MA in Applied Theology focussing on

                    a. Christian Leadership

                    b. Preaching, or

                    c. Family, Children and Community Work

 

2. MA in Applied Theology: (Youth and Community Work)

(Including the JNC professionally Validated Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Theology (Youth and Community Work) conferring recognised status for youth work in England.)

 

 

 

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Course Map

 

This map gives a visual impression of the expected structure of the programmes. The programmes are made up of four taught modules followed by a dissertation. You will study one module at a time. The first and third modules run in the first semester; the second and fourth modules in the second semester. So, it takes at least two years to complete the taught modules. If you do the full Masters Degree, you may take up to four years to complete your studies.

 

Depending on your interests, you take the sequence of modules indicated by the arrows, starting either on the right if your interests are in Youth and Community Work or starting on the left if your interests are in one of the other three areas.

 

 

Module Contents

 

First Modules

 

The Reflective Practitioner and Reflective Practice in Youth and Community Work

Both first modules explore the ideas that form the foundation of Applied Theology, such as: the nature and demands of postgraduate study, the Christian practitioner as learner, using theology and the Bible in reflection on practice, methods of reflection on practice, and models for practical theology.

Both modules also include exploration of issues relevant to particular forms of practice, according to students' interests. In particular, Reflective Practice in Youth Work contains material relevant to the practice elements of the Youth and Community Work programme.

 

Second Modules

 

Developing Christian Leadership Preaching and the Bible, Principles of Family, Children and Community Work, and Principles and Practices of Youth and Community Work

These are the key modules that look in depth at the nature of the area of Christian Practice that you have chosen to focus on.

Two of the modules (Principles of Family, Children and Community Work, and Principles of Youth and Commnity Work) will have about 50% of classes in common. The other modules will be without overlap.

 

Third Modules

 

Context and Mission, and Context of Youth and Community Work

The nature of the contexts in which students work will be examined within both modules. Mission and Context will then pursue questions relating to the mission of the church within these context. Part of this module will be spent in groups focussing on Christian Leadership, Preaching, or Family, Children and Community Work. Context of Youth and Community Work will emphasis contemporary issues in Youth Work.

 

Fourth Modules

 

Focussed Research Modules and Researching and Managing Youth and Community Work

Studies at postgraduate level involve an element of research. These modules prepare students for their dissertations and research more generally through covering some common material about research methods, but they also allow students to understand the specific issues that relate to researching the area of practice they are interested in. Students with Youth and Community Work interests will do this by looking at the management and resourcing of youth and community projects.

 

Practice within the programmes

 

In the Applied Theology programme, you will be expected to reflect on practice, preferably your current practice, but the College will not assess your placement activity directly. However, on the MA in Applied Theology (Youth and Community Work) programme you will be expected to engage in appropriate practice, to record it and reflect on it. These students will have field-work tutors who will help to assess this practice and they will be assessed on their practice. Because of this extra element in the Applied Theology (Youth and Community Work) programme, there is an extra cost associated with it.

 

Dissertation

 

An 18,000 word dissertation is the culmination of the MA student's learning experience. It is an excellent opportunity for you to choose something that is important to you, and to study it in a rigorous way.

 

Entrance Requirements

 

Our admissions policy encourages a variety of appropriate entry routes. For admission, you will need to show evidence of:

• Capacity to benefit from the study of practice, as part of your continuing professional or vocational development. You will normally have at least two relevant years of experience, and you will be engaged in practice while you undertake the course.
• Commitment to Christian life and service, to not only gain qualifications but to continue to strive to go deeper and become more passionate in your walk with God.
• Sufficient academic ability: you are normally expected to have a British degree in a theological field.

 

We realise that some people who will be interested in these courses won't have a degree in theology, perhaps not a degree at all, but will have years of experience of Christian life and service. You will need a basic theological grounding to undertake the course successfully, but that can come from personal study and life experience as well as through formal qualifications. Further details of the entrance requirements are available from the college.