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Theology and Religious Studies

Course Details

DC300 - Part Time:
Course Type:
Undergraduate
NFQ Level:
8 - Please see www.qqi.ie for further information
Delivery Modes
Part-Time
Minimum Points
N/A
Duration
4 or 5 Years
Phone:
+353 (0) 1
700 7479

Explore enduring questions, global issues and big ideas with a deep dive into the academic study of religion in a complex world

Overview

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Scholarships: 

The DCU School of Theology, Philosophy, and Music is pleased to offer a number of scholarships for the DC300 - BA in Theology and Religious Studies open to students entering the programme in September 2024.  

Enquiries may be directed to: Dr John Murray at john.murray@dcu.ie or by phone at (086) 078 3438. These scholarships are generously funded by the Mater Dei Scholarship and Grant Committee.

Overview

Are you curious about the significance of religion in today’s society? Do you want to understand more about how we can form welcoming, just and sustainable communities? 

The BA in Theology and Religious Studies at DCU offers the opportunity to reflect on religion in a complex world. 

This honours degree is an exciting course for mature students (aged 23 or over) wishing to pursue the academic study of religion. You’ll explore the origins and development of some of the world’s major religions, along with the beliefs and practices that are central to these traditions. 

You will also have the opportunity to study the Bible and other sacred texts, explore the importance of ethics in our personal, social and political lives, and reflect on the place of ecumenical and interreligious dialogue in the contemporary world. 

The course caters for a broad range of backgrounds including those who wish to study theology and religion for personal enrichment as well as those who would like to study theology with a view to being more active in their local community. 

It is particularly suited to mature students interested in areas like community work, parish ministry and liturgy, youth and young adult ministry, social justice engagement, ecumenical projects, dialogue with other faith communities, and education and school boards. 

This degree also serves as a qualification for those wishing to pursue postgraduate study or research.

DCU People

Profile picture of John Murray
John Murray
Staff

Hi, I’m John Murray and I chair the BA in Theology and Religious Studies here at DCU. 


Read more about John Murray

Careers & Further Options

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Careers

This degree will help you expand your knowledge and skills to pursue an interesting career or for continuing professional development across a range of areas such as community and social justice work, pastoral ministry and teaching. 

It can enable you to study theology and religion for personal enrichment. The degree also serves as a qualification if you wish to pursue postgraduate study or research in theology and religious studies. 

For instance, you may like to understand these areas more deeply: pastoral and community work; adult religious education or parish catechesis; youth and young adult ministry; biblical studies; social justice groups; ecumenical projects; inter-faith dialogue; parish councils; school governance and leadership.

  • Teacher (with further study)
  • Advocacy manager
  • Adult Educator
  • Community Worker
  • Youth Worker
  • Pastoral Worker
  • Chaplain
  • Interreligious and intercultural worker
  • Charity worker
Voluntary and Community Organisations
European and International Religious Agencies
Social Justice and Human Rights Bodies
Development Work
Church Ministry
Research

DCU graduates are highly sought after by employers. Our Graduates work in environments ranging from large multinationals to SMEs, family businesses and start-ups across every sector.

DCU Careers Service has a number of learning and development initiatives in place for our students, giving them the skills they need for a successful career path.

Go to our Careers site to find out more about career planning, our mentorship programme, skills development and online resources for students when working on CVs and making applications.

Entry Requirements

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Application to this programme is based upon maturity of years.  In order to be eligible for this course applicants must be aged 23 or over on the 1st January in the year of application.  As part of the application process, the relevant life/work experience of the applicants and previous studies undertaken will be reviewed to determine eligibility for the course.  Applicants must include with their application a short personal statement indicating why they are applying for this programme.
 

See under General Entry Requirements

 

See under General Entry Requirements

No Entry Path

Where such candidates are non-native speakers of the English language they must satisfy the university of their competency in the English language. Click here for further information on international applications.

Course Structure

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The BA in Theology and Religious Studies is a part-time flexible course. You will be expected to complete the course in four to five years.  The course follows a five-year cycle, with students entering the course in any of the years of the cycle. Normally a student will study between five and six modules per year.

Credits and qualifications
Each module is worth 7.5 ECTS credits. You may exit the course with a Certificate (after successfully completing eight modules), a Diploma (after successfully completing sixteen modules), or the BA degree (after successfully completing twenty-four modules). 

About the course
You will learn how to critically engage with and evaluate a range of theological and religious viewpoints. Building on theological and ethical foundations, you will learn how to contribute to personal and social transformation. By the end of this unique course, you will have learned how to appreciate and critique the intellectual foundations of the academic study of religion, and have developed new insights into cultural and religious diversity. Each year, modules drawn from theology, biblical studies, religious studies, philosophy, ethics, and ancient theologically relevant languages will be offered for study.

Final year
In your final year of study, you will have the opportunity for individual guided research, working with a supervisor on a topic of your choice on a research paper of 6,000 words.

Develop your skills
During this course you will have many opportunities to acquire key transferable skills, such as assimilating new knowledge; the close analysis of ancient and modern texts; research and writing skills; time management; and teamwork skills. You will also engage in a dialogue between contemporary ethical issues and a range of classical and contemporary texts and thinkers. 

Timetable
This unique course is taught on Thursday evenings from 6pm to 9.30pm and on four Saturdays throughout the academic year.

What Will I Study?
While content of the course may change over time, these modules are indicative of what you will be studying in each year. [Each year, also, there will be a number of introductory modules on theological languages available, to choose one if one wishes, from the following: Biblical Hebrew; Koine Greek; Classical Latin; Classical Arabic.]

  • Paul: Apostle to the Gentiles
  • Bioethics: Theological and Philosophical Perspectives
  • History of Philosophy
  • Eastern Religious Traditions
  • Ecumenism 
  • Faith and Revelation
  • Gospels and Acts
  • The God Question
  • 20th Century Theologians
  • Introduction to Judaism
  • The Bible and Art
  • Faith Development

Hebrew Scriptures: The Pentateuch 
Social Ethics: Theological Perspectives
Spirituality
Ecclesiology
Theology of the Sacraments
Religious Education: Critical Questions

  • Women in Scripture
  • Christology
  • Theological Anthropology
  • Introduction to Islam
  • Foundations of Theological Ethics
  • History of Christianity

For more information on the course structure click here

Fees and Funding

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Fees

EU Status Fee
EU Status Fee Part-time
€412 per 7.5 credit module
Non EU Fee Part time
€824 per 7.5 credit module

How To Apply

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To apply for this programme:

  • All applicants should apply through DCU's Student Application Portal here.  Here's a quick step by step guide if you need help with your application. 

All Applicants must submit

  • Personal statement of 1,000 words maximum

Non Native English Speakers must also submit:

  • Evidence of English competency which meets DCU entry requirements - see link

Application Dates

EU and non EU Application closing dates

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the programme is full or until the following dates:

The closing date for receipt of non-EU applicants is 1st July 2024.

The closing date for EU applicants is 30th July 2024. 

Non EU Applications

Please note if you are a non EU student and require a study visa, you are not eligible to apply for part-time programmes as study visas are only granted for full-time programmes.

 

Queries

Queries from EU applicants should be directed to ugadmissions@dcu.ie 

Queries from non EU applicants should be directed to internationaladmissions@dcu.ie 

Commencement of Programme

The programme commences in September 2024.

 

Life On Campus

Life on Campus

DCU’s Clubs and Societies offer a great way to meet like minded people and make new friends. There’s a whole range to choose from and you might also be interested in the Raising and Giving Society, Christian Union, Gospel Choir Society, Volunteers Overseas, Self Development Society, Saint Dominic Society, and St Vincent de Paul.

DCU Campus Glasnevin

DCU Glasnevin Campus

FAQs

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