The Queen's Foundation is launching new pathways in its M.A. in Applied Theological Studies that are designed for you.  We are enrolling for September 2009 for part-time and full-time pathways in:

• Professional Development in Ministry
• Black Ministries and Leadership
• Feminist theology and spiritualities
• Mission Leadership Formation

 

 

 

 

The MA in Applied Theological Studies is validated by the University of Birmingham, a top ranked university nationally and internationally, and taught by staff of the Queen's Foundation in Birmingham.

Queen's is a thriving and expanding ecumenical foundation.  We welcome students from a wide range of Christian traditions and specialise in contextual, practical theologies for mission and ministry.  This year we are admitting more than 40 MA students to form challenging and diverse learning groups. Some will be ministers and leaders from churches around the world; some will be ministers and lay leaders from Anglican, Methodist and other 'historic' churches engaging in professional development; some will be ordained and lay pastors from Pentecostal, black led churches for leadership formation.  The breadth of perspective and the richness of experience in this group enriches the learning of everyone. 

The Programme and the Pathways

The MA consists of 120 credits of core modules. Two 30 credit modules form the core taught components which are common to all the pathways.  These lay the foundations for applied theological studies.  A 60 credit dissertation module is required for the award of the MA and will normally be on a topic related to the pathway that is being followed.

Reading the Bible Contextually and Inter-culturally (30 credits).  This module addresses the nature of Contextual Theology, and how the doing of theology is related to and addresses the social and human contexts out of which it arises.

Tools for Theological Reflection and Research (30 credits).  This module focuses on the nature and methods of theological reflection appropriate to various kinds of contextual theology.  It aims to equip students to reflect theologically in and on their own particular contexts, and also in the preparation of a research study for their MA dissertation.

 

These modules are taught on Wednesday evenings over ten weeks in the Autumn and Spring terms.  In the first part of a typical evening the whole group engages with specialist input; in the second part of the evening different pathway groups are facilitated by a tutor, enabling study and reflection on the material in the light of the experiences and interests of those in the particular pathway.

Dissertation (60 credits).  To gain the award of an MA you will write a 12,000 word dissertation on a topic of your choice which has been agreed with the dissertations panel.  The choice of topics is as wide as your imagination and you are encouraged to connect your area of study and research with the practice of mission, ministry and leadership.

 

You can choose not to write a dissertation and on completion of the two 30 credit modules and 60 credits from the pathway elective modules (see below) you can gain the award of a Post-Graduate Diploma in Applied Theological Studies.

Each pathway has three 20 credit pathway modules which are taught in varying ways – some in evening classes, others in day-time classes, others in a mixture of study days and seminars.  Since most will be taking the MA part time the teaching delivery is designed to make these modules accessible and feasible.

Professional Development in Ministry

Revd Helen Cameron

Pathway leader

This pathway is designed for those exercising positions of responsibility within churches or other Christian bodies.  The pathway focuses on three key areas: Leadership, Strategy and Vision, Supervision of Pastoral Practice, and Professional Development in Ministry

Black Ministries and Leadership

Revd Lynnette Mullings

Pathway leader

This pathway is designed for lay and ordained ministers and pastors from black majority churches and minority ethnic clergy serving in white majority churches.  It shares many features of the pathway above for professional development but focuses on innovative approaches to ministry, acquiring strategic leadership skill to develop and implement vision of the church, and helping ministers and pastors to reflect theologically on their existing ministerial practices and work.   The pathway focuses on three key areas: Experience, Liberation and Transformative Ministry, Leadership, Strategy and Vision, and Professional Development in Ministry

Mission Leadership Formation

Revd Dr Joshva Raja

Pathway leader

This pathway is primarily designed for ministers and lay leaders from the wider world church who are sponsored by the Methodist Church and USPG (Anglicans in World Mission) for study in the Selly Oak Centre for Mission Studies.  The pathway focuses on mission and leadership in global contexts, and draws on the rich opportunities and resources for inter-cultural learning that Birmingham provides.  This pathway is normally taken full-time by sponsored students, but it is also possible for others to take this pathway (full- or part-time) provided that you have a clear role in and commitment to mission formation.  For example, you might be working with a different mission agency, or exploring mission partnership. The pathway focuses on: Mission Formation in Plural Contexts, Mission in a World Church, and Mission Leadership and Globalisation

Feminist Theology and Spiritualities

Dr Nicola Slee

Pathway leader

This pathway is designed to equip and resource women clergy, church leaders and others through a rigorous exploration of contemporary feminist and related theologies, enabling exploration of the pastoral, spiritual and theological needs, gifts and experiences of women and girls in Christian congregations and in wider missional settings of the Church’s work.  The pathway focuses on: Feminist Theologies – methodology and perspectives, Feminist Spiritualities – methods and resources, and Supervision of Pastoral Practice

Use the links on the main navigation menu to explore the pathways and their related modules in detail. Other modules are available and can be taken in most of the pathways.

Key Feature of all pathways

• Being part of a diverse and challenging learning group in the core modules, as well as having the benefits of working with a smaller group of peers sharing the same pathway.
• Delivery of modules that is responsive to the pressures and demands of part-time study.
• Flexibility of choice of modules in most of the pathways.
• Membership of the Foundation which gives access to a first class library and other Foundation resources and activities.
• A range of benefits that come from being a registered student of the University of Birmingham.
• Teaching and tutoring by highly qualified tutors who are committed to the church's mission and ministry.

Module Map in outline

COMPULSORY CORE MODULES	Credits	Module Code
Reading the Bible Contextually and Interculturally	30	M1
Tools for Theological Reflection and Research	30	M2
Dissertation	60	M6
TOTAL	120
PATHWAY MODULES Three modules from the following list. Of these, one should normally be a practice-based module (indicated by * below)
Leadership, Strategy and Vision	20	M14
Supervision	20	M7
Professional Development in Ministry*	20	M10
Experience, Liberation and Transformative Ministry	20	M5
Feminist Theologies	20	M11
Feminist Spirituality	20	M12
Attachment*	20	M13
Interdisciplinary Studies	20	M8
Mission in a World Church	20	M3
Mission Leadership and Globalisation	20	M4
Mission Formation in Plural Contexts*	20	M9
TOTAL	60

The MA can be taken full-time over one year, or part time, normally completing in either two or three years.  Alternatively, Post-Graduate Certificate and Diploma options are available as well. 

Entry Requirements

Minimum entry requirements for the programme (at level M) will normally be a 2.2 degree in Theology or Religious Studies from an approved university or other recognised institution, or a 2:2 degree in another subject coupled with evidence of University level work in Theology or Religious Studies.  Such evidence would normally include a minimum of 120 credits at level 2/I or above

Application

The normal MA fee for 2009-10 is £3,500 (full-time) or £1,750 (part-time) for UK/EU citizens. For application details, and information about fees for international students, please contact Rosemary Maskell