MTh Church History

Overview of the programme

The programme offers a high quality student experience through a unique programme of study taught by a range of experts within the field of Church History, encouraging the student to explore in depth a range of topics relating to the history of the Christian church from its inception to the present.

The School is part of a university which was established in 1822, with Church History having been a core subject in the theological curriculum from the beginning. Our present staff has an international profile in scholarship with published expertise in patristic studies, Eastern Orthodoxy, monasticism, medieval and Celtic Christianity, Protestant nonconformity, the nineteenth century, and twentieth century religious thought.

The School of Theology, Religious Studies and Islamic Studies has a vibrant research culture and MTh students are encouraged to participate in research seminars.

Module Content and Structure

There are two parts to the MTh.  Part I consists of six taught modules, on completion of which the student progresses to Part II, a 20,000 word dissertation. The MTh comprises three compulsory modules and three options, devised in such a way as to equip the student with essential knowledge of key aspects of the Christian tradition, along with a dissertation on a specialist topic of the student’s choice.

The Compulsory modules comprise Study Skills which introduces students to the basic skills needed to be a successful researcher including how to access and utilize bibliographical resources. Two further modules at the start of the programme provide the student with an overview of two key epochs in Christian history, namely the patristic or early church period, and the Protestant Reformation. The Church Fathers and the Making of Doctrine introduces the way in which Christian faith developed and was formularized by its leading theologians and thinkers during the first five centuries while The Reformation provides an insight into the way in which Christian Europe responded to the challenge of renewal during the sixteenth century and beyond.

The student is required to complete three of the four option modules which cover early medieval Christianity in the Celtic lands (Celtic Hagiography and the Cult of the Saints), piety and learning in the high Middle Ages (Twelfth century Monastic Learning), the revival of the monastic tradition during the nineteenth century (English and Welsh Monasticism in the Nineteenth century), and religion and society during the twentieth century (Christianity, Culture and society in Twentieth century Britain).

Mode of Study

The programme is delivered as a full-time and part-time programme of study, and is also available as distance learning.  All module content is available through the University’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) and students will be supported throughout their studies through regular access to their module tutors, either one to one (by email, skype, phone), in groups (using media such as Skype), or via VLE module discussion forums or wikis.

Campus-based students will be supported through lectures, research seminars and public lectures. An annual residential graduate summer school is held for all students in July where students are able to experience lectures and seminars covering both issues related to generic learning and subject-specific information and to engage with a number of our research students. 

Assessment

Each module is assessed individually. We employ a range of assessment methods including summative assignments, course work, essays and a final dissertation.

Entry Requirements

Normally the entry requirement for this programme is a first class or upper second class undergraduate degree. In addition, the School encourages students with an equivalent and appropriate professional qualification or significant and relevant professional experience to apply.

A non-graduate may also be admitted to candidature provided that she/he has gained a minimum of three years professional experience relevant and appropriate to the programme and they can demonstrate a satisfactory level of writing /analytical skills.

Career Development

The programme has been designed to attract students interested in developing both their generic as well as their subject-specific skills. It offers opportunities for students who have recently graduated to move on to work at level 7 in their specialist field of study and help prepare them for careers in education, ministry and research. The programme also offers excellent continuing professional development for teachers at various stages of their career, ministers currently in pastoral charge seeking further professional development and other interested parties. In addition, the programme will be attractive to students who wish to study out of personal interest or faith commitment. 

Further Information

For further information on the Church History programme contact:

Prof D Densil Morgan
d.d.morgan@tsd.ac.uk