Two-year Certificate in Theology (Undergraduate Version)
Course Description
The Two-year Certificate in Theology is a vocational qualification offered by the University of Oxford. It is an abbreviated version of the Bachelor of Theology (BTh), comprising eight papers out of the twelve that make up a full BTh. The Certificate in Theology focuses in particular on study of the Bible, Christian doctrine and some of the more ‘applied’ aspects of Theology. It provides candidates with a broad academic basis, at degree level, for future study and/or ministry.
Together with the Certificate for Theology Graduates and the Bachelor of Theology (BTh), it is regulated by the Supervisory Committee for the Bachelor of Theology, which is made up of representatives of the board of the Faculty of Theology and of the OPTET institutions. Candidates for the Certificate may in some circumstances go on to complete a full BTh.
Entrance Requirements
Students from a wide variety of backgrounds are admitted to St Stephen’s House for the Certificate in Theology. The normal requirement is that graduates should have a 2:2 or above in their first degree, and that non-graduates will have five GCSE passes, one of which must be in English Language and two of which must be at Advanced Level. Exemptions from this requirement for mature student candidates or those otherwise qualified may be made at the discretion of the Supervisory Committee.
Teaching Methods
The Certificate is taught on an almost completely internal basis via lectures and seminars, and occasional tutorials; some courses are taken jointly with the other theological colleges in the form of OPTET and Faculty lectures in the University Examination Schools. Many students also manage to attend other faculty lectures in the pursuit of their own particular theological interests. At all stages of study, candidates will be taught in groups made up of people studying for various qualifications.
Candidates attend the courses offered in support of their papers (see Course Structure) and, in addition, may attend in-House courses on Church History, Preaching, Spirituality, Ecclesiology, Pastoral Psychology and Mission Studies (these courses are obligatory for those in ordination training).
All courses require preparation work and background reading; most involve the presentation of seminars and/or the production of written pieces of work.
Assessment
Assessment is at two points each year, in May and September - by means of written examinations and extended essays, all of which are marked externally by university examiners; both modes of assessment are supported by internal essays. Any failed paper (exam or essay) may be resat once.
Final classifications, awarded at the completion of the Certificate are Distinction, Merit, Pass (and Fail).
Languages
Hebrew and Greek are both taught in-House and may be offered for Biblical papers in Part 1 and Part 2. However, this is not compulsory and papers may be done completely in English. For students who are ordinands, there may be a denominational requirement to do an examination in one of the biblical languages.
Course Structure
Like the BTh, the Certificate has two Parts. Each candidate is required to attend courses in and to be assessed in eight subjects from the BTh syllabus.
There are four Part 1 papers to be taken in the first year. These are taken by all candidates:
A.1 Old Testament
A.2 New Testament
A.3.B Development of Christian Life and Thought
A.4 Christian Witness
The Part 2 papers* are:
B.2 New Testament
C.1 Systematic Theology
D.1 Mission and Ministry
D.2 Christian Ethics
*For ‘general students’ (i.e. those not studying for ordination), there is a wider range of papers from which to choose in Part 2. These include Church History, Ecclesiology, Christian Worship, Christian Spirituality and a range of papers on the relationship between Christian faith and aspects of contemporary knowledge and culture.
The Certificate is a two-year qualification, when taken full-time, but it may be taken by any combination of full- and part-time study, with two years part-time counted as one year full-time.
Reading List
See under Bachelor of Theology.
