One-year Certificate for Theology Graduates
Course Description
The Certificate for Theology Graduates is a course offered by the University of Oxford, allowing those who have already studied Theology to degree level to focus in detail on subjects of particular importance to them, either for the purposes of ordination training, or for general interest. The Certificate provides candidates with the academic basis for future study at graduate level, and/or ministry.
Together with the undergraduate Certificate in Theology 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.
Entrance Requirements
Candidates for the one-year Certificate for Theology Graduates must have obtained at least second class honours in an Honours or Joint Honours Degree in Theology. Candidates for the one-year course who have not taken the Honour School of Theology (BA) in Oxford must apply to the Supervisory Committee (this may be done through the college).
Teaching Methods
The Certificate for Theology Graduates is taught by a combination of tutorials, lectures and in-House classes, according to the selection of individual papers (see Course Structure). Some courses are taken jointly with the other theological colleges in the form of OPTET and Faculty lectures in the University Examination Schools. Students for the Certificate for Theology Graduates are encouraged to attend both faculty lectures that relate to their papers, and also those that will further their own particular theological interests.
In addition to the courses offered in support of their papers, candidates 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 in the year, in May and September* - by means of 10,000 word extended essays, or sometimes written examinations. All of these are marked externally by university examiners. 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).
*Ordination candidates should note that they will normally only have one examination round before they are due to be ordained, so that, in effect, the entire Certificate will be completed in the first examination round.
Course Structure
The one-year Certificate for Theology Graduates consists of four papers taken from part 2 of the syllabus of the Bachelor of Theology degree. These include:
B.1 Old Testament
B.2 New Testament
B.3 Biblical Interpretation
C.1 Systematic Theology
C.2 Church History
C.3 Ecclesiology
D.1 Mission and Ministry
D.2 Christian Ethics
D.3 Christian Worship
D.4 Christian Spirituality
A range of papers in section ‘E’ of the syllabus, enables students to explore the relationship between Christian faith and aspects of contemporary knowledge and culture, to undertake a Confessional Study of a particular Christian denomination and/or to pursue a special subject, as approved by the Supervisory Committee.
Two out of the four papers may be integrated into a single paper of 15,000 to 17,000 words.
Candidates taking the Certificate as part of their preparation for ordination will be guided by the college in their selection of papers, to ensure that they fulfil Bishops’ requirements.
Where circumstances allow, the one-year Certificate may be taken by one year full-time study, or two years part-time.
Reading List
This varies according to the particular subjects that are to be studied, and may be obtained from the college upon acceptance of the offer of a place.
