Theology

Description

Theology examines from an academic perspective the beliefs and practices of various religious traditions. While Christianity, Islam, and Judaism are studied in particular depth, the Birmingham degree also examines traditions such as Sikhism and Hinduism, as well as other contemporary spiritualities.

Theology explores different religious traditions and how they have understood the world and the place of humans within it. A challenging subject, it takes in areas as diverse as ancient religious texts, contemporary global politics, and profound issues of ethics and philosophy. It is an excellent way to reflect upon your own and other peoples values and beliefs, from a stance at once empathetic and critical.

Career opportunities

A popular career choice is teaching, but the range of other careers that our graduates have entered is enormous, including work for religious organisations, journalism, the legal profession, business, social work and personnel management.

Detailed Course Facts

• English

Course Content

First year

Your first year involves studying introductory modules that provide you with the opportunity to explore a range of topics. As a Single Honours student, you will also take a module from another subject area (MOMD). Examples of modules include:

Core modules

• Introduction to Biblical Studies (20)
• Introduction to the History of Christianity (20)
• Introduction to Islam (20)
• Introduction to the Study of Religion (20)
• MOMD (20)

Optional modules

• Contemporary Christianity (10)
• Global Christianity (10)
• Introduction to Jewish Studies (10)
• Introduction to the Study of the Holocaust (10)

Second year

In your second year, you’ll be provided with a structured framework for gaining professional skills in presentation and teamwork, as well as identifying an appropriate dissertation area, research question and supervisor, and completing the initial planning and research for your final-year dissertation. You’ll have a wide choice of optional modules and you’ll also undertake a placement for around two weeks in a school, charity or other situation in the UK or abroad. You’ll be required to reflect critically on this placement in a written report in the light of your studies in Theology and Religion and your career aspirations

Core modules

• Methods and Dissertation Preparation (20)
• Placement (20)

Optional modules

• Arabic I (20)
• Beginners' Greek (20)
• Biblical Hebrew Language (20)
• The Holocaust in History and Memory (20)
• New Age and Alternative Spiritualities (20)
• Religion in Contemporary Society (20)
• Special Study (20)
• Themes in Christian Theology (20)
• Theological Ethics (20)
• Use and Interpretation of the Bible (20)
• Islam and the West (10)
• Women in Islam (10)
• Hinduism (10)
• Sikhism (10)

Final year

In your final year you have lot of freedom to choose the path your own degree will take, with optional modules ranging from Religion and the Arts, Islam in Britain, to Problems of Diversity, the Dead Sea Scrolls and Pentecostal/Charismatic Theology.

A large part of your final year is devoted to your dissertation; a major piece of independent work for which you identify your own topic and carry out research with supervisory help to produce a 12,000-word essay.

Core module

• Dissertation (40)

Optional modules

• Arabic II (20)
• Biblical Studies: Independent Study (20)
• Contemporary Christian Though (20)
• Hebrew Texts (20)
• Christian/Muslim Relations (20)
• Pentecostal and Charismatic Theology (20)
• Thealogy: Transgressive Travels with the Goddess (20)
• Believing in the City (10)
• Bible and Sacred Space (10)
• Contemporary Sufi Movements (10)
• Cyber Religion (10)
• Dead Sea Scrolls: Text and Context (10)
• Intercultural Theology (10)
• Islamic Philosophy (10)
• Islam in Britain (10)
• Jewish Religious Responses to the Holocaust (10)
• Problems of Religious Diversity (10)
• Queer Bibles and Theologies (10)
• Religion and the Arts (10)
• Set Texts A (10)
• Set Texts B (10)

Study Abroad Option

You'll have the option to study abroad in the second semester of your second year, so you'll still be able to complete your degree in three years. Credits are gained in your subject area at the institution you choose. There is a wide variety of universities across the world to pick from.

English Language Requirements

CAE score : 80(Grade A)

To study at this university, you have to speak English. We advice you to

Requirements

Number of A levels required: 3

Typical offer: ABB

International Baccalaureate: 34 points

Additional information:

Other qualifications are considered.

International students:

Standard English language requirements apply: IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band; TOEFL IBT 93

Work Experience

No work experience is required.

Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• ✔️ Flexible study schedule
• ✔️ Experienced teachers
• ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

Enroll in the course

Related Scholarships*

• Academic Excellence Scholarship

  "The Academic Excellence Scholarship can provide up to a 50 % reduction in tuition per semester. These scholarships will be renewed if the student maintains superior academic performance during each semester of their 3-year Bachelor programme. The scholarship will be directly applied to the student’s tuition fees."

• Access Bursary

  Bursary for UK students all subjects where the variable tuition fee rate is payable.

• Alumni Bursary

  Alumni Bursary for UK Undergraduate students

* The scholarships shown on this page are suggestions first and foremost. They could be offered by other organisations than University of Birmingham.