Master of Theological Studies (Marriage and Family) 48 credit points Minimum duration: 24 months full-time (unless credit given for previous studies at fourth year level or higher) or equivalent part-time. The Master of Theological Studies (Marriage and Family) degree specialises in marriage and family studies by focusing attention on the fields of Christian anthropology, sacramentality and ethics. The program prepares the graduate for various ministries, including marriage education, marriage enrichment, adult faith education and youth leadership, and is a useful course for teachers who wish to teach in Catholic schools. Those wishing to teach in other religious schools would also find it useful. Optional subjects allow for the program to be tailored to the needs and interests of particular students. Applications for entry to the course are assessed by the Dean or delegated nominee. Expected Learning Outcomes On completion of the Master s degree program students should be able to: provide appropriate evidence of advanced knowledge about philosophical and theological anthropology, the theology of the body, the theology and practice of natural family planning, and fundamental theology, and a Catholic perspective on culture and evaluation of the human sciences; provide appropriate evidence of advanced knowledge about the origins, history and doctrinal development of the Catholic tradition of marriage and family; demonstrate creativity and flexibility in the application of this tradition to contemporary human society and social trends; think rigorously and independently in critically evaluating key Catholic thinkers on marriage in terms of specific questions and issues that have arisen in this area; apply the pastoral teaching of the Church to assist in the wellbeing of marriage and family; foster discussion of Christian marriage in the context of adult faith education including pre-marriage education and marriage enrichment; critically evaluate the pastoral applicability of John Paul II s theological anthropology in the contexts of marriage and Christian spirituality; assess the relevance of John Paul II s theological anthropology for the new evangelisation; defend a principled position on issues related to marriage and family in peer discussion. In addition to these core aims and objectives there are additional aims and objectives to be obtained by the students, depending on their choice of elective subjects. Many will also choose to do a Master s Dissertation in which they will demonstrate a high order of skill in a sustained work of scholarship and research in which they will relate to the theology of marriage and family. Admission Requirements To be considered for admission to this Master s degree program applicants must: have completed the requirements for the Graduate Diploma in Theological Studies (Marriage and Family), or equivalent; or have completed a 4th year of an undergraduate degree that includes subjects that are determined by the Dean to be equivalent to having completed a Graduate Diploma in Theological Studies (Marriage and Family); and have achieved an average grade of at least a Credit in their previous studies; and have IELTS at 7.0.
Programme Requirements All candidates for the Master of Theological Studies (Marriage and Family) must complete 48 credit points comprised of either 12 subjects (3 cp each) with four taken at Masters (6xx) level plus a dissertation of 30,000 words (12cp); or 16 subjects (3cp each) with eight taken at Masters (6xx) level; over a minimum of two years, or a minimum of three years part time study, (unless credit given for previous studies at fourth year level or higher). Students studying at Master s level who have demonstrated research competency may undertake two of the prescribed subjects as reading options under the direction of the subject coordinator, provided that the latter approves of the subjects being taken in that manner. A subject taken as a reading option is taken without attending lectures but the student must complete the prescribed assessment for that subject or its written equivalent. The course of study must include the following subjects: JP505 Philosophical Anthropology JP535/635 Foundations of Theological Anthropology JP547/647 Theology and Practice of Natural Family Planning JP522/622 Marriage in the Catholic Tradition JP520 Nature and Method in Theology plus one of the following advanced theological anthropology subjects: JP506/606 The Nuptial Mystery in Contemporary Theological Anthropology JP516/616 Cor Novum: Towards a New Theology of the Heart JP517/617 Love, Freedom and Identity in the Thought of Karol Wojtyła JP507/607 Eros, Logos and Agape JP504/604 The Human Person in the Theology of Benedict XVI JP518/618 Christ and the Trinity plus one cultural subject from: JP528/628 The New Evangelisation in Post-Modern Culture JP572/672 Redeeming Beauty: Principles of Sacral Aesthetics JP571/671 Catholic Social Teaching JP540/640 Dimensions of Christian Moral Life JP550/650 Virtue Ethics and Natural Law JP564/664 Educating in Relationships and Sexuality JP503/603 Contemporary Thomisms JP521/621 Biblical Theology of Marriage and Family JP524/624 Scripture and Tradition in Human Life and Healthcare plus one evaluating the human sciences subjects from: JP502/602 Philosophical Foundations of Bioethics JP544/644 Beginning-of-Life Ethics
JP545/645 End-of-Life Ethics JP546/646 Current Controversies in Bioethics JP551/651 Ethics, Creation and the Environment plus three further subjects from the subjects available at the Institute (other than those 4 that are mandatory for the Graduate Certificate in Religious Education which are taught at the 500 level only). plus a Master s dissertation OR an additional four subjects from the complete list of subjects available at the Institute (other than those 4 that are mandatory for the Graduate Certificate in Religious Education). If a student chooses to write a Master s dissertation rather than taking an extra 4 subjects then the dissertation is 30,000 words in length. Students who have completed the first 8 subjects of the course also have the option of taking either one or two independent reading subjects with a supervisor. In this case each reading unit is worth the same credit value as one subject. In certain cases credit may be given for previous studies upon application to the Academic Board via the Dean at a Master s level in a recognised institution. Students are encouraged to attend the seminars, conferences and public lectures that are arranged from time to time. Eight subjects are to be completed at Master s level, each with assessment by a single 5000 word essay, or four subjects to be completed at Master s level, each with assessment by a single 5000 word essay, and a dissertation of 30,000 words. Masters level subjects are designated JP6xx. *Course development Some subjects are more advanced and require other subjects to be taken and completed as prerequisites. Thus a student may only enrol in: JP503/603 Contemporary Thomisms JP504/604 The Human Person in the Theology of Benedict XVI JP516/616 Cor Novum: Towards a New Theology of the Heart JP518/618 Christ and the Trinity JP523/623 Biblical Theology of Marriage and Family JP528/628 New Evangelisation in Post-Modern Culture after having completed JP520 Nature and Method in Theology JP517/617 Love, Freedom and Identity in Karol Wojtyła after having completed: JP505/605 Philosophical Anthropology, or JP502/602 Philosophical Foundations of Bioethics JP507/607 Eros, Logos and Agape JP505/605 Philosophical Anthropology,
JP535/635 Foundations of Theological Anthropology, or JP506/606 The Nuptial Mystery in Contemporary Theological Anthropology after having completed JP520 Nature and Method in Theology, and one of the following: JP535/635 Theological Foundations of Anthropology, or JP572 Redeeming Beauty: Principles of Sacral Aesthetics JP520 Nature and Method, or JP535 Foundations of Theological Anthropology JP546/646 Current Controversies in Bioethics JP544/646 Beginning of Life Ethics JP545/645 End of Life Ethics JP535 Foundations of Theological Anthropology JP550/650 Virtue Ethics and Natural Law JP502 Philosophical Foundations of Bioethics, or JP 564/664 Educating in Relationships and Sexuality after completing one of the following: JP522/622 Marriage in the Catholic Tradition JP535/635 Foundations of Theological Anthropology JP506/606 The Nuptial Mystery in Contemporary Theological Anthropology, or JP547/647 Theology and Practice of Natural Family Planning
Master of Theological Studies (Marriage and Family) Course Development ENTRY LEVEL ALTERNATIVES JP520 JP505/605 or JP502/602 JP505/605 JP535/635 or JP543/643 JP520 and JP535/635 or JP525/625 ADVANCED LEVEL ALTERNATIVES REQUIRING PREREQUISITES JP503/603 JP504/604 JP506/606 JP516/616 JP518/618 JP523/623 JP528/628 JP517/617 JP507/607 JP506/606 JP520 or JP535 JP572/652 JP535 JP550/650 JP502/602 or JP543/643 JP525/625 JP522/622 JP535/635 JP506/606 or JP547/647 JP546/646 JP544/646 JP545/645 JP564/664 ENTRY LEVEL SUBJECTS THAT ARE NOT PREREQUISTES FOR OTHERS JP523/623 JP540/640 JP571/671 JP551/651 JP521/621 JP524/624 Legend Anthropology Culture Evaluation of Human Sciences