Department of Theology and Religious Studies Programme.
Bachelor of Arts Theology and Religious Studies
PROGRAMME DESCRIPTION
The BA (Theology and Religious Studies) programme is designed to provide students with professional knowledge, skills and values within the context of religious studies. The degree provides job opportunities and advancement for the clergy and other ethically oriented careers in public, private and non-governmental organizations. This four-year liberal arts academic programme provides a third-year entry for applicants who possess a three year academic Diploma in Theology and Religious Studies or its equivalent from recognized tertiary institutions.
Read More About BA(Theology and Religious Studies)
The BA (Theology and Religious Studies) caters for students and professionals who have either completed their MSCE or have attained a Diploma in Theology and Religious Studies from University of Malawi or its equivalent from other relevant institutions who wish to continue with their theological studies to first degree level to enhance their prospects for employment or advancement in their scholarship and/ or careers. The goals of the programme are:
- To provide further academic training for the pastoral fraternity locally and at an affordable cost.
- To provide academic training for personnel for NGO’s, Church-based organizations, secondary education institutions, and some Government ministries.
- To introduce students to research work in the fields of Biblical, theological and religious studies.
- To equip students with relevant knowledge and skils in Biblical, theological and religious studies to enable them built a successful career in related professional areas.
- To provide better understanding of religion, its role in modern society and its impact on national development.
PROGRAMME OUTPUTS
In addition to taking semester examinations and submitting short essays in the course of studies, students in this programme are introduced to research in Theology and Religious Studies and are guided in the writing of a dissertation of a limited scope. These limited research dissertations do focus on issues of national and global interest and are preserved as Mzuni documents by the department and the University Library, both in hard and soft copy forms for easy access by other researchers.
Courses offered in this programme are tailored to issues of national or global interest so that as they go through their coursework they are at the same time introduced to pertinent cultural, social, economic and political issues that are present in their communities. Students are encouraged to actively engage in public discourse over these issues in the various ways available to them alongside other stakeholders in their communities.
CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK
The BA (Theology and Religious Studies) degree is a liberal arts programme with a wide range of courses covering such areas as Biblical, historical, religious, theological, philosophical, sociological, psychological and anthropological areas. Students pursuing this programme take one course from outside the department every semester to widen the scope of their knowledge in related disciplines.
The programme has no internship requirements. However, the department links up with various Church-based organizations (CBOs) and other nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to help create awareness about the programme among potential employers. The department also encourages senior students of the programme to gain some field experience through voluntary attachment during vacations.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
The programme offers two entry points. Admission into the four-year generic programme is based on MSCE (Malawi School Certificate of Education) or its equivalent while admission into the two year upgrading programme is based on a Diploma. A prospective upgrading student must have a good academic Diploma (Theology and Religious Studies) from University of Malawi or its equivalent from a recognized institution. In addition, for entry into the upgrading programmes, relevant experience and the quality of the MSCE or its equivalent may be considered when necessary.
A prospective student for entry into the generic programme must have credit passes in English, Bible Knowledge or History, Geography, Social Studies and other related subjects. A prospective student for entry into the upgrading programme must have a good MSCE, relevant experience and a good Diploma in Theology and Religious Studies.
CURRICULUM DELIVERY
The programme is delivered through the face-to-face full-time mode delivered through taught coursework which include lectures, research and presentations. The programme is delivered on campus.
Master of Arts in Theology and Religious Studies
PROGRAMME DESCRIPTION
The MA (Theology and Religious Studies) programme follows a part-time delivery mode. It is by research and writing with no coursework. There are no residential requirements. Students are however required to attend academic seminars which the department organizes for them to showcase their work. These seminars include the Introductory Seminar, the Research Proposal Seminar, regional seminars and the Annual Colloquium. The programme is divided into four phases: the Probation Phase, the Module Phase, the Research and Thesis writing phase and the Examination phase.
One year of full time studies is counted as equal to two years of par-time studies. This makes for a duration of four years for the programme. It is expected that the Probation and Module phases would be complited in the first two years of study and that the Research and Thesis writing phase as well as the Examination phase would be completed in the final two years of the programme. A student may however complete the programme earlier or may be granted extension, if their work warrants it.
Read More About Ma (Theology and Religious Studies)
The MA (Theology and Religious Studies) meets the needs of students and other professionals who have finished the BA (Theology) or the BA (Education) majoring Theology and Religious Studies from Mzuzu University, University of Malawi and other relevant institutions who wish to continue with their theological studies to enhance their scholarship and careers. The goals of the programme are:
- To provide higher academic training for the pastoral fraternity locally and at an affordable cost.
- To provide higher academic training for personnel for NGO’s, Church-based organizations and some Government ministries.
- To engage students in research work in the fields of Biblical, theological and religious studies.
- To equip students with relevant knowledge and skill in Biblical, theological and religious studies to enable them built a successful career in related professional areas.
PROGRAMME OUTPUTS
Research Outputs/Patents/Innovations: The department guides its students in writing their theses in book style rather than in report style, with a view to later publish revised versions of the best of these theses as academic monographs to make the research output available to a wider scholarly community. These theses are published by Kachere Series, Mzuni Press and are made available in globally through African Books Collective in Oxford, UK.
Community Outreach and Engagement Activities: As a part-time programme, students remain in their work stations throughout their period of study. This enables them to apply the knowledge gained in the programme to their day-to-day professional activities at their places of work and in the communities in which they live. Research topics are also tailored to issues of national or global concern or interest so that as they work on their topics they are at the same time addressing pertinent cultural, social, economic and political issues in their communities and beyond.
CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK
The programme is by research. There are no taught courses. Students are individually guided in the formulation of their research topics, in their readings and in their research and writing throughout the four phases of the programme. The department arranges for academic seminars for the students to provide a forum where students’ research is disseminated to a wider scholarly group for discussion, critical assessment and assistance in mapping the way forward for a particular piece of research.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
A prospective student must have a good BA (Theology and Religious Studies) or its equivalent from a recognized institution and must show promise to carry out an independent research and to be able to present that research in good scholarly writing.
CURRICULUM DELIVERY
Mode of Delivery: The programme is delivered through the part-time mode with guided reading where students produce book reports, supervised research and writing, and regular seminar presentations. Guidance and supervision are provided on one-on-one basis between the student and the supervisor. This may take place through face-to-face meeting on campus or through the use of other forms of communication. Introductory and Proposal Seminars as well as the Annual Colloquium are normally held within Mzuzu. Regional Seminars are held in Mzuzu, Lilongwe and Zomba. Regional Seminars are also known as “Mini Colloquia”.
Doctor of Philosophy in Theology and Religious Studies
PROGRAMME DESCRIPTION
The programme follows a part-time delivery mode. It is by research and writing with no coursework. There are no residential requirements. Students are however required to attend academic seminars which the department organizes for them to showcase their work. These seminars include the Introductory Seminar, the Research Proposal Seminar, regional seminars and the Annual Colloquium. The programme is divided into five phases: the Probation Phase, the Module Phase, the Proposal Phase, the Research and Thesis writing Phase and the Examination Phase.[1] A student is normally assigned three modules before they can proceed to formulate research proposal for their thesis. The Probation phase overlaps with the initial module. A student’s performance on this probationary module guides the department in making a determination as to whether the student should be recommended for admission by the Postgraduate Committee. When the department is satisfied with the student’s performance the student is allowed to proceed with the remaining modules and the department recommends admission. The payment of fees is aligned to the four phases rather than the annual academic calendar.
Duration of Programme: One year of full time studies is counted as equal to two years of par-time studies. This makes for duration of six years for the programme if a student does it part-time. It is expected that the Probation, the Module and the Proposal phases would be completed in the first three years of study and that the Research and Thesis writing Phase as well as the Examination Phase would be completed in the final three years of the programme. A student may however complete the programme earlier or may be granted extension of no more than two years, if their work warrants it. A student may also complete studies in 3 years of fulltime study.
Read More About PhD (Theology and Religious Studies)
This program is geared to students and other professionals who have an MA (Theology and Religious Studies) from Mzuzu University, University of Malawi or its equivalent from other relevant institutions who wish to continue with their theological studies to a doctoral level to enhance their scholarship and careers. This need is driven by human capacity gaps in various areas including the Church, Faith Based Organizations (FBO), Civil Society Organizations (CSO), the Academia and some Government Departments, especially where issues of good governance, democracy, human rights, poverty alleviation, corruption and other social economic challenges are concerned. The goals of the programme are:
- To provide advanced academic training for the pastoral fraternity locally and at an affordable cost.
- To provide advanced academic training for personnel for NGO’s, Church-based organizations, tertiary education institutions, and some Government ministries.
- To engage students in advanced research work in the fields of Biblical, theological and religious studies to push the frontiers of knowledge.
- To equip students with relevant knowledge and skill in Biblical, theological and religious studies to enable them built a successful career in related professional areas.
- To provide better understanding of religion, its role in modern society and its impact on national development.
PROGRAMME OUTPUTS
Targeted Awards: The targeted award for the programme is the PhD (Theology and Religious Studies) degree. There is no other fall-back award.
Numbers of Graduates: There is no fixed number of students to be admitted each academic year. The number of admissions each year is determined annually in view of staffing levels, their capacities and specialties and other academic resources. In general, the student: staff ratio in the postgraduate programme as a whole is roughly maintained at 5:1 with students spread across the various phases of the programme.
Research Outputs/Patents/Innovations: The department guides its students in writing their theses in book style rather than in report style; with a view to later publish revised versions of the best of these theses as academic monographs to make the research output available to a wider scholarly community. These theses are published by Kachere Series, Mzuni Press and are made available in globally through African Books Collective in Oxford, UK.
Community Outreach and Engagement Activities: As a part-time programme, students remain in their work stations throughout their period of study. This enables them to apply the knowledge gained in the programme to their day-to-day professional activities at their places of work and in the communities in which they live. Research topics are also tailored to issues of national or global concern or interest so that as they work on their topics they are at the same time addressing pertinent cultural, social, economic and political issues in their communities and beyond.
PROGRAMME OUTCOMES
Knowledge and Understanding: Graduates of this programme are expected to gain an advanced level of knowledge and an ability to apply that understanding in addressing relevant issues of national and global interest.
Professional application of knowledge: Graduates of this programme are expected to utilize knowledge and understanding gain through this programme in their day to day activities as professional theologians wherever they work. It is expected that the knowledge gained will inform the decisions they make, the development programmes they engage in and the activities they carry out in the context of their working environment.
Generic Cognitive Skills: Graduates of this programme are expected to acquire critical, analytical and synthetic skills necessary in analyzing and evaluating problematic issues that they need to address as professionals and in designing and implementing major research projects as well as capacity to publish their work.
Communication, ICT, Numeracy Skills: Graduates of this programme are expected to be able to articulate clearly complex issue and problems and where necessary present them in a scholarly manner. They are also expected to gain basic ICT skills including, basic numerical skills to aid qualitative analysis of issues in a context of a research process.
Autonomy, Responsibility and Working with Others: Graduates of this programme are expected to assume leadership roles in various capacities. They are expected to be professionals that take responsibility for what they do and are able to work independently and effectively. They are also expected to acquire networking and collaborative skills.
CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK
Curriculum Activities: The programme is by research. There are no taught courses. Students are individually guided in the formulation of their research topics, in their readings and in their research and writing throughout the four phases of the programme.
Academic Seminars and Annual Colloquia: The department arranges for academic seminars for the students to provide a forum where students’ research is disseminated to a wider scholarly group for discussion, critical assessment and assistance in mapping the way forward for a particular piece of research.
Internship/ Field Experience: The programme has no internship requirements.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Entry Qualifications: A prospective student must have a good MA (Theology and Religious Studies) its equivalent from a recognized institution.
Pre-requisite Knowledge: A prospective student must show promise to carry out an independent research and to be able to present that research in good scholarly writing. A student’s promise is determined by a critical assessment of his or her past academic work as reflected in transcripts and past research work and by a close monitoring of progress during the probationary period in which the student engages in guided reading and preparation of his or her first module, before the department makes a recommendation for admission to the Postgraduate Committee. A module in this context is a prescribed research topic or set of topics, based on assigned readings and/ or limited field research that culminates into a 10,000 word research paper that is then submitted to fulfillment the requirement of that module. This probationary module is expected to be completed within the first six to nine months from the date of commencement.
CURRICULUM DELIVERY
Mode of Delivery: The programme is delivered through the research mode. A student may chose to study it full-time or part-time.
Techniques of Delivery: The programme is delivered through guided reading where students produce book reports, supervised research and writing, and regular seminar presentations.
Locations for Delivery: Guidance and supervision are provided on one-on-one basis between the student and the supervisor. This may take place through face-to-face meeting on campus or through the use of other forms of communication. Introductory and Proposal Seminars as well as the Annual Colloquium are normally held within Mzuzu. Regional Seminars are held in Mzuzu, Lilongwe and Zomba. Regional Seminars are also known as “Mini Colloquia”.