Cert HE / Diploma HE
Students training for non-stipendiary ministry at the Church of Ireland Theological College study for the Diploma in Higher Education. This is an Open University degree which the college runs in conjunction with St John’s Nottingham Theological College.
The course runs in two parts. Students first complete the work for the Certificate in Higher Education before beginning the Diploma level work.
The Diploma is equivalent to two years of a degree and CITC with St John’s Nottingham are developing the last stage of the course which would enable Non-Stipendiary students to study for a degree in theology. The final section of the course would be taken as part of a Continuing Ministerial Education Programme.
Certificate in Higher Education
The initial Higher Certificate is completed after 18 months (120 Credits), the subjects comprising:
- Old Testament Introduction (20 credits)
- New Testament Introduction (20 Credits)
- Ministry & Mission in the Local Church (20 Credits)
- Creeds (20 Credits)
- Anglicanism (10 Credits)
- Theological Reflection (10 Credits)
- Spirituality (10 Credits)*
- Vocation (10 Credits)*
*Church of Ireland students are exempt from modules in Spirituality and Vocation due to the heavy weighting of these areas in the course as a whole.
The CertHE is a third-level award and has specific entrance requirements. In summary, ONE of the following is required:
- SIX passes at HONOURS LEVEL in the IRISH LEAVING CERTIFICATE
- TWO ‘A’ LEVELS
- Completion of ONE ST JOHN’S STUDY MODULES with a PASS GRADE OF ‘C' or above
- A RECOGNISED EQUIVALENT of one of the above [NB Ordinands without the required Leaving Certificate award or without the two ‘A’ Levels will commence the Pathway 2 programme as normal but will defer formal registration until after successful completion of the first subject module (minimum Grade C).]
Diploma in Higher Education
The DipHE follows on from successful completion of the CertHE, and normally commences after 18 months of study. The Diploma explores the subjects taken in the Certificate in further depth as well as introducing new areas of study. The DipHE is equivalent to a Level Two University course with a correspondingly higher standard of work required.
The modules make up 120 Credits of which Church of Ireland Students are granted a number of Credit exemptions.
The Diploma in Higher Education consists of seven modules:
- Using the Bible Study (20 Credits)
- Exploring the Matrix of Christian Theology (20 Credits)
- Human Care (20 Credits)*
- Journal & Reflection (10 Credits)
- Common Worship (20 Credits)
- Homiletics (10 Credits)
- The Holy Spirit and the people of God (20 Credits)
* Partial exemptions are available for this module.
Residential Weekends
Each Residential Weekend will focus on a different aspect of the course. However, it will be structured around six main components:
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Cancellation
In exceptional circumstances, it may be necessary to cancel a residential weekend. This can sometimes be at the last minute, an example being an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease. Where such circumstances arise, and to avoid confusion, IT IS COLLEGE POLICY TO FOLLOW GOVERNMENT DIRECTIVES IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES. In the case of a foreseeable cancellation you will be informed directly well ahead of time. Where a last minute crisis emerges, PLEASE CHECK WITH THE COLLEGE BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY.
Module Timetables
Choose a year below to view the timetable:
Assessment Structure
Each subject module is assessed on the basis of a portfolio of all the written work required by that module. Each piece of coursework submitted will be marked and feedback provided. At the end of the module, Assessors summarise the evaluation onto a formal Assessment Sheet, and allocate a grade for the module as a whole.
The college intends that each student should pass each subject module. The regulations however allow a limited degree of compensation if you fail in some areas of the course. These regulations are contained in the St John’s course literature.
Note that all marks given by your Assessor are provisional. Your assignments will be ‘second marked’ before the meeting of the annual Examination Board. Like all courses, the CertHE is subject to the work of External Examiners who have the right and duty to check the standards of work and make adjustments if necessary. All failed work, work that only just achieved a pass, and work where there is a discrepancy between the first and second marking will be reviewed by the External Examiner. In most cases adjustments by the External Examiner do not make a significant difference to your profile of marks. At the end of the course you will be asked to give written ‘feed-back’ on your experience of having completed the module.
The pass mark set by St John’s Nottingham/OU is 40%. If your overall mark for a module is under 40% you will be invited in the first instance to resubmit the necessary number of assignments for that module to raise your mark above the pass rate. Students who resubmit.
Assessment Criteria (Summary)
The final assessment of each subject module is undertaken against an explicit set of assessment and criteria relating to five categories of concern. These are:
Use of primary material.
How well have you used the ‘raw materials’ of the subject in your work? Or are you just repeating other people’s opinions about the subject, or relying on other people’s experience? How much ‘first hand knowledge’ is in evidence?Use of insights from elsewhere.
How far have you drawn on ‘secondary material’? – that is, other people’s opinions about the subject, or just ones you agree with? Often this is about how widely you have read around the subject, but all kinds of other sources can be used. Have you demonstrated that you have the ability to learn from others?Evidence of understanding.
Does your work show that you understand the central issues involved in the subject or the topic you are writing about? In particular, does it show that you can think critically and weigh things up for yourself?Application and Personal Involvement.
Have you made some relevant connections to other areas of study, to practical areas of Christian ministry, or to your own personal or Christian life? What conclusions have you drawn about what difference your learning makes to the rest of your life?
Parish Placements
A major task of ministerial education is to strike a rhythm and a balance between theoretical learning, practical experience and reflection on that experience. In order to facilitate this model of learning, parish experience is an important part of the Pathway 2 course. During your placements you will work alongside an experienced pastoral minister so that you can develop your gifts and skills through practice and example. Throughout your placement there is a strong involvement by the College through regular monitoring of your progress. This is in recognition of the fact that a placement for some can be a daunting experience. The College is therefore anxious that you are appropriately supported.
During your first year, you are required to gain experience in participating in and leading public worship, usually in your own parish. In years 2 and 3 you will undertake a major placement which has specific Learning Outcomes. The major placement is in a context outside the home parish.
Parish placements are only recognised as those centrally organised through the College. As this is a formal process which involves the College staff in liaison with your sponsoring bishop and which carefully takes into account your specific context and wider training needs, students are not permitted to arrange their own placements. Students are, however, widely consulted in the selection of a placement appropriate to their learning needs and are welcome to discuss options. Consideration is given to those who already exercise the ministry of Parish or Lay Reader. Oversight of all Pastoral Placements are under Tom Gordon (Director of NSM and Pastoral Formation). Lynda Levis (Placement Administrator) deals with all aspects of placement information and communication.
By the end of the placement you will have completed a Parish Placement Reflection of 3000 words. This is submitted to St John’s for the DipHE course Journal and Reflection (10 Credits). Placement Rectors also complete a report at the end of the placement. You must get a ‘satisfactory’ report in order to complete the course successfully.
NB: We are presently negotiating an arrangement with St John’s Nottingham which should allow you to submit a 3000 word Placement Reflection in lieu of the set assignments for the 10 credit module Journal and Reflection. Pending approval, current 3rd year students (‘05 Entrants) may be permitted to choose between submitting [A] a 3000 word Placement Reflection or [B] writing a shorter Placement Reflection and completing the additional assignments for the Module during the Deacon’s Year. You will be further advised on this issue when information is available.
Safeguarding Trust and Security Clearance
The College is committed to the highest possible standards of professional behaviour and accountability to the Church and to the communities which ordinands serve. Integral to this is a clear understanding of legal requirements and what is considered to be good practice in the parish. For this reason, all incoming students must consent to submit themselves to the new Clearance procedures including the requirements of the Garda Central Vetting Unit. This is an in-depth process which requires references and extensive security checks. All students must also undertake as part of this process the Safeguarding Trust programme. Students on placement will be required to have formal approval from the bishop in whose diocese placements etc are being undertaken. This process is in addition to any other security requirements which may be requested.