The capstone is a summative unit that is required for all Masters awards. It provides students with the opportunity to undertake an integrative project across a range of theological disciplines addressing the learning outcomes for the relevant Masters award. In consultation with a member of faculty the student will seek to either address a theme, topic, problem, or area of professional practice. The student will be required to demonstrate capacity: for critical engagement, integration of learning across theological disciplines, structuring considered arguments, the development of appropriate methodology, and effectively communicating theological ideas. Integrative learning will be scaffolded by seminars which will provide a locus for critical engagement and feedback from peers and members of faculty, contributing to the forming process of both student and research project.
Unit code: XX9135B
Unit status: Approved (Minor revision)
Points: 24.0
Unit level: Postgraduate Capstone
Unit discipline: Capstone Other X
Delivery Mode: Blended
Proposing College: Eva Burrows College
Show when this unit is running| 1. | Formulate a critical and sophisticated understanding of the methodologies, concepts and key issues from at least two fields of study. |
| 2. | Demonstrate the application of expert knowledge across fields of study. |
| 3. | Synthesise and integrate ideas across different fields of theological study. |
| 4. | Present integrated theological ideas coherently, creatively and effectively, engaging with critical feedback from peers. |
| 5. | Plan and produce a substantial integrative project, drawing on advanced skills in research, writing and presentation. |
| 6. | Demonstrate attainment of the course outcomes of the particular award in which they are enrolled. |
This capstone unit is required to be completed as part of Masters Coursework degrees. It may only be taken in the final two semesters of study.
Students will form and develop their integrative project via faculty supervision and critical interaction with peers. The seminars will encourage and facilitate the clear articulation of the major aspects of the project together with critical engagement by peers and faculty across disciplines. Students will be expected to indicate how they have responded to such feedback, and the ways in which this has improved the outcomes of their project. This will contribute to the capacity of students to undertake independent research, but as part of a community of emerging scholars and practitioners.
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Berry, Ralph. The Research Project: How to Write It. 4th edition; London: Routledge, 2000.
Farley, Edward. Theologia: The Fragmentation and Unity of Theological Education. Eugene: Wipf & Stock, 2001.
Ghiloni, Aaron J. ‘On Writing Interdisciplinary Theology’, Practical Theology 6 (2013): 9–33.
Gorringe, Timothy. Furthering Humanity: A Theology of Culture. Basingstoke: Ashgate, 2004.
Graham, E., H. Walton, and F. Ward. Theological reflection: Methods. London: SCM, 2005.
Graham, E., H. Walton, and F. Ward, F. Theological reflection: Sources. London: SCM, 2007.
Markham, Ian S. A Theology of Engagement. Oxford: Blackwell, 2003.
McAlpin, Kathleen. Ministry That Transforms: a contemplative process of theological reflection. Collegeville: The Liturgical Press, 2009.
B. Miller-McLemore (Ed.). The Wiley-Blackwell Companion to Practical Theology. Chichester, West Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell, 2012.
Thompson, Judith, Stephen Pattison, and Ross Thomson. SCM Study Guide to Theological Reflection. London: SCM Press, 2008.
White, Barry. Mapping Your Thesis: the comprehensive manual of theory and techniques for masters and doctoral research. Camberwell, VIC: Acer Press, 2011.
Yaghjian, Lucretia B. Writing Theology Well: A Rhetoric for Theological and Biblical Writers. New York/London: Continuum, 2006.
| Type | Description | Word count | Weight (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Report or Project Journal - Research project | 6000 | 80.0 | |
| Oral Presentation - Presentation of chosen project at a seminar with due weight given to the critical integration of ideas and peer feedback. | 1000 | 10.0 | |
| Seminar or Tutorial - Peer Review: Attendance at and interaction in three seminars (either face to face or online) comprising intentional, reflective and critical interaction with tutors and peers. | 1000 | 10.0 |
Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Maggie Kappelhoff on 17 Sep, 2021
Unit record last updated: 2021-09-17 13:25:15 +1000