Content

This unit enables postgraduate students to fulfil the capstone requirements related to their award (MS) and is intended to be taken in the student’s final year. It directs, supports and encourages the integration of student learning across the theological disciplines by means of participation in an integrative seminar and completion of a project that draws on the student’s prior learning and directs it towards an integrative treatment of a chosen topic. Topics may be related to a particular theme identified in advance by Faculty. Projects must include explicit engagement with methodologies, concepts, and content from more than one field; actively address the graduate outcomes of the MS; and show awareness of the issues related to creative and effective communication of theological ideas. Peer interaction coupled with a seminar will provide a staged development, as well as an overall framework for integrative learning while specific content will be largely determined by the participants’ own interests and experience. Students will be expected to present their ideas to their peers and members of faculty and to engage in critical interaction and feedback within the seminar process.

Unit code: XS9924J

Unit status: Approved (New unit)

Points: 24.0

Unit level: Postgraduate Capstone

Unit discipline: Capstone Other S

Delivery Mode: Blended

Proposing College: Jesuit College of Spirituality

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Learning outcomes

1.

Demonstrate a critical understanding of the methodologies, concepts and issues from at least two fields of study (MS CLO 1,2, 3);

2.

Articulate points of synthesis and integration between at least two fields of theological study (biblical, historical, systematic, philosophical, practical – MS CLO 1,2,3,5,7);

3.

Generate questions and insights in relation to a chosen project that relate to at least two fields of theological study (MS CLO 3,4,5,6);

4.

Complete a guided piece of research (MS CLO 2,3,4,5,6,7,8)

Unit sequence

Requires completion of the postgraduate foundational units and 192 points of the 288 points must be in the discipline of Spirituality. The capstone unit will usually be taken during the last two semesters of the coursework.

Pedagogy

Seminar, independent research, participation in a community of practice, regular conference with supervising lecturer.

Indicative Bibliography

To be determined according to the area of focus, but the following represent the core texts used in the study of spirituality:

  • Au, Wilkie and Noreen Cannon Au. Urgings of the Heart : A Spirituality of Integration. New York: Paulist Press, 1995. Conn, Joann Wolski. *Spirituality and Personal Maturity. Integration Books. New York: Paulist Press, 1989.
  • Dyckman, Katherine, Mary Garvin, and Elizabeth Liebert. The Spiritual Exercises Reclaimed: Uncovering Liberating Possibilities for Women. Manwah, N.J.: Paulist Press, 2001.
  • Gallagher, Timothy M. The Discernment of Spirits : An Ignatian Guide for Everyday Living*. New York: Crossroad Pub. Co., 2005.
  • Haight, Roger. Christian Spirituality for Seekers : Reflections on the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius Loyola. Maryknoll, N.Y.: Orbis Books, 2012.
    • Haight, Roger. *Spirituality Seeking Theology. Maryknoll: Orbis, 2014.
  • Jones, Cheslyn, Geoffrey Wainwright, and Edward Yarnold. The Study of Spirituality. London: SPCK, 1986.
  • Sheldrake, Philip. Spirituality and History: Questions of Interpretation and Method. [2nd ] ed. Maryknoll, N.Y.: Orbis Books, 1995.
  • Sheldrake, Philip. Spirituality and Theology: Christian Living and the Doctrine of God. Maryknoll, N.Y.: Orbis Books, 1998.
  • Tyler, Peter and Richard Woods. The Bloomsbury Guide to Christian Spirituality. London: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2012.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Essay

Research Essay 5,000 words

5000 60.0
Seminar or Tutorial

Presentation of chosen project in seminar. 15 mins presentation and 15 minutes class discussion (2,500 words equivalent).

2500 40.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by John Capper on 8 Oct, 2019

Unit record last updated: 2019-10-22 12:01:30 +1100