Module Descriptions
Bachelor of Theology Community Leader in Psychology (NQF 7)
For a description of each module, see Module Descriptions below
Core Curriculum
The Bachelor of Theology in Community Leadership is designed for a minimum duration of 3 years, involving a total of 384 credits. The programme is delivered through a combination of in-person contact sessions and distance learning.
If the required number is not reached by the end of the registration period, the programme will only receive new students in the next registration period. New students already registered for the programme will be advised on the options available to them, and paid fees will be refunded where applicable. Students who have already completed one or more semesters will not be affected.
Study Year 1 of 3 (NQF 5)
This module is designed to enhance students' academic writing and research skills while fostering critical thinking and analytical abilities.
The first half of this module is designed to introduce the student to the nature, purpose, and interpretative process of the Scriptures. Attention is given to the historical backdrop of the Old and New Testaments and to the development of the biblical canon (Jewish, Protestant, and Catholic). Tracing the narrative trajectory of the Bible, this module is designed to equip students with a basic skill set necessary for the artful and faithful interpretation of the biblical text both within the church and public space.
Developmental Psychology 1: This module provides students with an overview of the major theories of Developmental Psychology. Furthermore, the module aims to help the student understand the course of human development from conception to late adulthood. The module also seeks to address contemporary concerns in lifespan development from conception to late adulthood.
Counselling and Life Skills: This module provides students with training in how to develop and design life skills programmes, psycho-educational training, and individual counselling interventions. This module provides an understanding of persons, ideas, and principles in the sphere of human behaviour and examines how to manage structured psycho-educational activities in personal and group interventions and how to evaluate their success.
Ethics and Global Citizenship (15 Credits)
This module is designed to help the student build an ethical
framework that considers a holistic understanding of the human person (head, heart, and hands). Students are exposed to ethical theories that enable them to reflect on ways in which to respond to current moral, intellectual, and social questions. Students work to integrate ethical theory into their experience of life and explore how this contributes to the good of the world.
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Navigating Change and Conflict (15 Credits)
This module offers a comprehensive understanding of leadership from various theoretical perspectives, aiming to empower individuals for effective leadership in various contexts, particularly within South African and African settings. It delves into transformative leadership theory and practice, fostering personal and character growth. Additionally, the module introduces students to conflict resolution theory and practice, imparting essential communication skills to enrich inter-group and interpersonal relationships. Students gain insights into their conflict attitudes, self-reflect on approaches, and explore diverse conflict types through case studies. The module underscores the interconnectedness of communication, behaviour, and conflict, with a focal point on reconciliation strategies, enriching the learning experience.
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Group Studies and Communication (15 Credits)
This module seeks to introduce the student to the fundamentals of intergroup dynamics and communication in the global context of cross-cultural engagement. The themes of group formation and behaviours, social structure, and societal hierarchies will be introduced alongside the themes of intergroup relations and the practice of communication with and between groups with diverse values, belief systems, and societal standing. The module will reflect on the demands and required skills for social change interventions when working with diverse cultural, religious, language, socio-economic, and citizen communities, among others, including also the local and global realities of migration and immigrant communities.
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Worldviews of the South (15 Credits)
This module presents a comprehensive exploration of worldviews, specifically focusing on the philosophies of the global South, Africa, and the West. Its primary objective is to cultivate a deep understanding and appreciation of how these worldviews have influenced knowledge traditions and societal dynamics across our continent and the wider world. The course critically examines the essence of history, unveiling the impact of position, perspective, and power on historical narratives. This analysis is carried out through a detailed examination of South African and African histories, commencing with the indigenous peoples and tracing the trajectories of pre- and post-colonial development. By scrutinizing cultural movements, narratives, and pivotal events, the module illuminates the forces that have both historically and presently moulded our nation and continent.
Theology: An Introduction - This module is designed to introduce the student to the methodology and discourse of both systematic and practical theology and provide a framework within which to make sense of these disciplines, how they overlap and intersect, what specific angles of vision they offer the church in its engagement, theologically and practically, with the world. Special attention is given to the relationship between theology and its cultural contexts, particularly within a South African context.
Psychology: An Introduction: This module aims to provide the student with an understanding of persons, ideas, and principles in the sphere of human behaviour, which we understand as the social sciences. The historical development and current status of psychology, investigative activities, and significant findings are reviewed. Psychology: An Introduction will also engage with psychological thought in relation to the South African context.
Counselling: Family and Development
This module surveys the themes of marriage development and family issues. The student will be introduced to the dynamics of change within marriage and the family as part of a developmental psychology framework.
Study Year 2 of 3 (NQF 6)
This module is designed to explore how people make meaning out of life's experiences. Consideration is also given to the application of this theory to the general areas of developmental psychology, the theology of Christian formation and maturity. Additionally, students explore meaningful ways in which to bring together the theory and practice of Christian spiritual formation. This module also includes a compulsory tutorial for spiritual formation.
Christian theology is concerned with the story of God in relation to the world. With God as the subject of theology, students are introduced to the various ways in which the church has sought to speak meaningfully about the God who reveals himself in history and through the biblical witness. The module thus focuses on the historical development of ‘speech about God,’ and proposes that such speech be rooted within an eschatological framework; that understanding God means tracing the trajectory of his story to its ultimate climax. Implications of this doctrine are considered in the light of South African contextual realities.
This foundational module is designed to introduce students to basic concepts in research methodology and quantitative statistics. Students will be able to select appropriate statistical techniques for various research situations, execute these techniques and interpret these results making appropriate inferences.
This module provides a theoretical and practical overview of Family Systems Theory and Family Counselling. Dynamics and dimensions of healthy and unhealthy family functioning, with special emphasis on the South African context will be explored. We will also explore various dysfunctional family situations and see how to practically provide support and assistance through family systems theory and family counselling, utilising systemic integration of family dynamics.
Theology: Human Identity and Christology
Building on our understanding of God’s story and its trajectory in human history, this module looks at the question of human identity. It works from the premise that the meaning of life, of what it means to be human, to be created, comes into sharper focus when viewed biblically and theologically. Moving from the various biblical, theological, and historical responses to the question of human identity, the module looks to the doctrine of Christ for its ultimate answer, unpacking the story of God’s restoration in and through Jesus Christ. The implications of this doctrine are considered in the light of South African contextual realities.
In this module students engage in the application of leadership theory as it relates to the three majors, namely Theology, Psychology and Community Development. Here students explore the practice of leadership in the context of the church, faith-based organisations and the public sector. Attention is given to issues such as the process of effectively utilising and developing human resources, sharing control and responsibility, teamwork, conflict management, strategic planning and managing diverse communication styles in the three areas of Theology, Psychology and Community Development.
This module provides students with an introduction to the theories and principles of various current approaches to psychotherapy and brief therapy.
In this module students will gain a theoretical understanding of the dynamics of crisis intervention, crisis and trauma counselling. As a result of this module students should be able to understand counselling principles and have knowledge of practical skills in crisis intervention and trauma debriefing.
Study Year 3 of 3 (NQF 7)
This module is designed to equip students with skills in community-based research (i.e., tools, techniques and methodologies). The module aims to assist students in helping a community identify an issue or problem, collect and analyse information, act upon the problem to find solutions that promote economic, social and political development or transformation. A key focus of the module will be to train students on how to write a research proposal while being exposed to qualitative and quantitative techniques for data collection and analysis for social research. The module will review methodologies and approaches appropriate to community based participatory research and will provide students with opportunities for practical application of acquired knowledge and skills.
This module is designed to explore how people make meaning out of life's experiences. Consideration is also given to the application of this theory to the general areas of developmental psychology, the theology of Christian formation, and maturity. Additionally, students explore meaningful ways in which to bring together the theory and practice of Christian spiritual formation. This module also includes a compulsory tutorial for spiritual formation.
This module applies the approaches and skills learnt in pastoral care theory to specific crises, such as illness, dying, bereavement, mental illness, and family breakdown. Institutional ministries that deal with these issues are visited, providing students with practical experience in one such institution.
Psychology: Theories of Personality
This module aims to provide an overview of theories concerning the shaping of personality. It will examine the influences – both personal and environmental – that impact on personality development. The module will examine personality traits, and theories behind personality traits.
Building on the corresponding research methodology module(s), this module equips students with the fundamental skills and knowledge to conduct independent research in their field of study. Students will identify a research problem, review relevant literature, and apply basic research methodologies. The module culminates in a written research document, enhancing critical thinking, problem-solving, and academic writing skills. This module prepares students for advanced research and to contribute to their discipline’s body of knowledge.
This module is a practical and generally community-based extension of the academic programme in Christian Ministry. Fieldwork is designed to be a multi-disciplinary application of what has been learnt theoretically during the programme. As such, it measures both the practical capabilities of the student within a field or sphere of learning and the ability to integrate theory and praxis.
Johannine
Designed to provide students with orientation points for understanding Paul and the letters attributed to him. The module enables students to navigate the Pauline Writings by setting both Paul (as author, pastor, and missionary) and his letters within their historical, sociocultural, theological, exegetical, and ecclesiological settings. Within this matrix, students read and engage texts within the body of the Pauline Writings.
Pauline Writing
Studies the writings attributed to John—the Gospel of John, the Letters of John, and the Apocalypse of John. Students will examine these writings by attending to their testimony concerning the crucified and resurrected Christ. Attention is given to the issues of authorship, literary and rhetorical structure, and theological motifs to understand their vision and purpose within their ancient and contemporary church settings
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Old Testament Prophets
This module comprises two parts. Part 1: Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings provide the basis for a survey of Israel's history from conquest to exile. Particular emphasis is given to investigating the relationship between Israel's historical traditions and its theological appropriation of these traditions around themes such as election, law, land, and leadership. Part 2: The latter prophets' literary structure and theological significance are examined, with attention given to seeing the prophets within their own historical context and in light of the New Testament. Exegesis of representative passages is included.
Old Testament Writings
The study and meaning of wisdom in the literature of the Old Testament are explored. Special attention is given to the nature of Hebrew poetry, literary structure, and the importance of developing a biblical theology of the wisdom writings. The module includes exegesis of representative passages.
This module looks at the necessity and importance of an integrative approach to responding to a range of critical issues of relevance for both the church and public space. Within a worldview framework, students wrestle with contemporary issues – including personhood, community belonging, power, economics and education and the intersection of these issues – from a biblical and theological perspective.