Information on Theology and Ethics Course Units.
TH501 What Catholics Believe
Level 5, 10 Credits
Catholics hold certain beliefs which shape the way they think about themselves, God, other people and the world. Those beliefs are found in Scripture and Tradition, celebrated in the Liturgy, articulated by the Church teaching authority and witnessed to in the lives of Christians. Thus course explores the concepts and beliefs that have shaped the Catholic tradition and so provide a background to understanding Catholic identity.
TH502 What is Theology?
Level 5, 10 Credits
Theology is “faith seeking understanding”. This course will explore questions about God, Jesus Christ, creation and being human in light of scripture, tradition and experience. Students will be encouraged to explore the Christian theological Tradition and examine the contexts in which theology is done.
TH503 Church and Theology
Level 5, 10 Credits
This course will explore the major historical developments that have influenced the contemporary sacramental practice of the Catholic Church. It will examine some key cultural influences that have shaped and defined the Sacraments highlighting how the faith of the Church is expressed, nourished and strengthened in the celebration of sacramental rituals.
TH504 Catholic School Teaching
Level 5, 10 Credits
Catholic Social Teaching outlines the moral teaching of the Church as it applies to public community issues. This course will give an introduction to the Church’s teaching on social, economic, political and cultural matters. Catholic Social Teaching assists the People of God to overcome the separation of Gospel from life and to integrate faith and life to help create a more just world.
TH505 Issues in Christian Ethics
Level 5, 10 Credits
Christian ethics seeks to respond to the often challenging human experiences and life choices and experiences from a faith-filled perspective. This course will examine the key principles underlying Christian ethics and morality. It will introduce the idea that the Christian perspective exists alongside other perspectives. It will also introduce students to some of the different approaches to moral decision-making.
TH506 He Timatanga – a Beginning
TH601 The Sacraments Today
Level 6, 15 Credits
Using a contemporary sacramental theology, this course will explore the place of sacraments within the faith life of Catholic communities in Aotearoa New Zealand. The course will offer a synopsis of the seven Catholic sacraments and examine how the sacramental-liturgical celebrations of the Church expresses the identity of Christian communities and shapes their sense of mission.
TH603 Renewing the Church
Level 6, 15 Credits
This course examines the critical historical and theolofical influences on the evolving understanding of the mission and identity of the Church since the Second Vatican Council. Students will consider the ecclesial and pastoral implications of the call since the Council to renewal through response to ‘the signs of the times in the light of the Gospel’.
TH609 He Turanga Whakaaro
Level 6, 15 Credits
This paper provides an advanced understanding of the Māori concepts introduced in the certificate. Through their engagement in the Te Reo journey, students will deepen their understanding of how this provides a world view that is the same, similar and different to their own and so gain a greater appreciation of the importance of their own story and its intersection with Māori world.
TH620 Studies in Church History
Level 6, 15 Credits
This course explores the growth and development of the Christian Church as it responds to changing social, historical and cultural times. It investigates the dynamic nature of the relationship between the Church and the world. It examines the impact key institutions; movements; events and teachings of the Church have had on the people and history of their own time and on the contemporary Catholic Church.
TH623 Ministry and Values
Level 6, 15 Credits
TH624 Theology for Religious Education: Special Topic
Level 6, 15 Credits
TH626 Theology for Ministry: Special Topic
Level 6, 15 Credits
T7101 Introduction to Theology
Level 5, 15 Credits
This course unit introduces students into the nature and tasks of theology and to theological methodology. It provides a foundation for all future theology course units.
- Part of BTh or Grad Dip in Th Award
T7217 The Church
Level 6, 15 Credits
This unit introduces students to a central theme of theology, viz. that faith is lived within a community of believers. It prepares students for later units in the church’s sacraments and ministry.
- Part of BTh or Grad Dip in Th Award
T7231 The Person and Work of Christ
Level 6, 15 Credits
This course unit is designed to provide students with an understanding of the person and saving work of Jesus Christ. It seeks to explore this understanding in the light of contemporary Christian thought and life.
- Part of BTh or Grad Dip in Th Award
T7324 Baptism and Confirmation
Level 7, 15 Credits
This course unit shows how Baptism is the first Christian sacrament and how it mediates Christian faith and Christian identity, in Christ and in the Church. It presents an introduction to sacramental theology, taking baptism as a paradigm and considers the development of Confirmation as a separate sacrament.
- Part of BTh or Grad Dip in Th Award
T7325 Anointing and Reconciliation
Level 7, 15 Credits
This course unit applies the themes of sacramentality, a principal aspect of theology in the Christian tradition, to two fundamental areas of human life: sinfulness and sickness.
- Part of BTh or Grad Dip in Th Award
T7326 The Eucharist
Level 7, 15 Credits
This course unit will help students deepen their appreciation of the connection between the doctrine of the Eucharist, worship and witness in the Christian life. In this sense it will help them integrate various aspects of the undergraduate programme, and develop appropriate attitudes and skills for ministry.
- Part of BTh or Grad Dip in Th Award
T7327 The Sacrament of Marriage
Level 7, 15 Credits
This course unit explores marriage principally from the perspective of sacramental theology. It will help students appreciate the interaction between theology, society and the human person, and develop appropriate attitudes and skills for ministry.
- Part of BTh or Grad Dip in Th Award
T7328 Theology of Priesthood
Level 7, 15 Credits
This course unit explores the history, theology and practice of ministry in the church in the sacrament of Holy Order. With baptism as a starting point the sacrament of Order is considered in relation to the saving ministry of Jesus in the church and the world.
- Part of BTh or Grad Dip in Th Award
T7338 The Trinity
Level 7, 15 Credits
The purpose of this unit is to focus exclusively on, and examine systematically, the Church’s teaching on the mystery of the Holy Trinity, a doctrine that stands at the very heart of Christian belief. In so doing it will want to demonstrate the profound soteriological and existential consequences of this doctrine to the way Christians live their life.
- Part of BTh or Grad Dip in Th Award
T7337 Christian Anthropology and Grace
Level 7, 15 Credits
This course unit seeks to provide students with a theological understanding of the human person and the ability to relate Christian anthropology to the theology of grace. It enables students to begin to integrate their prior theological learning into a coherent framework based on a Christian vision of human persons and their orientation to the divine life.
- Part of BTh or Grad Dip in Th Award
