Diploma in Religious Education

Course details

Entry Requirements:

• Undergraduate degree which includes a significant element of Religious Education, Catechetics or Theology.

Programme Overview

• This is a modular programme completed over two years.
• Modules include four 15 ECTS modules in Year 1 of the Programme:
• Professional Development and Reflective Practice
• Contemporary Developments in Education
• Religious Education: Linking Life and Faith
• Religious Education in Contexts of Diversity

Research methods are critical to successful study at MA level and will incorporate problem-solving activities, action research in professional contexts and the opportunity to link theory and practice in general and in terms of the execution of coursework. Participants accepted onto the Masters stage of the programme will have achieved an increased level of competence and confidence within their chosen pathway.� They will also be looking forward to choosing the area of study for their MA dissertation and beginning to reflect on possible research methodologies for their dissertation. The Advanced Research and Dissertation Module (60 ECTS) will provide students with the opportunity to make and implement informed choices regarding professionally relevant areas of research for their dissertation and to do this with the guidance and support of tutors and peers. Lectures take place at weekends between September � December and students use the remainder of the year to carry out research and draft material for their MA Dissertation.

The final dissertation will be a maximum of 20,000 words and the topic chosen by the participant must be related to the specific pathway chosen by the participant.

Career Opportunities

There are increasing opportunities for leadership and training roles in Religious Education within adult education programmes, parish and diocesan structures and other Church-related organisations. The pathway should also be of interest to Religious Education teachers due to the introduction of Religious Education as an examination subject within Irish post-primary schools, which requires teachers who can both teach to this level and teachers who can provide in-service for their colleagues.