Level 6 certificate programme, certified by the Carmelite Institute of Britain and Ireland (CIBI)
Course Overview:
This course is informed by the normative disciplines of Roman Catholic Theology and is designed to facilitate the formal academic study of Scripture, Theology, History, Religious Life, Spiritual Leaders, Sacraments and Church. On completion of the course students will have a basic level of proficiency in the areas studied.
As the course is delivered fully online it offers students the opportunity to study individual modules at their own pace, and in a structured yet flexible manner, whether on a part-time or full-time basis. The range of subject areas on offer will provide the background for candidates to engage critically in the ongoing dialogue between the various Religious traditions in the Church and the contemporary world. Students who successfully complete this course will be able to describe, present and critically engage with the principal elements of the Religious traditions they have chosen to study.
On successful completion of this course the graduate should be able to:
- Exhibit a knowledge and understanding of some of the significant topics, figures and sources relating to some of the Religious charisms and traditions in the Church.
- Identify, gather, and analyse some of the historical material relating to some of the Religious charisms and traditions.
- Display the capacity to identify some of the significant elements in the Religious traditions in the Church and to present and communicate those elements with some degree of critical evaluation
- Present a coherent and well-structured written presentation on some of the elements of the spirituality of the Religious traditions in the Church.
On completion of six modules to the satisfaction of the Director of Studies, CIBI will award a certificate in acknowledgment of the studies completed.
Who is this course for?
This course is ideal for students who wish to explore and deepen their knowledge of the Church’s rich tradition of Scripture, Theology, History, Religious Life, Spiritual Leaders, Sacraments and Church
The course would particularly suit those:
- who want to continue working while studying, or
- who may not have easy access to one of the traditional education providers, or
- who may not have the time to commute to and from lectures daily.
We also welcome students who want to study the course full-time, which allows students to complete the course in a much shorter timeframe.
Delivery Duration
The modules are all self-contained learning experiences that can theoretically be followed in any order. The nature of the course means that, within the overall constraints (five years for the course as a whole), students proceed at their own pace taking on each semester only as many modules as their circumstances permit. Normally, students will be expected to complete one or two modules each semester (the academic year comprises two twelve-week semesters (Semester 1: September – December and Semester 2: January – April)).
A module comprises 16 units to be read and studied. The content of one unit is equivalent to approximately that delivered in a 45-minute lecture. Students will need to dedicate twice this amount of time to private reading beyond the material provided in the module.
A part-time student could complete this programme in three to six semesters (1 ½ to 3 years) depending on the number of modules they undertake in each semester.
A full-time student could complete this programme in two semesters (1 year).
The course is delivered in the form of a phased release of reading material made available through the CIBI website.
Module information
The course is designed to give students an academic introduction to the various subjects and to enable students to become familiar with the history, traditions and different approaches to prayer and Christian living. Students may choose a broad range of subjects or may prefer to study a subject or two in more detail.
In addition, the course is designed for students to develop the basic skills of academic research, writing and presentation on this topic at undergraduate level. Academic guidance is provided through individual assessment(s) feedback and formal training in the writing of academic essays.
To complete this programme students must study six modules from the list below, completing all the required assignments for each module.
Church History:
- H10: Church History, Early to Medieval Period.
- H11: Church History, Protestant Reformation to Modern Times.
Founders and Saints:
- R01: Saint Alphonsus Liguori.
- R03: Saint Francis of Assisi and the Franciscan Family Charism.
- S01: Saint Teresa of Avila
- S02: Saint John of the Cross, mystic, Carmelite and poet
- S04: Saint Therese of Lisieux
Scripture:
- T01: An Introduction to the New Testament.
- T07: An Introduction to the Old Testament.
- T06: A Biblical Theology of the Practice of Faith.
A Sacramental People:
- T02: The Sacramental Basis of the Practice of Faith.
- T04: The People of God.
- T17: Penance and the Sacrament of the Sick.
Consecrated Life:
- H07: The History of Female Contemplative Life and Recent Developments.
- T10: Understanding the Charism of Consecrated Life.
Assessment
Each of the six modules is assessed as follows:
- Continuous assessment comprising four questionnaires
- One essay (2,000-2,500 words) per module.
Each questionnaire is awarded 10% of the overall marks (4 x 10 = 40%).
The final essay for each module is on an assigned topic and between 2,000-2,500 words long. The final essay in each module is awarded 60%
Admission Criteria
This is a level 6 certificate course and is open to all adult students (it is not required that students are members of a Religious congregation). No previous academic studies or qualifications are required.
Accreditation
The Pathways towards Christ programme is certified by the Carmelite Institute of Britain and Ireland (CIBI).
Fee Structure
- Initial one-off registration fee of €50
- Module fee €120.00 per module
COURSE REGULATIONS 16th September 2020
Pathways towards Christ.
Certified by the Carmelite Institute of Britain and Ireland (CIBI)
The Pathways towards Christ programme is informed by the normative disciplines of Roman Catholic Theology.
This course is designed for three specific groups. Firstly, it is designed to offer Certificate level qualification in the study of Religious Charisms and the Church and in the areas of Scripture, Theology, History, Religious Life, Spiritual Leaders, Sacraments and Church. It is also designed to allow those who might not have a Certificate-level qualification to acquire such a qualification. The course makes the heritage of the Church concerning Religious Charisms available at Certificate level across the English-speaking world using a part-time, internet-based mode of engagement/delivery.
This course will enable participants across the English-speaking world, whether or not they are, themselves, Religious, to deepen their engagement with, and academic understanding of, Scripture, Theology, History, Religious Life, Spiritual Leaders, Sacraments and Church, according to the modules chosen by the student.
Students will explore, discover and study the essential elements of a theological approach to the Christian life as lived in accordance with a specific Religious charism. It will familiarise students with the basic elements of Scripture, Theology, History, Religious Life, Spiritual Leaders, Sacraments and Church that provide the context for this way of life.
Having studied the material presented, having engaged with it and having presented their understanding for critical scrutiny and feedback, those who have successfully completed this course will be able to describe, present and, to some extent, critically engage with the principal elements of the Church tradition in relation to Religious charisms.
Although students will not need to attend a particular campus and will normally continue with their previous commitments, the course will enable them to engage academically with the material in a manner that maintains the standards of practice typical of third level institutions.
Students will be required to engage seriously with the programme material and to submit all assignments according to the semester calendar.
Their studies will provide the background that will enable them to engage critically in the ongoing dialogue between the Catholic tradition on Religious charisms and the contemporary world and to participate in the formation or training of others interested in the field of Studies.
Admission Criteria.
Applicants will normally have completed second-level education (equivalent to National University of Ireland Matriculation) but applicants 23 years of age or over on January 1st of the year of intended entry who do not fulfil the normal matriculation requirements may apply for matriculation on the basis of mature years.
Course Structure.
This course is delivered through a phased release of reading material made available through the CIBI website (www.cibi.ie), and all communication between the CIBI office and students is normally through email.
To complete this course, students must normally complete assessment of the required number of taught modules. In order to complete this programme, the six taught modules must be completed within five years of registration unless special dispensation has been given, and students who do not complete the course within the time allowed will only be allowed to complete the course when the Academic Board has been satisfied that there were good reasons why the course was not completed in the time allowed.
The academic year for CIBI courses is measured in two semesters, each being a twelve-week period, the first running from September till December, and the second from January until April. Modules will be available during the semester periods only. Each module takes twelve weeks to complete (a semester) and it is possible to take more than one module per semester. Each module is made up of sixteen units and each unit is the equivalent of a 45-minutes lecture. Students will need to dedicate about twice this amount of time to private reading beyond the materials provided. The four questionnaires, and the individual feedback that students receive for each questionnaire, are regarded as being the equivalent of a further eight units. The modules are all self-contained learning experiences that can theoretically be followed in any order. The part-time nature of the course means that, within the overall constraints (five years for the course as a whole), students proceed at their own pace taking on each semester only as many modules as their circumstances permit. Normally, students will be expected to complete one or two modules each semester.
Assessment.
Each taught module is assessed by four, ten-question questionnaires and a final written assessment on an assigned topic of between 2,000 and 2,500 words. Both the answers to the questionnaires and the final written assessment are submitted by email and all correspondence is conducted via the Institute’s office in Dublin. In each module, each of the four questionnaires is awarded 10% of the overall marks, the other 60% being awarded for the final essay.
Each module is awarded 5 credits. Pathways towards Christ programme is a thirty (30) credit course, 5 credits being awarded for each of its six modules.
Exemptions may be granted for up to 25% of the taught modules if the candidate can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the CIBI Director of Studies that equivalent modules have been successfully completed elsewhere. Each exempted module will be awarded 5 credits.