Unit rationale, description and aim
The unit introduces students to the major beliefs of the Christian faith, particularly as those beliefs have been articulated in the Catholic tradition. Students will be required to bring this knowledge and understanding into critical dialogue with their own belief stance, to assess its implications for their work in Catholic schools and to demonstrate skills to communicate it to a variety of audiences.
Learning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
Give a critical and nuanced account of the major b...
Learning Outcome 01
Explain the nature and role of theological reflect...
Learning Outcome 02
Demonstrate skills in communicating the major beli...
Learning Outcome 03
Content
Topics will include:
- The nature and role of faith, belief, revelation and theology
- Sources of theological reflection—Scripture, Tradition, and human experience
- Catholic beliefs in regard to:
- The reality of God; the Christian God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit
- The person, work and significance of Jesus Christ as fully human, fully divine and saviour; his life, death, and resurrection
- The implications of the Incarnation for understanding the nature of the human person, and the transformation and destiny of the person and the world in Christ
- Christian faith in dialogue with contemporary culture
- Implications for teaching and being part of a Catholic school community
Assessment strategy and rationale
A range of assessment procedures will be used to meet the unit learning outcomes and develop graduate attributes consistent with University assessment requirements. These assessments are appropriate for the online and multi-mode of student engagement. The learning activities listed below are organised to support a progressive developmental sequence of learning / scaffold learning progressively. They take a social constructivist approach which recognises the particular relevance, value and need for peer to peer engagement in learning within theology.
Assessment Task 1: A Critical Reflection on the Person and Work of Jesus Christ that present a contemporary understanding of who Jesus is and what he does for us. This task will address Learning Outcome 2 and develop Graduate Attribute 4
Assessment Task 2: . A Written Task that seeks to articulate some of the key principles of Catholic theology. This task will address Learning Outcome 1 and develop Graduate Attributes 4 and 8.
Assessment Task 3: A Communication Task on practical theology. This task will address Learning Outcomes 1, 2 and 3 and develop Graduate Attribute 9.
Overview of assessments
Assessment Task 1: Critical Reflection on the Per...
Assessment Task 1: Critical Reflection on the Person and Work of Jesus Christ present a contemporary understanding of who Jesus is and what he does for us.
40%
Assessment Task 2: Written Task that seeks to art...
Assessment Task 2: Written Task that seeks to articulate some of the key principles of Catholic theology.
30%
Assessment Task 3: Communication Task on Practica...
Assessment Task 3: Communication Task on Practical Theology
Sample presentation of a single belief to two separate audiences (adults and children)
30%
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
This unit involves 150 hours of focused learning, or the equivalent of 10 hours per week for 15 weeks. The total includes formally structured learning activities such as lectures, tutorials, online learning, video-conferencing, or supervision. The remaining hours typically involve reading, research, and the preparation of tasks for assessment.
The unit is offered in two modes, online and multi-mode. In both modes, students learn through formally structured and sequenced learning activities that support the achievement of the learning outcomes. Students are asked to reflect critically, analyse, and integrate new information with existing knowledge, draw meaningful new connections, and then apply what they have learned to their professional contexts.
Representative texts and references
Bauerschmidt, F. C. and Buckley, J J. Catholic Theology: An Introduction. Malden, MA : Wiley Blackwell, 2017
Bevans, S. B. An Introduction to Theology in Global Perspective. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2009.
Cunningham, L. S. An Introduction to Catholicism. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2009..
Hession, A. and P. Kieran, eds. Exploring Theology: Making Sense of the Catholic Tradition. Dublin: Veritas, 2007.
Kelly, A. God is Love: The Heart of the Christian Faith. Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 2012.
McGrath, A. E. Christian Theology: An Introduction, 6th Edition. Chichester, Wiley Blackwell, 2017
Mansini, G. Fundamental Theology. Washington, D.C.: CUA Press, 2018.
O'Collins, G. and E. G. Farrugia. Catholicism: The Story of Catholic Christianity. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003.
Rausch, T.P. Systematic Theology: A Roman Catholic Approach. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2016
Rowland, Tracey. Catholic Theology. London: Bloomsbury, T & T Clarke, 2017
Towey, A. An Introduction to Christian Theology, London: Bloomsbury, T & T Clarke, 2018