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MA Theology (Contemporary Church Leadership)

The MA Theology (Contemporary Church Leadership) is a new programme, originally designed for students on the second year of The Binary Course. In its expanded form it now also replaces the MA Theology (Pastoral Studies) programme as the first stage in the Postgraduate Ministry Development (PMD) Course. It is suitable for serving church leaders who are well established in Bible-centred ministries as well as for those undertaking initial training. The programme encourages students to investigate and understand changing contexts, both within church settings and the wider culture, and the interactions which produce them. The MA (CCL) is intended to challenge traditional 'maintenance' models of ministry with alternative New Testament patterns. It will be of particular interest to those who are grappling with questions of cultural transition and who wish to explore the concept of 'missional' church. On successful completion, students may wish to continue the PMD Course by pursuing the MMin and DMin.

Admission Requirements
Students who have successfully completed the LTh at WEST with an aggregate mark of 50% may be admitted. Alternatively, candidates must normally have an upper second class honours degree in theology or a related subject; or alternative acceptable evidence of attainment. The place of prior learning (APL) and prior experiential learning (APEL) is recognised, allowing advanced standing of up to 120 credits. A non-graduate may also be admitted provided that he/she has held, for a minimum of two years, a responsible position which is relevant to the programme, and is deemed capable of meeting its demands.

Programme Structure (10/11)

Part One
Core Modules		Optional Modules
Research Methods *		Popular Culture and the Christian Worldview
Leadership		Ministry in an Urban World
Church Placement** (40 credits)		Contemporary Pastoral Practice
Bibilcal Exegesis	English Text	Contemporary Missiology
	Greek Text
	Hebrew Text
Part Two 20,000 word dissertation

Students take Part One modules totalling 120 credits.

All University-accredited Part One modules are worth 20 credits except for the Church Placement which counts for 40 credits.

Part Two (the dissertation) is worth 60 credits

*Students have the choice of either successfully completing the Research Methods module on a zero-credit basis or of taking it as take it as part of the 120 credits of Part One. There is no fee for taking the Research Methods module on a zero-credit basis and the module is taken in addition to the 120 credits in Part One. Students who opt to take the Research Methods module as part of the 120 credits of Part One are charged at the normal 20-credit module fee.

** Those who are (or could have been) admitted to the MA on the basis of experience may, at WEST's discretion, be permitted to substitute two option modules for the Church Placement module.

Assessments
All modules are written, taught and marked by WEST lecturers and are accredited by the University of Wales, Lampeter. The University appoints an external examiner, in liaison with WEST, who moderates all assessments. Most modules are assessed by means of coursework, though Greek and Hebrew Exegesis also involve an exam. A 20,000-word dissertation completes the programme. Coursework assessment papers are given to students in the relevant teaching week and are usually submitted 6 - 8 weeks later (sometimes a little later in Semester 1). The deadlines always fall before the next set of teaching weeks.

Awards
The attainment of the award of MA is achieved with 180 credits. However, it is also possible for students to terminate their studies having completed a total of 60 credits from Part One to achieve a Postgraduate Certificate, or, having completed a total of 120 credits (i.e. all of Part One), to achieve a Postgraduate Diploma.

Duration
The MA CCL programme may be completed on a full-time basis in 14-17 months, from August to October/January. Full-time students complete the taught modules by June and commence the dissertation in July. This allows sufficient time to complete the dissertation by the autumn, but those who wish to may use the full period until the following January to submit. The MACCL programme may be completed on a part-time basis taking up to 4 years, with the taught modules occupying either two or three of those years and the remaining time given to the dissertation. (Students on the Binary Course undertake the programme full-time.)

Teaching dates and schedule
Six intensive teaching weeks are scheduled each year. Two weeks follow the August bank holiday, two are held in early or mid January and two are held in March (the dates of the latter vary according to the timing of Easter). A full-time student will need to attend between 4 and 6 of these teaching weeks depending on the choice of modules made.

The Research Methods module involves a total of 12 hours of class time. This consists of a 2 hour introduction to the distance-learning (DL) element of the module, plus 10 hours of class teaching. All students must take the 2 hour introduction to the DL element in one of the September teaching weeks (with the exception of students commencing in January). The 10 hours of class teaching may be taken either in September or January. All students are normally expected to attend all 12 hours of teaching. However, students opting to take the module for zero credit who may have legitimate difficulties with attendance at the 10 hours class-based teaching (due to timetabling and/or travelling distance) may apply for exemption from this element.

The timetable of teaching weeks is available as a PDF file for you to download.

Programme Cost
Please see tuition fees.

Application process
If you wish to apply for this programme as part of the Binary Course, please download this application form.

If you wish to apply for this programme as part of the Postgraduate Ministry Development Course, please download this application form.

You should enclose original transcripts of your previous study with your application, showing that you meet the above entry requirements, unless you are applying on the basis of relevant experience. If you are applying on the basis of relevant experience you should nevertheless enclose transcripts/certificates for any previous studies that are relevant to your application, though they do not meet the academic entry requirements. This includes non-accredited study in theology or a related subject, undergraduate and postgraduate study in a subject other than theology or a related subject, and undergraduate study in theology or a related subject which led to an award at a lower level than a 2:1 bachelor’s degree. We may also contact you on receipt of your application to ask for any other information not included in the list above which we feel is relevant.

Since, if you are accepted, you will have be a student of the University of Wales, Lampeter as well as of WEST, it is also necessary to complete a University of Wales, Lampeter application pack. Please download the instructions for completing the application, the application pack and reference form which are attached below. The completed application pack should be sent to WEST alongside your WEST application (you must not send it directly to the University). It is your responsibility to obtain the required references and to ensure that they are received at WEST. If you have any queries about completing the application pack please contact Anwen Davies, Academic Registrar (Postgraduate Students), via .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). If you are applying in July or August to start in September you may submit the application form with your WEST application without waiting to receive the references, to prevent any delay in processing your application. In such a case, you should ensure that the references are received by the point at which you accept any offer of a place made to you.

Instructions for Completion of University Application Pack.

University Application Pack (Taught Postgraduate Programmes).

University Reference Form.

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