MA in Christian Spirituality East and West

An Anglia Ruskin University degree created and taught by the Cambridge Theological Federation

https://aru.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/christian-spirituality-east-and-west

Join a lively debate on the meaning and the role of spirituality in Christian traditions, as well as in today’s multicultural and multireligious world.

Spirituality

Available as

  • Postgraduate Certificate in Christian Spirituality East and West (1 Compulsory module and two 15 credit module)
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Christian Spirituality East and West (1 Compulsory module and two 15 credit optional modules and 2 optional 30 credit modules)
  • MA in Christian Spirituality East and West (1 Compulsory module and two 15 credit optional modules and 2 optional 30 credit modules 4 modules and a 15,000 word project)

Options

  • Available full-time or part-time
  • Choose from online or classroom lectures and seminars
  • Some modules will be available by block teaching in Cambridge over one or two weeks

Students will be supported to:

  • progress in critical understanding and knowledge of aspects of Christian spirituality (within both Eastern and Western traditions)
  • explore and evaluate contemporary manifestations of Christian spiritual belief and practice
  • relate the discourse of spirituality to a wide range of contemporary personal, professional and vocational questions
  • undertake a detailed exploration of some issues of significance in the contemporary context
Postgraduate Certificate Postgraduate Diploma MA
Christian Spiritual Traditions, East and West Christian Spiritual Traditions, East and West Christian Spiritual Traditions, East and West
2 optional 15 credit modules 2 optional 15 credit modules 2 optional 15 credit modules
2 optional 30 credit modules 2 optional 30 credit modules
Major project (15,000 words)

Christian Spiritual Traditions, East and West

This module will give students an overview of the historical development of the Christian Mystical tradition East and West. It will introduce students to key themes and debates in the study of Christian mysticism, including the relative importance of experience, and the relationship between Christian mysticism and agency with reference to politics and society. Students will examine a variety of mystical texts, teachings and figures from a variety of Christian traditions and will explore the continuities and discontinuities between pre-modern mystical texts understood in their historical and cultural context and contemporary interpretations from East and West. Students will explore the languages and images used within mystical texts and key doctrinal believes associated with Christian mysticism, such as apophatic anthropology and deification.

The Core Module gives an introduction to the foundations and forms of Western Christian Spirituality and Eastern Christian Spirituality.

*Optional modules include:

  • Spirituality Direction in the Ignatian Tradition
  • Life in Liturgy: The Spiritual Traditions of the Christian East
  • Mysticism East and West
  • Christian Spirituality in the Contemporary World
  • Celtic and Medieval Spirituality
  • Embodying Wisdom
  • Spirituality, Materiality and the Body
  • Christian Spirituality and the Arts

Students also have the possibility of taken some of the other optional modules from other MAs run by CTF and validated by ARU.

* Not all optional modules run every year.

Assessments for modules vary. They include book reviews, essays, presentations and blogs. All 30 credit modules have assessments equivalent to 6,000 words. All 15 credit modules have assessments equivalent to 3000 words

The normal entrance requirement for the postgraduate programmes in the Cambridge Theological Federation is a first- or good second-class honours degree in a relevant subject. Examples would include Ethics, Philosophy, Theology, or other related subjects.

The CTF will also consider graduates in other disciplines who may also be admitted to the programme on a case by case basis. The CTF will also take seriously, on a case by case basis, applications from candidates without an appropriate undergraduate degree but that can demonstrate significant relevant experience, such as within professional or ministerial roles, especially for candidates who have not had the opportunity to engage in formal higher education before.

Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed by the House they have applied to. The Federation reserves the right not to admit applicants who do not satisfactorily demonstrate their motivation or ability to fit into the learning community of the chosen Federation House. Applicants can only be admitted if the interview confirms their teachability, and if there is clear indication that they are able to establish and maintain meaningful learning relationships with their tutors and fellow students

English Language requirements

Our standard entry criteria for postgraduate courses is IELTS 6.5 or equivalent, with nothing lower than 5.5 in any of the four elements (listening, speaking, reading and writing).

We also accept the following English language tests as equivalent to IELTS 6.5 with 5.5 in each element:

  • ETS TOEFL iBT with 88 overall and a minimum of 17 in Writing and Listening, 18 in Reading and 20 in Speaking
  • Pearson PTE with 61 overall and a minimum of 51 in all components.

However, students requiring visas to study full time in the UK should note that the government will only accept an IELTS result as evidence of meeting the English language requirement.

Degrees validated by Anglia Ruskin University are offered through the following four of our member institutions. Email any questions you have to the Director of Studies.

Institution Contact
CCCW director@cccw.cam.ac.uk
IOCS admissions@iocs.cam.ac.uk
Margaret Beaufort info@mbit.cam.ac.uk
Wesley House admissions@wesley.cam.ac.uk
Westcott House admissions@westcott.cam.ac.uk

 

Costs are on our fees page.