Course overview
In your three years at Nottingham you will take a combination of compulsory and optional modules, mainly from those offered by the Department of Theology and Religious Studies, but also with a choice of subsidiary modules from outside the department, particularly in your first and second years. Theology and religious studies is a remarkably varied discipline and at Nottingham you will be introduced to a range of disciplines and subjects, ranging from the study of texts and the Bible, philosophy, history, the study of different religious traditions, systematic theology, theology and literature and even psychology and the theory of evolution.
Year one
You will learn about the critical study of the Bible, the historical development of Christian thought, modern Christian ideas and the Islamic tradition through a number of core modules. You will also have the opportunity to learn Greek or Hebrew.
Year two
You will study two core modules and alongside these you will explore in more depth a choice of areas including Jesus, Paul, the Old Testament, systematic theology, philosophy of religion, political theology, literature and religion, and other religious traditions such as Hinduism.
Year three
In the final year, there is a wide range of choices and you can concentrate on biblical studies, theological ideas, philosophical approaches, or on religious studies. Examples of modules include: Interpreting Old Testament Texts, Determinism and Free Will in Theological and Scientific Perspectives, The Gospel of Matthew, Religious Diversity, Grace and Nature, Religion and Fantasy, and Feminist and Liberation Theology. You will also work on an 8,000 - 12, 000 word dissertation.
Entry requirements
A levels: AAB, no specific subjects
English language requirements
IELTS 7.0 (no less than 6.0 in any element)
TOEFL iBT 100 (no less than 21 in listening and writing, 22 in reading and 23 in speaking)
Alternative qualifications
For details please see the alternative qualifications page
Modules
The modules we offer are inspired by the research interests of our staff and as a result, may change from year to year. The following list is therefore subject to change but should give you a flavour of the modules we offer.
Year-one modules
The core modules in year one are:
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Great Religious Texts
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Introduction to the Study of the Hebrew Bible
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History of Christian Thought to 1600
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Introduction to the Study of the New Testament
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Christian Thought in the Modern World
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Introduction to Judaism
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Introduction to Islam
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Philosophy for Theologians
Examples of other modules offered by the department are:
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Introduction to Biblical Greek I
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Introduction to Biblical Greek II
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Introduction to Biblical Hebrew
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Biblical Hebrew Readings
Year-two modules
In your second year, there are just two core modules:
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Approaches to the Study of Religion
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Presentations
Then you are free to explore in more depth a choice of areas. Examples of modules you can take are:
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Christology and Atonement
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Jewish Theology and Philosophy
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Life and Teaching of Jesus
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Literature and Religion: An Introduction
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Modern Jewish Thought
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New Testament Readings in the Gospel of Mark
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Prophets and Prophecy in the Hebrew Bible
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Religion in 19th-Century Britain
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Theology, Worship and Spirituality
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The Eucharist
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The Hindu Tradition
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The Philosophy of Religion
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The Theology of Paul
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The Trinity
Year-three modules
Year three enables you to choose from a wide range of modules and focuses upon topics of particular interest to you. Examples of modules are:
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Darwinism
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Determinism and Free Will in Theological and Scientific Perspectives
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Feminist and Liberation Theology
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Grace and Nature
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Islamic Theology
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Love and Death
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Methodology and History of Jesus Research
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Narrative and Theology
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Problems of Religious Diversity
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Religion and Fantasy
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The Jewish Context of the New Testament
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Virtue Ethics and Literature
You will also work on an 8,000- or 12,000- word dissertation.
Skills and careers
You will have developed an enquiring mind and the ability to think and study independently. You will have a broad knowledge of theological concepts and theories, and an in-depth understanding of the areas you have chosen to focus on. You will have the ability to communicate effectively, and to develop and sustain a reasoned argument.
Average starting salary
The average starting salary for 2009/10 full-time graduates of the Department of Theology and Religious Studies was £16,900.*
*Average starting salary from known destinations of first-degree leavers who studied full-time, 2009/10.