Capstone Integrative Project (XX9900P)

Content

This unit enables postgraduate students to fulfill the capstone requirements related to their award and is intended to be taken in the student’s final year. It directs, supports and encourages the integration of student learning across the theological disciplines by means of participation in an integrative seminar and completion of a project that draws on the student’s prior learning and directs it towards an integrative treatment of a chosen topic. Topics may be related to a particular theme identified in advance by Faculty. Projects must include explicit engagement with methodologies, concepts, and content from more than one field; actively address the graduate outcomes of the award in which the student is enrolled; and show awareness of the issues related to creative and effective communication of theological ideas. Seminars will provide an overall framework for integrative learning while specific content will be largely determined by the participants’ own interests and experience. Students will be expected to present their ideas to their peers and members of faculty and to engage in critical interaction and feedback within the seminar process and at a colloquium before a wider group.

Learning outcomes

Unit sequence

Requires completion of the postgraduate foundational units and at least 50% of elective units relevant to the award. The capstone unit will usually be taken during the last two semesters of the coursework.

Pedagogy

Seminar, independent research, participation in a community of practice

Indicative Bibliography

• Bass, Dorothy C., & Craig Dykstra (eds.), For Life Abundant: Practical Theology, Theological Education, and Christian Ministry. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2008.
• Berry, Ralph. The Research Project: How to Write It. 4th edition; London: Routledge, 2000.
• Farley, Edward. Theologia: The Fragmentation and Unity of Theological Education. Eugene: Wipf & Stock, 2001.
• Ghiloni, Aaron J. ‘On Writing Interdisciplinary Theology’, Practical Theology 6 (2013), 9–33
• Gorringe, Timothy. Furthering Humanity: A Theology of Culture. Basingstoke: Ashgate, 2004.
• Graham, Elaine, Heather Walton and Frances Ward. Theological Reflection: Methods, 2nd edition. London: SCM Press, 2019.
• Markham, Ian S. A Theology of Engagement. Oxford: Blackwell, 2003.
• Thielicke, Helmut. A Little Exercise for Young Theologians trans. Charles Taylor. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1962.
• Yaghjian, Lucretia B. Writing Theology Well: A Rhetoric for Theological and Biblical Writers. New York / London: Continuum, 2006.

Assessment