Board of Religious Studies
Catholic Certificate Religious Studies
Course Information
Course Information:
To find out more about course information click on one of the headers below:
- Course Structure:
The certificate is normally awarded after two years’ with a maximum of five years’ study.
There are eight modules:
• six core modules.
• two specialist modules.The core modules explore the Scriptures, the Person of Jesus Christ, the Church and its sacramental life and moral understanding.
The specialist modules relate to each participant’s ministry in the Church, covering such areas as Religious Education in schools, Parish Catechesis, Liturgy, Justice and Peace.
Each module requires:
• ten hours’ contact time.
• an assignment of 1500 words of equivalent. - Specialist Modules:
This is a list of the titles of Specialist Modules available at the time of going to print. The number and content of Specialist Modules may be revised by a Centre from time to time. For further information about particular Modules and current availability, please contact the Centre concerned. Whichever Specialist Modules are followed, they will be recorded on the Registrar’s database as S1 and S2.
Core/Specialist modules - Assignments:
Requirement
• An assignment of 1500 words or equivalent is required for each module.
• The assignment must normally be completed and returned to the tutor within six weeks of the final session of the module.
• Guidelines for Writing Assignments for the Core Modules. - Presentation:
• If the assignment has not been typed, handwriting should be clear and legible.
• The number of words must be noted at the end of the assignment (e.g. 1500).
• A bibliography must be included. - Organisation:
• The title and module number should be written at the beginning of the assignment.
• The assignment should be logically structured and the introduction and conclusion should be clear and relevant.
• Each paragraph should relate to the title or question. - Language:
• The language in which the assignment is written must reflect the appropriate literary genre for the subject being addressed.
• Participants are encouraged to use inclusive language.
• They should seek to avoid such phrases as ‘we should’, ‘we must’, ‘we ought’, when discussing religious or moral practice. - Assessment:
The assignment should demonstrate:
• adequate reading.
• fulfilment of the learning outcomes as listed in the appropriate module descriptor.
• ability to assimilate, reflect on and criticise the material studied.
• skills necessary to communicate the substance of the study from an adult Christian stance.
• adherence to the guidelines given above. - Marking:
• Markers should provide the participants with detailed feedback relating to the quality of the work submitted.
• Where dioceses of colleges run the CCRS in parallel with other courses (e.g. Diploma or B.A.) the CCRS must retain its own distinct, identifiable criteria for assessment so that there is never any question of a student’s failure in a host course making consequent failure in the CCRS unavoidable. - Regional Meetings:
Every Centre is part of a regionally based meeting process. Details of the process can be obtained from the Secretary to the Board of Religious Studies and on the Latest News section of the CCRS website.
- Approval of Prior Learning:
Participants who have previously completed a degree in Theology or Religious Studies may be eligible for exemption from some of the core modules. Centres may recommend to the Board of Religious Studies through the Secretary what modules will be equivalent to a participant’s prior learning. The Board will seek the advice of the Centre Director in these matters, but the final decision to approve prior learning rests with the Board. This process relates to prior learning up to a maximum of three core modules. It does not apply to ‘concurrent’ or ‘prospective’ learning.
- Registration:
• There is a national database of all participants who are registered through their accredited Centre.
• Each registered participant is assigned a national registration number.
• There is a national registration fee (£20).
• Participants should be registered with the National Database after the completion of the first module.
•The database complies with the requirements of the Data Protection Act and is managed through the Catholic Education Service for England and Wales. - Transfer to another Centre:
Any participants who move to another accredited Centre to continue or complete the course must provide the new Centre with their registration number as well as written evidence from the previous Centre of modules already successfully completed.
- Certification:
When a module has been successfully completed the Centre may issue a certificate for that module. On successful completion of the whole course the Centre will submit names to the Registrar who will then issue the Catholic Certificate in Religious Studies. These certificates will be signed by the Chairman of the Department of Catholic Education and Formation and the Chairman of the Board of Religious Studies and countersigned at local level by the bishop or the appropriate representative.
Centres allowing participants to follow the course on an ‘audit only’ basis (i.e. without requiring written assignments) may issue participants with a statement of attendance designed locally. - Accreditation of Centres:
Catholic Colleges of Higher Education and Diocesan Religious Education Centres are accredited Centres.
If any other institution wishes to deliver the CCRS, it must first seek the approval of the local bishop through his Diocesan Religious Education Director, before seeking accreditation from the Board of Religious Studies. When such an institution seeks accreditation, application is made to the Board of Religious Studies through the Secretary.
The following will be required:
• the written permission and approval of the Diocese in which the proposed Centre is situated.
• the proposed Centre’s agreement to join the local region for moderation.
• written details of the proposed modules.
•written details of those who are delivering the modules, including details of relevant qualifications and experience. - Distance Learning:
It is recognised that some students may not be able to attend modules offered in accredited Centres. Details of how to follow the CCRS through distance learning can be obtained from:
LIFE-LIGHT HOME STUDY COURSES
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Tel: 01926 810798
E-mail: lifelight@btinternet.com