All Directed studies, Capstone Units and IMER900 will be offered in all sessions as required by students.
Units
2023 Availability
GOVC800
Introduction to Governance for Mission, Ministry and Work in the ChurchUnit overview and content
This unit provides opportunities for students to develop a foundational knowledge and understanding of governance in Catholic Church organisations. Theoretical insights from selected organisational research will be explored for their relevance to the variety of ways in which governance is exercised in the Church’s different contexts and organisational arrangements. In particular it will focus on the relationship between governance, mission, ministry and work.
Assumed Knowledge
N/A
Study hours
10 hours per week for 12 week session, comprised of
- At least one hour per week for online lectures
- At least three hours per week of reading.
- At least six hours per week of directed study, including optional and assessable online activities.
Lecturers
Br John Henry Thornber cfc
Mr Michael Thornber
Teaching methods
Online lectures; online activities; guided reading; scaffolded assessments; feedback on assessments.
Indicative Assessment
At the Institute we use a range of assessment tasks, including essays, research papers, online posts, critical reflections, projects and praxis exercises. Within a unit of study each set of assessment tasks is designed as an integral part of your learning experience. These tasks vary across units and programs. All assessment tasks are aligned to the Australian Qualifications Framework level appropriate for graduate awards.
GOVC801
Introduction to Canon Law and General NormsUnit overview and content
This unit provides opportunities for students to develop a foundational knowledge and understanding of Canon Law. The fundamental principles of Canon Law, as well as its application, are studied in various Catholic Church organisations and contexts.
Assumed Knowledge
N/A
Study hours
10 hours per week for 12 week session, comprised of
- At least one hour per week for online lectures
- At least three hours per week of reading.
- At least six hours per week of directed study, including optional and assessable online activities.
Lecturer
Rev Matthew Muller
Teaching methods
Online lectures; online activities; guided reading; scaffolded assessments; feedback on assessments.
Indicative Assessment
At the Institute we use a range of assessment tasks, including essays, research papers, online posts, critical reflections, projects and praxis exercises. Within a unit of study each set of assessment tasks is designed as an integral part of your learning experience. These tasks vary across units and programs. All assessment tasks are aligned to the Australian Qualifications Framework level appropriate for graduate awards.
GOVC802
Structures in the Church: Canonical PerspectivesUnit overview and content
This unit will provide detailed analysis of the organisational structure of Church, with reference to relevant codes of canon law.
Initial attention is given to the obligations and rights of all the Christian faithful as described by canon law.
An understanding of the theological and canonical characteristics of the diocese, as an organisational unit of the Catholic Church, is developed.
The concept of a public juridic person is studied, in relation to a wide range of Church organisations. Students are given the opportunity to analyse a specific Church organisation through this framework, including:
- Dioceses, diocesan agencies and parishes
- Religious Institutes
- Associations of the Faithful
- Ministerial Juridic Persons and other ecclesial organisations
Assumed Knowledge
GOVC800 & GOVC801
Study hours
10 hours per week for 12 week session, comprised of
- At least one hour per week for online lectures
- At least three hours per week of reading.
- At least six hours per week of directed study, including optional and assessable online activities.
Lecturer
Rev Matthew Muller
Teaching methods
Online lectures; online activities; guided reading; scaffolded assessments; feedback on assessments.
Indicative Assessment
At the Institute we use a range of assessment tasks, including essays, research papers, online posts, critical reflections, projects and praxis exercises. Within a unit of study each set of assessment tasks is designed as an integral part of your learning experience. These tasks vary across units and programs. All assessment tasks are aligned to the Australian Qualifications Framework level appropriate for graduate awards.
GOVC803
Stewardship of Resources in Church OrganisationsUnit overview and content
This unit examines the practice of stewardship as it occurs through the bishops’ participation in the threefold munera of sanctifying, teaching and governing.
The biblical foundation of stewardship arises out of the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church – Lumen Gentium. The unit opens with an examination of the relationship between the key elements of stewardship and the role of bishop, as prescribed by the Second Vatican Council. Students will consider ways in which ecclesial change in the post-conciliar Church resulted in a move towards a decentralised Church.
The impact on the bishop’s role of governance as vicar of Christ is considered, with particular reference to power and autonomy in decision-making. This will involve study of The Directory on the Pastoral Ministry of Bishops. The depiction of bishop as shepherd will lead students to consider how the guiding principles of the Directory help shape the bishop’s role in administering the particular Church through acts of governance that are undertaken in direct response to stewardship.
Finally, the study of relevant aspects of Book V of the Code of Canon Law will assist students to understand the concept of ecclesiastical goods and how they are regulated in Church law. The principals of the effective stewardship of temporal goods are considered, with particular focus given to the canonical action of alienation of ecclesiastical property (canons 1290-1298). Students are given the opportunity to explore methods of best practice through a case study of a diocese or religious institute.
Unit content includes:
-
- Stewardship – what are we talking about? Stewardship and its relationship to Governance
- Scriptural and Theological basis of Stewardship
- Virtues and Principles of Pastoral Governance
- Structures of Participation of the Lay Faithful
- Juridic Persons and Juridic Acts
- Pastoral Stewardship
- Financial Stewardship
- Other Temporal Goods Issues
Assumed Knowledge
GOVC800 & GOVC801
Study hours
11 hours per week for 11 week session, comprised of
- At least 1 hour per week for online lectures
- At least 4 hours per week of reading.
- At least 6 hours per week of directed study, including optional and assessable online activities.
Lecturer
Rev Matthew Muller
Teaching methods
Online lectures; online activities; guided reading; scaffolded assessments; feedback on assessments.
Indicative Assessment
At the Institute we use a range of assessment tasks, including essays, research papers, online posts, critical reflections, projects and praxis exercises. Within a unit of study each set of assessment tasks is designed as an integral part of your learning experience. These tasks vary across units and programs. All assessment tasks are aligned to the Australian Qualifications Framework level appropriate for graduate awards.
GOVC810
Directed Studies in Canon LawUnit overview and content
This unit provides the opportunity for specialised study in a particular discipline under the tutelage and guidance of a specialist in the field. It seeks to further the learning experience of the student by engaging in issues aligned with a particular area within canon law in a specialised area of interest to the student.
Assumed Knowledge
GOVC800 & GOVC801
Study hours
10 hours per week for 12 week session, comprised of
- At least 10 hour per week of directed study, including reading, research, consultation with tutor and writing up of assessment tasks.
Teaching methods
Online lectures; online activities; guided reading; scaffolded assessments; feedback on assessments.
Indicative Assessment
At the Institute we use a range of assessment tasks, including essays, research papers, online posts, critical reflections, projects and praxis exercises. Within a unit of study each set of assessment tasks is designed as an integral part of your learning experience. These tasks vary across units and programs. All assessment tasks are aligned to the Australian Qualifications Framework level appropriate for graduate awards.
REDU800
Foundations for Religious Education Theory and PracticeUnit overview and content
This unit provides opportunities for students to develop knowledge and understanding of Religious Education in both its conceptual and practical aspects. The theoretical insights from research in general education contexts will be explored for their relevance to prominent theories of Religious Education. The relevance of historical, philosophical and theological insights to current Religious Education practices will also be examined. The unit will ultimately challenge students to relate their knowledge of Religious Education to a particular setting in which Religious Education is taught.
Unit content includes:
-
- Religious Education: An Introduction
- Religious Education in Catholic Schools
- More Recent Developments in Educational Models of RE: Content and Method
- Who Is In Class Today?
- The Educational Model in RE in Action: From Objectives to Outcomes
- Planning for Classroom RE
- The Big and the Small – Exploring classroom realities in a “bigger picture”
- Specific Topics in RE
- Focus Topics: Using narrative in RE and Godly Play as pedagogical strategies
- Do We Have To Do That?
- Assessment and Evaluation in RE
- The RE Teacher
Assumed Knowledge
N/A
Study hours
10 hours per week for 12 week session, comprised of:
- At least one hour per week for online lectures.
- At least three hours per week of reading.
- At least six hours per week of directed study, including optional and assessable online activities.
Lecturer
Prof Richard Rymarz
Teaching methods
Online lectures; online activities; guided reading; scaffolded assessments; feedback on assessments.
Indicative Assessment
At the Institute we use a range of assessment tasks, including essays, research papers, online posts, critical reflections, projects and praxis exercises. Within a unit of study each set of assessment tasks is designed as an integral part of your learning experience. These tasks vary across units and programs. All assessment tasks are aligned to the Australian Qualifications Framework level appropriate for graduate awards.
REDU801
Religious Education in the Contemporary ClassroomUnit overview and content
In this unit, students will be exposed to current trends in Religious Education across a variety of educational systems in Australia and internationally. The aim of the unit is to increase awareness of the many debates and curricula that characterise the field of Religious Education and how these impact on classroom practices. In studying the contemporary classroom, the unit will also consider the current context of religious and cultural pluralism, and the challenges that this presents in Religious Education contexts (in both faith-based schools and non-faith based schools).
Unit content includes:
-
- The contemporary context of religious education
- Australian young people, faith, spirituality and religiosity
- Towards a theory of religious education for Catholic schools
- Religious education and the importance of content knowledge
- Principles of teaching the Bible in Catholic religious education
- Teaching about Jesus Christ
- Teaching about what Catholics believe
- Teaching Church history
- Teaching the Sacraments
- Teaching about social justice
- Teaching about Mary and the women of the Bible
- Teachers’ commitments in classroom religious education
Assumed Knowledge
N/A
Study hours
10 hours per week for 12 week session, comprised of:
- At least one hour per week for online lectures.
- At least three hours per week of reading.
- At least six hours per week of directed study, including optional and assessable online activities.
Lecturer
A/Prof Kath Engebretson
Teaching methods
Online lectures; online activities; guided reading; scaffolded assessments; feedback on assessments.
Indicative Assessment
At the Institute we use a range of assessment tasks, including essays, research papers, online posts, critical reflections, projects and praxis exercises. Within a unit of study each set of assessment tasks is designed as an integral part of your learning experience. These tasks vary across units and programs. All assessment tasks are aligned to the Australian Qualifications Framework level appropriate for graduate awards.
REDU802
Religious Education SymposiumUnit Overview and Content
This unit provides students with the opportunity to review religious education in relationship to the goals of Catholic education. It draws on students’ participation in the National RE symposium as a catalyst for exploring how the practice of religious education is impacted upon, and can be improved, by critical reflection on key issues that impact upon this discipline.
Assumed Knowledge
REDU800 & REDU801
Study hours
10 hours per week for 12 week session, comprised of:
- At least one hour per week for online lectures.
- At least three hours per week of reading.
- At least six hours per week of directed study, including optional and assessable online activities.
Teaching Methods
Key notes and workshops at the National RE Symposium; online activities; guided reading; scaffolded assessments; feedback on assessments.
Indicative Assessment
At the Institute we use a range of assessment tasks, including essays, research papers, online posts, critical reflections, projects and praxis exercises. Within a unit of study each set of assessment tasks is designed as an integral part of your learning experience. These tasks vary across units and programs. All assessment tasks are aligned to the Australian Qualifications Framework level appropriate for graduate awards.
REDU900
Advanced Studies in Religious Education for the 21st CenturyUnit overview and content
In this unit, students will study, at an advanced level, contemporary theories of Religious Education and their intersections with the discipline of Theology. Furthermore, students will explore in detail the current context for Religious Education, including its status in contemporary political discourse and educational theory as well as the realities of religious and cultural pluralism in which it finds its expression.
Assumed Knowledge
REDU800 & REDU801
Study hours
10 hours per week for 12 week session, comprised of:
- At least one hour per week for online lectures.
- At least three hours per week of reading.
- At least six hours per week of directed study, including optional and assessable online activities.
Lecturer
Dr Peter Carblis
Teaching methods
Online lectures; online activities; guided reading; scaffolded assessments; feedback on assessments.
Indicative Assessment
At the Institute we use a range of assessment tasks, including essays, research papers, online posts, critical reflections, projects and praxis exercises. Within a unit of study each set of assessment tasks is designed as an integral part of your learning experience. These tasks vary across units and programs. All assessment tasks are aligned to the Australian Qualifications Framework level appropriate for graduate awards.
REDU901
Contemporary Pedagogies and Classroom Practices in Religious EducationUnit overview and content
In this unit, students will be exposed to updated pedagogical theory and associated practices emanating from a range of disciplinary research, including psychology, sociology, philosophy and neuroscience. The aim of the unit is to challenge students to make links between the pedagogical thinking that is driving educational innovation generally and the particular ramification for religious education.
Assumed Knowledge
REDU800 & REDU801
Study hours
10 hours per week for 12 week session, comprised of:
- At least one hour per week for online lectures.
- At least three hours per week of reading.
- At least six hours per week of directed study, including optional and assessable online activities.
Lecturer
Ms Amber Calleja
Teaching methods
Online lectures; online activities; guided reading; scaffolded assessments; feedback on assessments.
Indicative Assessment
At the Institute we use a range of assessment tasks, including essays, research papers, online posts, critical reflections, projects and praxis exercises. Within a unit of study each set of assessment tasks is designed as an integral part of your learning experience. These tasks vary across units and programs. All assessment tasks are aligned to the Australian Qualifications Framework level appropriate for graduate awards.