Graduate University Study Programme in Theological and Religious Sciences

Faculty of Catholic Theology, University of Split

Department – Theological-Catechetical Institute

• area: Humanities
• field: Theology

Applicants who have completed the Undergraduate University Study Programme in Theological and Religious Sciences at any Catholic higher education institution and obtained the title of University Bachelor (Baccalaureus) in Theological and Religious Sciences may apply for enrolment in the first year of this study programme at the Faculty of Catholic Theology. Applications are also open to graduates of another undergraduate university programme in the humanities or social sciences, or an undergraduate professional study programme in nursing.

Religious Education Teacher Module

1. Completion of the Undergraduate University Study Programme in Theological and Religious Sciences.
2. Applicants are ranked according to their achievement in the final examination of the undergraduate study programme.
3. Students who have completed the Undergraduate University Study Programme in Theological and Religious Sciences at the Faculty of Catholic Theology are not required to submit any documentation other than the certificate of completion of the final examination.
4. Students from other higher education institutions must submit, in addition to the certificate of completion of the undergraduate study programme:
   • birth certificate,
   • baptism certificate,
   • certificate of Croatian citizenship,
   • certificate of residence,
   • secondary school certificates for all four years,
   • certificate of completion of the final secondary school examination (Matura),
   • recommendation from the diocesan Ordinary or parish priest,
   • three photographs (35 × 45 mm),
   • proof of payment of the enrolment fee to the account: HR4023600001101386150.

Educator in Student Dormitories and Social Institutions Module

1. Completion of the Undergraduate University Study Programme in Theological and Religious Sciences, another undergraduate university programme in the humanities or social sciences, or an undergraduate professional study programme in nursing.
2. Applicants are ranked according to their achievement in the final examination of the undergraduate study programme.
3. Students who have completed the Undergraduate University Study Programme in Theological and Religious Sciences at the Faculty of Catholic Theology are not required to submit any documentation other than the certificate of completion of the final examination.
4. Passing a differential examination.
5. Students from other higher education institutions must submit, in addition to the certificate of completion of the undergraduate study programme:
   • birth certificate,
   • baptism certificate,
   • certificate of Croatian citizenship,
   • certificate of residence,
   • secondary school certificates for all four years,
   • certificate of completion of the final secondary school examination (Matura),
   • recommendation from the diocesan Ordinary or parish priest,
   • three photographs (35 × 45 mm),
   • proof of payment of the enrolment fee to the account: HR4023600001101386150.

The primary purpose of the Graduate University Study Programme in Theological and Religious Sciences is to prepare students for educational and teaching work in primary and secondary schools, student dormitories, social institutions and other educational and cultural institutions.

Since the Republic of Croatia has included the curriculum of confessional Religious Education in the primary and secondary education system, the Study Programme in Theological and Religious Sciences provides the necessary preparation for educational and teaching work in primary and secondary schools.

In addition to educational and teaching work (the module leading to the profession of Religious Education Teacher), this study programme also prepares students for work in social institutions (the module leading to the profession of Educator in Student Dormitories and Social Institutions), as well as in church, cultural and humanitarian institutions and the media.

The University Study Programme in Theological and Religious Sciences at the Faculty of Catholic Theology, University of Split, closely follows and contributes to the development of theological, pastoral and religious-pedagogical sciences worldwide, with particular attention to networking with various institutions, dialogue, interdisciplinarity and transdisciplinarity with related humanities and social sciences, as well as regional, historical, religious, social and cultural particularities.

Knowledge

• Evaluate the fundamental methods of interpreting Holy Scripture.
• Assess the fundamental dogmatic formulations and documents of the Church Magisterium concerning the contents of faith.
• Analyse the richness and importance of church musical practice after the Second Vatican Council and traditional Glagolitic folk church singing in the formation of national and Christian identity.
• Synthesise the theological meaning and the ritual and symbolic dimensions of the sacraments.

Cognitive skills

• Assess the essential concepts and integrative strength of Christian anthropology.
• Critically assess and explain the positions of Christian teaching on sexuality, marriage and the family.
• Creatively interpret contemporary catechetical and religious-pedagogical approaches in Croatia.
• Compare scientific and religious perspectives on the world in a dialogical openness to different viewpoints.
• Analyse and interpret the principal New Testament texts concerning the death of Jesus and provide a contemporary interpretative framework for Christ's Paschal Mystery.
• Assess the ways in which the Holy Spirit acts in the history of salvation and discern the signs of the times.

Psychomotor skills

• Present content, formulate hypotheses concerning the origin of biblical writings and explain their theological message.
• Critically assess the development of sacramentology and explain the theological meaning of the sacraments of Christian initiation, healing and service.
• Organise singing in the liturgy, prepare concerts of sacred music in sacred spaces and sing simple Gregorian antiphons.
• Categorise and apply legal provisions and the fundamental principles of Canon Law and the legal structure of the Catholic Church when analysing individual cases.

Social skills

• Lead learning processes in different sociological contexts.
• Interactively and dialogically present the biblical foundations of the Church's proclamation and different historical approaches to the person of Jesus Christ.
• Promote the historical and pastoral meaning and role of the parish community within the local Church.
• Prepare and monitor, integrate and implement the pastoral care of specific parish groups, marriage and the family.

Independence

• Independently use biblical and literary texts in Religious Education and catechesis.
• Prepare, design, organise and lead parish catechesis.
• Create, organise and lead pastoral planning in the parish community ad intra and ad extra.
• Plan, prepare and conduct Religious Education classes and catechesis with primary and secondary school pupils.
• Design, prepare and conduct Religious Education classes in secondary schools according to contemporary principles of lesson planning and programming.
• Independently develop a complete catechetical programme for adults.

Responsibility

• Distinguish and critically evaluate different bioethical models and paradigms.
• Responsibly apply one's own religious experience at personal, professional and social levels.
• Critically examine and support the Christian interpretation of general and personal history, beginning with the event of God's revelation in Jesus Christ.
• Create spiritual-pastoral and social interventions based on the signs of the times and social needs.

Knowledge

• Critically evaluate contemporary concepts of educational and educational-teaching work.
• Assess the contents and forms of educational work in specific student dormitories and institutions through fieldwork.
• Evaluate different models of individual and team counselling work.
• Create and plan psychosocial interventions.
• Design personalised educational interventions based on theories and findings from the social sciences and humanities.
• Monitor, discern and integrate marriage and the family as the fundamental unit of society and the Church.
• Identify and explain the fundamental concepts of institutional education.

Cognitive skills

• Critically use skills, activities and procedures for successful communication with groups and individuals.
• Creatively integrate contemporary media into educational and counselling mentoring.
• Implement skills and educational procedures derived from the Christian spiritual heritage while fostering a holistic approach to the human person and respect for diversity, equality and social justice.
• Recognise forms and methods of educational work.

Psychomotor skills

• Design educational curricula consistently and collaboratively, in a socially and ethically responsible and holistic manner.
• Apply different teaching methods according to the individual needs of students and users of social institutions.
• Apply different instruments and tools of scientific research and evaluation of work.

Social skills

• Independently lead educational communication.
• Combine, design and create different forms of institutional care.
• Create new forms of communication and cooperation in interaction with individuals and, on that basis, plan and implement personalised educational and counselling projects.
• Manage complex communication in crisis and conflict situations.
• Initiate individual and team forms of communication and cooperation in the educational and social mentoring of persons with special needs.

Independence

• Independently use forms and methods of educational work appropriate to unpredictable social situations.
• Manage personal and professional capacities for the self-evaluation of professional work.
• Lead and coordinate teamwork processes.
• Create effective preventive programmes in youth pastoral care.

Responsibility

• Strategically manage a team on the basis of social and ethical responsibility.
• Motivate others towards an authentic way of life and the promotion of Christian values in a secular society.
• On the basis of Christian ethics, responsibly advocate the integral development of the person and protect a holistic understanding of the human person.
• Apply a holistic approach in curriculum development.

The acquired knowledge and skills enable employment in various areas of social life, particularly in the social field. A Master of Theological and Religious Sciences has employment opportunities as:

• a Religious Education teacher in primary and secondary schools,
• a catechist in parish communities,
• an educator in student dormitories,
• an educator in social institutions,
• a social mentor in civil society organisations,
• in the media and publishing sector.

Upon completion of the study programme, the academic title of Master of Theological and Religious Sciences is awarded. After completing the Graduate University Study Programme in Theological and Religious Sciences, students may continue their studies at postgraduate level in theology, religious pedagogy and related fields.

In order to enrol, after completing this study programme, in the postgraduate university programme in theology at the Faculty of Catholic Theology, University of Split, students are required, due to the nature of the programme and in accordance with the provisions of the Congregation for Catholic Education and the Regulations on the Postgraduate University Study Programme of the Faculty of Catholic Theology, University of Split, Articles 7–9, to complete differential courses amounting to 30 ECTS credits or pass a differential examination in accordance with the Regulations on the Postgraduate University Study Programme of the Faculty of Catholic Theology (Articles 8, 9 and 10).