Is theology for you?

A theology degree offers an opportunity to deepen your understanding of religious traditions and the impact that they have had upon the world in which we live today. The degree focuses on the development of theological beliefs and practices across different religions, with special emphasis on Christianity and western civilisation. Read more ...

Study

Only a small number of universities in Australia offer Theology as a degree in its own right. This places the University of Newcastle in an important position to be able to facilitate religious and inter-religious debate and dialogue in a sophisticated and informed way. Read more ...

Careers

Graduates in Theology are valued in the workforce for their written and verbal communication skills, their breadth of perspective, their capacity for logical reasoning, their historical and cultural sensitivity, as well as their ability to solve problems creatively and to communicate with people of different beliefs and values. Read more ...

Achiever profiles

Why would you do this degree? Find out from graduates, students and academics. Discover how their future is taking shape, and learn first-hand what it's like to study at uni. Read profiles ...

Is theology for you?

A theology degree offers an opportunity to deepen your understanding of religious traditions and the impact that they have had upon the world in which we live today. The degree focuses on the development of theological beliefs and practices across different religions, with special emphasis on Christianity and western civilisation.

Religions play a key role in our world today. They inspire people to act with tremendous kindness, as well as to commit atrocious violence. This ambivalence demands scholarly attention. In today’s multi-religious societies, we need to be able to understand and interpret the diverse theological beliefs and practices around us, and foster understanding between both religious and non-religious traditions.

Theology is a liberal arts degree and is open to all, irrespective of beliefs or religious or non-religious background. It provides a vital space for critical dialogue in today’s multi-religious societies. Course topics include world religions, spirituality, biblical literature, religious ethics, and theological doctrine.

The degree also offers a flexible range of studies in other world religions, in Australian indigenous culture, and appeals to students from different professional backgrounds or disciplines seeking to enhance their career options and/or advance to postgraduate study.

Only a small number of universities in Australia offer Theology as a degree program in its own right. This places the University of Newcastle in an important position to be able to facilitate religious and inter-religious debate and dialogue in a sophisticated and informed way. Recent staff appointments demonstrate the University's commitment to delivering the highest quality of teaching and research in theology and the discipline has developed one of the strongest library collections at the University. A recent national research assessment showed Newcastle to have a profile in Religion and Theology which is 'above world class' and at the very top tier of such research in Australia.

The partnership with the Broken Bay Institute, Sydney, strengthens our teaching and research capacity, enabling an expanded variety of theology courses to be offered at all levels at a Sydney campus location as well as online.

What you will study

Choice is one of the great benefits of studying theology at the University of Newcastle. A wide range of courses are on offer in the main areas of Christian theology as well as the theologies of other major religious traditions. Students may also complete directed and elective courses from a broad range of humanities and liberal arts disciplines such as classics, history, philosophy, sociology and anthropology.

This degree offers a hospitable environment to deepen your understanding and broaden your perceptions of the world in which we live now. It will look at the practical impact of religious traditions and of the wider questions about human existence.

First year courses include:

• World Religions
• Theology: Searching Out the Spiritual
• Introduction to the Bible
• Christianity: History of a Global Religion

Second year courses include:

• The Many Faces of Jesus
• Children of Abraham: Judaism, Christianity and Islam
• Hebrew Bible
• New Testament

Third year courses include:

• Religious Ethics
• God and its Discontents
• The New Visibility of Religion Today
• Religious Cultures in Conversation

Career opportunities

Graduates in Theology are valued in the workforce for their written and verbal communication skills, their breadth of perspective, their capacity for logical reasoning, their historical and cultural sensitivity, as well as their ability to solve problems creatively and to communicate with people of different beliefs and values.

Theology graduates are highly sought after, finding employment in a range of sectors including:

• Teaching and education
• Public service administration
• Religious ministry
• Community and welfare
• Media and publishing
• Political advisory work

Achiever profiles

John

Past: Bachelor of Theology (Hons, Aberdeen); PhD – Systematic Theology, University of Cambridge; Senior Lecturer in Systematic Theology, University of Edinburgh (2000-9)
Present: Morpeth Professor of Theology, University of Newcastle

A recent arrival on the theological scene in Australia after spending time at the universities of Edinburgh, Cambridge and Aberdeen, John is dedicated to developing the new theology program at the University of Newcastle, where he teaches systematic theology and theological philosophy.  His aim is to ensure that the teaching of theology is done dynamically with the passion appropriate to important study and with the academic rigour that is dedicated to recognising and understanding the richness of the theological traditions. John values the freshness that comes with constant attention to a multiplicity of voices and is fostering relationships between theologians and numerous institutions and disciplines in both the university and city of Newcastle to encourage the development of an ecumenical and reflective intellectual environment. 

John’s research interests lie in a broad range of theological issues and reasoning, and his publications have engaged theology in an interdisciplinary way.  For instance, his research has been done in conversation with Greek and Shakespearean tragic dramas, socio-political studies, economics, cultural and film studies, the philosophy of education, philosophy and ethics.  His internationally recognised expertise is particularly in the theology of 20th century Swiss theologian Karl Barth, and the theology of hope.  He has also published a study entitled The Gospel According to Star Wars:  Faith, Hope and the Force (Westminster John Knox, 2007). 

A feature of his philosophy is to root theological education in the practice of critical engagement with non-academic environments, both as part of universities’ responsibility to society, and of the Christian traditions concerning interaction between church and ‘world’.  He is currently a member of three international theological societies and, prior to his move to Newcastle, was a contributing member of the Church of Scotland Doctrine Commission.

Jessica

Bachelor of Theology

Like a few students in the degree, I am studying theology because I am training for ministry. Studying at Newcastle has given me the opportunity to learn amongst a group of people who bring all sorts of different perspectives, experiences and goals. I've had some great lecturers, who have been very experienced and approachable, and have helped me explore the areas that have really interested me in more detail.