This is a two-year part-time programme designed (120 credits at NQF Level 7) for people involved in areas of religion and values education who wish to pursue specialised studies and advanced training in Religious and Values Education and acquire greater knowledge and skills. It is a qualification for educators who have obtained an undergraduate degree at level 6 and who wish to go on to postgraduate level.

There are seven, one-week block releases taught at the College followed by the 8th module which is an in-class situation in a school where the student observes, analyses and evaluates Religious Education lessons. For more information contact the Administrator in the School of Humanities and Education: 011 380 9057 or the Assistant Registrar (Postgraduate) on: 011 380 9011

To complete an application form please click here to download one.

The Syllabus for the BEd Honours

HONC401 COMMUNICATING FAITH IN MULTICULTURAL & MULTIRELIGIOUS CONTEXT
Given the multicultural and multireligious context of the religious education classroom, which is a microcosm of South African society, students will be challenged to develop an appreciation of diversity and, in their practice, a dialogical approach to teaching and learning so that their learners are individually affirmed in their culture and religious identity while, in turn, coming to appreciate the identities of others in their midst.

HONC403 FOUNDATIONS OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
This module deals with the basic questions that concern the establishment of religious education as a dimension of the school curriculum. The rationale and principles guiding the development and practice of religious education are firmly established and different theories are investigated critically. The ability to analyse, critique and resolve policy issues relating to religion in education is developed, while the relationship of religious education in the school to other contexts, such as family and faith community, is understood and appreciated.

HONC408 GENERAL PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES OF CATHOLIC FAITH
(While this module is specifically designed for teachers in Catholic schools, a separate module for teachers from other schools with a different religious character, will be designed if the majority of students in the class so desire).

In this module, a student will gain a coherent understanding of the Catholic tradition and its unique configuration of systems, beliefs, approaches and practices. Such an understanding is key to the student’s competence and confidence in the religious education class of a Catholic school.

HONC404 MANAGING RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Issues regarding religious education in the context of the whole school are dealt with in this module. Students will develop skills in planning and facilitating the religious dimension of whole school assemblies and other expressions of the school’s religious character, with sensitivity to diversity. They will learn how to manage and support teams of religious educators, and to develop programmes of religious education suitable to the school’s need.

HONC405 PROGRAMME DESIGN, APPLICATION AND EVALUATION
In this module, students demonstrate their understanding and competence as religious educators in an actual situation into which they insert themselves in order to observe, analyse and evaluate religious education lessons. They follow this with the planning, teaching and evaluating of a unit of lessons and the presentation of a portfolio on the project.

HONC406 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AND CHRISTIAN FAITH
To be able to correlate the Christian faith tradition with today’s life experience is the key outcome of this module. Students will learn how to interpret literary sources and historical experiences in a way that helps learners in the classroom to apply them to their own situations. This will be done with a knowledge of and sensitivity to the learners’ different ages and stages spiritual, moral and religious development.

HONC402 RESEARCH METHODS AND RESEARCH REPORT IN RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Students will become familiar with the research process and its particular application to the field of religious education. They will gain the necessary skills to engage in research at an appropriate level, together with an ability to critique current research and scholarship in religious education. A student must complete a Research Report of 10 000 words on a topic of his/her choice and approved by the Head of Department.

HONC407 TEACHING METHODS IN RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Here the student gains a clearer and deeper understanding of the learning process and how it applies, in particular, to the field of religious education. Various aspects of the ability to manage it in the classroom environment – such as an appreciation of different language types used in religion, methodologies appropriate to different curricular aspects, and suitable resources – will be developed.