CURRICULUMStudy programme.pdf b.p
Basic Academic Studies at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology ”St Basil of Ostrog” in Foča last for four years and upon successful completion of the studies students are awarded a first degree diploma and an academic title of Bachelor of Theology 240 ECTS.
Total number of credits that students have to obtain is 240 ECTS.
There are two-semester and one-semester courses. During one academic year, students obtain 60 credits. Students’ obligations regarding the attendance of classes include 30 classes of lectures and exercises a week at the most. The main goal of the study programme – Orthodox Theology (general course of study) is to educate future theologians so that they acquire competences and capabilities for the specific services in the field of church and social life, as well as to acquire knowledge and capabilities necessary for further educational process with the purpose of achieving greater level of knowledge (at master and doctoral studies). The goal of the programme is also acquisition of scientific and specialised methodology necessary for obtaining and applying knowledge, scientific and professional achievements in the field of theology, related and complementary scientific and specialised disciplines.
The above mentioned primary goal is achieved through the following individual goals: learning about the subject, basic methods and development of theology as a scientific discipline; development of ability to understand theology as a scientific discipline and the subject of theology in transversal and longitudinal aspects; development of ability for understanding and critical interpretation of theological phenomena and issues based on the results of scientific research; development of ability to apply the knowledge gained in the field of theology in all forms of professional work (preparing, organising and holding theology classes in elementary and secondary schools, performing priest service, competent participation in the work of cultural instituions, media companies, state authorities, church structures and organisations, non-governmental and other institutions and organisations); development of ability to define and solve problems (providing and defending arguments) in the field of theology, related and complementary scientific disciplines, enabling students to determine research problems individually, gathering and interpreting sources for theological research and conducting the research; development of the ability to use information and communication technologies in mastering knowledge of the field of theology and abilty to follow and apply new results of scientific research; development of the ability to popularise theology and ability to reflect on relevant theological, sociological, scientific and ethic issues, with great awareness of the importance of nourishing national and world cultural heritage, especially Christian heritage; development of the ability to further improve knowledge and skills in all forms of professional work and abilities necessary to proceed to the second-degree studies – graduate academic studies – master studies.
In the course of creating the study programme, a special emphasis was on the principles of Bologna Declaration and the status of theological studies in the modern world. The goal of the Basic Academic Studies – general course is the synthesis of traditional and contemporary didactic values, social competences and the improvement of the system for acquisition of theological knowledge, which makes this study programme a unique and important factor in Serbian education.
The number of credits earned upon completion of the Basic Academic Studies – Theological-Pastoral programme is 240 ECTS. The studies last for eight (8) semesters, i.e. four (4) years.
Furthermore, the education process includes: writing term papers based on the consultations with the teachers, taking preliminary examinations, individual consultations and taking the final oral examination.
The workload, represented in student working hours and number of credits, includes lectures, consultations and students’ individual work. The forms of students’ participation in the performance of the study programme and students’ obligations are determined by the Syllabus of each course.
The courses are allocated credits depending on the student workload.
The workload depends on the working hours (lectures and exercises), other exam prerequisites and the time needed to fulfill them and to prepare for the final examination.
Classes are held according to the schedule which is determined at the beginning of every semester. Classes include lectures and exercises and the teachers hold consultations with the students during the semester. Classes in both semesters last for 15 weeks. During one academic year, a student obtains 60 credits. Students are required to attend 25 classes of lectures and exercises a week at the most.
Study programme consists of two-semester courses planned by the Curriculum of the Basic Academic Studies:
a) core courses whose purpose is to form general theological profile and knowledge acquisition of crucial theological areas;
b) elective courses – by mastering them students acquire specialised knowledge about the subject areas they chose.
Study programme consists of:
1. General-education courses – by mastering them students acquire knowledge in the areas of humanities and social sciences,
2. Theoretical-methodological courses from the areas of theology and catechetic pedagogy,
3. Scientific-professional courses that focus on the narrower field of theological sciences and
4. Professional-applicative courses from the areas of theology, foreign languages and pastoral theology.
At the Theological-Pastoral study programme of Basic Academic Studies, students are required to attend classes and take exams in one elective course in the sixth and one in the seventh semester by the students’ free choice of the total 16 courses.
Forms of classes are:
– lectures (open for all students)
– exercises as a form of teaching that provides in-depth theoretical knowledge and the acquisition of corresponding insights into the topic that is being covered. During the semester, attending exercises is obligatory.
-students’ scientific research etc.
Most often used methods od teaching, which come from logical-epistemic nature of knowledge acquired on this profile, are verbal-textual, illustrative-demonstrative and experimental.
In accordance with the Statute of Faculty, considering the specifics of the great number of theological courses, besides lectures and exercises, other forms of education are planned (liturgical, homiletic, pastoral, catechetic and pedagogical practice).
Every teacher and associate is available to students through individual and group consultations, two classes a week which are scheduled and posted in front of classrooms and on the Faculty’s website together with personal presentations of teachers and associates.
The goal of the Pastoral-Theological programme is to enable students for development and application of scientific achievements in the field of church and social life so that they could engage in pastoral, missionary and social aspects of Church activities. The programme provides acquisition of theoretical knowledge and academic abilities which are essential for the competent performance of duties which require application of fundamental and applicative theological knowledge and ability in organising and performing priest service in all its aspects – liturgical, missionary, pastoral, catechetic and others, as well as holding theology classes in elementary and secondary schools, in competent participation in the work of cultural institutions (cultural centres, archives, libraries), media companies, state and church authorities and organisations and also for further development of professional competences.
The programme provides such competences that enable students to continue their studies, not only at the Faculty of Theology – University of East Sarajevo, but also at other theological and related faculties of humanities and social sciences in the country and abroad.
Programme of Basic Academic Studies incorporates didactic values established through decades of the Faculty’s tradition, and also methodological and technological inovations necessary for providing scientific and applicative topicality of teaching and for facing new challenges. Thus, the purpose of the study programme is to fulfill contemporary needs of theological education with the aim of forming professionals that can successfully meet current social challenges.
Applicants who completed Basic Academic Studies of Theology lasting four years with 240 ECTS credits can enrol in the Master Academic Studies within the number of students approved for enrolment. The studies last for one year – two semesters. List of core and elective courses with contents of each course is given in the Study programme. The number of credits of each course is also given in the Study programme and it amounts to 60 ECTS credits in total. Final thesis amounts to 20 ECTS credits. Upon completion of the studies students are awarded an academic title – Master of Arts in Theology – 300 ECTS.
Furthermore, the teaching process includes: writing term papers based on the students’ consultations with the teachers, passing mid-term exams, individual consultations and passing the final oral exam.
Student workload, represented in number of classes and ECTS credits, includes teaching classes, consultations and students’ individual work. All forms of students’ participation in the performance of the study programme and their obligations are determined by the Curriculum.
Courses are awarded credits based on the student workload. The workload depends on the students’ working hours (lectures and exercises), other exam prerequisites and the time needed to fulfill them and to prepare for the final examination. Classes are held according to the schedule which is determined at the beginning of every semester. Classes include lectures and exercises and the teachers hold consultations with the students during the semester. Classes in both semesters last for 15 weeks.
Study programme of Master Academic Studies of Theology is structured on the basis of three courses of study (Biblical-Systematic, Theological-Historical, Liturgical-Catechetic) which consist of twelve core courses and the offer of elective courses and taking exams in one elective course in one semester and one in the other semester. The study programme also includes writing research paper – master, as well as obligatory final thesis.
Master Academic Studies should enable students for individual scientific research in Theology and its distinct disciplines based on the knowledge of totalitarity of theology and ability of independent judgement of theological questions, good knowledge of theological literature and of fundamental tendencies in traditional and modern theology. Acquired knowledge and abilities enable students of theology to do theoretical research, to perform educational activity in secondary schools, secondary schools of theology, colleges, more complex pastoral work in all its aspects: liturgical, missionary, social, catechetic and others, to work in cultural institutions and media, to work in church structures, non-governmental and other organisations. Master Academic Studies enable students for further education at doctoral studies of Theology, as well as education in other scientific areas.
| Name of the Faculty/Academy | Faculty of Orthodox Theology |
| Programme Name | Theological Pastoral |
| Cycle of academic studies (I, II, III) | I |
| Official Length of the Programme | 4 years |
| Name of Qualification and Title Conferred | Bachelor of Theology -240ECTS |
| Workload of the Programme | 240 ECTS |
| Head of the Study Programme | Prof. Vladislav Topalović, PhD |
| E-mail and web page | dekanat@bogoslovski.ues.rs.bahttp://www.bogoslovski.ues.rs.ba/ |
Competences represent a combination of knowledge and its application (skills), attitudes and responsibilities which are described by the outcomes of study programmes.
People who completed a certain level of education, regardless of the science or profession they pursue, possess general competences.
Specific (professional) competences represent more precise competences related to a certain academic area and are defined for every study programme.
Examples of the competences are given in the sources below.
Source: Ishodi učenja, priručnik za sevučilišne nastavnike, Osijek: Sveučilište Josipa Jurja Strosmajera, 2009. page 24
Source: Ishodi učenja, prof. dr Gorana Đorić, Univerzitet u Nišu
- General competences
The name of the study programme is Theological Pastoral Progamme. The goal of the programme is to educate future theologians so that they could acquire competences and capabilities for the specific services in the area of church and social life, with the special emphasis on their applicative dimension; acquiring scientific and specialised methodology necessary for acquiring and applying knowledge, scientific and professional achievements in the field of theology and related scientific disciplines.
The primary goal is realised through the following partial goals: getting acquainted with the subject, basic methods and development of theology as a scientific discipline and the subject of theology in general and specific frameworks; development of capability for understanding and critical interpretation of theological phenomenon and issues based on the results of scientific researches; development of capability to popularise theology and capability to think about relevant theological, sociological, scientific and ethic questions, with high consciousness of the importance of nourishing national and world cultural (especially Christian) heritage; development of capability to continue the second cycle academic studies – Graduate Academic Studies – Master Studies.
Specific competences
The programme provides acquisition of specific theoretical and practical competences and knowledge, as well as academic capabilities which are essential for the competent performance of duties which require application of fundamental and applicative theological knowledge;
Acquiring capability in organising and holding theology classes in elementary and secondary schools, performing priest service in all its dimensions – liturgical, missionary, pastoral, catechetic and others, competent participation in the work of cultural institutions (cultural centres, archives, libraries), media companies, state and church authorities and organisations.