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Richard: The Department, in many senses, straddles two broad subject areas: Christian Theology
and Religious Studies. Undergraduate students can come and do quite
a range of degree programmes: Christian Theology, Religious Studies, Theology and Religious
Studies, and a number of more recent additions to that programme: Religion, Philosophy and
Ethics, and Religion and Education. So we do look at Christian theology by looking
at the Bible, so textual approaches, by looking at the history and tradition of Christianity,
but also looking at Christianity as it is practiced today.
And then we have the Religious Studies dimension, which is far more exploring different traditions,
world traditions. Beyond that, we also have a vibrant taught postgraduate experience,
with students having an opportunity to do Masters programmes in more professionally-orientated
subjects like Theology and Ministry, but also looking at religion and public life, so the
place of religion within the public sphere. Yukiko: It's a really great place to study
for you, because all lecturers and staff are all very helpful and supportive. It's quite
small, but you can easily get to know lots of people here, so you can enrich your academic
life and private life both. I really recommend you to come here.
Richard: The subject area's very much approached as lived experience, as religion as it is
experienced and lived by practitioners. So students will visit places of worship. They
will go on placements to look at the way in which religion engages with society. For example,
looking at particular challenges and problems, like homelessness and drug abuse. And then
students will return to the classroom and reflect on those experiences. Those are very
distinctive approaches to the way that we study theology and religious studies here
at York St John, and the opportunity for students to go and see places of worship, sites of
religious significance and interest, and some of that involves students travelling beyond
the shores of the UK. And our final year students have an opportunity to travel to South Korea,
so a lot of opportunity there. Yukiko: Staff, lecturers, students... all
people are so nice, lovely. They are so helpful; I've been helped by many people at University.
I really appreciate it. Richard: Amongst all of my staff, all of them
are engaged in some form of research and publishing. And it's great to see staff enthused by their
own areas of expertise and specialism. So quite a diverse set of colleagues researching
across quite a broad range of subject areas. We have worked in partnership to develop one
of our degree programmes, which is a foundation degree and BA in Theology and Ministry. And
this is delivered in partnership by us at the University, but also by our partners,
regionally and nationally, where we have a whole range of associate tutors delivering
our modules. So partnership's very key to a lot of what we do.
We have a number of very distinctive modules which explore notions of creativity and religious
experience. And we have two final-year modules on our undergraduate programme where students
will explore religion and the visual arts. Another module that's available is a module
in religion and creative writing. Students there work with a professional creative writer.
So very distinctive, very innovative approaches to the curriculum.
Yukiko: What I think about York: so lovely! It's a very traditional, old city but at the
same time, people really are warm-hearted. As soon as I came here, I fell in love with
York.