Degree programs
General introduction
Master and Advanced Master students can choose to specialize in Practical Theology. The program is integrated in the master of Theology and Religious Studies (year 4) and the master of Advanced Studies in Theology and Religion (year 5). The Academic Centre for Practical Theology also offers chaplains, pastors and volunteers the opportunity to participate in a basic program or an extensive program of Practical Theology.
Any program of Practical Theology is focused on integrating the necessary pastoral competencies and on the ability to reflect on the pastoral practice from a theological point of view.
What is Practical Theology?
Practical Theology is a multidisciplinary reflection on human experience in a mutual critical dialogue with the religious traditions in order to construct, repair or deepen the practice of faith. In the same hermeneutical mode, pastoral theology — as part of Practical Theology — studies the praxis of pastors in the areas of kerygma, leitourgia and diakonia in order to build a Christian identity within the faith community (koinonia).
Christian/catholic practical and pastoral theology start their reflection in the creative dialogue with the Christian/catholic traditions in openness for other religious and spiritual traditions.
Fundamental principles
The programs in Practical Theology have the following basic principles:
- A flexible program with the opportunity to have supervised self study.
- The integration of learning through experience. The program offers the opportunity to learn through a supervised practical training and seminars.
- The opportunity to nourish your personal spirituality.
- An interdisciplinary component: Pastoral theology is always in dialogue with human sciences. Students have the opportunity to take courses in other faculties.
- A specialised training in a specific pastoral area. Students choose the pastoral area they want to specialise in: health care chaplaincy, parish ministry, chaplaincy in prisons or schools …
