Module: Scripture, Faith & Religious Diversity

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Scripture, Faith & Religious Diversity
Module Code	EDU1040 (ITS: CCE101/EDU1040)
Faculty	DCU Institute of Education	School	Human Development
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

Catholic CRS1 is the first module on the Certificate in Religious Studies (CRS) programme. In this module, students are introduced to the theological foundations of a Catholic vision of education, basic theological content of the Catholic Pre-school and Primary Religious Education Curriculum for Ireland (2015), and key theological themes that underpin a variety of pedagogical approaches and strategies used by educators in the curricular area, the Patrons programme, in Catholic schools at primary level in the Republic of Ireland.

Learning Outcomes

1. have a basic understanding of the key theological foundations of a Catholic vision of education and the relation between home, school, and parish
2. be able to identify basic points of convergence between some theological concepts and specific pedagogical approaches and strategies in Catholic religious education
3. identify some of the books and types of literature that compose Sacred Scripture and be able to set them in broader literary and historical contexts.
4. be able to engage in research based self-reflection on their own relationship with religions, worldviews, beliefs and values
5. have a basic understanding of the sacramental life of the Roman Catholic Church, its liturgical calendar and its seasons
6. examine the importance of self-esteem and esteeming the true self (care of the soul) in the development of spirituality
7. understand the principles of Catholic Social Teaching and their relevance to responses to contemporary issues

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	24	Course Material & Discussions
Independent Study	101	Study and Assignments
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	10450	Part of Term	Semester 1 & 2
Coursework	100%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	N
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	David Kennedy	Module Teacher	Cora O'Farrell

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Assignment	Students are required to critically reflect on 8 artefacts of their choosing from the module content: 4 Artefacts from Semester One: 2 x Artefacts from Plenary Lecture Content 2 x Artefacts from the Provided Resources 4 Artefacts from Semester Two: 2 x Artefacts from Plenary Lecture Content 2 x Artefacts from the Provided Resources Word Count: 2,400 words (8x 300words)	100%	Week 28

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	,
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Introduction to Spirituality - 1
Godly Play - The Clay Pot

Introduction to Spirituality - 2
Faith Journeys

Introduction to Spirituality - 3
What is Christian Spirituality?

Introduction to Spirituality - 4
Children's Spirituality

Introduction to Spirituality - 5
Christian Ecological Spirituality

Guest Lecture 1
TBC - Each Academic Year

Introduction to Liturgical Theology - 1
Anthropological Perspectives on Myth, Symbol and Ritual

Introduction to Liturgical Theology - 2
Christian Sacramentality and the Mystery of God

Introduction to Liturgical Theology - 3
Liturgical Year and Cyclical Temporality

Introduction to Liturgical Theology - 4
Introduction to the Lenten Season - Part One

Introduction to Liturgical Theology - 5
Introduction to the Lenten Season - Part Two

Guest Lecture 2
TBC - Each Academic Year

Introduction to the Sacraments - 1
General Introduction to the Seven Sacraments in the Roman Catholic Tradition

Introduction to the Sacraments - 2
Basic Introduction to the Sacrament of Baptism

Introduction to the Sacraments - 3
Basic Introduction to the Sacrament of Confirmation

Guest Lecture 3
TBC - Each Academic Year

Introduction to the Bible - 1
Basic Information about the Bible

Introduction to the Bible - 2
The Infancy Narratives

Introduction to the Bible - 3
Sacred Texts and Imperial Contexts of the Bible

Introduction to the Bible - 4
Introduction to the Easter Narratives

Guest Lecture
TBC - Each Academic Year

Introduction to Catholic Social Teaching - 1
Key Principles of Catholic Social Teaching

Introduction to Catholic Social Teaching - 2
Social Justice and Contemporary Issue: Homelessness

Concluding Lecture: Joining the Dots
Looking back over the module with students with a view to their next module 'Catholic CRS 2'

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Micheal Drumm: 1998, Passage to Pasch: Revisiting the Catholic Sacraments, Columba Press Ltd, Dublin,
Anne Hession and Patricia Kieran: 2007, Exploring Theology: Making Sense of the Catholic Tradition, Vertias Ltd, Dublin,
Rebecca Nye: 2014, Children's Spirituality: What it is and Why it Matters, Church House Publishing, London,
Donal Dorr: 2020, A Creed for Today, Veritas Ltd, Dublin,
Carr, D and Conway, C: 2010, An Introduction to the Bible: Sacred Texts and Imperial Contexts, Wiley-Blackwell, Malden, MA,
Dawes, G: 2006, Introduction to the Bible, Liturgical Press, Minnesota,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

1: Podcast, David Kennedy, 2024, Conversations from the Classroom, Spotify, DCU, Mater Dei Centre for Catholic Education