Spiritan University begins Master’s programme in Theology
The Spiritan University College at Ejisu in the Konongo-Mampong Diocese begins a Master’s Degree Programme in Theology affiliated to Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA from June this year.
In an interview, Very Rev. Fr. Anthony Anomah, CSSp, Rector of the University, said an agreement was signed with Duquesne University in order to strengthen the ties between the two sister institutions and to enable their students to receive certain educational benefits from each other.
He said the Programme is accredited by the National Accreditation Board. Duquesne University is a Spiritan Catholic University in Pittsburgh. It is one of the premier Catholic Universities in the U.S News and World Report Rankings of American Universities. It has more than 10,000 students enrolled in its Schools of Liberal Arts, Science, Nursing, Health Sciences Education and Business.
According to Fr. Anomah, the Programme was designed to give candidates (Priests, Religious, Seminarians and laity) a graduate-level Theological Study in order to improve upon their competence and update themselves in Theological Studies for their ministry.
“The Master of Arts in Theology provides a graduate-level foundation in central areas of Theology. It is designed for those who wish to teach Theology, prepare for Doctoral-Level Studies in Theology or as a renewal Programme. It is an integrative curriculum for the theological education of people engaged in a variety of pastoral ministries,” he added.
He said the Master’s in the Theology Programme would be a taught- course handled by experienced faculty members from Ghana and Duquesne University at the Spiritan University College. He noted that the Courses were well structured with flexible hours to suit the working class (Clergy, Religious, men and women). It will be a summer part-time Programme scheduled between May and August each year with residential and non-residential facilities.
The Rector said admission requirements were in line with the standard approved by the National Accreditation Board and, Duquesne University, saying that Candidates must have a minimum of a good First Degree in Theology or Religious Studies (with at least Second Class Lower Division) from a reputable institution.
“Candidates with a first Degree with at least Second Class Lower Division other than Theology or Religious Studies will be given one year pre-theology classes in Philosophy, Systematic Theology, Theological Ethics and Scriptures organized by the College before entry into the Master’s Programme.” The Pre-Theology Programme, he said, was designed for students who possess a first degree (at least Second Class Lower Division), but who do not have sufficient preparation in Philosophy and Theology.
Fr. Anomah said most of the graduates after completion would work or continue their ministry as Priests, Pastors, Teachers, Chaplains and ocial workers in the Church and civil society. Others would work as Parish Pastoral Associates, Parish Life Collaborators, Directors of Religious Education, Youth Ministers, Parish Social Ministers or Chaplains.
According to the Rector, the required courses were in the areas of Scriptures, Theological Ethics, Systematic Theology and Ministry with elective Courses in Introduction to Catechetics, Catechesis of Adults/Leadership and Leadership in Faith Community, Introduction to the Scriptures of Islam and African Traditional Religion.
He noted that Students in the Master of Arts in Theology Programme at the Spiritan University were required to present a project work in partial fulfilment for the award of the Master’s Degree. The project work, he added, was a six-credit hour course which would commence in the first year. However, grading of the project work would take effect during the second year of their studies.
In the Research Project, Students will be required to undertake an original research in an area of their interest and which relates to Theology. Students will write their project work under supervision by an assigned faculty member, he stated.
Spiritan University College started as an Institute of Philosophy to give the first stage of Priestly and Missionary Formation uniquely to candidates of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit. It was opened on December, 17, 1990 and the foundation stone was laid by Very Rev. Fr. Pierre Haas, CSSp blessed by the Most Rev. Peter Kwasi Sarpong, then Bishop of Kumasi. In 1997, an initial two-year programme was broadened to cover three years leading to the award of a Diploma in Philosophy and Religious Studies.
In 2002, the proprietors decided to raise the academic standard to enable graduates to meet the intellectual challenges of the society of the day. Added to this, the proprietors saw the need to bring the benefits of Catholic and Spiritan education to the youth of Ghana and Africa by opening the doors of the College to the wider public.
The College was accredited by the National Accreditation Board on September 25, 2005. On 15th May, 2008, the College signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to offer Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy and Social Sciences. On June 20th 2008, the University College status was inaugurated.
These Programmes were accredited by the National Accreditation Board on 1st April 2011 for a period of three years.
In an interview, Very Rev. Fr. Anthony Anomah, CSSp, Rector of the University, said an agreement was signed with Duquesne University in order to strengthen the ties between the two sister institutions and to enable their students to receive certain educational benefits from each other.
He said the Programme is accredited by the National Accreditation Board. Duquesne University is a Spiritan Catholic University in Pittsburgh. It is one of the premier Catholic Universities in the U.S News and World Report Rankings of American Universities. It has more than 10,000 students enrolled in its Schools of Liberal Arts, Science, Nursing, Health Sciences Education and Business.
According to Fr. Anomah, the Programme was designed to give candidates (Priests, Religious, Seminarians and laity) a graduate-level Theological Study in order to improve upon their competence and update themselves in Theological Studies for their ministry.
“The Master of Arts in Theology provides a graduate-level foundation in central areas of Theology. It is designed for those who wish to teach Theology, prepare for Doctoral-Level Studies in Theology or as a renewal Programme. It is an integrative curriculum for the theological education of people engaged in a variety of pastoral ministries,” he added.
He said the Master’s in the Theology Programme would be a taught- course handled by experienced faculty members from Ghana and Duquesne University at the Spiritan University College. He noted that the Courses were well structured with flexible hours to suit the working class (Clergy, Religious, men and women). It will be a summer part-time Programme scheduled between May and August each year with residential and non-residential facilities.
The Rector said admission requirements were in line with the standard approved by the National Accreditation Board and, Duquesne University, saying that Candidates must have a minimum of a good First Degree in Theology or Religious Studies (with at least Second Class Lower Division) from a reputable institution.
“Candidates with a first Degree with at least Second Class Lower Division other than Theology or Religious Studies will be given one year pre-theology classes in Philosophy, Systematic Theology, Theological Ethics and Scriptures organized by the College before entry into the Master’s Programme.” The Pre-Theology Programme, he said, was designed for students who possess a first degree (at least Second Class Lower Division), but who do not have sufficient preparation in Philosophy and Theology.
Fr. Anomah said most of the graduates after completion would work or continue their ministry as Priests, Pastors, Teachers, Chaplains and ocial workers in the Church and civil society. Others would work as Parish Pastoral Associates, Parish Life Collaborators, Directors of Religious Education, Youth Ministers, Parish Social Ministers or Chaplains.
According to the Rector, the required courses were in the areas of Scriptures, Theological Ethics, Systematic Theology and Ministry with elective Courses in Introduction to Catechetics, Catechesis of Adults/Leadership and Leadership in Faith Community, Introduction to the Scriptures of Islam and African Traditional Religion.
He noted that Students in the Master of Arts in Theology Programme at the Spiritan University were required to present a project work in partial fulfilment for the award of the Master’s Degree. The project work, he added, was a six-credit hour course which would commence in the first year. However, grading of the project work would take effect during the second year of their studies.
In the Research Project, Students will be required to undertake an original research in an area of their interest and which relates to Theology. Students will write their project work under supervision by an assigned faculty member, he stated.
Spiritan University College started as an Institute of Philosophy to give the first stage of Priestly and Missionary Formation uniquely to candidates of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit. It was opened on December, 17, 1990 and the foundation stone was laid by Very Rev. Fr. Pierre Haas, CSSp blessed by the Most Rev. Peter Kwasi Sarpong, then Bishop of Kumasi. In 1997, an initial two-year programme was broadened to cover three years leading to the award of a Diploma in Philosophy and Religious Studies.
In 2002, the proprietors decided to raise the academic standard to enable graduates to meet the intellectual challenges of the society of the day. Added to this, the proprietors saw the need to bring the benefits of Catholic and Spiritan education to the youth of Ghana and Africa by opening the doors of the College to the wider public.
The College was accredited by the National Accreditation Board on September 25, 2005. On 15th May, 2008, the College signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to offer Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy and Social Sciences. On June 20th 2008, the University College status was inaugurated.
These Programmes were accredited by the National Accreditation Board on 1st April 2011 for a period of three years.