Baccalaureate in Divinity (BD)

The Baccalaureate in Divinity (BD) is awarded to students who have successfully completed a three-year full-time programme devoted to the study of Theology. All students follow a common programme in First Year. Results in the first-year examinations determine a student’s progress at either Honours or General level.

Admission Requirements
1. In order to register for courses leading to the Degree of Baccalaureate in Divinity (BD), a student:

(a) shall have completed a secondary school course and obtained a certificate required for admission to an Irish civil university or what in the judgement of the Faculty is its equivalent;
(b) shall present a testimonial that he/she has successfully completed a two-year
course in Philosophy;
(c) shall be competent in Latin.

2. Students who do not qualify under 1 (a) may be considered for admission by the Faculty:

(a) if they are of mature age, i.e. if they have reached the age of 23 on or before
1 January of the year of entry into the First Divinity Class;
or
(b) if they present a testimonial of particular merit from an appropriate institute
of Third Level education, the testimonial to contain full details regarding subjects studied, approximate number of lectures, and level of achievement in each subject.

BD Add-On Mode: Students holding a Diploma in Theology or equivalent may be admitted to the BD programme in Add-On mode, both honours and general. Applicants for the BD Add-On mode programme must have at least five years professional experience and satisfy the Pontifical University matriculation criteria. Course Content will be based on the syllabus for the BD programme. The specific courses to be undertaken in the major and minor subjects will be decided in advance on an individual basis by the Course Director in consultation with the Dean and the Registrar. The minimum duration of these programmes will be one academic year, and must be full-time. Permission to extend the duration of studies must be sought expressly from the Faculty of Theology. Assessment will be by examination and course work.

Courses for the Baccalaureate in Divinity

First Year Programme
The following is the list of courses offered for the First Year BD Programme.

Course Code & Title	Lecturer	Semester	Credits
Systematic Theology
ST101: Propaedeutic & Intro to Christianity	Norris	1	5
ST102: Understanding the Church and Mary	Treanor	2	5
ST103: Towards a Theology of Revelation	Norris	1	2.5
ST104: Construction of Modern Ecclesiology	Treanor	2	2.5
Moral Theology
MT121: Introduction to Moral Theology	Corkery	1	5
MT122: Themes in Fundamental Moral Theology	Corkery	1	2.5
MT123: Sin, Conversion, Virtue	Murtagh	2	5
MT124: Further Readings in Virtue Ethics	Murtagh	2	2.5
Sacred Scripture
SC131: ‘From Eden to Exile’	McConvery	1	5
SC132: Introduction to Old Testament Theology	McConvery	1	2.5
SC133: Introduction to the Synoptic Gospels	O’Connell	2	5
SC134: Reading Matthew through Parables	O’Connell	2	2.5
Ecclesiastical History & Patrology
EH141A: History of Early Church I	Ryan	1	4
EH141B: History of Early Church II	Ryan	2	4
Liturgy
LI151: Introduction to Liturgy & Initiation	Tracey	1	4
LI153: Eucharist and Liturgical Time	Tracey	2	4
Qualifying Courses
Students must pass all qualifying examinations before admission to final (degree) examinations.
BL181: Introduction to Biblical Greek	Kearney	2	2.5
BL283: Introduction to Biblical Hebrew	Kearney	1	2.5
PC181: Communications	Drury	1 & 2	5
PC184: Music in Christian Worship	O'Keeffe	1 & 2	2.5

Second Year Programme
The following is the list of courses offered for the Second Year BD Programme.

Course Code & Title	Lecturer	Semester	Credits
Systematic Theology
ST 201 Theology of Creation and Redemption	Henry/Conway	2	5
ST 202 Jesus Christ, the Living Way to God	Leahy	1	5
ST 203 The Theology of Grace	Henry	1	2.5
ST 204 Contemporary Readings in Christology	Leahy	2	2.5
Moral Theology
MT 221 Bioethics & Catholic Moral Tradition	Corkery/Conway	2	5
MT 222 Further Questions in Bioethics	Corkery	2	2.5
MT 223 Development of Marital & Sexual Ethics	Murtagh/Conway	1	5
MT 224 Marital & Sexual Ethics – Issues	Murtagh	1	2.5
Sacred Scripture
SC 231 Prophetic Literature of the OT	O'Leary	1	5
SC 234 The Johannine Writings	Mullins	2	5
SC 235 Synoptic Passion Narratives	O’Leary	1	2.5
SC 334 The Law and Jesus	O'Connell	2	2.5
Ecclesiastical History & Patrology
EH 243A History of Church in Modern Age A	Ryan	1	4
EH 243B History of Church in Modern Age B	Ryan	2	4
EH 281 Readings in Patristic Theology	Ryan	2	2.5
Canon Law
CL 261 Law in the life of the Church	Mullaney	1	5
CL 262 The Universal and Particular Church	Mullaney	2	5
Mission Studies
MS 272 Evangelisation, Mission and Dialogue	Leahy	1	2.5
Qualifying Courses:
EH 281 Readings in Patristic Theology	Ryan	2	2.5
BL 181 Introduction to Biblical Greek	Mullins	1	2.5
BL 283 Introduction to Biblical Hebrew	Kearney	2	2.5
BL 382 Intermediate Biblical Hebrew	Kearney	1	2.5
PC 281 Homilitics I	Drury	1 & 2	5
Elective & Special Courses
EL 295: The Code at Twenty-five	Conn	1	2.5
EL 296: Portraying Jesus	O'Collins	9 - 13 Feb	2.5

Third Year Programme
The following is the list of courses offered for the Third Year BD Programme.

Course Code & Title	Lecturer	Semester	Credits
Systematic Theology
ST 301 Eucharist: Source and Centre	Treanor	1	5
ST 302 Theology of the Ordained Priesthood	Norris	1	2.5
ST 303 The Trinitarian God	Henry/Norris	2	5
ST 304 Readings in Theol of Mystery of God	Henry	2	2.5
Moral Theology
MT 321 Christian Feminism & Cath Teaching	Corkery	1	5
MT 322 Further Reflections on MT 321	Corkery	1	2.5
MT 323 Human Rights in Moral Reasoning	Shortall	2	5
MT 324 Ethics & Contextual Theology	Shortall	2	2.5
Sacred Scripture
SC 331: The Wisdom Literature and Psalms	Mc Convery	1	5
SC 333: Paul: Rabbi, Convert & Pastor	O'Connell	2	5
SC 235: Synoptic Passion Narratives	O'Leary	1	2.5
SC 334: The Law and Jesus	O'Connell	2	2.5
Ecclesiastical History & Patrology
EH 243A History of Church in Modern Age A	Ryan	1	4
EH 243B History of Church in Modern Age B	Ryan	2	4
Canon Law
CL 261 Law in the life of the Church	Mullaney	1	5
CL 262 The Universal and Particular Church	Mullaney	2	5
Mission Studies
MS 272 Evangelisation, Mission and Dialogue	Leahy	1	2.5
Qualifying Courses
EH 281 Readings in Patristic Theology	Ryan	2	2.5
BL 181 Introduction to Biblical Greek	Mullins	1	2.5
BL 283 Introduction to Biblical Hebrew	Kearney	2	2.5
PC 381 Homiletics II	Drury	1 & 2	5
Elective & Special Courses
EL 295 The Code at Twenty-five	Conn	1	2.5
EL 296 Portraying Jesus	O'Collins	2	2.5

Honours Programme:
In addition to the General BD Programme described above, students wishing to follow the Honours BD Programme will study the Gerneral BD Programme in Years II and III, with the following additional requirements:

• Supplementary Honours reading requirements in each of the major courses
• Introduction to Biblical Greek (BL 181)
• Introduction to Biblical Hebrew (BL 283)
• Special Honours seminars if indicated by the department in:
  • Systematic Theology
  • Moral Theology
  • Sacred Scripture

For further details contact:
The Admissions Office
Pontifical University
Saint Patrick’s College
Maynooth
County Kildare, Ireland
Telephone: (353) 01-708-4772 / 708-3600 / 708-3892
Fax: 353-1-628-9063
E-mail: theology.office@may.ie
Web Page: www.maynoothcollege.ie