This unit provides the opportunity for the candidate to focus upon a well defined area of professional or ministry life through a practical theological lens. This involves more than simply a survey and critique of current approaches to an issue. It should involve an extensive an theoretically informed examination of a phenomena within professional or minsitry life or an evaluation of actions through a sequence of action-reflection cycles.
The specific content of this unit depends upon the topic chosen by the candidate. This topic and its approach are the responsibility of the candidate developed in consultation with but with the course coordinator and then an appointed supervisor with appropriate research interests.
The chosen topic then determines the appropriate theoretical lens, data collection technique and analytical lens employed. These issues cannot be predetermined.The content therefore will involve an interdisciplinary conversation between theology, theory and current field based phenomena.
The content will include the development of a proposal and literature review and in most situations an ethical protocol to be approved by an independent ethics committee, as well as the production fo the major project itself. Candidates will be introduced to these requirements through a 8 hour induction at the commencement of the first semester of their enrolment in this unit.