AFRICAN CHRISTIANITY

MASTER OF ARTS IN AFRICAN CHRISTIANITY

Purpose

The Master of Arts in African Christianity online programme is 64 credit-hour, 24-month blended-learning research programme designed to focus primarily on the growth and dynamism of Africa as a global centre of Christianity. It examines foundational themes and critical, contemporary issues in African Christianity; it highlights the primary issues related to the history of Christianity in Africa and considers African religious traditions to other significant issues such as race, migration, and gender. Students are expected to engage with African Christians’ faith, worship, and life from historical and contemporary perspectives.

Objectives

By the end of the programme, students are expected to be able to:

i. Exhibit an understanding of African Christianity to address the shortfall evident in the global Christian understanding of African Christianity and its impact on the global Church;

ii. Demonstrate an ability for the critical study of the creativity, vibrancy, and competency of African Christianity and ministry;

iii. Develop the skills needed to be effective leaders for the African church who understand God’s work in Africa and can help develop African theological institutions, churches, and societies;

iv. Demonstrate an understanding of missional imperatives concerning African Christians both on the continent and in the diaspora;

v. Appreciate the place of the Gospel witness in the development of Africa;

vi. Deploy analytical skills in conducting research in the field of African Christianity.

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN AFRICAN CHRISTIANITY

Purpose

The Ph.D. African Christianity online programme is an 84 credit, 48-month, blended-learning research programme designed to focus on the growth and dynamism of Africa as a global centre of Christianity. It examines the nature of the growth of Christianity in African communities and locates this growth within the framework of a global missional understanding of the Gospel. It emphasises creative research within a strong research tradition and engages with African Christians’ faith, worship, and life from historical and contemporary perspectives.

Objectives

The following are the objectives of the Ph.D. African Christianity online programme and indicate that by the end of the programme, students should be able to:

i. Engage in original and independent research in African Christianity and its relation to comparative religious studies;

ii. Contribute new knowledge from an African context through critical thinking, research, and writing;

iii. Discover and critically analyse text-based or field-based data on traditions and trends in African Christianity;

iv. Examine and evaluate the history, relations, perspectives, and convergent themes in orthodox, evangelical, and Pentecostal faith traditions in African Christianity;

v. Engage in original field research on the influences of race, gender, colonialism, and migration in African Christianity;

vi. Demonstrate an appreciation of the complexity and simplicity of God’s work in and through the African milieu.