Distance Learning in Theology
Distance Learning in Theology
The Department has a comprehensive and well established distance learning programme that serves a very large number of students throughout New Zealand and even occasionally overseas.
By offering these courses on the Distance Learning network we have been able to remove a significant barrier to participation in the study of Theology. Students in Dunedin who are unable to attend lectures during the day may also enrol in distance learning papers.
We aim to offer the compulsory 100-level papers every year by distance, and most other papers every third or fourth year. We aim to offer the compulsory 100-level papers every second year by distance, and most other papers every third or fourth year. You should be able to complete any qualification from wherever you live in much the same time frame as a campus student, though with fewer papers to choose from in any particular year.
Some students who are taking postgraduate research courses choose to do these by distance.
We have four modes of delivering our distance papers
Distance learning papers in Theology and Religion are taught mainly through audioconferences, videoconferences, intensives or the Internet. You will have direct contact with your lecturer and you can also interact and link up with other students for all these courses. You will receive course materials containing a study guide, reading material and general administrative information. You will also have access to the University's Distance Library Service.
Audioconferences
Audioconferences take place usually on a week day, from three to seven times a semester. You attend a study centre or use your home telephone (the University pays for the call). The audioconferences are generally run as seminars, with discussion of key questions essential to the course.
Some papers may also include elements of face-to-face teaching or online discussion.
Teaching Days
Some audioconference-based papers include teaching days. These days are designed to make face-to-face teaching possible for the majority of enrolled students. They are usually scheduled early in the semester in order to encourage participation and a sense of community that will enhance the experience of the audioconferences and, where it forms part of the assessment, online discussion.
These teaching days will take place in Auckland, in one or two other regional centres, and usually in Dunedin. The same content is taught in each place, so you should choose the location that is most convenient to you.
Details of the venue for these days will be provided in the introduction to your coursebook. You should plan to arrive between 10.00 and 10.30am; the day will finish at 4.30pm. The only exception to this is the Dunedin teaching day, where you will join with campus students in a session that usually begins at 4.00pm and ends at 9.00pm.
Teaching days are a very valuable part of the student experience enhancing and reinforcing the various dimensions of the learning process; and it is extremely helpful for students and lecturers to meet, and for students to meet each other. Shortly after the teaching days have been completed each lecturer will post a podcast summarizing the main learning points of the teaching day for those students who were unable to attend.
Please note that teaching days in each location are ultimately dependent on enrolments! If there are not a sufficient number of enrolled students living near a particular centre then the teaching day in that centre will be cancelled. It is unlikely that this will occur, but you need to be aware that the dates for the teaching days outlined here are provisional.
Intensives
Students come together with their lecturer in a centre at the beginning of the semester, usually for five days.
You are asked to do some reading beforehand.
Internet based Papers
Students participate in an online forum to discuss questions related to the course materials. Each forum covers about two weeks’ worth of material and students can contribute at any time during the period.
In addition to responding to questions set by the lecturer, students are encouraged to raise for discussion other matters from their reading.
Videoconferences
Via the Internet students are able to participate in classes or to download videos of classes to watch at a later time.
2013 Distance Papers
The paper codes for Distance Learning students substitute an X for the final H, S or T. For example, BIBS 112 when taught on the Distance Learning network becomes BIBX112.
Summer School
CHTX 334 Theology, Money and Markets
(Internet based)
Semester One
BIBX 112 Interpreting the Old Testament
(Audioconferences)
BIBX 131 Introductory New Testament Greek Language 1
(Internet based)
BIBX 215 The Bible in Religious Education
(Internet based)
Note: This paper is primarily for students undertaking the Catechetical Studies Programme through the College of Education. Other students must consult the Department before enrolling.
BIBX 225 / BIBX 325 Special Topic: Race and Gender in Paul
(Intensive, Dunedin, 11-15 February)
BIBX 324 / BIBX 423 Special Topic: Early Christians in Ephesus
(Audioconferences and teaching day)
CHTX 102 The History of Christianity
(Audioconferences)
CHTX 111 Doing Theology
(Audioconferences)
CHTX 402 Ranters and Radicals
(Internet based)
HEBX 131 Introductory Biblical Hebrew 1
(Internet based)
MINX 405 Special Topic: Church and Change
(Intensive, Dunedin, 4-8 March; plus three audioconferences)
PASX 208 / PASX 308 Special Topic: Ministry and Society in the 21st Century
(Audioconferences and teaching day)
PASX 212 Research Methods
(Internet based)
Semester Two
BIBX 121 Interpreting the New Testament
(Audioconferences)
BIBX 132 Introductory New Testament Greek Language 2
(Internet based)
BIBX 221 / BIBX 321 The Gospels
(Audioconferences)
BIBX 315 / BIBX 412 Special Topic: Approaches to Hermeneutics
(Intensive, Auckland, 1-5 July)
CHTX 131 God and Ethics in the Modern World
(Audioconferences)
CHTX 206 / CHTX 306 The Reformation
(Audioconferences and teaching day)
CHTX 231 / CHTX 331 Christianity, War and Violence
(Audioconferences and teaching day)
CHTX 305 / CHTX 405 The Roots of Public Theology
(Audioconferences and teaching day)
HEBX 132 Introductory Biblical Hebrew 2
(Internet based)
PASX 207 / PASX 307 Special Topic: Introduction to Pastoral Care
(Audioconferences)
PASX 311 / MINX 407 Preaching and Communication in a Contemporary Context
(Audioconferences and teaching day)
Full Year Papers
BIBX 213 / BIBX 313 Hebrew Old Testament Exegesis 2 & 3
(Internet based)
BIBX 223 / BIBX 323 Greek New Testament Exegesis 2 & 3
(Internet based)
BIBX 380 Research Essay
BIBX 480 Research Essay
BIBX 490 Dissertation
CHTX 380 Research Essay
CHTX 480 Research Essay
CHTX 490 Dissertation
PASX 380 Research Essay
PASX 480 Research Essay
PASX 490 Dissertation
2013 Audioconference Dates
Semester One
BIBX 112 Interpreting the Old Testament
5 March, 6.10pm-7.00pm;
19 March, 23 April, 21 May. 6.10pm-8.00pm
BIBX 324 / BIBX 423 Early Christians in Ephesus
25 February, 4.00pm - 4.50pm;
8 April, 6 May. 4.00pm-5.50pm
Teaching Day*: Dunedin 7 March; Wellington 12 March; Auckland 14 March
CHTX 102 The History of Christianity
4 March, 6.10pm-7.00pm;
25 March, 29 April, 27 May. 6.10pm-8.00pm
CHTX 111 Doing Theology
25 February, 11 March, 8 April, 22 April, 6 May, 20 May. 6.10pm-8.00pm
MINX 405 Church and Change
18 March, 15 April, 13 May. 6.10pm-8.00pm
Intensive: Dunedin commencing 1.00pm 4 March until 1.00pm 8 March
PASX 208 / PASX 308 Ministry and Society in the 21st Century
26 February, 9 April, 23 April, 7 May, 21 May. 5.00pm-5.50pm
Teaching Day*: Dunedin 6 March; Auckland 15 March
Semester Two
BIBX 121 Interpreting the New Testament
15 July, 2.00pm-2.50pm;
29 July, 2 September, 23 September. 2.00pm-3.50pm
BIBX 221 / BIBX 321 The Gospels
10 July, 17 July, 7 August, 21 August, 4 September, 18 September, 9 October. 4.00pm-5.50pm;
CHTX 131 God and Ethics in the Modern World
15 July, 29 July, 12 August, 2 September, 16 September, 30 September. 6.10pm-7.00pm
CHTX 206 / CHTX 306 The Reformation
9 July, 8 October, 6.10pm-7.00pm;
3 September, 24 September. 6.10pm-8.00pm
Teaching Day*: Dunedin 17 July; Auckland 24 July; Wellington 26 July
CHTX 231 / CHTX 331 Christianity, War and Violence
8 July, 5 August, 19 August, 9 September, 23 September. 5.00pm-5.50pm
Teaching Day*: Dunedin 18 July; Auckland 25 July
CHTX 305 / CHTX 405 The Roots of Public Theology
8 July, 6.10pm-7.00pm;
19 August, 23 September. 6.10pm-8.00pm
Teaching Day*: Dunedin 16 July; Auckland 23 July
PASX 207 / PASX 307 Introduction to Pastoral Care
11 July, 25 July, 8 August, 22 August, 5 September, 19 September, 3 October. 6.10pm-8.00pm
PASX 311 / MINX 407 Preaching and Communication in a Contemporary Context
9 July, 13 August, 3 September, 17 September, 1 October. 5.00pm-5.50pm
Teaching Day*: Dunedin 20 July; Auckland 26 July
* TEACHING DAYS
Please note that teaching days in each location are ultimately dependent on enrolments! If there are not a sufficient number of enrolled students living near a particular centre then the teaching day in that centre will be cancelled. It is unlikely that this will occur, but you need to be aware that the dates for the teaching days outlined here are provisional.
2013 Intensive Dates
BIBX 225/325 Race and Gender in Paul
Dunedin, commencing 1.00pm 11 February until 1.00pm 15 February.
Venue: to be advised.
MINX 405 Church and Change
Dunedin, commencing 1.00pm 4 March until 1.00pm 8 March.
Plus three audioconferences.
Venue: to be advised.
BIBX 315/412 Approaches to Hermeneutics
Auckland, commencing 1.00pm 1 July until 1.00pm 5 July.
Venue: to be advised.
Year 13 Students
Many high schools in New Zealand allow their top students to enrol in a first-year Theology paper with the Department to complement their studies. This stretches their capacities and gives them the confidence to know they can succeed at University as well as 18 points that can normally be credited to almost any degree at any University.
More information
Distance Learning at University of Otago
Distance Enquiries
The Departmental Administrator
Room 4C9, Arts Building
University of Otago
P.O. Box 56
Dunedin
Tel 64 3 479 8901
Email theology@otago.ac.nz