Course content and structure
The Diploma offers students who have successfully obtained their Certificate of Higher Education the opportunity to continue to study in more depth. Units are taught with all streams together in order for students to gain a better understanding of wider issues in mission and ministry to youth, children and families, but specialist learning and assessment remains a key part of the student experience.
To complete the year students must gain 120 credits by successfully completing a number of units, which are worth 10 or 20 credits each. The units focus on key aspects of the Christian ministry to youth, children and families.
Core units:
| Biblical Theology and Context | 20 credits |
| Contemporary Culture | 20 credits |
Optional units: | |
| Pastoral Care of Youth, Children and Families | 10 credits |
| Preaching in Context | 10 credits |
| Developing Mission and Ministry | 20 credits |
| Personal and Professional Development | 20 credits |
| Discipleship and Discipling | 20 credits |
| A Contextual Reading of Luke | 20 credits |
More information on these units and the subjects covered can be found here.
Cliff College reserve the right to offer alternative options to those listed here, according to availability.
Teaching and assessment
Most units entail around 26 hours of contact between the tutor and the student group. There is a flexibility of approach, dependent on the unit and the number of students, which will typically be a mixture of lectures, plenary discussions and group or individual supervised work. Tutors are available for individual consultation outside class time.
Units are assessed in different ways; through the writing of essays, preparation of resource material, project work and reflection. Methods of research and analysis are taught and encouraged, and mission assessment requires reflective work that makes connections between practice and theory. For every ten credits, written work of around 2,500 words is required, though many units contain practical outcome assessments which then reduce the number of words required. Marking is done anonymously. Attendance is required at all the relevant lectures or classes.
Completion and progression
On successful completion of the second year, students may progress to the third year (Level 6) of the BA Mission and Ministry degree at Cliff College. They can also exit with a Diploma of Higher Education in Mission and Ministry, awarded by the University of Manchester.
Students completing their Diploma of Higher Education in Mission and Ministry could be employed by churches in a voluntary or paid capacity as a mission and/or ministry worker in their specialist field (children, youth or family). They will have had specific input into issues facing their particular area of expertise, as well as leadership and supervision training.
