GMIT celebrates 25th anniversary of BA (Hons) in Religious Studies

Monday, May 13, 2019 Press Office
Press Release

GMIT’s acclaimed degree course in Religious Studies is approaching its twenty-fifth anniversary and begins its next cycle in September 2019. An information evening about the course will take place in the GMIT Galway campus (room 1034) on Monday 10 June, at 6.30pm. Bringing a fresh eye and an open approach to the study of religion, the course sets out to create a space for those whose engagement with religion is thoughtful and exploratory. 

Programme Chair Barry McMillan says: “Where religion is concerned today, a clear option, on the one hand, is withdrawal into fundamentalism or, on the other hand, dismissal of religion as an anachronism. Here at GMIT, we offer a learning space for those people who find themselves somewhere in the middle, thirsty for knowledge and insight, and underserved by either of the extremes.”

Barry McMillan continues: “Students explore their own beliefs in light of other faiths, other cultures, and other academic disciplines. It is a rich educational experience. As one graduate of the course put it, ‘I wasn’t taught what to think, I was taught how to think.’”

In a number of ways, the course is a marker of GMIT’s pioneering commitment to meeting educational needs. It is designed to be as accessible as possible, being delivered on a flexible learning basis, two evenings a week per academic semester—and can be engaged with as a full degree programme or as selected individual subjects. In addition, support for those returning to academic study after some time or those inexperienced in academic study is built into the programme. The lecturing team on the course are holders of GMIT’s President’s Award for Teaching Excellence.

Barry McMillan adds: “The simplest way for people to get a sense of what we’re offering is to search for ‘Religious Studies’ on the GMIT website. There they’ll find an outline of the course content and testimonies from those who have studied on the course. At the information evening on 10th June, we’ll go into everything in detail.”

Graduates who have recently completed their studies on the course have much to say about it. 

Mary O’Malley describes the programme as, “a hugely transformative experience.” She expands: “The topics are diverse and incredibly enriching and are structured so that each one is delivered in ways that are easy to understand. The incredible support I received from my lecturers made it possible for me to discover that I was more than capable of achieving my goals.” 

Michael Brown is similarly enthusiastic: “I learned so much about my own religion, but also about other religions and psychology and philosophy. I have grown so much. The course has equipped me with a more articulate way of thinking and expressing myself. I feel I now have the tools to talk to people of any religion or no religion.”

Peter Hynes characterises his studies as “extremely interesting and enjoyable,” and Pauline Staunton describes her experience as going “far beyond any expectations I had.” She continues: “The support of the lecturers was outstanding; they took each student where they were at and encouraged and enabled them to expand their skills and their horizons. I would strongly recommend this course.”

Anyone interested in the degree course or in individual subjects can obtain more information by emailing the Programme Chair at barry.mcmillan@gmit.ie or phoning 091 742472. Information is also available from the GMIT Graduate & Professional Development Office at 091 742528. Places on the course are limited to twenty.

ENDS

 

Issued by Regina Daly, GMIT Communications Officer
Tel 091 742826/ 087-9618355 (m) email: regina.daly@gmit.ie
www.gmit.ie /news