BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN YOUTH MINISTRY UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF THEOLOGY

DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN YOUTH MINISTRY

UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF THEOLOGY

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.374

BYE-LAWS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF

ARTS IN YOUTH MINISTRY UNDER THE

AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF THEOLOGY

9th April, 2010

LEGAL NOTICE 205 of 2010, as amended by Legal Notice 482 of 2012,

and 261 of 2017.

(1) The title of these bye-laws is the Bye-Laws for the

Degree of Master of Arts in Youth Ministry under the auspices of

the Faculty of Theology.

(2)

In these bye-laws, unless the context otherwise requires -

"the Board" means the Board of the Faculty of Theology;

"the course" means the programme of study leading to the degree

of Master of Arts in Youth Ministry;

"the Degree" means the degree of Master of Arts in Youth

Ministry;

"the Postgraduate Certificate" means the Postgraduate Certificate

in Youth Ministry;

"the Postgraduate Diploma" means the Postgraduate Diploma in

Youth Ministry; and

"the Principal Regulations" means the General Regulations for

University Postgraduate Awards.

These bye-laws shall be

applicable

for

courses

commencing in October 2017 or later.

(1) Applicants shall be, at the time of applying and for the

duration of the course, engaged and active within a statutory or

non-statutory youth work organisation, and in possession of one of

the following qualifications with at least Second Class Honours or

with at least Category II

(a) a Bachelor degree with Theology or Religious Studies

as a main area, or

(b) a Bachelor degree in Youth Studies, or

(c) a Bachelor degree, other than the qualifications

indicated in paragraphs (a) and (b), together with a

minimum of two years' experience in youth work

practice in a youth work oriented agency.

(2) Applicants in possession of a degree classified with Third

Class Honours or Category III, together with a minimum of two

years' experience in youth work practice in a youth work oriented

agency, may also be admitted, provided that they have obtained

other qualifications, including relevant experience, following their

first cycle degree.

DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN YOUTH MINISTRY

UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF THEOLOGY

(3) In exceptional cases the Admissions Board, on the

recommendation of the Board, may admit into the course applicants

not in possession of a Bachelor ’s degree, provided that it is

satisfied that such applicants are in possession of other academic or

professional qualifications and a minimum of two years’

experience in youth work practice in a youth work oriented agency

that together are deemed to be comparable to the level of a first

degree.

(4) Applicants may be registered as students in the course if

they satisfy the Board, through an interview, that they have the

necessary experience and aptitude to follow the course.

(5)

(a) The Board shall, after approval by Senate, determine

the number of applicants that may be allowed to

register depending on the availability of resources. The

B o a r d s h a l l , h o w e v e r, a n n o u n c e t h e n u m b e r o f

available places at the time of the call for applications.

(b) If the number of eligible applicants, following

assessment, exceeds the number of available places,

the Board shall select applicants according to the

following criteria

(i) degree type and classification;

(ii) work experience in the area or a related field;

and

(iii) performance during the interview.

(6) The interviewing board appointed by the Board shall be

composed of at least three members.

The course shall extend over three semesters of full-time

study or the equivalent in part-time study.

(1) The programme of study shall comprise study-units to

which a total of 90 credits are assigned, of which 60 credits are

assigned to taught study-units and 30 credits assigned to the

dissertation study-unit.

(2) In cases where applicants lack essential knowledge in the

areas of psychology and sociology of youth, the Board may require

students admitted to the course to follow and pass supplementary

study-unit/s in the said areas to which a maximum of 10 credits are

assigned in addition to the programme of study specified in

paragraph (1) of this bye-law.

(1) Students who obtain the 30 credits at level 5 assigned

to the taught study-units in the first semester with an average mark

of at least 50% and do not proceed with the course shall be eligible

for the award of the Postgraduate Certificate.

(2) Students who obtain the 60 credits assigned to the taught

study-units with an average mark of at least 50% and do not

proceed with the course, or having proceeded do not successfully

complete the dissertation, shall be eligible for the award of the

Postgraduate Diploma.

DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN YOUTH MINISTRY

UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE FACULTY OF THEOLOGY

The programme of study shall be published after approval

by Senate, normally not less than eight months prior to the

commencement of the course.

(1) The assessment of each taught study-unit shall be

completed by the end of the semester in which the teaching of the

study-unit is held.

(2) Students who in any academic year fail in the assessment

of not more than 20 credits for taught study-units, if following the

full-time course, or not more than 10 credits if following the part-

time course, shall be given the opportunity to re-sit the failed

assessments during the September supplementary examination

session.

(3) Students who fail in more than the number of credits

permitted under paragraph (2) or students who after re-assessment

fail to obtain credit for any study-unit, shall be deemed to have

failed the course.

(1) Students shall be required to submit an individual

dissertation of approximately 15,000 - 20,000 words in accordance with

the guidelines issued by the Board.

(2) Work on the dissertation shall be undertaken during the

third semester of the course. Each student shall be assigned a

supervisor who shall provide guidance and advice on a regular

basis during the period of study.

(3) A provisional title of the dissertation and a detailed

research proposal shall be submitted to the Board for approval by

the end of the second semester.

(1) Students shall be required to have regular contact with

their supervisor.

(2) Supervisors shall submit to the Board progress reports for

each student under their supervision at the end of each semester of

studies, whether the student is following the course on a full-time

or a part-time basis. Such reports may include a recommendation to

either (a) extend the period of study in order to enable the student

to complete the dissertation; or (b) terminate studies prematurely if

the supervisor deems this to be proper in the circumstances,

provided that

(i)

the extension of the study period referred to in

(a) shall be in accordance with the provisions of

the Principal Regulations; and

(ii) the Board may not terminate studies prematurely

according to (b) until it has first given the

student a chance to be heard.

The Final Weighted Average Mark for the purpose of the

classification of the Postgraduate Diploma and of the Degree shall

be based on the results obtained in all components of the

programme of study, all credits being weighted equally.

The provisions of the foregoing bye-laws shall apply

mutatis mutandis to courses followed on a part-time basis, and

subject to such changes as may reasonably be deemed by the Board

as necessary due to the part-time nature of the course.