PATHWAY PROGRAM INFORMATION AND COURSES Explore | Learn | Thrive
What is The Pathway Program?
Pathway Program Details
The Pathway Program is a collaboration between The Centre for Faith Enrichment (CFE) and The University of Notre Dame Australia (UNDA). It is aimed at offering students from the CFE an opportunity to obtain formal recognition of theological studies.
The UGCertTh is a half-year full-time (or equivalent part-time) program and the DTheol is a one-year full-time (or equivalent part-time) program. The maximum period of time within which a student is permitted to complete the degree is 2 years for the UGCertTh and 4 years for the DTheol.
Students undertaking specified courses from the CFE, at the approved standard of teaching and learning, may obtain advanced standing or credit for these courses, which will then contribute towards an Undergraduate Certificate in Theology (UGCertTh) or a Diploma of Theology (DTheol), awarded through UNDA.
The UGCertTh and DTheol cover the five discipline areas listed below. A student does not need to complete courses from all discipline areas, they are free to focus on just one or two areas if they wish to do so. -Scripture -Church History -Systematic Theology -Sacramental Theology -Christian Anthropology, Social Thought and Pastoral Theology
Why enrol in the Pathway Program? The Pathway Program offers foundations for those with no previous background in theological studies, yet is also designed for those who wish to deepen their theological knowledge, those preparing for or involved in pastoral ministry, or those who wish to pursue such studies for reasons of personal and spiritual growth.
Study Options at CFE Students will need to undertake 50% of their degree at the CFE: 2 courses of the required 4 courses for UGCertTh or 4 courses of the required 8 courses for the DipTheol. The remaining 50% of the degree will be completed at UNDA.
Theology is a useful qualification for those wishing to exercise various ministries within the Christian community and to contribute to the work of the Church. It is also the necessary basis for graduate theological study and research.
Expressions of Interest Please email cfe@ perthcatholic.org.au and we will gladly answer any questions you may have.
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Career Opportunities
Application for recognition of the courses completed at CFE following enrolment at UNDA
The Pathway Program will offer rigorous preparation for those wanting to be involved in pastoral ministry and other career paths involving critical thinking, evaluation of arguments, teaching, problem-solving, and clear and creative writing.
Ideally, students should complete their study at CFE before they enrol in the Undergraduate Certificate in Theology or Diploma of Theology program at Notre Dame. Following the enrolment and before the start of the program at Notre Dame (definitely no later than at the start of the final semester of the programs) students must familiarise themselves with instructions on the recognition of their prior learning at CFE and application for advanced standing to gain credits for the courses at CFE. This will ensure that the CFE courses are counted towards the program requirements. Students must attach to their online application for advanced standing as a minimum a transcript of courses completed at CFE and the CFE Course Outlines for each of the completed courses. The School of Philosophy and Theology may email applicants requesting further information. Applications can take some time to process, which is why it is recommended that you submit your request as soon as possible after commencing at Notre Dame. Once processed, students will be advised by
Professional avenues that may be enhanced by this collaboration include, but are not limited to: Agency work within the Church Mission integration within Catholic healthcare, aged care, chaplaincy, prison ministry, and pastoral counseling Education and teaching (upon completion of a graduate-entry teaching qualification) Academic teaching Journalism and media Youth work Public Libraries Research Institutes
Pathway Courses Details of Pathway courses will be made available on the CFE website www.cfe.org.au For more information, please email cfe@ perthcatholic.org.au or call 9278 0260.
Student Administration of the outcome of their application. Students should then check that the credits are reflected in the academic transcript.
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CFE1000 - FAITH SEEKING UNDERSTANDING: INTRODUCTION TO THEOLOGY An enriching introduction to the Catholic intellectual and spiritual tradition, this course will explore the foundational principles of faith and reason that operate in our human desire to know truth, beauty, and goodness in God. The course will cover the basic foundations of theology: the Trinitarian God, the mission and life of Jesus Christ, the role of Revelation, Scripture and Tradition, our response to evil and suffering, the principles of Catholic social thought and the Christian understanding of the human person as made in the image of God. It will consider the relationship between theology, philosophy and ethics within the liberal arts tradition. These themes will be addressed in the context of living the call to holiness in the grace of God, realised in the giving of oneself as gift to the world and each other.
CFE2400 – ONE LORD JESUS CHRIST: AN INTRODUCTION TO CHRISTOLOGY ‘But who do you say that I am?’ (Mt 16:15) This question, which Jesus originally addressed to the twelve, addresses every person – believer and non-believer alike. Christology is the study of the person of one Lord Jesus Christ as revealed in the Scripture, and as experienced in the liturgies and doctrines of the Church. While Christology is a legitimate subject in its own right it, it is in coming to know and understand the person of Jesus Christ that we come to know and understand both God, and ourselves. This course will explore the experience of Jesus as recounted in the Gospels, the early Christological heresies and creedal formulations, as well the ways Christology can provide responses pressing questions of our day.
CFE2460 – AFTER LIFE: THE ESCHATON – OUR LIVING HOPE This unit explores the 'last things': death, purgatory, heaven, hell, the Parousia of Christ and the final Judgment. Utilising the teachings of the Church, the wisdom of Saints, Popes, mystics, theologians and the Church Fathers, the Ars Moriendi and Dante's Divine Comedy, students will discover the nature of Christian hope, the Christian art of dying well, the fact and mystery of resurrection in Christ and heaven, hell, purgatory and the final destiny of the Eschaton.
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CFE1510 – INTRODUCTION TO LITURGY AND THE SACRAMENTS: WORK OF GOD AND WORKD OF GOD’S PEOPLE This course explores the self-revelation of God as expressed through the Divine Liturgy, along with a discovery of rich symbolism and meaning of the Mass, the sacraments, the liturgical calendar, the meaning of rituals and other key elements of the Church’s sacred traditions. The course lays emphasis on the purpose and richness of liturgical participation.
CFE2250 - INTRODUCTION TO SACRAMENTAL THEOLOGY: A JOURNEY THROUGH MEANING AND SYMBOL This course offers an introduction to the sacraments and to the general principles of sacramental theology. It begins with the development of the place of sign and symbol in ordinary life, showing how the human encounter with the life of the Risen Christ in his Spirit comes about through the patterns of symbolic action, also known as ritual, in the life of the Church. Each of the individual sacraments is studied in the categories of Sacraments of Initiation, Sacraments of Healing and Sacraments of Service.
CFE2480 – REDISCOVERING THE SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION: BAPTISM, CONFIRMATION AND THE EUCHARIST The building blocks of a Christian life within the Catholic Church are built upon a personal and communal relationship with God through the person of Jesus Christ. This relationship is expressed sacramentally and ritually within the Initiation Sacraments. The sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist call Christians to discipleship of Christ and to be visible signs of God’s presence in the world. What does our personal and communal relationship with God mean for our lives? How is our Church leadership or ministry seen as flowing from the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist?
CFE3470 – INTRODUCTION TO THE SACRAMENTS: KEY MILESTONES ON OUR CHRISTIAN JOURNEY The seven Sacraments mark all the important stages of our Christian life and sustain us in our sense of mission as Christians (Catechism of the Catholic
Church 1210). This course covers the fundamental meaning and the scriptural, historical, theological and liturgical principles of each of the seven Sacraments. Join us as we explore how the Sacraments can deepen and give meaning to our unique relationship with God.
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CFE1110 – UNDERSTANDING THE OLD TESTAMENT: AN ANCIENT TEXT FOR MODERN TIMES The Old Testament makes up a very significant part of the Bible. These books contain some of the most renowned stories of Sacred Scripture. Though relatively well-known among Christians and often depicted in popular culture, the deeper implications and understandings of these stories are often missed. This course will unpack some Old Testament stories and reveal how they lay down the foundation for the Christian faith. Together, we will discover that they are as important today as they have ever been.
CFE1210 – THE NEW TESTAMENT: A JOURNEY THROUGH MYSTERY, MEANING AND TRANSLATION Originally written in Greek, the New Testament constitutes that part of the Bible which discloses the figure of Jesus Christ to us. What is the meaning of the New Testament? Why is it so important to us as Christians? What mysteries can the original Greek language of the New Testament disclose to us? This course invites participants into an overview of content and major themes found within the New Testament. It will address the socio-political, and wider religious setting of the writings, as well as the original Greek meaning of certain key terms.
CFE2120 – THE PENTATEUCH: FIVE BOOKS FOR THE FOUNDATION OF OUR FAITH The first five books of the Old Testament are referred to as the Pentateuch and comprise Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. They recount the story of Israel from their origins to their exodus from Egypt. Are these books simply historical accounts or is there more to them? This course examines the Pentateuch books: why they were written, what their message is and how we can understand it.
CFE2130 – A JOURNEY THROUGH PSALMS AND WISDOM The book of Psalms and the Wisdom Literature in the Old Testament contains expressions of the people of Israel’s faith and worship. This course examines these expressions from the perspective of form, theology, themes, traditions, and quest for truth and meaning. Wisdom books are selected for detailed study.
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CFE2210 – RADICALLY TRANSFORMED: SAINT PAUL’S LIFE AND MESSAGE This course focuses on the life of Saint Paul, his writings and those of the ‘Pauline school’ and his message on the salvific power of the death and resurrection of Christ. It will present Saul of Tarsus’s journey from promising Rabbi, to persecuted disciple of Jesus of Nazareth, and finally Apostle to the Gentiles. It also offers a vision of Paul’s announcement of salvation, highlighting his understanding of the human condition before Christ, and how the power of Jesus’ cross and resurrection can radically transform our existence.
CFE2220 – SYNOPTIC GOSPELS: MATTHEW, MARK AND LUKE This introduction to the three Synoptic Gospel accounts: Matthew, Mark, and Luke, focuses on their witness to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Topics covered include the birth and death narratives of Jesus, the early life of the Church and the necessity of a living faith in Jesus Christ.
CFE2230 – EXPLORING THE GOSPEL OF LUKE AND ACTS OF THE APOSTLES Luke's Gospel is an inspired description of a series of journeys in Jesus' life. It is rich in themes surrounding human need for mercy and compassion, the role of the Spirit and how the bountiful blessings of God are intended for all of humanity. The Acts of the Apostles narrate the beginnings of the Christian community and offer an insight into the workings of the early Church. Join us as we journey through these two fascinating books of the Bible and keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and guide on the way to the Father.
CFE2240 – SCRIPTURE AND MORALITY: LIVING LIFE TO THE FULL ACCORDING TO GOD’S WORD The Catholic Church’s teachings on morality suggest that God wants us to lead a life that is good. But what does a ‘good life’ look like and what role has Scripture played in the development of this teaching? This course focuses on the changing role of Scripture in the moral teaching of the Church and explores how moral thinking developed in the early Church. Using passages such as The Sermon on the Mount and Jesus’ Great Commandment of loving one’s neighbour as oneself, we will explore just how relevant and urgent these teachings are in our changing world today.
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CFE2310 – HISTORY OF THE EARLY CHURCH: THE STORY BEGINS This course explores the life of the early Church, from its origins and development in the Jewish, Greek and Roman environment, to the Apostolic Fathers and Apologists that first defined its identity. We will look at how the early Christians suffered under the great persecutions until the rise of the Emperor Constantine and the Christianisation of the Roman Empire. Other points of focus will be: the Christian understanding of the nature of God, the great Councils, the Holy Trinity, the relations between divinity and humanity in Christ, and the importance of seeing God’s purpose in the world.
CFE2330 – CHURCH HISTORY: EXPLORING THE MEDIEVAL CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE This course offers a snapshot of Church history throughout the Middle Ages. Beginning with a summary of ancient Christianity, the great councils and the fall of the Rome, the course will explore the life of the Church under Charlemagne’s Holy Roman Empire, the first missionaries and the conversion of the West, the 11th century reforms, Monasticism, and the theology of great thinkers such as Saint Anselm and Saint Thomas Aquinas. Join us as we explore the richness of the Catholic tradition and the invaluable contribution Christianity made to the development of Western Civilisation.
CFE2340 - A JOURNEY THROUGH MODERN CHURCH HISTORY: FROM THE ENLIGHTENMENT TO VATICAN II This course explores the Catholic Church’s role within the modern world as it faced the French Revolution, the Enlightenment, the totalitarian regimes of the 20th century and opened the Second Vatican Council. The course considers the Church’s response to the ideological currents of rationalism, socialism and nationalism, before exploring the birth of the Church in Australia and key figures of modernity such as Saint John Henry Newman.
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CFE2020 –CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING: AN INTRODUCTION This course takes students through the social doctrine of the Church, which flows from understanding the human person as the image of God, infinitely loved and made for eternal life in Christ. Students will learn the main tenets and principles of the Church’s social teaching, in particular, the Catholic understanding of justice, love, truth, freedom, respect for the dignity of human life, the common good, subsidiarity, solidarity, and how this impacts understanding the family, human work, politics, economic life, culture, the environment and the achievement of peace in society.
CFE2430 – CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD: AN INTRODUCTION TO CHRISTIAN ANTHROPOLOGY This course explores the Christian understanding of what it means to be a human person made in the image of God, and called to life and relationship with this God, which forms the basis of human dignity. Utilising St Pope John Paul II’s catechesis popularly known as Theology of the Body, and the works of other Saints, theologians and social scientists, students will learn about the vocation of every human person, being the image of God as male and female; the core wounds we experience from the Fall; and the freedom, healing and wholeness of our Redemption in Christ, through the work of the Holy Spirit to lift us to the glory of eternal life in God.
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When are the Pathway Courses offered at CFE? The Pathway Program courses at the CFE are offered on a term by term basis. Each term, we send out a Pathway Course Overview via email. You must be subscribed to our Pathway Newsletter to receive this (to subscribe, email cfe@perthcatholic.org.au). Alternatively, you can simply click on the ‘Pathway Program’ tab of our website (cfe.org.au), scroll to the bottom and see what courses are available.
How do I enrol in the Pathway Program? We do not have an enrolment form per se, you effectively enrol into the Pathway Program by enrolling into one of our Pathway Courses.
How much do Pathway courses cost? Pathway Courses at CFE are subsidised and cost $200 per course.
Will I fulfil the volume of learning needed for a tertiary-level course? You will be expected to study, on average, between 10 to 12 hours per week (or, approximately 150 hours) for each course, including all guided and self-directed work. Your lecturer will ensure that the volume of learning for the course is met. This will include extra reading material, assessments, journal entries, reflections, video content, online activities as well as tutorial discussion time with the lecturer. Discussion can be done in person or via videoconferencing platforms.
Once I have done 50% of my degree, how do I enrol at Notre Dame University? The Pathway Program is for students from the CFE to attain a formal Undergraduate Certificate in Theology (UGCertTh) or a Diploma of Theology (DTheol), which will be awarded through UNDA. Once you have completed the required courses with the CFE, you are to enrol into your degree (UGCertTh or DipTheol) at UNDA via the link we have provided under the “Study Options at CFE” drop down menu on our webpage. Alternatively, you can visit the Notre Dame Homepage and click on the “Apply Direct” link at the bottom of the webpage. The latest you can enrol into a degree at UNDA is two weeks after the commencement of the semester.
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How much will a course at Notre Dame University cost? Courses at UNDA are full price (approximately $2100), and are longer (13 weeks).
Where can I see Course Offerings at UNDA? To access the upcoming School of Philosophy and Theology course offerings, visit the UNDA Website, click on the Students drop down menu, click Calendars and Timetables (found under the Your enrolment subtitle), under Course Offerings click on the relevant year, select your campus (Fremantle, Sydney, Broome) and School (Discipline of P and T) and scroll through the units on offer. Theology units are towards the bottom of the list and begin with THEO in the Course Code column. If you have any questions or need help, please email: philosophytheology@nd.edu.au or contact us at: cfe@perthcatholic.org.au
Scholarships? To help with these costs, the CFE offers the BJ Hickey Scholarship, which annually opens in late September and closes in late November. This is a scholarship for Scripture studies only. We therefore encourage our Pathway students to defer their Scripture courses until they transition to UNDA, so they can use this scholarship to cover their Scripture course fees.
Can I access the Notre Dame Library? Yes. While we encourage our students to make use of the John Henry Newman Library (formerly known as the Catholic Library of WA), located directly behind the Newman Siena Centre, if you require access to the UNDA library, you may apply for Community Borrower Membership via the following link (https://library.nd.edu.au/borrow/community) and contact us for a reimbursement. The borrowing pass costs $40 and membership needs to be renewed annually. Please contact Tracy Stevens: admin.cfe@perthcatholic.org.au for more info.
How do I apply for graduation after successful completion of my program at UNDA? The Notre Dame Graduation webpage provides information about Graduation dates, the process for applying to graduate and other relevant information. Students must familarise themselves with the information earliest possible given the short length of Undergraduate Certificate in Theology or Diploma of Theology programs.
For more information, please email cfe@perthcatholic.org.au or call Dr Marco Ceccarelli on 0425 543 335.
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Newman Siena Centre 33 Williamstown Road DOUBLEVIEW WA 6018 (08) 9278 0261 cfe@perthcatholic.org.au