Teaching
Master's Degree in Ecumenical Studies (M.E.S.)
Ivan Franko National University of L'viv | 
Ukrainian Catholic University |
L'viv 2006 - 2007
Contents
I - WELCOMING WORD
II - THE MES
Master's Degree designed on the basis of the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS)
- ECTS: HISTORY and FACTS
- History of the ECTS
- The reasons for this system to be implemented
- The academic and practical reasons for this system to be the backbone of the MES.
- The ECTS Grading scale
- The challenge
- Conclusion
- ECTS RULES applied to the MES
- Credits
- Workload
- Time framework
- PRACTICAL INFORMATION
- Administrative Council
- Academic program
- Calendar of the MES
- Timetable of the MES
Preparatory Semester
Semester 2
Semester 3
Semester 4 - Perspectives
- Enrolment requirements
- Entrance exams
- Charitable contributions
III - EXCHANGE STUDENTS
Dear Friends!
We present to your attention the Master in Ecumenical Studies program, which was initiated in 2005 by the Institute of Ecumenical Studies of the Ukrainian Catholic University in partnership with Ivan Franko National University of L'viv, with the support of a number of European Catholic Universities. Our aim is to provide a quality higher education that will combine the best achievements of modern scholarship with the treasures of theology and spirituality – all directed towards interdenominational dialogue. In our times among the variety of modern values, the next generation of Ukrainians needs not only to respect the spiritual traditions of their own community, but also be able to openly and with no bias appreciate convictions of other denominations and religions.
We strive to educate a generation of graduates with a firm scholarly foundation, who will courageously face the challenges of the 21st century. This is a time when after historical turbulences Ukrainian society is finally able to build and create freely, but also needs to overcome new difficulties of social, religious and other divisions. The students of this master's program will deepen their knowledge of philosophy and theology, learn to critically interpret and comment on religious events, and to understand the role of Christianity and its values in the modern world in order to be able to engage in our social change. It is exactly this kindof brilliant minds and ardent hearts that Ukraine needs, and so does the whole world.
Prof. Ivan Vakarchuk Rector,
Ivan Franko National University of L'viv | Fr. Dr. Borys Gudziak Rector,
Ukrainian Catholic University |
A Master's Degree Designed on the Basis of the European Credit Transfer System ( ECTS)
A . ECTS: HISTORY AND FACTS
History of the ECTS:
The ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) was initially set up in 1989 as a pilot scheme within the framework of the Erasmus program. Its aim at that time was to facilitate the recognition of study undertaken abroad by mobile students through the transfer of credits. As a transfer system, ECTS has expanded to over 30 countries and has been introduced in more than one thousand higher education institutions. The 40 Signatory States in the Bologna Process have identified ECTS as one of the cornerstones of the European Higher Education Area. “ECTS” refers both to the system and to the credits/points granted per module.
The reasons for implementing this system:
Quest for mobility of students and scholars, which requires transparency and therefore a common set of criteria to assess students' achievements.
The academic and practical reasons for this system to be the backbone of the MES.
- Following Ukraine's signature of the Bologna Process, Ivan Franko National University of L'viv (LNU) and the Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU) initiated a creative environment for the internationalization of Ukrainian curricula.
- As a competitive degree, the MES has been designed to offer the teaching staff and students opportunities to exchange expertise and engage in dialogue with fellow international scholars. The guest lectures, for instance, will consist partially in inviting international scholars on a short-term basis. The fact that these lectures will be taught for some students in English confirms the vocation of this Master to be an international degree.
- The MES has been designed according to the ECTS system, precisely to offer students and scholars the opportunity to grow academically and travel within the network of European universities with whom we have agreements.
- Transparency also means that this programme will be easy to read and compare with other European Master in Religious Studies.
The ECTS grading scale
Grading is an essential and sensitive part of the learning process. It is strongly rooted in the diverse pedagogical and cultural traditions of the various educational systems in Europe . There is a need, however, to make national grading systems more transparent, to allow a smooth transfer of grades from one system to another, in order to serve mobile learners and graduates. It was not designed to replace national systems, but to enhance the understanding of them in other countries .
The ECTS grading scale is based on the rank of a student in a given assessment, that is how he/she performed relative to other students. The ECTS system classifies students into broad groups and thus makes interpretation of ranking simpler. It is this grouping that lies at the heart of the ECTS grading system.
The ECTS system initially divides students between pass and fail groups, and then assesses the performance of these two groups separately. Those obtaining passing grades are divided into five subgroups:
- the best 10% are awarded an A-grade,
- the next 25% a B-grade,
- the following 30% a C-grade,
- the following 25% a D-grade
- and the rest 10% an E-grade.
Those who have not achieved a performance sufficient to allow a passing grade are divided into two subgroups:
- FX (Fail – some more work required before credit can be awarded)
- F (Fail – considerable further work is required).
This distinction allows differentiation between those students who have been assessed as almost passing and those who have clearly lacked the required knowledge and skills.
ECTS Grade | % of successful students normally achieving the grade | Comment |
A | 10 | The use of words like “excellent” or “good” is no longer recommended as they do not fit with percentage based ranking of the ECTS Grade Transfer Scale. |
B | 25 |
C | 30 |
D | 25 |
E | 10 |
FX | -- | Fail – some work required to pass |
F | -- | FAIL – considerable further work required |
The challenge of ECTS
- is to adapt to another education system, which influences the design of curricula, yet respects the national evaluation system.
B . ECTS rules applied to the MES.
Credits
- Modules range from 1 to 5 credits.
- An academic year equals 60 credits.
- One semester equals 30 credits.
- One semester represents 750 hours of full workload.
- Credits measure the workload of a full-time student.
Workload
- Several approaches for determining student workload in higher education programmes are being developed across Europe . Consequently, the ECTS allows for flexibility .
- The number of credits is fixed for a semester (30) and for a year (60). The amount of workload is also fixed to 750 – 900 hours per semester.
- According to the general rule 1 credit = 25 hours of full workload (i.e. classes + independent study) per semester.
- In order to enable the adjustment of the workload and/or the type of educational activities of the course unit/module to the requirements of the lecturers' demands, curricula can give more or less hours per credit: what matters is the total volume of hours per semester (750 -900 hours).
- Workload comprises hours of classes/internship and independent study/personal research.
- Hours are periods of 45 minutes of teaching contact and/or supervising between a staff member and a student or group of students and 45 minutes of work within the framework of an internship.
Time framework
One academic semester includes 17 weeks + 1 week of exam:
- 15 weeks of lecture – exercise sessions/ internship/
- personal research
- 2 weeks of study hours/revisions
- 1 week of exam.
C. PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Administrative Council
The Administrative Councils is responsible for all issues of MES educational process organization, appointment of lecturers, approval of curriculum and control of its implementation. On the basis of equality the Administrative Council comprises representatives of LNU and UCU. The Administrative Council consists of five members, who presently are:
- Antoine Arjakovsky - director of the Institute of Ecumenical Studies (IES) at UCU, Doctor of History (2000).
- Andriy Vas'kiv - director of MES, religious studies scholar, PhD candidate in History, Assistant Professor at the Department of the Theory and History of Culture of the Philosophy Faculty of LNU.
- Volodymyr Mel'nyk – Doctor of Philosophy, Head of the Department of the Theory and History of Culture and Dean of the Philosophy Faculty of LNU.
- Alicia Khrin – Vice-Director of MES, licentiate in ecumenism.
- Lesia Vas'kiv – methodologist of the MES, teacher of Ukrainian language/literature and Christian ethics; member of the L'viv Regional Councils Committee on Spirituality and Christian Ethics.
Academic Program
The Master in Ecumenical Studies Program is open for the students holding Bachelor's Degree and with a sufficient level of command of a foreign language. The program offers an interdisciplinary and interdenominational approach to religious issues through the study of the history of Christianity, ecumenical theology, Christian denominational traditions, Christian spirituality etc. that are covered in the period of two first semesters. The third semester, in particular, is dedicated to courses in the area of specialization: ecclesiology, social ethics; religion and journalism. The fourth semester is intended for gaining practical experience in one of the chosen specializations through an internship at MES proposed institutions, and also for completion of the personal research work. Within the framework of the program, students are expected to significantly advance their language skills as well as their methodology skills.
Upon completion of the MES program students receive a certificate of completion of the Master's Degree in Ecumenical Studies as well as the Diploma of the Master of Ecumenical Studies issued by the Ukrainian Catholic University . Students who graduate from MES may be enrolled in postgraduate programs of LNU in corresponding specializations of historical and philosophical directions (on the condition of receipt of the diploma of completion of a 5 – year program of higher education). Likewise, they can be enrolled in postgraduate programs of European Universities, such as the partner institutions of MES program (listed at the end of the present document).
Theory and Practice
Ecumenical Social Project
To enrich and supplement the theoretical knowledge gained by students during their studies, MES provides internship placements for its students in ecumenical, social field and other institutions. The internship placements depend upon student's interest. Among possible placements are religious publishing houses, foundations, ecumenical communities and charitable institutions. At the end of the third semester students are to present an oral report (20 minutes) on their internship to their supervisors and the academic director of MES.
Personal Research
During the study period each student is required to conduct personal research on a chosen topic in their area of specialization: ecclesiology; social ethics; or religion and journalism. In the preparatory semester, each student chooses the research issue and his/her academic supervisor, and formulates the theme and plan of the research paper. Students are required to meet with their academic supervisor for one hour once every three weeks.
Students are expected to prepare a dissertation of 70 –80 pages (approximately 40, 000 words) and defend it at the end of the fourth semester (June 2007) in a 30 minute viva in front of joint panel of the supervisor and two examiners.
Ecumenical Study Visits
In order to further elaborate certain topics and enrich the MES program, certain Ukrainian and foreign guest lecturers are invited to speak on ecumenical, cultural and other issues of their expertise. This time is also intended for organized visits to ecumenical, social field and other institutions as well as for meetings with representatives of various denominations.
Calendar of the MES
- Preparatory Semester: 08.02.2006 – 30.06.2006
Lecture – exercise sessions (30 credits) - 15 weeks of lecture – exercise sessions: 08.02.2006 – 24.05.2006
- 2 weeks of study hours (revisions): 25.05.2006 – 09.06.2006
- 1 week of exams: 12.06.2006 – 16.06.2006
- Results: 29/30.06.2006
- Summer vacations: 01.07.2006 – 03.09.2006
- Semester 2: 04.09.2006 – 02.02.2007
Lecture – exercise sessions (30 credits) - 15 weeks of lecture – exercise sessions: 04.09.2006 – 18.12.2006
- 2 weeks of winter vacations: 19.12.2006 – 02.01.2007
- 2 weeks of study hours (revisions): 03.01.2007 – 17.01.2007
- 1 week of exams: 18.01.2007 – 25.01.2007
- Results: 02.02.2007
- Semester 3: 05.02.2007 –25.06.2007
Lecture – exercise sessions + Research (30 credits) - 15 weeks of lecture – exercise sessions and research: 05.02.2007 – 21.05.2007
- 2 weeks of study hours (revisions): 22.05.2007 – 05.06.2007
- 1 week of exams: 06.06.2007 – 14.06.2007
- Results: 25.06.2007
- Summer vacations: 15.06.2007 – 08.07.2007
- Semester 4: 09.07.2007 – 22.11.2007 Internship + Research (30 credits)
- 8 weeks of internship and personal research: 09.07.07.2007 – 03.09.2007
- 7 weeks of personal research: 03.09.2007 – 22.10.2007
- 2 weeks to write the dissertation and the report: 23.10.2007 – 09.11.2007
- Viva and oral report of the internship: 12/14.11.2007
- Final results: 19/20.11.2007
- Graduation ceremony: 22.11.2007
Timetable of MES
PREPARATORY SEMESTER
08.02.2006 – 24.05.2006
1 academic/contact hour = 45 minutes
For reasons of convenience, all schedules are expressed in both academic and physical hours
- 30 credits
- 750 academic hours of full workload
= 645 academic hours in 15 weeks of lecture – exercise sessions (43 academic hours per week)
+ 105 academic hours in 2 weeks of revisions - 1 week of exams
- 32.25 physical hours of workload per week including 12 physical hours of classes + 20.25 physical hours of independent study
Time | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
14.00 – 14.45 | MFL 1 | | | IR | |
14.50 – 15.35 | MFL 1 | ETH 1 | MFL 1 | IR | ESV 1 |
15.50 – 16.35 | ETH 1 | ANTH 1 | METH | IC | ESV 1 |
16.40 – 17.25 | ETH 1 | ANTH 1 | METH | IC | |
Code | MODULE | ECTS | Academic Hours of classes per semester | Academic Hours of independent study per semester | Physical hours of classes per week | Physical Hours of independent study per week |
IC | Introduction to Christianity Alicia Khrin
| 4 | 30 | 70 | 1.30 | 3 |
IR | History of Religions Andriy Vas'kiv | 4 | 30 | 70 | 1.30 | 3 |
ESV 1 | Ecumenical Study Visits Myroslav Marynovych
| 4 | 30 | 70 | 1.30 | 2.25 |
ANTH1 1 | Anthropology Andriy Dakhniy
| 4 | 30 | 70 | 1.30 | 3 |
METH | Methodology Antoine Arjakovsky
| 4 | 30 | 70 | 1.30 | 3 |
MFL 1 | Modern Foreign Language Iryna Ozymok (French) Halyna Pastushuk (Eng) Marie-Aude Tardivo (Civi. Eng/Fr.)
| 5 | 45 | 80 | 2.15 | 3 |
ETH 1 | Ecumenical Theology Alicia Khrin
| 5 | 45 | 80 | 2.15 | 3 |
| TOTAL | 30 | 240 | 510 | 12 | 20.25 |
SEMESTER 2
04.09.2006 – 25.01.2007
- 30 credits
- 750 academic hours of full workload
= 645 academic hours in 15 weeks of lecture – exercise sessions (43 academic hours per week)
+ 105 academic hours in 2 weeks of revisions - 1 week of exams
- 32.25 physical hours of workload per week including 12 physical hours of classes + 20.25 physical hours of independent study
Time | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
14.00 – 14.45 | EM | IBS | ANTH 2 | ECHS | ESV 2 |
14.50 – 15.35 | EM | IBS | ANTH 2 | ECHS | ESV 2 |
15.50 – 16.35 | ETH 2 | MFL 2 | MFL 2 | | ESV 2 |
16.40 – 17.25 | ETH 2 | | MFL 2 | | |
Code | MODULE | ECTS | Academic Hours of classes per semester | Academic Hours of independent study per semester | Physical Hours of classes per week | Physical Hours of independent study per week |
EM | Ecumenical Movement Fr. Ivan Dacko
| 4 | 30 | 70 | 1.30 | 3 |
ECHS | Eastern Christian Spirituality Andriy Shkrabiuk
| 4 | 30 | 70 | 1.30 | 3 |
ECBH | Introduction to Biblical Studies Taras Barshchevskyi | 4 | 30 | 70 | 1.30 | 3 |
ETH 2 | Ecumenical Theology Alicia Khrin
| 4 | 30 | 70 | 1.30 | 3.25 |
ANTH 2 | Anthropology Andriy Dakhniy
| 4 | 30 | 70 | 1.30 | 3 |
MFL 2 | Modern Foreign Language Iryna Ozymok (French) Halyna Pastushuk (Eng)
| 5 | 45 | 80 | 2.15 | 4 |
ESV 2 | Ecumenical Study Visits
| 5 | 45 | 80 | 2.15 | 1 |
| TOTAL | 30 | 240 | 510 | 12 | 20.25 |
SEMESTER 3
05.02.2007 – 14.06.2007
1 academic/contact hour = 60 minutes
For convenience reasons, all schedules are expressed in both academic and physical hours
- 30 credits
- 750 academic hours of full workload
= 645 academic hours in 15 weeks of lecture – exercise sessions (43 academic hours per week)
+ 105 academic hours in 2 weeks of revisions - 1 week of exams
- 35.30 physical hours of workload per week including 13 physical hours of classes + 22.30 physical hours of independent study
Time | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
14.00 – 15.00 | EWP | PFL | NR | RMM | MFL 3 |
15.05 – 16.05 | ECBH | PS | CHE | TSW | |
16.10 – 17.10 | SEE | SP | EC | MFL 3 | |
Code | MODULE | ECTS | Academic Hours of classes per semester | Academic Hours of independent study per semester | Physical Hours of classes per week | Physical Hours of independent study per week |
EWP | Patristics Taras Tymo
| 2 | 15 | 35 | 1 | 1.30 |
ECBH | Ecumenical and Contextual Biblical Hermeneutics Taras Barshchevskyi
| 2 | 15 | 35 | 1 | 1. 30 |
SEE | Social and Economic Ethics Olga Lishchynska
| 2 | 15 | 35 | 1 | 1. 30 |
PFL | Pedagogy of Family Living Lesia Vas'kiv
| 2 | 15 | 35 | 1 | 1. 30 |
PS | Psychology of Religion Andriy Vas'kiv
| 2 | 15 | 35 | 1 | 1. 30 |
SP | Social Pedagogy Maria Shved
| 2 | 15 | 35 | 1 | 1. 30 |
NR | New Religions Andriy Vas'kiv | 2 | 15 | 35 | 1 | 1. 30 |
CHE | Christian Ethics Andriy Vas'kiv
| 2 | 15 | 35 | 1 | 1. 30 |
EC | Ecclesiology Yuriy Sakvuk
| 2 | 15 | 35 | 1 | 1. 30 |
RMM | Religion and Mass Media Andriy Yurash
| 2 | 15 | 35 | 1 | 1. 30 |
TSW | Theory of Social Work: Religious Aspect Lesia Vas'kiv
| 2 | 15 | 35 | 1 | 1.30 |
MFL3 | Modern Foreign Language Iryna Ozymok (Fr), Halyna Pastushuk (Eng)
| 4 | 30 | 70 | 2 | 3 |
PR | Personal Research | 4 | - | 200 | - | 7.30 |
| TOTAL | 30 | 195 | 555 | 13 | 22.30 |
SEMESTER 4
09.07.2007 – 20.11.2007
1 academic/contact hour = 45 minutes
For convenience reasons, all schedules are expressed in both academic and physical hours
- 30 credits
- 750 academic hours of full workload
- 8 weeks of internship and personal research of 360 academic hours
- 7 weeks of personal research of 245 academic hours
- 2 weeks to write the dissertation and prepare the oral report of 145 academic hours
- 1 week of exams
Code | MODULE | ECTS | Academic Hours per semester | Physical Hours per semester |
PR | Personal Research | 17 | 425 | 320 |
INT | Internship | 13 | 325 | 240 |
09.07.2007 – 03.09.2007 = 8 weeks
Time | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
09.00 – 12.00 | INT | INT | INT | INT | INT |
13.00 – 17.00 | INT | INT | INT | INT | INT |
17.00 – 19.00 | PR | PR | PR | PR | PR |
03.09.2007 – 22.10.2007 = 7 weeks
26.25 physical hours of personal research per week. (35 academic hours)
23.10.2007 – 09.11.2007 = 2 weeks
109 physical hours to finish writing the dissertation and prepare the oral report of the internship. (145 academic hours)
Perspectives:
- Ecumenical Theology: postgraduate studies
- Social Ethics
- Religion and Journalism
Enrolment requirements
The candidates should be at least in their 4th year of studies by the beginning of the preparatory semester of the MES and have a sufficient command of English or French, and preferably other European languages.
Entrance Exams
Students are enrolled into MES by the Examination Committee according to the results of entrance examinations on religious culture and a foreign language (English or French), as well as motivational interview.
Charitable Contributions
The fee for one semester of study is 400 hryvnias. The payment of fees is a voluntary charitable contribution. There is financial assistance available for early registrants.
EXCHANGE STUDENTS
The status of Exchange Student is a special category granted to students who take part in the European educational programmes of Socrates / Erasmus , TEMPUS , ALFA , EU/Canada and others. They can also be students who come to L'viv in the framework of a faculty bilateral exchange agreement between their university, the Ukrainian Catholic University and Ivan Franko National University of L'viv. An exchange student remains enrolled at his/her home university, and spends a few months at the Ukrainian Catholic University .
Exchange students are invited to spend 8 weeks in Semester 4 in Ukraine according to the following scheme:
Academic programme:
- 15 credits
- 8 weeks of classes of Ukrainian language/civilization and personal research of 360 academic hours
- Ukrainian classes in the morning or the afternoon
- Personal supervisor (English/French speaking )
- Dissertation of 20 pages and oral report to be defended at the home university
Immersion programme:
- 15 Credits
- 8 weeks of internship in a local Ukrainian social organization (Anglophone and/or Francophone) and personal research of 360 academic hours
- Possibility to attend Ukrainian classes in the morning or afternoon for half of the time dedicated to the internship
- Personal supervisor (English/French speaking)
- Dissertation of 20 pages and oral report to be defended at the home university
ECTS | Code | MODULE | Academic Hours per semester |
15 | PR INT ULC | Personal Research Internship Ukrainian Language and Civilization | 360 |
TIME FRAMEWORK
09.07.2007 – 03.09.2007
8 weeks
Time | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
09.00 – 12.00 | INT | INT | INT | INT | INT |
13.00 – 17.00 | INT | INT | INT | INT | INT |
17.00 – 19.00 | PR | PR | PR | PR | PR |
26.25 physical hours per week of internship. (35 academic hours)
7.5 physical hours of personal research per week. (10 academic hours)
UKRAINIAN SUMMER SCHOOL
Academic Programme |
A full-day language program is provided at the beginner, intermediate and advanced levels . No previous experience of Ukrainian is required. Intensive language classes normally meet for 4 or 5 hours per day in the morning and afternoon. Daily work outside of class usually requires 2 to 3 hours per day. Besides formal classes participants have time for one-on-one conversational practice with our tutorial staff and organized evening and weekend activities. Class levels are based on student interviews and diagnostic tests upon arrival. UKR 101 Elementary Ukrainian I and UKR 102 Elementary Ukrainian II The Elementary Ukrainian courses are designed to accommodate students with no previous knowledge of the Ukrainian language . The objectives of the courses are to develop elementary proficiency in four basic linguistic skills: speaking, reading, listening, and writing. Basic grammatical structures, sound patterns, spelling and vocabulary will be introduced in an engaging and interactive manner. Additional emphasis will be placed on developing sociolinguistic communicative skills necessary for successful intercultural interaction. Course material will engage students in exploring Ukraine 's living cultural and linguistic environment through the study of its living language on site. UKR 201 Intermediate Ukrainian I and UKR 202 Intermediate Ukrainian II For students with approximately 150 hours of prior formal classroom instruction or equivalent personal background in Ukrainian; students entering this class typically demonstrate novice high speaking and writing skills , and novice mid listening and reading skills upon entrance into the course. In this class students review the basic grammatical and syntactical structures of the Ukrainian language and improve their mastery of this foundation of the language while acquiring an active vocabulary of approximately 1,500 words. Most students completing this course can read stylistically uncomplicated short stories and newspaper articles, and can understand the main ideas of uncomplicated radio and television reports. Course material will engage students in exploring Ukraine 's living cultural and linguistic environment through the study of its living language on site. UKR 301 Advanced Ukrainian I and UKR 302 Advanced Ukrainian II Advanced Ukrainian I aims to strengthen all four communicative skills of students of Ukrainian (speaking, reading, listening, and writing) through engaging students in a variety of interactive activities which will range from communicating with members of local academic and non-academic communities to working with locally available cultural and literary texts from Ukraine in print and other media, literature, and everyday life. The course emphasizes further improvement of sociolinguistic skills. For more information for accommodation and academic fees please contact the secretariat of the MES |
Partner Institutions
- Université KU Leuven, Belgium
- Université Catholique de Lyon, France
- Institut Catholique de Paris, France
- Catholic University Eischtätt-Ingolstadt, Germany
- University San Pablo of Madrid, Spain
- University of Fribourg, Switzerland
- Bossey Ecumenical Institute, Switzerland
CONTACT ADDRESS
Institute of Ecumenical Studies
Ukrainian Catholic University
17 Ilariona Svientsitskoho St.
79011 L'viv
Ukraine
Tel: +38.0322.40.99.40 ext. 191
Fax: +38.0322.40.99.50
E-mail: ies@ucu.edu.ua
http://www.ecumenicalstudies.org.ua/eng/
The information is up-to-date at the time of publication and is subject to revision.
