Courses & Learning
Research Degrees
M.Res Quaker Studies
This innovative M.Res option (1 year full-time, 2 years part-time) is an exciting way to learn about, and reflect on, the Quaker past, present, and future, whilst also conducting some in-depth research. It suits those who want a systematic approach to Quaker history and theology but who also want to work on an extended piece of research on their own with the support of their supervisor.
The aim of the course is to give students a comprehensive understanding of Quakerism, theologically, historically, and sociologically, and to offer them the training for future research while standing alone in its own right. The course is also an ideal stepping stone to a doctoral research degree and it is possible to transfer from the M.Res to a PhD programme.
The degree programme comprises:
- the modules in The History of Quaker Theology (20 credits) and Issues in Contemporary Quakerism (20 credits)
- the Research Methods module (20 credits);
- a 20,000 word dissertation on an approved topic of your choice (120 credits).
All students complete the taught element in two terms between October and April (4 hours of lectures and seminars over 20 weeks). Full-time students then complete their dissertation in the following six months. Part-time students have 18 months to submit this final piece of work.
The scheduling of the taught components, often all on one day, is designed to offer the greatest accessibility for those living away from Birmingham or working.
Completed M.Res theses include:
‘The Quakers in Gloucester 1655 – 1737’, Richard Lacock, 2001
‘The Experience of Worship: a study of worship in England at the millennium’, Elizabeth Collinge-Hill, 2001
‘Life in Recognised Quaker Meetings’, Alan E Johnson, 2001
‘Llain y Delyn: Fellowship House, y Tymbl and its relationship to the Quakers in Britain’, Owain Gethin Evans, 2001
‘P.C. Sirkar of Kolkata (Calcutta): a nineteenth-century Hindu Quaker’, Sheila M.S. Laxman, 2001
‘Narrative Theology and Quakerism’, Irene Hardisty, 2002
‘Quakers and the “good life”: a comparison of the morality of contemporary British Quakers with John Kekes’ version of the good life’, Hazel Uren, 2002
‘The Experience of Regeneration and Erosion of Certainty in the Theology of Second Generation Quakers: no place for doubt?’, Nikki Coffey Tousley, 2002
‘ “We Shall Forever Eat Frugally Off Clean Plates”: an analysis of the background, presentation and effect of the 1986 Swarthmore Lecture’, Hazel Shellens, 2002
‘The Mystic and the Modernist: Caroline Emelia Stephen (1834 – 1909) and Virginia Woolf (1882 – 1941)’, Brenda I. Newton, 2002
‘A Dislocation between the Word and the Reality: Quaker insights into thought, language, identity and truth within a philosophical framework’, Simon Cohen, 2002
‘Quaker Women in South Africa during the Apartheid Era’, Petronella Clark, 2003
‘The Debate between John Bunyan and Edward Burrough, 1656 – 7’, Richard Holland, 2006
‘Conversation as Testimony: a hundred years of Quaker mission and witness’, Mary Wong, 2006
‘Grace and Truth in the Experience of Friends’, Brian Odell, 2007
‘Homeopathic Philosophy as a Conflict Transformation Theory, Heather Larkin Jones, 2007
‘Giving to the Centrally Managed Work of Britain Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends’, Hazel L. Jones, 2009
‘Quakerism and Approaches to Mental Affliction: A Comparative Study of George Fox and William Tuke’, Amanda Lawrence, 2010
‘Christian Belief in the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers): a response to the claim that British Friends are post-Christian’, Katherine Mellor, 2010
'The Rowntree History Series and the Growth of Liberal Quakerism. 1895-1925', Alice Southern, 2010
Ongoing M.Res work includes: Quaker response to Darwin.
MA by Research, MLitt, PhD by Research
As well as offering a part-taught M.Res degree, there is the option of the MA by Research/PhD in Quaker Studies or in other areas of staff expertise by research alone.
The MA by Research (1 year full-time, 2 years part-time) comprises a 40,000 word dissertation which must offer some new insights into an existing field or body of literature. The MLitt (2 years full-time, 4 years part-time) is achieved through a 60,000 word dissertation. The PhD (3 years full-time, 6 years part-time) is achieved through an 80,000 word thesis, making an original contribution to knowledge.
These degrees are ideal for those who already have some training in research methods, who have a topic of research they are passionate about, and who enjoy working largely on their own within a structured and timetabled framework. There are weekly research methods sessions in the first term and (at least) monthly meetings with the Director of Studies throughout registration.
Supervision is available in all areas of Quaker Studies and other areas of expertise amongst the staff, but proposals need to be feasible, original and viable, and approved by the student’s Director of Studies as well as the Department.
Current and ongoing thesis topics include: Quakers and the natural world; The travelling ministry and renewal; how present-day Quakers make choices about their use of time; Native Americans and Postmodern Christianity; British Quaker women peace activists, 1910 – 30; Theologising around ambiguous gender identities; Governance of religious communities; Quakers and Wales; Quakers and Quietism; Quakers’ relationship to Jesus; Quakers and inwardness; The human co-creation with God; Sacro-egoism; Robert Barclay and the Peace Testimony; Quakers and God; Process Theology; Richard Rolle and the Quakers: Experiment with light: Adolescent Quaker spirituality: Lollardy and Quakerism: Global citizenship education.
Completed PhD work includes:
‘Quakerism as Holiness: an historical analysis of the theology of holiness in the Quaker tradition’, Carole Dale Spencer, 2004
‘The Attitudes and Behaviours of Quakers in Relation to Substance use and Gambling,’ Helena Chambers, 2007
‘The Temporal Collage: how British Quakers make choices about time at the start of the twenty-first century’, Judy Frith, 2008
‘Teaching International Understanding Through Experiential Art Education: a Quaker case study’, Christen Clougherty (USA), 2009
‘Benign Neglect: the activities and relationship of London Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) to Wales, c. 1860 – c. 1918’, Owain Gethin Evans, 2009
‘Sacro-Egoism and the Shifting Paradigm of Religiosity’, John Steven Knox (USA), 2009
‘From Revelation to Resource: The natural world in the thought and experience of Quakers in Britain and Ireland 1647 – 1830’, Geoffrey Morries, 2010.
Split Location Registration: Completing a Research Degree whilst Living Outside Britain.
We do not offer the Postgraduate Certificate or M.Res by distance learning. However, it is possible to study for the MA by Research, MLitt, or PhD by research whilst remaining outside Britain, if you can make a case for local data collection, e.g. that you are researching in the specific context of your area. You need to show that you have the ability, motivation, and self-discipline to work at a distance from the University and that you have access to a university library and other facilities. Supervision is by post, e-mail, and phone and an annual visit from the Director of Studies (which the student pays for). Students, full time or part time, registered in this way are known as ‘Split Location Students’. The website http://www.as.bham.ac.uk/legislation/docs/COP_Split_Location_Postgraduate_Study.pdf gives more details on the regulations concerning registration in this way.
Split location PhD students are required to spend six months at the University at some point or other during the course of their degree registration, either as one 6-month period or as a succession of shorter periods. If you live at Woodbrooke during these times, the regular accommodation prices are discounted by 65%.
