BA Literature and Theology

About this course

Literature and theology is an unusual combination that turns out to be deeply coherent. Religious texts are among the oldest and most influential works of literature in human history, and literary analysis has long been one of the most productive tools for understanding sacred writing, theological argument, and the relationship between faith and culture. Conversely, theology raises questions about meaning, transcendence, and the human condition that literature has always been preoccupied with. At the University of the Highlands and Islands, this part-time programme allows you to study both disciplines in a flexible mode that suits students who cannot commit to full-time attendance. The literature strand develops your close reading skills and your ability to engage with texts from a range of periods, traditions, and genres. You will learn to analyse how language, form, and narrative shape meaning, and to situate literary works within their historical and cultural contexts. The theology strand introduces you to the intellectual traditions of religious thought, including biblical study, the history of Christian theology, ethics, and philosophy of religion, as well as broader comparative approaches to religious texts and practice. Together, the two subjects illuminate each other: understanding the literary qualities of biblical and theological writing deepens your engagement with theology, while theological questions about meaning and truth enrich your approach to literature. The part-time mode means you take a smaller number of course units per week than a full-time student, making the programme accessible to those balancing study with other commitments. Graduates of literature and theology programmes develop strong skills in reading complex texts carefully, constructing reasoned arguments, and engaging with questions that resist simple answers. These are qualities valued in education, ministry and chaplaincy, community and social work, journalism, publishing, public administration, and the arts. Some graduates go on to postgraduate study in theology, religious studies, literary studies, or related disciplines, including ordained ministry pathways. Others use the degree as a foundation for teaching or for work in heritage, community education, or the voluntary sector.

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