Bachelor of Arts in Theology and Psychology

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Malta

Program Overview

The Bachelor of Arts in Theology and Psychology at the University of Malta blends deep theological insights with practical psychological knowledge, perfect for students passionate about faith, human behavior, and helping others—especially if you're eyeing roles like secondary school religion teaching after further training. You'll gain a strong foundation in both fields, building skills to understand the mind, ethics, and spirituality in real-world contexts that set you up for meaningful careers.

Curriculum structure
Year 1
You'll kick off with engaging introductions that bridge philosophy, theology, and psychology, like PHI1025: An Introduction to Philosophy through Film and PHI1027: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Communication, sparking your thinking on big ideas through movies and everyday interactions. Add in PSY1628: Introduction to the Psychology Profession to get a real feel for what psychologists do, setting a solid base as you explore faith alongside human development.

Year 2
Things get more hands-on here, diving into core theology with FDT2310: A Christian Understanding of God and MRT2010: Principles of Moral Theology, helping you grapple with divine concepts and ethical dilemmas in daily life. Pair that with psychology essentials like PSY2606: Psychology of Learning and Applied Behaviour Analysis and PSY2628: Quantitative Research Methods and Data Analysis, where you'll learn how people learn, change behaviors, and crunch data to make sense of the mind.

Year 3
Advanced topics shine, such as PSY1635: Major Paradigms: Cognitive Psychology and PSY2623: Work Psychology, exploring how we think, work, and navigate relationships, while theology units like HPA2230: Fundamental Patrology deepen your grasp of early Christian writings. You'll also tackle PSY2626: Psychology of Sexuality, connecting personal identity with ethical and spiritual perspectives for a well-rounded view.

Focus areas
Core strengths include moral theology, Christian doctrine, research methods in psychology, cognitive and behavioral paradigms, and applied areas like work psychology and neurodiversity—equipping you to address faith, mental health, and human flourishing.

Learning outcomes
Graduates develop critical thinking in theology and psychology, research skills for data analysis (quantitative and qualitative), ethical reasoning from moral theology, and practical insights into behavior, learning, and organizational dynamics—ready to apply interdisciplinary knowledge.

Professional alignment (accreditation)
This program aligns perfectly with pathways to secondary religion teaching (post-teacher training) and builds toward psychology-related roles, with credits structured via the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) for recognized qualifications at the University of Malta.

Reputation (employability rankings)
University of Malta programs like this deliver strong employability, with theology grads often advancing to teaching and counseling; while specific QS rankings highlight UM's rising global standing in social sciences and humanities (top 500 band).

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At the University of Malta, our Bachelor of Arts in Theology and Psychology dives right into experiential learning through hands-on study-units that blend psychological theories with theological practice, giving you real-world skills in areas like developmental psychology, family dynamics, and pastoral contexts—right from your first year. You'll build practical expertise using dedicated campus facilities like the Psychology department hub in the Old Humanities Building, where lectures, seminars, and group discussions bring concepts to life, plus access to the Faculty of Theology's resources for ministry-focused application. This setup ensures you're not just studying theory but applying it in interactive settings that prepare you for careers in counselling, pastoral work, or further psychotheology studies.

Here's how our program makes experiential learning tangible::
- Psychology Department facilities in the Old Humanities Building (location 18 on campus map) for practical sessions in units like PSY1622 Developmental Psychology 1 and PSY2634 Psychology of the Family, including group projects on communication and health psychology.
- Group projects and discussions embedded in elective units such as PSY1625 Psychology of Communication and PSY2633 Health Psychology, fostering teamwork on real-life scenarios like family ministry and conflict resolution.
- Theology practicals via units like PLC1400 The Pastoral Context and FDT3160 Christian Anthropology, with seminar-style application in the Faculty of Theology building for ethical and pastoral skills.
- Lecture theatres and centres including the Arts Lecture Theatre (19), Dun Mikiel Xerri Lecture Centre (25), and Chaplaincy (44) for immersive workshops tying psychology paradigms (e.g., PSY1610 Psychoanalytic and Humanistic) to moral theology.
- Library and research support through the main campus library and Mediterranean Institute (18), ideal for hands-on research in philosophical psychology (PSY1620) and moral theology principles.
- Counselling Services (42) and Health & Wellness Centre for observing practical mental health applications, linking to units like those in pastoral psychology pathways.

This program sets you up with skills employers and grad schools love—imagine applying right after!

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates of the Bachelor of Arts in Theology and Psychology at the University of Malta develop a distinctive understanding of human behaviour, mental processes, and ethical and theological perspectives. This combination prepares students for people-focused roles where psychological insight and ethical awareness play an important role. Typical career paths include work in community services, education, human resources, church or faith-based organisations, and support roles in social or pastoral care settings.

With this interdisciplinary background:

Students benefit from the University’s Communication and Academic Skills Programme, which helps strengthen academic writing, presentation, and professional communication skills needed for both employment and further study.
The programme encourages participation in Erasmus+ mobility opportunities, giving students the chance to study abroad and gain broader academic and cultural experience.
Graduates develop transferable skills in research, critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and understanding human behaviour, which are valuable across public, private, and community-based sectors.
The degree provides a recognised MQF Level 6 qualification worth 180 ECTS credits, supporting progression to postgraduate study in psychology, theology, social sciences, education, and related fields.
The programme supports career pathways in community-based and faith-related work, as well as roles involving human interaction, support services, and educational or organisational settings.
The University does not publish specific employment rates, salary figures, or named industry partnership employers for this programme.

Further Academic Progression:

After completing the Bachelor of Arts in Theology and Psychology, students can continue their studies through master’s degrees in psychology, theology, education, social work, counselling-related fields, or other related disciplines, depending on entry requirements. This can lead to advanced academic training, doctoral research opportunities, and long-term careers in academia, community leadership, research, education, and faith-based or social service professions.