• Diploma of Theology
• Diploma of Ministry
• Advanced Diploma of Theology
• Advanced Diploma of Ministry

www.actheology.edu.au/handbooks_undergraduate.php

The information in this section has been taken from the Australian College of Theology Undergraduate Handbook.

Aims & perceived need

The aim of the Diplomas and Advanced Diplomas is to introduce students in a systematic manner to the body of coherent knowledge that is the classical discipline of theology as a means of preparing men and women for well-informed participation in the life of the church and, if students so choose, for ministry in one or more areas of pastoral practice. The course does aim to provide a foundation of knowledge and skills appropriate to Christian ministry, but not at the breadth and depth required for leaders and teachers in congregations for which vocation the BTh, BMin and MDiv have been devised. It is acknowledged, however, that some students will be already academically equipped and motivated to operate at levels consistent with undergraduate degree level.

Occupational functions of graduates

Graduates might expect to fulfil the following roles:

• a well-informed member of a church ministry team with shared responsibility for the Christian education program
• depending on the subjects taken in the course, a member of a church pastoral ministry team under the leadership of a qualified practitioner with a degree in theology or ministry

Skills, knowledge & attitudes acquired by graduates

Graduates can be expected to demonstrate the following skills, knowledge and attitudes:

• an ability to interpret the biblical deposit, especially those books which have played a crucial role in the development of Christian tradition, with a knowledge of their original context and their major themes and ideas
• knowledge of the major theological tenets of the Christian faith which underpin any coherent theological worldview and philosophy of ministry
• Having successfully completed subjects in the Department of Ministry and Practice, graduates should possess skills appropriate for ministry, and demonstrate that they are able to bring the intellectual and pastoral dimensions of the faith to bear upon issues affecting their special study area, in a way which is integrated with personal experience.
• an ability to communicate and minister in their special study area in a manner which appropriately brings together knowledge and social context

Learning & teaching strategies

• Students master the underlying principles and concepts of the biblical deposit and church history, as presented in the core subjects in Old Testament, New Testament and church history.
• Once that foundation has been laid, students are engaging in biblical exegesis, the major theological doctrines and the further study of church history.
• Students wishing to prepare for particular pastoral care and other practical ministry opportunities are required to demonstrate the skills needed to operate in those spheres.
• Students intending to prepare for an aspect of pastoral ministry and who intend to take out the Advanced Diploma of Ministry are required to take the subject Guided Reflection (PC249), which is intended to facilitate reflection on the intellectual challenges of the content of the course and ministry context for which the student is preparing.

Teaching strategies employed throughout the course are to include not only traditional lectures but also seminar presentations, input from specialist adjunct lecturers, and the use of audio, video and IT resources where available.

Admission requirements

Students are normally admitted upon the satisfactory completion of Year 12 in an Australian school system or equivalent. Consideration will also be given to other factors such as practical experience, maturity and motivation, and the likelihood of satisfactory completion of the academic requirements of the course. Mature age entry is available for students over the age of 20.

A few students have taken this option, for example, in order to complete a subject not offered at Mary Andrews College in a particular year, or to have the chance to study by evening lectures because their work hours have changed.

Diploma of Theology and Diploma of Ministry

The Diplomas aim to introduce you to Christian theology as it relates to various ministries. It seeks to combine the development of your ministry skills with theological reflection and the continuing formation of your Christian life. It would take you to a level that would be sufficient for you to begin ministry in the area of your major study. For example, you would be equipped for well-informed participation in the life of the church and, if you so choose, as a part of a church ministry team with ministry responsibilities in one or more areas of pastoral practice.

The Diploma course may be completed in a minimum of two years of full time study or the equivalent part time. There is no maximum time in which to complete the course. The subjects seek to develop your basic skills in ministry as well as to encourage you to engage in biblical and theological reflection.

Diploma students must complete 16 subjects (i.e. 64 credit points). Each subject is worth 4 credit points (cps).

	Diploma of Theology	Diploma of Ministry
Core subjects	Old Testament: both OT201 and OT202
	New Testament: both NT201 and NT202
	Theology: either TH210 or TH211
	Church History: 1 of CH201, CH202, CH205-CH209
Elective subjects	Old Testament Exegesis: minimum of 1 subject	Old Testament Exegesis: minimum of 1 subject
	New Testament Exegesis: minimum of 1 subject	New Testament Exegesis: minimum of 1 subject
	Theology: minimum of 1 more subject	Ministry & Practice: minimum of 4 subjects, with minimum of 2 subjects from 1 field (PC, EM, DM)
	Church History: minimum of 1 more subject
	Type A Electives: minimum of 4 more subjects	Type A Electives: minimum of 2 more subjects
	Type B Electives: maximum of 2 Type B subjects (if offered)	Type B Electives: maximum of 2 Type B subjects (if offered)
	Total of 16 subjects	Total of 16 subjects

Advanced Diploma of Theology and Advanced Diploma of Ministry

The Advanced Diplomas aim to introduce you to Christian theology as it relates to various ministries. It seeks to combine the development of your ministry skills with theological reflection and the continuing formation of your Christian life. It would take you to a level that would be sufficient for you to begin ministry in the area of your major study. For example, you would be equipped for well-informed participation in the life of the church and, if you so choose, as a part of a church ministry team with ministry responsibilities in one or more areas of pastoral practice.

The Advanced Diploma course may be completed in a minimum of three years of full time study or the equivalent part time. There is no maximum time in which to complete the course.

Advanced Diploma students must complete 24 subjects (i.e. 96 credit points). Each subject is worth 4 credit points (cps).

	Advanced Diploma of Theology	Advanced Diploma of Ministry
Core subjects	Old Testament: both OT201 and OT202
	New Testament: both NT201 and NT202
	Theology: either TH210 or TH211
	Church History: 1 of CH201, CH202, CH205-CH209
Elective subjects	Old Testament & New Testament Exegesis: minimum of 6 subjects, with minimum of 1 subject from each field (OT, NT)	Old Testament & New Testament Exegesis: minimum of 3 subjects, with minimum of 1 subject from each field (OT, NT)
	Theology: minimum of 2 more subjects	Theology: minimum of 1 more subject
	Church History: minimum of 1 more subject	Church History: minimum of 1 more subject
		Ministry & Practice: minimum of 5 subjects, with minimum of 1 subjects from at least each of 2 fields (PC, EM, DM)
		Guided Reflection PC249
	Type A Electives: minimum of 6 more subjects, including your Project	Type A Electives: minimum of 5 more subjects, including your Project
	Type B Electives: maximum of 3 Type B subjects (if offered)	Type B Electives: maximum of 2 Type B subjects (if offered)
	Total of 24 subjects	Total of 24 subjects

Every Advanced Diploma student must complete a Special Interest Project chosen in a particular area of study. The project can only be completed in your final year of study and will be assessed at first year university undergraduate level. The project is worth 4 cps.

PC249 Guided Reflection on Christian Life and Ministry (Supervised Experience-Based Learning) is an integrative subject taken over four semesters of your Advanced Diploma program and is worth 4 cps. This subject is only compulsory for Advanced Diploma of Ministry students.

The Diploma subjects that are offered by Mary Andrews College are listed below. For a complete list of subjects available in the Diploma courses, see the Australian College of Theology Undergraduate Handbook on their website:

There are two types of subjects, as can be seen in the list below. The first type comprises those subjects that are chosen from the accredited pool of Australian College of Theology Diploma subjects. These are called Type A subjects. The second type of comprises subjects which each affiliated college (e.g. Mary Andrews College) has designed and had approved by the Australian College of Theology. These are called Type B subjects.

Type A Subjects (core & electives)

Bible and Languages

Christian Thought

Ministry and Practice

Type B Subjects (electives)

These two Type B electives have been designed by the Mary Andrews College faculty and have been approved by the Australian College of Theology Diploma Board for inclusion in the Diploma and Advanced Diploma range of subjects.


Does the order in which I do subjects matter?
Because the Diploma may be studied on a part time basis, there is no strict pattern in the way subjects are to be taken. However, some subjects are of a more difficult nature or are linked in content to another subject. You should note the following: