Bachelor of Arts

About this course

The Bachelor of Arts course is a primary undergraduate award that provides a broad and coherent study in the humanities and traditional theological disciplines. This degree prepares candidates to take their place in Australian society, in both personal and professional life, with a profound appreciation of Christian heritage, theology, philosophy and practice, in service of the contemporary world. It also prepares for further learning beyond the degree in other more specialised fields of study.

Anchored in Christian heritage, theology, philosophy, and practice, and focused upon the contemporary human interest, the graduate of the SCD Bachelor of Arts will be equipped for a broad range of career choices and grounded in pathways into more specialised study. Graduates from the SCD BA will be suited for careers within spheres appreciative of Christian heritage, theology, philosophy and practice. Drawing upon that heritage, their critical Christian thinking and reflective engagement with contemporary human interests will also equip graduates to make a significant and critical contribution in other spheres of employment and societal life.

The graduate of the Bachelor of Arts will be a critical and reflective thinker, anchored in the Christian heritage and focused upon the interests of human beings in the contemporary world.

This award is not approved for CRICOS study.

  • Study Mode: Full Time, Part Time,

  • Credit Points: 216 (24 units)

  • Award Level: AQF Level 7

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Delivered at

Australian College of Ministries
  • NSW
  • Domestic
Nisibis Assyrian Theological College
  • NSW
  • Domestic
Planetshakers College
  • VIC
  • Domestic
  • International

Course Details

Admission to the Bachelor of Arts requires:

  •  An Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) of 65, or its equivalent (e.g. OP≤16); OR
  • Satisfactorily completed Year 12 (or equivalent), from an institution recognised by the Academic Board; AND
  • Satisfactorily completes a pre-enrolment interview with a relevant course advisor. 

 

English Proficiency

Applicants whose entry qualifications were obtained in an institution where English is not the language of instruction normally require a minimum IELTS (or equivalent) score of 6.0 with no score less than 5.5 in all bands of the test.

The Bachelor of Arts requires the completion of 216 credit points (24 units) which shall include:

 

Two compulsory units (18 credit points):

  • A7176 Faith, Texts and Meaning
  • A7151 Christian World View; AND

 

Four core units from Schedule A (36 credit points); AND

 

An Area of Focus consisting of:

  • 54 credit points (6 units), which may be interdisciplinary, and must include no more than 18 credit points of 7100 units; AND
  • 18 credit points of integrative units to be drawn from the generic units on Schedule B below, applied to the Area of Focus.

 

AQF 5 and 6 Units credited towards the Bachelor of Arts may be used to satisfy the requirements of an Area of Focus.

 

Electives (90 credit points) no more than 18 credit points of 7100 units which may be selected from any (sub)discipline; additional elective units as required to complete the award from the suite of available Sydney College of Divinity units may be selected to constitute a second Area of Focus.

 

All course units will be taken from Sydney College of Divinity Schedule of units of study.

 

Candidates who have completed 108 credit points towards the Bachelor of Arts may select up to 36 credit points from the Schedule of 8100 and 9200 series units to be included either in the Area of Focus or the Electives. Within these units, a candidate can only select up to 18 credit points of 9200 series units provided they have already completed at least a submajor (36 credit points) in that subdiscipline with a Grade Point Average of at least 2.0.

 

Instead of operating with majors and submajors, the structure of the Sydney College of Divinity Bachelor of Arts requires an ‘Area of Focus’. A second Area of Focus may also be taken. An Area of Focus consists of 54 credit points (6 units) PLUS 18 credit points of generic research units selected from Schedule B below, applied to the Area of Focus.

 

For the Bachelor of Arts, Units coded “A” may be included in an Area of Focus, as appropriate.

 

AQF 5 and 6 Units credited towards the Bachelor of Arts may be used to satisfy the requirements of an Area of Focus.

 

Not all Areas of Focus are available at all Member Institutions. However, students may be able to complete a desired Area of Focus by completing units offered at another Member Institution. Areas of Focus may vary from time to time, depending upon the offerings of the Member Institutions, or the interests of students. For examples, see Schedule C.

 

 

SCHEDULE A: CORE UNITS

 

FOUR units to be taken from the following, with at least one from each section:

 

Section A: Biblical Studies and Theology:

  • B7101 Introduction to Biblical Studies OR
  • B7110 Introduction to the Old Testament AND/OR
  • B7150 Introduction to New Testament
  • T7101 Introduction to Theology OR
  • T7105 Introduction to Christian Doctrines
  • T7140 Theology of Mission

 

Section B: Christian Thought and Experience:

  • A7100 Critical Thinking and Writing in Theological Studies
  • A7110 Introduction to Biblical Languages
  • A72xx The Art of Persuasion Ancient and Modern
  • D7140 Introduction to Christian Education
  • E7100 Sources and Principals of Christian Ethics
  • H7110 Introduction to Church History
  • S7102 Introduction to Christian Spirituality
  • T7204 Christian Apologetics
  • W7110 Ancient and Early Medieval Philosophy

 

 

SCHEDULE B:

 

18 credit points of Generic Units to be taken in (a) sub discipline (s) applied to the Area of Focus, with an integrative purpose, selected from the following list:

  • X7290 Capstone Unit (9 credit points)
  • X7293 Seminar in [Topic] (9 credit points)
  • X7294 Fieldwork in [Discipline] (9 credit points)
  • X7295 Minor Independent Guided Study (9 credit points)
  • X7296 Major Independent Guided Study (18 credit points)
  • X7297 Action Research Project (9 credit points)
  • X7298 Minor Research Project (9 credit points)
  • X7299 Major Research Project (18 credit points)

 

 

SCHEDULE C:

 

Areas of Focus (Examples)

  1. Leadership and Society
  2. Christianity and Human Services
  3. Pastoral Care and Chaplaincy
  4. Event Management
  5. Theological Studies (Bible and Theology)
  6. Christianity and Creative Arts
  7. Theological Heritage and Human Cultures
  8. Christian Worship
  9. Linguistics, Language, Texts and Translation
  10. Religious Experience and Spirituality
  11. Patristic Thought and Contemporary Culture
  12. Media and Communication
  13. Christianity and Education
Knowledge

Graduates will have: 

  • a broad and coherent grounding in Christian thought and tradition, with a particular focus area in the humanities, that will form the basis for independent lifelong learning.

 

Skills

Graduates will have: 

  • cognitive and technical skills in drawing upon the rich theological, philosophical, and practical resources of the Christian heritage to interact within the humanities, so that they are able independently:
  • review, reflect on, and theologically and philosophically synthesise issues facing human beings and society, and identify and provide solutions to complex problems;
  • think critically with some theological sophistication and generate and evaluate complex ideas;
  • demonstrate an understanding of theoretical theological and philosophical concepts and their practical outcomes in the context of the humanities;
  • communicate humanities-oriented knowledge, skills and ideas clearly and coherently.

 

Applications of Knowledge and Skills

Graduates will have the ability to:

  • demonstrate a broad understanding of the knowledge of God and humanity by applying it creatively in human life and society;
  • make high level, independent and Christian judgments in a range of life settings;
  • initiate, plan, and implement activities and projects in continuity with Christian tradition within a range of life settings.

 

Exit Points

Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts may exit with a Diploma of Arts provided they have completed at least 72 credit points. Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts may exit with an Associate Degree Arts provided they have completed at least 144 credit points.

A candidate may seek credit up to a maximum of 126 credit points in the Bachelor of Arts in accordance with the Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning Policy.

 

Articulating students with an AQF 6 Associate Degree of Arts from an institution approved by the Academic Board may receive maximum of 126 credit points in the Bachelor of Arts.

 

Candidates from other institutions or with other awards may seek credit up to a maximum of 126 credit points in the Bachelor of Arts.

 

Credit will be granted for units that are from an equivalent award or institution and have outcomes, content, demand hours, and assessment equivalent to that of units in the Bachelor of Arts.

This award is not approved for CRICOS study.
The Bachelor of Arts is offered through the individual colleges and an application for enrolment must be made to the Registrar of the teaching institution. The Registrar will be able to help you with any information regarding your study, including fees, units, mode of delivery and timetable.

 

A student is designated as full-time if enrolled in three units (27 credit points) or more in a semester or the equivalent in a trimester. Sydney College of Divinity offers a wide range of units and students have the option to study one or more units across the colleges delivering Sydney College of Divinity awards, whilst enrolled with one college.

 

If you have any questions email us at [email protected]