Diploma of Christian Studies

CRICOS 071257J

About this course

The Diploma of Christian Studies course is an undergraduate award that introduces students to Christian studies within higher education. Graduates will have acquired basic knowledge, skills, and values of Christian relevance to their professional, family, church, social, or personal lives, and have deepened their awareness of the nature and scope of theology and their affinity with it as a field of study within higher education. 

It provides an opportunity to undertake some theological study with special focus on Christian Thought (including Biblical Studies, Theology, and Humanities in the Christian Tradition) or on Christian Practice (Christian Life and Ministry). The special focus is achieved by completing a sub-major in the area of interest.

  • Study Mode: Full Time, Part Time,

  • Credit Points: 72 (8 units)

  • Award Level: AQF Level 5

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Delivered at

Australian College of Ministries
  • NSW
  • Domestic
Nazarene Theological College
  • QLD
  • Domestic
  • International
Nisibis Assyrian Theological College
  • NSW
  • Domestic
Olivet Theological Seminary
  • NSW
  • Domestic
Planetshakers College
  • VIC
  • Domestic
  • International
St Andrew's Greek Orthodox Theological College
  • NSW
  • Domestic
  • International
St Cyril's Coptic Orthodox Theological College
  • NSW
  • Domestic

Course Details

Admission to the Diploma of Christian Studies requires:

  •  An Australian Tertiary Admission Rand (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; OR
  • Mature Age Special Entry Admission for those who have reached the age of 21; AND
  • Satisfactorily completes a pre-enrolment interview with a relevant course advisor. 

 

English Requirements

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 in all bands of the test with no score less than 5.5 in all bands of the test.

 

The Diploma of Christian Studies requires the completion of 72 credit points (8 units) which will include:

 

  • at least 9 credit points within the discipline of Biblical Studies;
  • at least 9 credit points within the subdiscipline of Systematic Theology;
  • at least one sub-major (36 credit points) in the domain of Christian Thought (drawn from Biblical Studies, Theology, and Humanities in the Christian Tradition), or in the domain of Christian Practice (drawn from the Christian Life and Ministry discipline and its subdisciplines);

 

Units coded “A” are not counted towards a major/sub-major in any discipline or sub discipline.

 

All course units will be taken from the Sydney College of Divinity Schedule of units of study coded within the 7100-7299 series and above.

 

Knowledge

Graduates will have:

  • technical and theoretical knowledge and concepts with introductory knowledge in Biblical Studies and Theology; 
  • wider knowledge of the theological disciplines generally that will form the basis for further learning.

 

Skills

Graduates will have cognitive, communication, and technical skills in a theologically-related body of knowledge, so that they are able to: 

  • identify, analyse, and act on theological information from a range of foundational sources; 
  • express ideas and perspectives in theology; 
  • communicate theologically-related knowledge, skills and ideas to others.

 

Applications of Knowledge and Skills

Graduates will have the ability to:

  • demonstrate and understanding of theological knowledge by applying it in their professional, family, church, social or personal lives; 
  • perform technical operations of some complexity in relation to Christian living, taking personal responsibility for them; 
  • exercise initiative and judgment in reflecting on issues of Christian living, including some ability to do so with others.

A candidate may seek credit up to a maximum of 36 credit points in the Diploma of Christian Studies.

 

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 Diploma of Christian Studies.

 

Progress to Further Awards

The Diploma of Christian Studies is both a stand-alone award and a nested award in the Associate Degree of Christian Thought and Practice, the Bachelor of Theology and the Bachelor of Ministry. As a result, it articulates directly into any of these awards. On completion of any of these further awards the student would surrender the Diploma of Christian Studies. The award may be retained if no credit is granted into the further awards.

 

The Diploma of Christian Studies 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 all information regarding your study, including fees, units, mode of delivery, and timetable.

 

In 2024 PlanetShakers College is not currently accepting students into this award at the Melbourne campus located at 129 Whiteman St, Southbank VIC, 3006.  Please contact the SCD Academic Registrar for other location options ([email protected]).

 

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

 

International students

International students are subject to the conditions of their Australian student visa and are required to maintain a full-time enrolment of four units (36 credit points) per semester. If you are planning to enrol as an international student, you have the responsibility to ensure that you comply with your visa conditions at all times. Learn more about your responsibilities, rights, and what studying in Australia can offer you. Not all our teaching institutions offer study programs for international students.

 

Check out the locations and courses offered to international students, and for more information email us at [email protected]