Pre-2022 Diploma of Christian Studies

ⓘ This information is only relevant to students who enrolled in the DipChSt award prior to 2022

Diploma of Christian Studies (Pre-2022 DipChSt award summary)
CRICOS : 071257J
AQF Level 5/7
Entry Requirements

 

 Satisfactory completion of Year 12 in the Australian School system, or its equivalent; or
Mature Age and Special Entry Admissions for those who have reached the age of 21; or
articulation from other Sydney College of Divinity programs.
Duration 1 year full-time or 3 years part-time.
Mode Full-time, part-time.
International students on an Australian student visa are required to study full-time.
Structure 72 credit points (8 units in 7100-7399 series)
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 6.5 with no score less than 6.0 in all bands of the test.  A student can be admitted provisionally into the DipChSt when they have an IELTS result of 6.0 with no score less than 6.0 in all bands of the test

Graduate Profile and Rationale

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 a 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 submajor in the area of interest.

  Discipline Sub-disciplines Majors / Submajors
Christian Thought Biblical Studies Biblical Studies
Theology Theology
Humanities in the Christian Tradition Church History
Philosophy 		 Church History
Philosophy
Humanities in the Christian Tradition [Discipline] (major /submajor not to include A units)
Christian Practice Christian Life & Ministry Christian Spirituality
Worship & Liturgy
Mission
Pastoral Counselling
Pastoral Theology
Christian Ethics		 Christian Spirituality
Worship & Liturgy
Mission
Pastoral Counselling
Pastoral Theology
Christian Ethics
Christian Life & Ministry  [Discipline]

Outcomes

Graduates will have:

Knowledge

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

Skills

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

  • identify, analyse, synthesise, 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

the ability to:

  • demonstrate an 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.

Articulation to other 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.

PRE-2022 ACADEMIC REGULATIONS for the Diploma of Christian Ministry

1 Admission to Candidature
1.1 An applicant for admission to candidature for a Diploma of Christian Studies shall:
1.1.1 have satisfactorily completed Year 12 in the Australian School system, or its equivalent; or
1.1.2 have reached the age of 21 and so satisfy the requirements for Mature Age Entry; or
1.1.3 have adequate grounds for Special Entry.
1.2 A candidate for a Diploma of Christian Studies shall be designated as full-time or part-time. A student 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.
1.3 No candidate for the DipChSt may be concurrently enrolled in any other undergraduate or postgraduate course within the Sydney College of Divinity or any other tertiary institution, unless approval has been granted by the Academic Board
1.4 Applicants whose entry qualifications were obtained in an institution where English is not the language of instruction normally will be required to demonstrate competency in English by an IELTS (or equivalent) result of 6.5 with no score of less than 6.0 in all bands of the test. A student can be admitted provisionally into the DipChSt when they have an IELTS result of 6.0 with no score less than 6.0 in all bands of the test. They must pass all subjects in the first two semesters to be permitted to continue.
1.5 Application for enrolment in the diploma program is made to the Registrar of the appropriate Teaching Body offering the program.
2 Course Structure
2.1 The Diploma of Christian Studies requires the completion of 72 credit points. Every program for the award shall include:
2.1.1 at least 9 credit points within the discipline of Biblical Studies;
2.1.2 at least 9 credit points within the discipline of Theology;
2.1.3 at least one submajor (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 Christian Life and Ministry discipline and its sub-disciplines);
2.2 All course units shall be taken from SCD units coded within the 7100-7399 series.
3 Period of Candidature
3.1 The period of candidature for the Diploma shall normally be 1 year full-time and up to 3 years part-time.
3.2 In certain circumstances, the Student Support and Support and Administration Committee may grant extensions.
4 Leave of Absence
4.1 The Student Support and Administration Committee may grant leave of absence from the Diploma of Christian Studies.  The period of leave shall not be counted as part of the period of candidature for the degree.
4.2 The period of leave shall normally be one semester after which a candidate may apply for a further period of one semester or will be required to complete candidature.
5 Assessment
5.1 The assessment of subject units shall be in the manner approved by the Academic Board in line with the College’s established guidelines for assessment packages.
5.2 Students may be required by the Academic Board to present themselves for oral examination.
5.3 Academic and non-academic misconduct will be penalised in accordance with the regulations of the Sydney College of Divinity, whose stipulations are severe.
6 Credit
6.1 A candidate may seek credit up to a maximum of 36 credit points in the Diploma of Christian Studies.
6.2 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.
7 Saving Clause
7.1 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Academic Board of the Sydney College of Divinity may, in any case in which it may deem it appropriate to do so, vary, dispense with or suspend any requirement or prescription by these regulations, and report forthwith to the Council of the Sydney College of Divinity.

Contact your college registrar or the Academic Registrar at SCD if you have any questions.

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