Units of Study

Unit Outline

The outlines of all SCD units are contained in the documents below, including learning outcomes and an overview of the content.

  • Postgraduate Units (AQF Level 8 and 9)
  • Undergraduate Units (AQF Level 7)
  • Undergraduate Units (AQF Level 5 and 6)

Please note this information will be added shortly. Please contact us at [email protected] for further information.

Types of Units

While it is common for multiple methods of delivery and types of technology to be utilised in teaching a single unit, the following definitions are helpful in categorising units. The types of units delivered are:

These units are run across the normal study period of the Member College the student is enrolled through, and may be delivered face-to-face in a physical classroom with regular weekly attendance required, or online with weekly content posted to a learning platform and/or regular weekly attendance in on online classroom required.

These units require attendance over a one or two week period, either during a regular study period or during an academic break. Attendance may be face-to-face or online.

Students have the regular study period of the Member College they’re enrolled through to complete the coursework and assessments with no further attendance required.

These units require attendance over a number of days spread across the study period, e.g. five individual days (say, Mondays) or two to three weekends. Attendance may be face-to-face or online.

Students have the regular study period of the Member College they’re enrolled through to complete the coursework and assessments with no further attendance required.

When a unit is not offered in the study period in which the student wishes to take it, the student, by arrangement with the Member College, may be permitted to undertake the unit in independent study mode. It is essentially a reading course with some individual support from the lecturer arranged at mutually convenient times. 

These units are designed to enable students with initiative and creativity to pursue ideas and areas of interest in a subject area. It affords the student an opportunity to continue to develop independent research and study skills.  The student, in consultation with the College Registrar/Academic Dean, arranges with a suitably qualified supervisor/ lecturer a course unit outline including content, outcomes, assessment and reading list and completes the unit in the normal time frame. The Independent Guided Study (IGS) units should not be confused with  Independent Study units (see above). 

Research Projects build on the theological background, capacity and interests of a student and enables them to pursue broad research, often of a survey nature, into an area or topic within a discipline or across disciplines.  This research cannot usually be done within the structures of individual coursework units or the focused study of a particular topic.

Research Essays are worth 18 credit points and are 10,000 – 12,000 words in length. The student is assisted in the preparation of the essay by a supervisor appointed by the Member College in which the student is enrolled.  Approval for the research essay topic is given by the Sydney College of Divinity Research Committee and, where applicable, may require clearance by the Ethics Committee.  The Research Essay is examined by two examiners one of whom is normally from outside the Member College where the student is enrolled.  The supervisor is not eligible to be an examiner.

SCD Colleges

To find out when units are being offered, please refer to the websites of our Colleges for schedules: