(AQF LEVEL 7 BACHELOR DEGREE)
Course Rationale
The degree aims to provide tertiary students with a coherent program of general theological study to enable them to apply a Christian perspective and commitment to their life in the world including their professional and vocational life.
The Bachelor of Christian Studies requires 96 credit points for graduation. The course duration is three years full time, two of which are studied with the Australian College of Theology, and one year studied with a university degree in a non-theological field. The maximum candidature is nine years part time.
The aim of the degree is to provide tertiary students with a coherent program of general theological study to enable them to apply a Christian perspective and commitment to their life in the world including their professional and vocational life.
Admission Requirements
Academic Qualifications
(i) Open as a first degree to persons who have achieved an Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) score of no less than 75 or its equivalent.
(ii) 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.
(iii) The ACT is prepared to enrol year 12 students in up to two (2) 300 level units at the discretion of the school and the particular ACT affiliated colleges. These students would not be admitted to the degree, but permitted to take 300 level units, which would later be credited to an ACT degree, should the student wish to continue and be permitted to enrol.
Language Qualifications for Non-English Speaking Background Applicants (NESB)
Candidates who (a) have an assessable qualification that was undertaken solely in English in one of a set of prescribed countries OR (b) have been a resident in Australia with English being the language spoken at home and at work for ten (10) or more years are NOT required to provide proof of English language proficiency for consideration for admission to an ACT course. All other domestic and international candidates MUST provide proof of English language proficiency for consideration for admission to an ACT course. Such proof will normally be by provision of the results of an IELTS test (Academic Version). For admission to the Bachelor of Christian Studies, the minimum IELTS result required is 6.5 overall with a minimum of
6.5 in each subtest.
Mature Age Entry
Mature age entry is available for candidates 21 years and older.
Course Structure
96 credit points over 3 years F/T or P/T equivalent (up to 9 years) at 300 or 400 Level:
8 cps Old Testament (OT301 and OT302)
8 cps New Testament (NT301 and NT302)
4 cps Church History (CH301, CH302 or CH305)
4 cps Theology (TH401 – TH404)
Additionally Bachelor of Christian Studies students require:
- 8 cps in Old Testament and/or New Testament exegesis
- 8 cps in Church History and/or Theology
- 4 cps of independent study that relates to the student’s non-theological area of study to the Christian faith (IN490)
- 20 cps Elective units, including a maximum of 8 cps Type B Electives (if offered)
At least one year full time equivalent of degree level study in a non-theological field of which at least 75% must form a coherent area of study, eg. business, psychology, comparative religions at an Australian University. This will be applied to a student’s Bachelor of Christian Studies record as 32cps credit from an external provider.
Learning Outcomes
ability to interpret the biblical deposit, especially those books which have played a crucial role in the development of the Christian tradition, with a knowledge of their original context and major themes and ideas,
knowledge of the major theological tenets of the Christian faith which underpin any coherent theological world view,
appreciation of the historical conditions under which theological worldviews have developed and are being shaped today,
openness to the tradition of published scholarship and the diversity of viewpoints which characterise that scholarship in the various fields of the discipline of theology as essential to understanding and respecting the discipline,
a developing ability to reflect on the relationship between the student’s particular emphasis in his or her university course and the Christian faith.
Occupational Functions of Graduates
(i) assuming that the graduate completes his or her university degree, he or she could reasonably expect to become a member of a non-theological profession with well-informed knowledge of the essential content of the Christian tradition, or
(ii) depending on the units taken in the course, a graduate might be expected to participate as a member of a church educational or pastoral ministry team under the leadership of a well-qualified practitioner.
Rules
i. Students may not enrol in more than 20 credit points per semester.
ii. Advanced (400) level units with specific conditions may only be taken when the pre-requisite or co-requisite or required units have been successfully completed and/or any co-requisite unit is taken concurrently.
iii. Undergraduate degree students may enrol in 600 level language exegesis units on the understanding that the unit is taught and assessed at 600 level.
iv. No more than 28cps of foundational level units could be counted in a student’s course of study. Biblical language units (LA0**) are excluded from this requirement.
Available units
2012 SOCS Lecture units click here
2012 SOCS Online units click here
Fees and enrolments
2012 Fees and bursary assistance click here
2012 Enrolment form click here
