Study Options

The School of Christian Studies is one of nineteen Australian and New Zealand Christian theological institutions affiliated with the Australian College of Theology (ACTh). The ACTh offers a wide range of accredited higher education awards (accredited by the various Australian state government authorities). In the ACTh almost 20 higher education awards and approximately 2000 students enrolled from around the world. At any time around 100 of these are studying with SOCS. Almost all of these are lay people seeking to deepen their knowledge and understanding of God and his Word and to apply it to the life situations in which they live and work.

SOCS offers many of the units from the following courses:

In addition some units that count towards the Graduate Diplomas of the ACTh are also offered.

Students should consult the Calendar and lecture timetable to see which are offered in lecture, intensive or distance mode in the current year.

Note:

  1. 200 level units are at diploma level; 300 level is the foundational year of degree studies, but may be counted for the diplomas, advanced diplomas and associate degree; 400 level are the advanced degree units; 500 & 600 are post-graduate degree and diploma level units.
  2. Each unit is worth 4 credit point(cps). A Diploma and an Associate Degree requires the completion of 16 units, or 64 cps, an Advanced Diploma and the other degrees require 24 units or 96 cps.
  3. Research projects (such as OT/NT/CH/TH/PE/EM/PC/DM/IN490) and Field Education units (such as EM/DM440) are by arrangement and will depend on the availability of a suitable supervisor.

For full details of the following units, see the Australian College of Theology Diploma Unit Outlines, Degree Unit Outlines, and Graduate unit outlines.

(LA) LANGUAGES

Each unit (i.e. LA003a) is worth 4 cps.
LA003a & LA003b Biblical Hebrew (a) and Biblical Hebrew (b)
LA004a & LA004b New Testament Greek (a) and New Testament Greek (b)
LA010 Intermediate Greek
LA011 Intermediate Hebrew

(OT) OLD TESTAMENT

Diploma and Degree

OT201/301 Formative Old Testament Traditions
A study of the content and themes of the Old Testament and of the history of Israel in OT times.

OT202/302 From Israel to Judea
Continuation of OT201 in the history of Israel

OT203/303 Principles of Hermeneutics

Old Testament Exegesis

Diploma/Advanced Diploma

OT205 Genesis 1-4, 6, 8-9,11 & 1 Samuel 1-4, 7-12
OT206 Isaiah 1-2, 5-10 & Jeremiah 1-3, 26-28, 31-33
OT207 Job 1-2, 9, 14, 19, 28, 38, 40, 42 & Ecclesiastes 1-5, 9, 11-12
OT208 Psalms 2, 8, 16, 19, 22, 46, 51, 73, 99, 137, & Isaiah 56-61, 65-66
OT290 Special Interest Project

Degree

OT421 Former Prophets (English text)
OT424 Wisdom Literature (English text)
OT425 Old Testament Apocalyptic and Post-exilic prophecy (English text)
OT427 Isaiah (English text)

(NT) NEW TESTAMENT

Diploma and Degree

NT201/301 Content & Setting of the Gospel Tradition
Part A of the study of the historical background and contents of the New Testament, with special reference to the ministry of Jesus.

NT202/302 The Early New Testament Church
Part B of the study of the historical background and contents of the NT, with special reference to the birth and growth of Christianity in the Apostolic Age.

New Testament Exegesis

Diploma/Advanced Diploma

NT205 John 1-8, 14-16
NT206 Romans 1-11
NT207 Ephesians & Philippians OR Revelation 1-15, 19-21
NT221/421 Paul & Corinthian Christianity
NT290 Special Interest Project

Degree

NT421 Paul and Corinthian Christianity (English text)
NT424 The Fourth Gospel (English text)
NT429 Romans (English text)
NT430 The Synoptic Gospels (Greek text)
NT432 The Epistle to the Hebrews (Greek text)

(TH) THEOLOGY

Diploma/Advanced Diploma

TH210 The Doctrine of God & the Person & Work of Christ
A study of the major doctrines of the Christian faith, including the doctrine of God, the Trinity, creation and the fall, and more.

TH211 The Holy Spirit, Grace and Hope
A study of the major doctrines of the Christian faith, including the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, Grace, Church and Ministry, and more.

TH212 Christology
A study of the doctrine of Christ (both person and work) in more depth than in the introductory units.

TH290 Special Interest Project

Degree

TH401 The Knowledge of God
TH402 The Doctrine of God and the Work of Christ
TH403 The Doctrines of Grace and Eschatology
TH404 Church, Sacraments and Ministry
TH420 Reformation Issues
TH425 Twentieth Century Issues in Theology

(CH) CHURCH HISTORY

Diploma and Degree

CH201/301 The Church to 1550

CH202/302 The Church from 1550 to Modern Times
An introductory survey of the history of the Christian Church until the present day, concentrating on the framework of major developments. It looks at aspects of Christian history, which have affected the church in their own cultural experience as well as the experience of others.

CH205/305 Early Church History (30 to 451)
A study of the life and thought of the early church and the interaction between church and society. (Cannot be taken if CH201/301 has been taken)

CH209/409 Australian Church History
A study of the development of the Christian churches in Australia.

CH290 Special Interest Project

Degree

CH421 The Continental Reformation
CH422 The Reformation in Britain
CH425 History of Evangelical Christianity
CH489 Church History Seminar

(PE) PHILOSOPHY AND ETHICS

Diploma/Advanced Diploma

PE211 Ethics and Contemporary Problems
An introduction to ethical decision-making, on the basis of Christian perspectives. Using the Biblical ethical teachings as a basis, it develops an approach to some contemporary ethical questions.

PE290 Special Interest Project

Degree

PE301 Introduction to Christian Ethics
PE310 Christian Worldview
PE402 Theological Ethics
PE403 Christian Social Ethics
PE417 Church in Australian Society
PE420 Christian Apologetics
PE425 Philosophy of Religion

(EM) EVANGELISM AND MISSIONS

EM203/403 Biblical Theology of Missions
A study of Old Testament and New Testament perspectives on the nature of God, his purposes in redemption and the missionary vocation.

EM210/410 Aid & Development
An analysis of the social, political, economic and religious aspects of Aid and Development and its implications for Christian missionary theory and practice.

EM220420 World Religions/Study of Religion
A study of the ideas and practices of contemporary non-Christian faiths, and an analysis of Christian approaches to these. The unit is missional, ecumenical, and theological in focus.

EM223 Foundations for Evangelism
A study of the theological and practical principles of communicating Christian faith to non-believers.

EM227/427 Church Dynamics and Growth
A study of church growth principles and the application of these in field research in actual church situations.

EM241/441 Evangelism Field Education
A study of methods of evangelism, with fieldwork involving direct evangelistic mission.

EM290 Special Interest Project

Inquiries are welcome about the following degree level units:

EM306 Issues in Missiology
EM408 Cross-cultural Communication
EM409 Cultural Anthropology
EM411 Mission in Urban Context
EM418 Multi-cultural Ministry
EM424 Principles of Evangelism
EM425 Applied Evangelism
EM426 Church Planting
EM435 Linguistics and Language Learning
EM440 Cross-cultural Field Education

(PC) PASTORAL & CHURCH FOCUSSED MINISTRY

PC202/402 Foundations of Pastoral Care
An introductory course on the study and nature of pastoral care.

PC203/403 Pastoral Care Skills and Methods
The “how” and “why” of pastoral care.

PC210 Personal Life of Those in Ministry
A course on the personal, spiritual and relational factors in Christian ministry.

PC225 Lay Theologians
A reading course in well-known authors such as C S. Lewis, J Ellul.

PC226 Ethics for Everyday Life
An introduction to social ethics, enabling candidates to reflect upon, and interact with, ethical issues faced in everyday life.

PC235/435 Principles of Leadership & Management
A study of leadership in Christian ministries in the light of biblical, theological and management perspectives.

PC239/439 Inter-Personal Relationships
An introduction to the skills involved in personal relationships, with opportunity for experienced-based learning and evaluation.

PC240/440 Communication Principles
A study of the processes involved in communication, with particular reference to communicating the message of the Scriptures.

PC241/441 Principles of Homiletics
A study of major approaches to preaching within a congregational setting, with opportunity for the development of preaching skills.

PC243/443 Pastoral Care Field Education
Experience-based supervised learning through observation, participation and reflection related to major areas of regular pastoral ministry.

PC249/449 Supervised Experienced Based Learning
Unit encourages students to reflect upon their living of the Christian life in the light of their theological studies and to integrate life, belief and ministry. (This unit is to be taken over a two-year period)

PC290 Special Interest Project

Inquiries are welcome about the following degree level units:

PC405 Principles of Christian Counselling
PC406 Applied Christian Counselling
PC417 Preaching: Theology and Practice
PC421 Theology for Everyday Life
PC428 The Christian Spiritual Tradition
PC429 Contemporary Trends in Spirituality
PC436 Clinical Pastoral Education I
PC437 Clinical Pastoral Education II

(DM) DEVELOPMENTAL MINISTRY

DM201/301/501 Foundations for Christian Education
An introduction to education from a Christian perspective, laying a basis for subsequent units in Christian Education.

DM302/502 Ministry Formation for Chaplaincy
This unit offers an opportunity to engage in a process of professional formation that will provide a foundation for candidates’ development into the profession of chaplaincy in an educational setting.

DM414/614 Chaplaincy in Educational Settings
A study of the practice and theology of chaplaincy in a range of educational settings including the role of the chaplain, a theology of chaplaincy, issues among children, adolescents and young adults, and interviews with, and observation of, chaplains in educational settings.

DM290 Special Interest Project

Inquiries are welcome about the following degree level units:

DM403 Adult Christian Education
DM404 Christian Education in Practice
DM440 Christian Education Field Education
DM489 Christian Education Seminar
DM490 Research Project
DM495 Research Methods

(IN) INTEGRATIVE UNITS

IN412 Popular culture
An appreciation and critique of various aspects of popular culture, such as film, television, radio, music and sport, from a biblically informed point of view.

IN413 Seeking the Good Society
This unit explores the ongoing conversation in many areas of society, including government, law, business, economics, education, welfare, science, media, arts, sport and religion, of what constitutes a good society.

IN421 Spirituality and Work
This unit explores the connections between spirituality and human labour, drawing on biblical perspectives and classic Christian writing. It touches on work and meaning, humanising and dehumanising aspects of work, work as community, work as idolatry, and work-related stress and suffering.

IN435 Person, Politics and Ethics of Paul
This unit explores the background and teaching of the apostle Paul with a particular focus on his political theology and the foundation, context, shape and relevance of his ethical teaching.

(SOP) SOCS CONFERENCES (Type B Electives)

SOP21 Disaster & Suffering, a Christian Response
How to deal with the grief and trauma resulting from disaster and suffering. Included are Biblical teaching stories, and practical tools.

SOP22 Thinking God at Work
Bridging the gap between a biblical understanding of a working God and a secular workplace.

SOP23 Empowered to Care
In-depth teaching and practical advice on how to care more deeply for those around you; including some detail on specific care issues.

SOT21 Introduction to Theological Studies
This unit is for those who do not have recent academic experience to gain an overview of the content of the major fields of, and appreciate the skills for successful theological studies.

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