BACHELOR OF THEOLOGY (BTh) PDF Print E-mail

AWARD SUMMARY

ENROLMENT

Entry Requirements: 
A Student Admission Index (UAI) of 70, or its equivalent; or
Mature Age and Special Entry Admissions for those who have reached the age of 21. 

Duration:
3 years full-time or 9 years part-time. 

Mode:
Full-time, part-time. 

Structure and Regulations
216 credit points (24 course units)

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 BTh 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 Bachelor of Theology is a primary undergraduate award which provides a systematic and comprehensive study of theology and related disciplines through a structure of majors and sub-majors.

 

BIBLICAL STUDIES

Knowledge

  • explain the historical, geographical and social background of the Bible
  • demonstrate familiarity with the overall structure and contents of the books of the Bible
  • describe the principal literary features of the Bible
  • identify key theological themes in the Bibl e

Skills

  • use various lexical and grammatical aids in a biblical language
  • interpret critically passages from both Old and New Testaments
  • access and utilise significant secondary literature
  • convey the relevance of the Bible to the contemporary world

Values

  • appreciate the Bible as the word of God
  • value the literary and theological nature of the Bible
  • appreciate the abiding worth of the Bible for Christian living

OLD TESTAMENT

Knowledge

  • relate Old Testament texts to the historical, geographical and social contexts of their times
  • demonstrate familiarity with the overall structure and contents of the books of the Old Testament
  • describe the principal literary features of the Old Testament
  • identify key theological themes in the Old Testament
  • demonstrate a broad understanding of the history of Old Testament interpretation

Skills

  • apply a working knowledge of biblical Hebrew or Septuagint Greek to the Old Testament
  • exegete critically passages from the Old Testament
  • access and utilise significant secondary literature
  • convey the relevance of the Old Testament to the contemporary world

Values

  • value the Old Testament as the word of God
  • value the literary and theological nature of the Old Testament
  • appreciate the benefit of exegesis from the original text
  • appreciate the abiding worth of the Old Testament for Christian living and other monotheistic faiths

NEW TESTAMENT

Knowledge

  • relate New Testament texts to the historical, geographical and social contexts of their times
  • demonstrate familiarity with the overall structure and contents of the books of the New Testament
  • describe the principal literary features of the New Testament
  • identify key theological themes in the New Testament
  • demonstrate a broad understanding of the history of New Testament interpretation

Skills

  • apply a working knowledge of biblical Greek to the New Testament
  • exegete critically passages from the New Testament
  • access and utilise significant secondary literature
  • convey the relevance of the New Testament to the contemporary world

Values

  • value the New Testament as the word of God
  • value the literary and theological nature of the New Testament
  • appreciate the benefit of exegesis from the original text
  • appreciate the abiding value of the New Testament for Christian living

THEOLOGLICAL ETHICS

Knowledge

  • describe the development of the Christian ethical tradition
  • demonstrate how the tradition informs an approach to contemporary issues
  • describe the sources that contribute to Christian ethical reflection

Skills

  • identify and employ sources of ethical understanding
  • identify the ethical elements present in practical situations
  • make a reasoned and informed response to ethical issues
  • analyse and critique ethical discourse

Values

  • appreciate the complexities of moral issues in a pluralist society
  • appreciate the need to engage responsibly in the ethical concerns they encounter
  • appreciate the contribution of ethics to personal and communal formation

CHRISTIAN SPIRITUALITY

Knowledge

  • develop an integral framework for Christian spiritual growth
  • identify the theological foundations of Christian spirituality
  • recognise the key scriptural themes and their relevance for human and Christian formation
  • recognise the recurring themes of the classics in Christian spiritual literature
  • recognise the insights into spirituality offered by contemporary writers

Skills

  • articulate the place of the spiritual in everyday life
  • discern the contextual and timeless elements in Christian spiritual classics
  • integrate insights into their own personal and communal living

Values

  • appreciate the place of spirituality as the basis for living
  • appreciate the inter-relationship between spirituality and theology
  • appreciate the various traditions of spirituality within the Christian tradition

CHURCH HISTORY

Knowledge

  • discuss critically the significance of events and periods of change
  • explain how church history must be understood within the context of the history of the wider community
  • recognise the complexity of any given historical situation and the validity of different interpretations

Skills

  • bring critical faculties to bear on the gathering, analysis and synthesis of historical information
  • present a coherent historical argument
  • engage in scholarly discussion and communication
  • engage with a range of key historiographical issues and texts

Values

  • appreciate the influence of history on contemporary society
  • appreciate that historical knowledge provides a necessary context for theological studies

COUNSELLING

Knowledge

  • evaluate a wide range of counselling theories
    • exhibit a clear understanding of theories of development concerning major developmental issues and personal adjustments within the human life-span
  • demonstrate an understanding of a theology of the human person guiding pastoral care and counselling

Skills

  • demonstrate appropriate helping skills in counselling relationships
  • assess the impact of the social, cultural an faith contexts upon counselling
  • demonstrate a level of personal awareness and an ability to separate the counsellor’s personal issues from those who are being counselled.

Values

  • appreciate the processes and limits of counselling
  • value the reasons for theological reflection, especially upon limit situations (e.g. suffering, guilt, forgiveness, meaning)
  • reflect upon the use of one's self in the counselling relationship

LITURGICAL STUDIES

Knowledge

  • describe the history of liturgical practice from its earliest Judaeo-Christian foundations and at its major turning points
  • explain the relationship between liturgical practice and doctrinal expressions
  • demonstrate a knowledge of the relationship between worship and culture

Skills

  • access and utilize the range of rituals and resources available in the church’s liturgical life
  • engage with other disciplines of theology and human sciences
  • design and implement effective liturgies

Values

  • value the particular contribution made by the student’s own worshipping tradition
  • appreciate the various contributions to Christian worship brought by the major liturgical traditions
  • value the potential for Christian unity through the common origins and endeavours inherent in Christian worship
  • appreciate the common human values on which worship simultaneously draws and brings to expression

MISSIOLOGY

Knowledge

  • describe the history of Christian mission
  • explain the theological basis of Christian mission
  • recognise the development of the theories of mission
  • acquire a knowledge of other religions
  • understand the cultural dynamics of societies and religion

Skills

  • analyse the social and cultural contexts of mission
  • develop a facility for cross-cultural and inter-faith communication

Values

  • appreciate how religion creates meaning and value for societies and people
  • appreciate the contribution of indigenous people to ongoing ministry of the church
  • appreciate the need to recognise the history and role of the local church in mission

PASTORAL THEOLOGY AND PRACTICE

Knowledge

  • describe the role played by context in the formation of theology
  • examine critically the interplay of theory and practice in doing theology
  • discuss the nature and scope of different kinds of ministries

Skills

  • attend to the human experience of individuals and groups
  • engage in active dialogue between human experience and Christian tradition
  • practice appropriate ministry as it emerges from this dialogue
  • bring theological reflection to bear on contemporary issues, questions and concerns of society and culture
  • recognise and enable others to use their gifts for ministry
  • offer a ministry of leadership within church and wider society
  • display skills relating to the role and use of the imagination in pastoral ministry

Values

  • value the gifts for ministry inherent in their own personhood
  • value and appreciate the gifts of others for ministry
  • appreciate the different voices in the culture

PHILOSOPHY

Knowledge

  • identify the major philosophical issues in Western philosophy, relating to the human person, the universe and God, and understand their historical development and significance
  • examine contemporary philosophical ideas in the context of modern society and culture
  • recognise the interactions between Christian theology and Western philosophical inquiry

Skills

  • access and utilise the significant literature in this discipline
  • recognise and analyse philosophical assumptions and arguments in various contexts and make informed critical judgements about them
  • argue cogently on the basis of their own philosophical positions

Values

  • have a desire to pursue philosophical inquiry and to engage in rational dialogue with others while respecting their positions
  • value the importance of critical thought prior to the acceptance or rejection of new ideas

THEOLOGY

Knowledge

  • demonstrate familiarity with the sources and methods of theology
  • demonstrate basic understanding of the major Christian doctrines and their development in the Christian tradition
  • demonstrate familiarity with contemporary theological writing
  • demonstrate an awareness of the inter-relationship between theology and contemporary issues

Skills

  • analyse and critique theological discourse
  • demonstrate an ability to sustain a theological argument
  • apply theological understanding to contemporary issues

Values

  • appreciate the ecumenical dimension of theology
  • appreciate the integration of theology and praxis
  • appreciate the interaction between theology and culture

OUTCOMES

Students should acquire the nominated knowledge, skills and values outlined by major category.

ARTICULATION TO OTHER AWARDS

The BTh articulates directly to the BTh(Hons) and MTh.

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