Diploma of Christian Studies
Diploma of Christian Studies
The Diploma of Christian Studies (DipChSt) is an AQF Level 5 award. The 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…
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COURSE DESCRIPTION
The Diploma of Christian Studies (DipChSt) is an AQF Level 5 award. The 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 sub-major in the area of interest.
Structure
The Diploma of Christian Studies requires the completion of 72 credit points which will include:
at least 9 credit points within the discipline of Biblical Studies;
at least 9 credit points within the subdiscipline of Systematic Theology;
at least one sub-major (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 the Christian Life and Ministry discipline and its sub-disciplines).
All course units shall be taken from Sydney College of Divinity units coded within the 7100-7299 series.
Outcomes
Knowledge
Graduates will have:
technical and theoretical knowledge and concepts with introductory knowledge in Biblical Studies and Theology
wider knowledge of the theological disciplines generally that will form the basis for further learning.
Skills
Graduates will have 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
Graduates will have 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.
REQUIREMENTS
Admission to the Diploma of Christian Studies requires:
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, with evidence of capacity for successful study at this level.
English Requirements
Applicants whose entry qualifications were obtained in an institution where English is not the language of instruction normally require a minimum IELTS (or equivalent) overall score of at least 6.0 with no subtest below 5.5.
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION
Formed in 1983, the Sydney College of Divinity is a consortium of theological colleges in Sydney. The College awards undergraduate, postgraduate and research programs. Undergraduate programs and diplomas are offered in the fields of Theology, Arts and Divinity. Research programs are offered in Theology, Ministry, Arts and Philosophy. The College is located in Sydney, New South Wales.
