Undergraduate: Course rule and topic information

Bachelor of Theology

(BTh)

INTRODUCTION

The Bachelor of Theology requires four years of full-time study (or the equivalent part-time).

The course is offered by the Faculty of Education, Humanities, Law and Theology.

Enrolment in the honours program may be offered to a student who meets certain academic criteria and subject to the school/department being able to provide appropriate resources and staff to supervise the program of study.

COURSE AIMS

The course is ecumenical and aims to deepen the understanding and expression of Christian faith.

Unlike courses in Religious Studies, which look at religion from the perspective of other disciplines such as philosophy, anthropology, psychology or history, it is specifically the study of Christian traditions and thought. However, it examines theology alongside, and in dialogue with, other fields of study and other issues which are critical to contemporary society and culture.

The degree does not of itself qualify a person for ordination in any church but it can be used to fulfil a part of ordination requirements.

COURSE RULE

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

The minimum requirements for consideration for entry to all undergraduate courses are specified in detail in the University Entry Requirements.

PROGRAM OF STUDY [November, 2007]

To qualify for the Bachelor of Theology a student must complete 144 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the following program of study*, comprising:

• 37.5 units of Biblical Studies topics,
• 37.5 units of Historical and Systematic Theology topics,
• either 33 units of Pastoral Studies topics or 33 units of non-Theology topics, and
• a further 36 units chosen from the following areas of study: Biblical Studies; Historical and Systematic Theology; Pastoral Studies or Biblical Languages.

Non-Theology topics can be selected from any offered by the University provided entry and course requirements are met. At least 21 units must be from one discipline and at least 24 units must be at higher than First Year.

* Students who commenced studies for the degree before 2002 may, with the approval of the School Board, complete it under the appropriate pre-2002 structure. (Students who completed their studies before 1992 without qualifying for the degree but whose studies now fulfil necessary requirements (or are deemed by the Board to be sufficient) may apply to be awarded the degree.)

The programs for the:

• Biblical Studies
• Historical and Systematic Theology
• Pastoral Studies
• Biblical Languages

components are set out below.

Not all topics are necessarily available in a given year.

BIBLICAL STUDIES

	First Year
	37.5 units comprising:
THEO1001	Introduction to Exegesis: Old Testament and New Testament Texts	4.5
THEO1101	Interpreting the Old Testament	4.5
THEO1201	Interpreting the New Testament	4.5
	Second and Third Years
	24 units from the following (at least one Third Year topic must be completed and both Old Testament and New Testament topics must be represented):
THEO2102	Old Testament Exegesis: Israel's Response to Exile	6
THEO2104	Old Testament Exegesis: Pentateuch	6
THEO2105	Genesis	6
THEO2203	New Testament Exegesis: The Pauline Letters	6
THEO2207	Synoptic Studies and the Gospel of Mark	6
THEO2208	Synoptic Studies and the Gospel of Luke	6
THEO2209	New Testament Exegesis: The Book of Acts	6
THEO2210	Rainbow-Coloured Jesus	3
THEO2211	'Digging up the Bible': Theology and Archaeology in Dialogue	3
THEO2212	Matthew	6
THEO2213	1 and 2 Corinthians	6
THEO2214	Romans	6
THEO2215	Digging up the Church: Religion, Culture and Contexts in the Lycus Valley	3
THEO3001	Biblical Hermeneutics	6
THEO3103	Old Testament Exegesis: The Writings	6
THEO3104	Old Testament Exegesis: Wisdom	6
THEO3106	Old Testament Exegesis: The Prophets	6
THEO3107	Interpreting Creation Texts of the Bible	3
THEO3108	Ecology and the Bible	3
THEO3206	New Testament Exegesis: After Paul	6
THEO3208	Voices of Jewish Christianity	6
THEO3209	Passion of Jesus, Passion of Christians	6
THEO3210	Study Tour, Lands of the Bible	6
THEO3212	New Testament Exegesis: Johannine Literature	6
THEO3213	The Pleasure of the Text	3
THEO3214	Texts, Artifacts and Culture	6

HISTORICAL AND SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY

	First Year
	37.5 units comprising:
THEO1301	Faith and Revelation	4.5
THEO1303	Humanity and Grace	4.5
THEO1401	Early Church History	4.5
	Second and Third Years
THEO2301	The Person and Work of Christ	6
THEO3322	Introduction to Christian Ethics	3
	and either
THEO2402	Medieval Church History	6
	or
THEO2403	Reformation Church History	6
	or
THEO2404	Church in the Modern World	6
	9 other units from the following:
THEO2303	Anglican Studies	3
THEO2304	Liturgical Year: Theology and Celebration	3
THEO2305	Eucharist: Theology and Celebration	3
THEO2306	The Christian Life: A Protestant Perspective	6
THEO2307	Orientation to the Uniting Church in Australia	6
THEO2308	Creation Spirituality	6
THEO2310	Fathers and Heretics	6
THEO2311	Introduction to Feminist Studies in Theology	6
THEO2402	Medieval Church History	3
THEO2403	Reformation Church History	3
THEO2404	Church in the Modern World	3
THEO2405	Soul-Stirrings - A History of Christian Spirituality	3
THEO2407	Service as Good News - The Diaconate in History	6
THEO3302	Sex, Ethics and Christianity	6
THEO3307	Woman, Man and God	6
THEO3309	Church and Ministry	6
THEO3310	Sacraments	6
THEO3313	History, Destiny and Hope	6
THEO3315	Theology of God the Trinity	6
THEO3318	Bio-Medical Ethics	6
THEO3319	Responding to Aboriginal Theologies	6
THEO3321	Church, Ministry and Sacraments	6
THEO3323	Making Moral Decisions	3
THEO3324	Indian and Chinese Spiritual Paths	3
THEO3325	Abrahamic Faith Traditions	3
THEO3326	Justice, Society and the Human Person: Contemporary Christian Social Thought	3
THEO3327	Philosophy and Christian Thought	6
THEO3328	Sex, Marriage and Family in Christian Ethics	6
THEO3329A	Quest for the Spirit: Exploring Theology and the Arts	6
THEO3401	History of Christian Missions	6
THEO3410	Early Christian Writings	3

PASTORAL STUDIES

	First Year
	33 units comprising:
THEO1502	Sociology for Ministry	4.5
	and
THEO1507	Introduction to Pastoral Care	4.5
	Second and Third Years
	24 units from the following:
THEO2303	Anglican Studies	6
THEO2502	Evangelism	6
THEO2504	Christian Pastoral Care	6
THEO2505	Homiletics	6
THEO2506	Christian Education	6
THEO2507	Liturgy and Worship	6
THEO2510	Youth Ministry	6
THEO2517	Family and Children's Ministry	6
THEO2519	Pastoral Care in a Hospital Setting 1	6
THEO3501	Supervised Field Education	12
THEO3501C	Supervised Field Education (Part 1)*, and	6
THEO3501D	Supervised Field Education (Part 2)*	6
THEO3503	Advanced Homiletics	6
THEO3504	Approaches to Theological Reflection	6
THEO3505	Christian Spirituality	6
THEO3506	Formation for Christian Ministries	6
THEO3508	Pastoral Care in a Hospital Setting 2	6
THEO3509	Practicum	12
THEO3510	The Mission and the Church	6

* Students must enrol in Part 1 and Part 2 to complete the requirements of this topic.

BIBLICAL LANGUAGES

Students may choose the following topics of which up to 6 units may be included in the Biblical Studies stream or as part of the non-Theology component of the degree.

THEO2701	Biblical Greek 1	6
THEO2702	Biblical Hebrew 1	6
THEO2703	Reading Theological German	6
THEO3701	Biblical Greek 2	6
THEO3702	Biblical Hebrew 2	6
THEO3703	Biblical Greek 3	6
THEO3704	Biblical Hebrew 3	6

OTHER DISCIPLINES

33 units comprising:

• 9 units of Level 1 topics (2 x 4.5 units) from another discipline

and either

up to 24 units from the following:

THEO2701	Biblical Greek 1	6
THEO2702	Biblical Hebrew 1	6
THEO2703	Reading Theological German	6
THEO3701	Biblical Greek 2	6
THEO3702	Biblical Hebrew 2	6
THEO3703	Biblical Greek 3	6
THEO3704	Biblical Hebrew 3	6

OR up to 24 units from other disciplines. Students must complete 21 units from one area of study and at least 24 units at levels more advanced than First Year.

Students not enrolling in the Other Disciplines stream may include 6 units from Biblical and Theological Languages in their course of study. Three units of this will be counted as part of the Systematic Theology stream.