The Master of Divinity course is designed for two categories of candidates:
i. those who hold a tertiary qualification in a non-theological discipline, who seek a comprehensive education in theology comparable in breadth and depth to the Bachelor of Theology, including a deeper biblical and theological understanding, spiritual formation, and cultural literacy that will prepare them for ordained or other professional ministry in church, parachurch or non-profit organisations, and other similar vocational settings
ii. those who hold a tertiary qualification in a theological discipline who wish to pursue a graduate qualification in theology as part of their continuing ministerial education.
The award provides a systematic and comprehensive study of theological and related disciplines through a structure of specialisations. Graduates will have specialised knowledge and skills for research, and/or professional practice and/or further learning and the ability to apply such knowledge and skills in a theologically-related area
Award Summary
Course Title
Master of Divinity
AQF Level
AQF 9 – Masters Degree
Postnominals
MDiv
Entry Requirements
Admission to the Master of Divinity requires:
- Satisfactory completion of a three-year AQF Level 7 or 8 award in any discipline (or equivalent) from an institution recognised by the Academic Board; AND
- Satisfactory completion of a pre-enrolment interview with a relevant course advisor.
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 7.0 with no score less than 6.5 in all bands of the test.
Course Duration
6 years part-time
Course Delivery
Online
Course Structure
Every student program for the Master of Divinity will consist of no fewer than 216 credit points.
Every program will include either two specialisations and one subspecialisation or one specialisation and two subspecialisations:
- A specialisation in a subdiscipline requires 54 credit points from the subdiscipline, with a minimum of 18 credit points from 9200 series units.
- A specialisation in a discipline requires 54 credit points from the discipline, with at least 27 credit points in one subdiscipline, with a minimum of 18 credit points from 9200 series units.
- A subspecialisation in a discipline or subdiscipline requires 36 credit points from the units assigned to the discipline or subdiscipline, including no more than 18 credit points from 8100 series units or up to 36 credit points from 9200 series units.
Units coded “A” are not counted towards a specialisation in any discipline or subdiscipline.
All course units will be taken from 8100 and 9200 series units in the Schedule of Units of Study.
Every program will include:
- a minimum of 72 credit points in 9200 series units;
- not more than 72 credit points from Philosophy;
- at least a subspecialisation from Biblical Studies;
- students completing a specialisation in Biblical Studies must also complete at least 18 cps (2 units) in Biblical languages which are in addition to the 54 cps (6 units) required for the specialisation;
- at least a subspecialisation from Systematic Theology;
- at least one unit in Church History;
- at least a total of 36 credit points from the following subdisciplines: Christian Spirituality, Pastoral Counselling, Worship & Liturgy, Mission, Pastoral Theology;
- not more than 108 credit points in Pastoral Theology;
- at least one 9200 series Generic Research unit;
- A candidate may take up to a maximum of 36 credit points in units listed as Generic (Research) units in the Schedule of Units of Study with a maximum of 18 credit points in Independent Guided Study units, 18 credit points in Research Project units, and 18 credit points as a Research Essay. Students who transfer from the Master of Divinity to either the Master of Arts or the Master of Theology cannot exceed this limit in total across both programs.
