Bachelor of Theology and Bachelor of Ministry
The Bachelors degrees are intended to equip students with the necessary biblical, theological and practical skills necessary for Christian ministry or further academic study. These are three year full-time (or equivalent) courses, though it is common for students to spend four years in studying for the Bachelor of Theology if exegesis is undertaken in both Greek and Hebrew.Many students who are candidates for ministry in the CRCA or RCNZ will be required to complete the B.Th plus a number of additional subjects from the B.Min. Some may be required to complete the double degree. Such a course should be designed in close consultation with the Faculty and with the deputies of your denomination.
Entrance requirements
The Bachelors degrees are open as a first degree to persons who have achieved a Universities Admission Index (UAI) score of at least 75.00 or its local or overseas equivalent. Consideration will be given to other factors such as practical experience, maturity and motivation, and the likelihood of satisfactory completion of the academic requirements of the course.Except for those candidates who have a tertiary qualification taught in English, international candidates whose first language is not English will be required to sit an IELTS test. For candidates wishing to enrol in the BTh degrees, an overall band score of 6.5 is required with no module score under 6.0.
Provisional mature age entry is available for candidates over the age of 21.
Fees and fee assistance
For a schedule of fees please Click Here.Content – Bachelor of Theology
The Bachelors degrees consist of 24 subjects (96 credit points).The core units in the Bachelor of Theology are:
- Languages—at least 4 cps of biblical language study
- Old Testament Introduction—8 cps, OT301, OT302
- New Testament Introduction—8 cps, NT301, NT302
- Church History—4 cps, one of CH301, CH302, CH303, CH304 or CH305
- Theology—4 cps from TH401–404
In addition students must complete:
- Minimum of 4 cps in languages
- Minimum of 24 cps in Old and New Testament exegesis
- Minimum of 12 cps in Theology
- Minimum of 4 cps in Church History
- Minimum 12 cps Type A Electives
- Maximum of 12 cps Type B Electives (if offered)
In general 16 points in core foundational level units must be passed before a unit at advanced level (400 level) can be taken. Individual unit syllabi provide further detail and explicitly nominate any other prerequisites.
No more than 40 cps of foundational level units can be counted in a student’s course of study. Biblical Hebrew (LA301, 303) and New Testament Greek (LA302, 304) are excluded from this requirement.
Regulations
- Students must not enrol in more than 20 cps in any one semester,
- Greek or Hebrew exegesis requires satisfactory completion of the relevant 8 cp Hebrew or Greek language unit,
- Enrolment in advanced level units requires completion of 16 cps in core foundational level units (300 level).
Content – Bachelor of Ministry
Like the Bachelor of Theoogy, the Bachelor of Minsitry consists of 24 subjecst (96 credit points). It is weighted more toward practical ministry subjects than the Bachelor of Theoogy.The core units comprise:
- Languages—at least 4 cps of biblical language study
- Old Testament Introduction—8 cps, OT301, OT302
- New Testament Introduction—8 cps, NT301, NT302
- Church History—4 cps, one of CH301, CH302, CH303, CH304 or CH305
- Theology—4 cps from TH401–404
In addition students must complete:
- Minimum of 12 cps in Old and New Testament exegesis
- Minimum of 8 cps in Theology
- Minimum of 4 cps in Church History
- Minimum of 20 cps in Ministry and Practice, with a minimum of 4 cps from at least each of two fields
- 4 cps of SEBL (PC449)
- Minimum 12 cps Type A Electives
- Maximum of 8 cps Type B Electives (if offered)
The unit Supervised Experienced Based Learning (PC449) is an integrative compulsory unit taken over the course of a candidate’s BMin program.
No more than 40 cps of foundational level units can be counted in a student’s course of study. Biblical Hebrew (LA301, 303) and New Testament Greek (LA302, 304) are excluded from this requirement.
Regulations
- Students must not enrol in more than 20 cps in any one semester,
- Greek or Hebrew exegesis requires satisfactory completion of the relevant 8 cp Hebrew or Greek language unit,
- Enrolment in advanced level units requires completion of 16 cps in core foundational level units (300 level).
Course design is somewhat complicated and should be undertaken in consultation with RTC Faculty.
Subjects Available
Most RTC subjects are available on a two-year rotation. The following chart indicates Degree subjects taught at the RTC and which year and semester they are scheduled for.| Subject No. | Subject Name | When Taught | Prerequisites | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Odd/Even Year |
Semester | |||
| Old Testament | ||||
| OT301 | Formative OT Traditions | O | 1 | None |
| OT302 | From Israel to Judea | O | 2 | None |
| OT/NT303 | Introduction to Hermeneutics | E | 2 | None |
| OT411 | Former Prophets [E] | O | 1 | 4 Subjects incl. 301,302 |
| OT422 | 8th Century Prophets [Hebrew] | O | 2 | 4 subjects incl. 301, 302 + LA303 |
| OT423 | Exilic Prophecy [Hebrew] | E | 1 | 4 subjects incl. 301, 302 + LA303 |
| OT426 | The Psalter [Hebrew] | E | 2 | 4 subjects incl. 301, 302 + LA303 |
| RDO31 | Foundations for Hebrew Exegesis | O | 1 | LA303 |
| New Testament | ||||
| NT301 | Cont. & Set Gospel Traditions | E | 1 | None |
| NT302 | Early NT Church | E | 2 | None |
| NT430 | Synoptic Gospels [Greek] | O | 1 | 4 subjects incl. 301, 302 + LA304 |
| NT424 | 4th Gospel [English] | E | 1 | 4 subjects incl. 301 + 301 |
| NT434 | 4th Gospel [Greek] | O | 2 | 4 subjects incl. 301, 302 + LA304 |
| NT435 | Pauline Theology & Romans [Greek] | E | 2 | 4 subjects incl. 301, 302 + LA304 |
| RDN31 | Foundations for NT Exegesis | E | 1 | LA304 |
| Theology | ||||
| TH401 | Knowledge of God | E | 1 | 4 subjects |
| TH402 | The Being of God & the Work of Christ | E | 2 | 4 subjects |
| TH403 | Doctrine of Grace & Eschatology | O | 1 | 4 subjects |
| TH404 | Church, Sacraments, Ministry | O | 2 | 4 subjects |
| TH489 | Seminar - Contemporary Theology | All | 1 | O.T., N.T., Theology & C.H. core |
| Philosophy and Ethics | ||||
| PE301 | Introduction to Christian Ethics | E | 1 | None |
| PE418 | Christian Faith in Society | E | 2 | 4 subjects |
| PE420 | Christian Apologetics | O | 2 | 4 subjects |
| Church History | ||||
| CH301 | The Church to 1550 | All | 1 | None |
| CH302 | 1550 to Modern times | All | 2 | None |
| CH421 | Continental Reformation | E | 2 | 4 subjects incl 301&302 or 303&304 |
| Evangelism and Missiology | ||||
| EM302 | History of Christian Missions | E | 1 | None |
| EM305 | Theology of Mission | O | 2 | None |
| EM324 | Evangelism Principles | O | 1 | None |
| EM425 | Applied Evangelism | All | 2 | 4 subjects incl. 324 |
| Pastoral and Church Focused Ministry | ||||
| PC315 | Christian Worship | O | 1 | None |
| PC402 | Pastoral Care | E | 1 | 4 subjects + 1 TH400 |
| PC403 | Pastoral Skills & Methods | O | 2 | 4 subjects + 1 TH400 |
| PC408 | Spiritual Formation | All | 2 | None |
| PC435 | Leadership & Management | O | 1 | 4 subjects + 1 TH400 |
| PC449 | SEBL | All | Both | None |
| RDC31 | Creeds & Confessions | O | 2 | None |
| RDP31 | Principles of Preaching | E | 2 | None |
| RDP42 | Practice of Preaching | All | Both | RDP31 |
| Languages | ||||
| LA301 | Introduction to Biblical Hebrew | E | 1 | None |
| LA303a | Biblical Hebrew [4] | E | 1 | None |
| LA303b | Biblical Hebrew [4] | E | 2 | LA303 |
| LA302 | Intro to NT Greek | O | 1 | None |
| LA304a | NT Greek [4] | O | 1 | None |
| LA304b | NT Greek [4] | O | 2 | LA304 |
| Projects & Practicals | ||||
| PE/EM/PC4xx xx | Practical | All | 2 | 4 Core, check with supervisor |
| ++490 | Project | All | Both | Two 400 level subjects in field chosen |
** The 300 & 400 number subjects are available at the 500 and 600 level respectively.
*** Subjects at the 500 & 600 levels are normally only available to honours, graduate diploma & masters students.
