Arts & humanities

Graduate Certificate in Theological Studies


Overview

Level of study: What does Postgraduate mean?

Postgraduate

Number of units: What are units?

4 units

Units in this course

View Units

The Graduate Certificate in Theological Studies at Australian Catholic University is a flexible qualification designed to enable students to pursue a mixture of interests or to specialise in particular areas. The course provides students with a means of extending their skills and knowledge in specific streams: Ancient Languages or the Biblical World.

Graduates of the Ancient Languages stream will be able to demonstrate basic skills in the use of biblical or ecclesial languages.

Graduates of the Biblical World stream will be able to interpret biblical texts using insights drawn from historical, cultural, literary, philosophical and theological analyses.

Eligibility

Academic

Applicants must have completed an Undergraduate degree in any discipline.

International

Required IELTS Score: IELTS 6.5 (with 6.0 for all tests)

How to Apply

This course is restricted. Students are required to apply and be approved by ACU before they can enrol in units through OUA.

Applications for the Graduate Certificate in Theological Studies are due two weeks prior to the close of enrolment.

Please complete the application form below.

  1. Read information requirements

    • Select to apply for one or more courses listed on the application form, taking note of the eligibility criteria for each course. If you want to apply for a (restricted) course with a different university, you'll need to submit a separate application from the relevant course page.

    • Read all parts of the application form in advance:

      Receive a faster response by ensuring you have all the required information ready before you start. If you have a web account, sign in first to pre-fill personal details we already have for you on record.

      If you do not have a web account, you'll need to register one within the application form. Once you've registered an account, you'll then be signed in. From here you can choose to complete your application and submit it, or save and return to it later.

      Completing this application should take 15 to 20 minutes.

    • Need help completing your application? Contact us:

      If in doubt about any of the information required to support your application, the more information you can provide the better. If you have any academic queries including how to request credit transfer, contact Australian Catholic University directly. For all other enquiries, contact us.

    • Next steps:

      After submitting your application, you should receive a confirmation email containing a copy of your application for your records.

      Your application will be assessed within 2-4 weeks, and if further information is required, we will contact you. Once your application has been assessed, we will be in touch via email to notify you of the outcome. At the latest this will be one week after the closing date for applications.

      If, after submitting your application, you wish to change your preferences or submit an additional document, please email apply@open.edu.au. Include your full name as it appeared on the application.

  2. Prepare supporting documents

    • Check that you have all the required documents, according to individual course requirements and your personal circumstances, specifically:

      1. Your curriculum vitae - required for entry into postgraduate courses only.
      2. Certified copies of academic transcripts - required in most cases but check course eligibility rules.
      3. A letter of recommendation from your employer on company letterhead - recommended for entry using work experience.
      4. Certified legal documentation - if you have changed your name e.g. a marriage certificate, deed poll name change certificate.
      5. Certified legal documentation - if you need to correct an error in your date of birth e.g. a birth certificate.
      6. English language test results - if your courses were not predominantly in English e.g. IELTS or equivalent test results.
      7. Official translations of any documents not in English.

      A "certified" copy is a copy bearing the recognised mark of a Justice of the Peace, Commission of Oaths or declarations, Public Notary or a Solicitor.

    • Create an electronic copy of your attachments:

      For each certified document, scan and save it on your computer. Save your curriculum vitae to your computer, then get ready to upload all documents in the form.

    • Do not send original documents as they will not be returned.

Then submit your application in one of two ways:

Apply online

Alternatively, you can download, print and email/fax your application:

ACU_Postgraduate_Application_Form (PDF, 176 KB)

PDF applications should be emailed to: apply@open.edu.au or faxed to: +61 3 8628 2989.

Award Requirements

To qualify for the award of the Graduate Certificate of Theological Studies students must complete four units.

Recognition of Prior Learning / Credit

RPL or Credit may be granted according to ACU policies and applicants are advised to contact the course coordinator.

The maximum credit that may be granted on the basis of previously completed qualification(s) of equal level is 50%.

Recommended Study Pattern

Students choose from either the Ancient Languages stream or the Biblical World stream and complete four units.

  • Ancient Languages students select any four units from the Ancient Languages stream list below.
  • Biblical World students complete the core unit THBS501 Biblical Studies plus three units from the Biblical World stream list below.

Course Structure

Ancient Languages stream - Theological Studies Total number of units to complete: 4 units
Select
Unit code
Unit name
Provider
2012 Availability
Optional Units: Complete 4 units from the following 7 units
ACU
ACU
THEL500
Biblical Hebrew A
ACU
Coming in 2013
THEL501
Biblical Hebrew B
ACU
Coming in 2013
THEL502
Latin A
ACU
Coming in 2013
THEL503
Latin B
ACU
Coming in 2013
THEL504
Medieval Latin
ACU
Coming in 2014
BIblical World stream - Theological Studies Total number of units to complete: 4 units
Select
Unit code
Unit name
Provider
2012 Availability
Required Units: Complete the following unit
ACU
Optional Units: Complete 3 units from the following 7 units
ACU
ACU
ACU
THCT501
Jesus the Christ
ACU
Coming in 2013
THCT503
The Early Christian World
ACU
Coming in 2013
THEL500
Biblical Hebrew A
ACU
Coming in 2013
THEL501
Biblical Hebrew B
ACU
Coming in 2013