Course details

Summary

The Bachelor of Theology (BTheol) requires three years of full-time or its equivalent in part-time study. The degree can also be completed via Distance Learning. Students are required to take papers in various Theology subjects areas and are also able to include up to five papers from outside Theology in their degree programme.

The degree does not have provision for major or minor subjects, but may be endorsed in Christian Thought and History.

Students are taught by research-active scholars, are expected to undertake a variety of learning experiences and are challenged to develop their intellectual independence. Graduates of the programme are well-informed about the key themes of and approaches to the different areas of study which are encompassed by the subject areas of Theology and have the ability to integrate learning across the range of subject areas of Theology.

Christian Thought and History is concerned with the growth and development of the Church from the first century to modern times and a critical exposition and analysis of Christian thought.

An endorsed BTheol degree is an entry qualification for the BTheol(Hons) or PGDipTheol programme in the subject of endorsement.

Papers

Every BTheol programme must include the following core papers:

• BIBS 112 Interpreting the Old Testament
• BIBS 121 Interpreting the New Testament
• CHTH 102 The History of Christianity
• CHTH 111 Doing Theology
• CHTH 131 God and Ethics in the Modern World
• At least one of RELS 101 or RELS 102
• CHTH 218 or CHTH 318
• PAST 215 or PAST 315
• At least one of BIBS 211 or BIBS 311, or BIBS 218 or BIBS 318
• At least one of BIBS 221 or BIBS 321, or BIBS 226 or BIBS 326
• At least one of CHTH 206 or CHTH 306, or CHTH 233 or CHTH 333

A programme may be endorsed in Christian Thought and History if it includes a total of eight CHTH papers, including three at 300-level.

Bachelor of Theology with Honours also available

The aim of the BTheol(Hons) degree is to help students become highly skilled, versatile, independent thinkers with the research experience, information literacy and communication skills necessary for an advanced professional career in Theology or further academic study at the Masters or PhD level.

Entry criteria

The minimum requirement for students is the completion of a high school qualification plus satisfactory completion of one year's study at an approved tertiary institution or successful completion New Zealand Foundation Year programme.

We also accept the following International qualifications: International Baccalaureate: IB Diploma with a minimum of 26 points; GCE Advanced Levels: minimum grade of 8.

English Language Requirements:

IELTS score of 6.0 in the academic module (with no individual band below 6.0); Internet-based TOEFL Score of 80 (writing 20); Paper-based TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of 550 (TWE 4.5); CIE Cambridge International Examinations Grade E or better in AS English; Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) - Overall score of 176 (with no individual band below 169); Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) - Overall score of 176 (with no individual band below 169); GCE 'A' Level or 'AS' Level English Language or English Literature - grade C or higher; GCE 'AS' Level General Paper (English) - grade C or higher; APIEL (Advanced Placement International English Language) Examination - grade 3 or higher; IB International Baccalaureate - English at Higher or Standard level in Language A: literature, Language A: language and literature, or at Higher level in Language B; Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic - Overall score of 58 with no communicative skills score below 50.