Master of Theological Studies

Course Description 
Our Master of Theological Studies degree is offered as a professional development course for vocational ministry practitioners. It offers a range of subjects in a variety of formats designed to fit into your busy ministry life. With flexible learning options, we offer an approach to study that is also viable for those who live outside Melbourne. Subjects are provided by leading practical theologians in a range of fields, and assessment is designed so that it can be applied to your specific ministry context. The structure of this course entails completion of sixteen units including a compulsory capstone experience OR a minor or major project. Students who undertake a major project must first complete AS001-912 Research Methods, and completion of a major project to a sufficient standard is one of the key eligibility criteria for admission to the research degrees including the Doctor of Ministry.

Students who have completed prior theological studies will be eligible for advanced standing for some foundational and intermediate units.

Course Details 

Duration	2 years full-time equivalent OR Part-time (maximum 8 years)
Mode	On-campus, Online, Multi-mode
Timing	Full-time or Part-time Semester or Intensive or Extensive Classes
Course Level	Australian Qualifications Framework Level 9
Subject Level	Delivered at levels 8-9
Early exit point	Graduate Certificate of Divinity Graduate Diploma of Divinity
Graduates may complete further study in	Research Degrees Doctor of Ministry
Admission Requirements	Academic Qualifications: Completed three-year bachelor degree or equivalent Language Qualifications for NESB: IELTS 7.0 overall with a minimum of 7.0 in reading and writing, and 6.5 in listening and speaking OR 10 years in Australia with English being the language primarily spoken both at home and work
Advanced Standing	Applicants with a three-year undergraduate theological degree are eligible to receive advanced standing for 48 credit points with the remaining 144 credit points to be completed at levels 8-9 Applicants with a three-year graduate theological degree are eligible to receive advanced standing for up to 96 credit points with the remaining 96 credit points to be completed at levels 8-9
Fee Help	Eligible for FEE-HELP and Centrelink allowances
Credit Points	192 (16 subjects each worth 12 credit points), including at least 60 credit points at Level 9

Specialisations
Ridley faculty and an extensive network of international scholars means that we can offer several specialisations to allow you to focus on your areas of ministry interest.

You can choose studies in the areas of:

• Biblical Studies
• Theology and Church History
• Evangelism and Mission
• Children’s and Youth Ministry
• Leadership
• Preaching
• Interdisciplinary Studies
• Research Methods

Intensives
Many Master of Theological Studies units are undertaken in intensive mode with students gathering at the Parkville campus of Ridley College. Students are given pre-reading with assessments undertaken prior to and after the intensive teaching days.

Study Tours
Most years Ridley faculty lead tours to a site of Christian significance in Israel and Jordan, Greece and Turkey or the Reformation countries of Europe or North America. Tours of biblical sites bring the Bible to life and help you interpret the Bible by better understanding the life and culture of the ancient world. An understanding of the archaeology, geography and topography can also help with biblical interpretation. These tours are also great experiences of community, travel and culture.

Capstone or Project
A capstone or project is compulsory in the final stages of the Master of Theological Studies. The capstone experience is designed as an opportunity to integrate your learning across the theological disciplines, reflect on your personal growth during your time at Ridley, and consider how you can develop your ministry practice through your professional development training. After completing the syllabus of a regular advanced unit, you will undertake alternative integrative assessment/s designed to relate the present unit of study with your wider learning, using these as a springboard to a wider reflection on your learning. Only selected subjects can be taken as a capstone, and full class participation is required.

A research project is an alternative to a capstone experience. Students can undertake projects which are the equivalent of one, two or three units (minor – 8,000 words; major – 12,000 words or 16,000 words). Students who undertake a major project must first complete AS001-912 Research Methods.

For more information on what subjects are available, visit the Professional Development Degree subject page here.

This course is only available to Australian domestic students. 

Please contact Alison Flynn on registrar@ridley.edu.au for further information on this degree.

This is a course of the Australian College of Theology.