There are a variety of different courses which SMBC offers to full time students. The following nine questions are designed to assist you in making a decision about which course to study.

The Primary (Objective, Factual) Questions:

1.     How long have I available for study?

2.     Academic Pre-requisites

3.     For what type of ministry am I preparing?

The Subjective (Who am I?) Questions:

4.    What experience and ability do I have as a student?

5.   Assumed theological maturity

The Survival (How will I pay for it?/Who will my friends be?) Questions

6.   Eligibility for Austudy and/or FEE-HELP

7.   What are other people doing?

The out-the-other-end (or ‘How can I get more of this?’) Question

8.    What should I do now in order to qualify for post-graduate courses later?

The Safety Exit (Can I commit?) Question:

9.   What if I am not sure, or change my mind?

Transferring between Colleges

The Primary (Objective, Factual) Questions:

1.     How long have I available for study?

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2.    Academic Pre-requisites

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3.    For what type of ministry am I preparing?

Different courses are designed to prepare graduates for different sorts of future ministry. Obviously circumstances will vary greatly, but the following observations may be made:

• Full time ministry as a pastor in a church, regular preacher, or teaching in a Bible College in Australia or abroad – the Master of Divinity or Bachelor of Theology with Greek is usually required as a minimum.

• In some countries a Masters is required, i.e. Master of Divinity rather than Bachelor of Theology with Greek.

• The Diploma of Theology is suited to people preparing for general gospel ministry in Australia or overseas. It provides the two years of training required for various roles with missionary organisations.

• The Master of Arts in Christian Studies is especially suited to those for whom future ministry will be built around their existing profession. It has the advantages of (a) being recognised at Masters level, (b) providing the two years of training required by some mission organisations, and (c) stimulating theological reflection related to their particular profession/interests.

• The Associate Degree in theology is especially suited for those preparing for ministry in a cross cultural context. It has the advantage of providing the two years of training required by some mission organisations and being recognised at degree (rather than diploma) level.

• The Graduate Diplomas are well suited for those whose future ministry will be focused around their profession. They have the advantage and disadvantage of being short. They also have the flexibility of allowing future study  towards a Master of Divinity or Master of Arts in Christian Studies.

• The Post Graduate Diploma has a similar vocational intent as the Graduate Diplomas, but provides a broader foundation (but at less depth) of biblical, theological and practical ministry subjects.

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The Subjective (Who am I?) Questions

4.    What experience and ability do I have as a student?

Generally speaking, if you meet the academic pre-requites for a course, and are willing to work consistently at your studies, you will be able to achieve good grades in the course. The following notes will help you assess what is required in each course, though you will only appreciate the reality after you start.

Master of Divinity

The Master of Divinity offers a comprehensive set of studies across the full spectrum of Bible, theology and ministry, emphasising evangelical perspectives, while including critical evaluation of alternative approaches. Study of the New Testament in Greek is required. An independent research project is completed in the third year.

Bachelor of Theology

The Bachelor of Theology offers a similar comprehensive program to the Master of Divinity, though the level of evaluative thought and knowledge of alternative approaches is somewhat less. Study of the New Testament in Greek is optional. There is no research project.

Diploma of Theology

The Diploma of Theology gives a broad study of Bible, theology and ministry, though with less breadth and depth than is possible in the three year Master of Divinity or Bachelor of Theology. Less independent evaluation is required, and there is somewhat less exposure to alternative approaches. Practical ministry training is a more prominent feature of the course.

Associate Degree in Theology

The Associate Degree in Theology is studied at the same level as the Bachelor of Theology but is a shorter course (two years). The program offers a foundation in Biblical and theological study and the opportunity focus on missions subjects. Cross cultural field work and a short independent research project are requirements of this program. No biblical languages are required.

Graduate Diploma of Divinity

This is one third of the full Master of Divinity and the subjects completed correspond to the subjects listed in the first year of the Master of Divinity programme. Languages are not included but may be included if a student might be progressing to study the Master of Divinity.

Post Graduate Diploma in Divinity and Mission

The academic level is the same as the Diploma of Theology. However more subjects are done (about 75 percent of the two-year Diploma of Theology is completed in one year). Because of the volume it is suited only to capable students who have already studied at tertiary level.

Master of Arts in Christian Studies

This course includes (i) some subjects from the Master of Divinity course; (ii) some more advanced subjects from the Master of Arts in Ministry program; and (iii) independent research projects assessed at post-graduate university level.

Graduate Diploma in Christian Studies

This is the first year of the Master of Arts in Christian Studies program and includes Master of Divinity level subjects and a short independent research project.

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5.   Assumed theological maturity

The graduate level courses (Master of Divinity, Graduate Diploma, Master of Arts in Christian Studies) move at a faster rate and involve more interaction with alternative views than the Bachelor of Theology, Associate Degree in Theology, and Diploma of Theology/Postgraduate Diploma. Students who do not have a reasonable foundation of Bible knowledge and basic theology, or have been a Christian for only a short time, may be well advised to commence with the Diploma of Theology. However, most people who have been accepted as full-time students at SMBC will have the theological maturity to undertake any course for which they have the academic pre-requisites.

The Master of Arts in Christian Studies (MACS) involves only one year of foundational Biblical and theological study before the student embarks on a major project integrating the Christian faith with an area of secular interest. Students in the MACS therefore benefit from significant theological maturity.

The Survival (How will I pay for it?/Who will my friends be?) Questions

6.   Eligibility for Austudy and/or FEE-HELP

The following courses are approved for Austudy, though your eligibility also depends on your personal financial situation and educational history: Diploma of Theology, Bachelor of Theology, Graduate Diplomas.

Students in the Postgraduate Diploma program can register sufficient subjects under the Australian College of Theology Diploma of Theology to qualify for Austudy under the Diploma of Theology.

Students who intend to enrol in the Master of Divinity may complete their first year under the Graduate Diploma in Bible and Ministry and so qualify for Austudy for that year.

Students who intend to enrol in the Master of Arts in Christian Studies may complete their first year under the Graduate Diploma in Christian Studies, and so qualify for Austudy for that year.

Students enrolled in any Australian College of Theology course may apply for FEE-HELP for the tuition fees of that course.

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7.   What are other people doing?

In 2007 first year full-time students were spread amongst courses as follows:

The out-the-other-end (or ‘How can I get more of this?’) Question

8.      What should I do now in order to qualify for post-graduate courses later?

To proceed to the coursework masters, that is, Master of Arts in Ministry / Theology, you need the Bachelor of Theology or Master of Divinity. Some of your options will be excluded if you do the Bachelor of Theology without studying the New Testament in Greek.

To proceed to the research masters (Master of Theology / Ministry), or a doctorate (ThD), you should do the Master of Divinity and you will need to perform at a high level.

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The Safety Exit (Can I commit?) Question

9.   What if I am not sure, or change my mind?

You do not need to be certain about which course to do before you enrol. Course selection may be discussed as part of the application process and Course co-ordinators are available to assist incoming students with course selection leading up to enrolment. It is possible in many (but not all) situations to transfer from one course to another after you have commenced studying.

In general the principle is: If in doubt, start high. It is much easier to transfer down from Graduate Diploma/Master of Divinity to Bachelor of Theology or Diploma of Theology, than to transfer up.

Another principle is: Try to choose correctly first time. We try to accommodate students who want to change, but strict eligibility rules and timetable clashes often make this difficult.

Transferring between Colleges

Subjects completed at other colleges affiliated with the Australian College of Theology (ACT) can often be credited to SMBC qualifications. Consult the course co-ordinator for further details.

Subjects completed under the ACT awards at SMBC may be accepted by other ACT colleges. The only qualification listed above which is not an ACT award is the Postgraduate Diploma (PGD), but even PGD students can complete up to 10 subjects under the Diploma of Theology.

Credit given by theological colleges for non-ACT studies completed at SMBC varies from college to college.

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