Graduate Certificate of Divinity
Course Overview
SMBC’s Graduate Certificate of Divinity (GCDiv) pathways are a great opportunity to ‘fill up the tank’ and go further in your ministry journey. Ideal for those already with some theological study alongside some ministry or mission experience, these tailored pathways will allow you to dig deeper, explore issues and hone your skills at an advanced level.
The GCDiv offers significant professional development and the units are available in a range of on-campus and off-campus (online) formats. You can choose one of our specialised pathways, or design your own bespoke pathway from any AQF level 8/9 units offered at SMBC.
Each pathway provides a foundation of Bible units alongside specialised units. Regular yearly cycles of Old Testament, New Testament, theology, preaching, pastoral care, missions, leadership skills and contemporary issues will give you a variety of options to choose from.
Seasoned practitioners from the SMBC faculty as well as guest lecturers, along with fellow students, will bring you the best of learning in community – fresh resources, stretching discussion and immediate application.
As well as providing professional development opportunities, the GCDiv can lead to further postgraduate study.
Student Testimonials
Taking the time and putting in the effort to complete the GCDiv allowed me to deepen and extend my experience gained through my BTh. As a pastor and church planter, nothing is more important than a lived knowledge and experience of God’s truth and person for yourself – because you can’t lead people where you haven’t been.
Arnaldo, SMBC graduate, Pastor at Anchor Church South West
SMBC Pathways
SMBC pathways are available in: Pastoral Leadership; Biblical Preaching; Advanced Exegesis; and Intercultural Studies. Alternatively, you can design your own bespoke pathway with any AQF level 8/9 units offered at SMBC.
Biblical Preaching Pathway:
This pathway provides the opportunity to take your preaching skills further. Balancing deep dives into the Bible and theology with practical skills, you’ll be challenged to better communicate with post-Christian Australia. There’s the opportunity to explore different biblical genres and some units will be available as intensives and others as workshops.
Pastoral Leadership Pathway:
Whether it’s caring for people at the beginning or end of life, for those with disabilities or troubled by gender issues, for marriages or teams in conflict, pastoral ministry is tough and stretching. This pathway provides the resources to mine the Scriptures for rich insights and find helpful ways to apply them in your ministry. There’s also the opportunity to nurture your own leadership skills and resilience.
Intercultural Studies Pathway:
Blending some of the specialised resources from the SMBC Master of Intercultural Studies along with advanced missions and Bible units, this pathway will enhance your cross-cultural understanding and skills. Studies on topics like contextualisation, transformational development, cultural anthropology or cross-cultural church planting will help keep you up-to-date with the latest in missional thinking – whether here in Australia or overseas.
Advanced Exegesis Pathway:
Whether you’re preaching or leading Bible studies, or simply want to enrich your biblical understanding, taking time for sustained, in-depth study of the Scriptures will not only broaden and deepen your knowledge, but nourish your faith as well. You can choose from a range of both Old Testament and New Testament units taught by specialists and designed to give application and practice in the contemporary world.
Research Project Pathway:
This pathway provides the opportunity to write a reseach project of your choice under the supervision of an SMBC lecturer with expertise in your chosen subject area. It would suit those looking to explore a topic in significant depth. It can also provide a pathway for admission to a Higher Degree by Research. Your course would begin with a Research Methods coursework unit and then progress to either a 12,000 or 16,000 word project.
Admission Requirements
Academic Qualifications: Completed 3 year bachelor degree or equivalent, OR
Alternative admission to the Graduate Certificate of Divinity is on individual application to the University Registrar including 5 years’ ministry or relevant industry experience (paid or unpaid); and written support of a referee who holds a relevant Masters degree from the University or equivalent; and successful completion of a previous qualification at AQF Level 5 or above; and being at least 25 years of age.
Note: On successful completion of the Graduate Certificate of Divinity under this admission pathway, students can articulate to other postgraduate courses which normally would have required the completion of a bachelor degree for admission.
Language requirements: 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.
This is a course of the Australian University of Theology. For more detailed information on this course see the AUT course overview and AUT Coursework Course Enrolment Policy.