ObjectivesThe Master of Arts (Theology) is a generalist postgraduate coursework degree which provides a pathway for graduates without substantial theological background to gain a foundation in the study of Christian theology; and, for graduates with at least an undergraduate major in theology, the course enables them to deepen their knowledge and skills in theology.
Entry requirements1. Bachelor degree or equivalent; and 2. theological studies equivalent to the Graduate Certificate in Arts (Theology); or 3. a four unit undergraduate minor in theological studies.
Academic titleMaster of Arts (Theology)
Course descriptionThis course is designed to enable students to:
1. study the meaning and practice of Christian theology within the Catholic tradition;
2. develop and enhance a critical academic understanding of the Christian scriptures, the history of the Christian tradition, the systematic and doctrinal heritage of Christian theology, and the moral and practical dimensions of Christian faith;
3. engage with contemporary social and ethical issues, ecumenical and interfaith contexts, and the relevance of theology to human culture;
4. articulate the inter-relationships between theology and particular vocational, professional and pastoral activities.
Master of Arts (Theology)
MA(Theol)
80 cp
Minimum duration: 1 year full-time or equivalent part-time.
Graduate Diploma in Arts (Theology)
(Exit qualification only)
GradDipArts(Theol)
40 cp
Minimum duration: 6 months full-time or equivalent part-time.
Course available at:
Ballarat, Victoria
Brisbane, Queensland
Canberra, ACT
Melbourne, Victoria
Sydney (Strathfield), NSW
Nationally, online (http://www.acu.edu.au/elearning/)
EFTSL value of units: All 10 cp units in this course have an EFTSL value of 0.125. Units with a cp value of a multiple of 10 have corresponding EFTSL values.
1. Requirements for Completion of the Degree
1.1 To qualify for the degree, a student must complete 80 cp from the Schedule of Unit Offerings, including at least 10 cp from Advanced Units in each of Biblical Studies and Systematic Theology.
1.2 A Graduate Certificate unit level 500 that is double-coded as a Masters unit level 600 may not be undertaken at both levels of study.
2. Exit Point
2.1 The Graduate Diploma in Arts (Theology) is available only as an exit point from the Master’s degree.
2.2 A student who has completed the following requirements may exit from the course with the Graduate Diploma in Arts (Theology).
In addition to completion of the Graduate Certificate in Arts (Theology), a student must complete 40 cp from the Schedule of Unit Offerings, including at least 20 cp from Advanced Units.
Schedule of Unit Offerings
Prerequisite (Pre), co-requisite (Co) and incompatible (Inc) units are indicated in parentheses where applicable.
Foundational Units
Unit Code Credit Points Unit Name
THEO611 10 Theology of Sacraments
THEO660 10 Jesus the Christ
THEO661 10 Christian Life and Thought to 590CE
THEO662 10 Foundations in Liturgy
THEO663 10 Theology of Church
THEO664 10 Approaching World Religions
THEO667 10 Theology of the Human Person
THEO673 10 Christian Morality
THEO694 10 Biblical Studies
THEO695 10 Foundations of Christian Faith
Advanced Units
Biblical Studies
Unit Code Credit Points Unit Name
THEO602 10 Biblical Narrative as Theology
THEO615 10 New Testament Christology
THEO626 20 Bible Lands Study Tour
THEO636 10 Prophetic and Wisdom Literature
THEO650 10 Theological Perspectives of the Bible
THEO674 10 The Corinthian Correspondence
THEO675 10 A Synoptic Gospel (Pre: A foundational or undergraduate unit in Biblical Studies)
THEO677 10 Biblical Poetry
Systematic Theology
Unit Code Credit Points Unit Name
THEL602 10 Theology Today
THEO631 10 Issues in Systematic Theology
THEO647 10 Issues in Christian Ethics
THEO649 10 Revelation and Tradition
THEO679 10 Contextual Theologies
THEO680 10 Theology of Mission
Ministry and Praxis
Unit Code Credit Points Unit Name
THEO629 10 Issues in Liturgical Studies (Pre: THEO662 Foundations in Liturgy)
THEO646 10 Issues in Ministry
THEO651 10 Theology and Leadership
THEO652 10 Theology and Society
THEO657 10 Practical Theology
THEO658 10 Foundations of Social Justice
Spirituality and Pastoral Ministry
Unit Code Credit Points Unit Name
THEO685 10 Spirituality and Ministry in the Christian Tradition 1
THEO686 10 Spirituality and Ministry in the Christian Tradition 2 (Pre: THEO685 Spirituality and Ministry in the Christian Tradition 1)
THEO687 10 Spirituality, Ministry and Practice 1 (Pre: THEO685 Spirituality and Ministry in the Christian Tradition 1 and THEO686 Spirituality and Ministry in the Christian Tradition 2)
THEO688 10 Spirituality, Ministry and Practice 2 (Pre: THEO685 Spirituality and Ministry in the Christian Tradition 1, THEO686 Spirituality and Ministry in the Christian Tradition 2 and THEO687 Spirituality, Ministry and Practice)
THEO697 10 Spirituality, Ministry and Practice 3 (Pre: THEO685 Spirituality and Ministry in the Christian Tradition 1, THEO686 Spirituality and Ministry in the Christian Tradition 2, THEO687 Spirituality, Ministry and Practice and THEO688 Spirituality, Ministry and Practice 2)
THEO698 10 Spirituality, Ministry and Practice 4 (Pre: THEO685 Spirituality and Ministry in the Christian Tradition 1, THEO686 Spirituality and Ministry in the Christian Tradition 2, THEO687 Spirituality, Ministry and Practice 1, THEO688 Spirituality, Ministry and Practice 2 and THEO697 Spirituality, Ministry and Practice 3)
Religion and Culture
Unit Code Credit Points Unit Name
THEO644 10 Religion, Ethics and Pluralism
THEO656 10 Christian Spirituality
THEO681 10 Theology, Literature and the Arts
THEO682 10 Religion and Psychology
THEO689 10 Science, Theology and Religion
Patristics and Historical Studies
Unit Code Credit Points Unit Name
THEO621 10 Church Literature to Gregory the Great
THEO643 10 Women and the Church
THEO648 10 History and Development of the Church
THEO655 10 History of the Church in Australia
Interfaith and other Religious Studies
Unit Code Credit Points Unit Name
PHIL604 10 Issues in Philosophy of Religion
THEO618 10 The Phenomenology of Religion
THEO625 10 Issues in Ecumenism
THEO632 10 Jews and Judaism
THEO683 10 Religious Pluralism and Interfaith Dialogue
THEO684 10 Theology and Reconciliation
Biblical and Ecclesiastical Languages
Unit Code Credit Points Unit Name
THEO669 10 Ecclesiastical Latin A
THEO670 10 Ecclesiastical Latin B (Pre: THEO669 Ecclesiastical Latin A or equivalent)
THEO671 10 Biblical Hebrew A
THEO672 10 Biblical Hebrew B (Pre: THEO671 Biblical Hebrew A or equivalent)
THEL600 10 New Testament Greek A
THEL601 10 New Testament Greek B (Pre: THEL600 New Testament Greek A)
Research Units
The following units in theological research may be included in one of the above specialisations with the approval of the Course Co-ordinator.
Unit Code Credit Points Unit Name
THEO608 10 One-Unit Project (Pre: Credit average grade or above in at least four units of the course)
THEO613 20 Two-Unit Project (Pre: Credit average grade or above in at least four units of the course)
THEO628 10 Introduction to Theological Research
THEO633 10 Special Study