Regulation 5
THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF DIVINITY

(Introductory Note: The Act provides as follows:

"Section 24(2) The degree of Bachelor of Divinity shall not be conferred upon any person unless such person

(a) has obtained the degree of Bachelor of Theology or a degree from the University of Melbourne of an equivalent qualification prescribed for the purposes of this sub‑section;

(b) has completed under the direction of the College the course of study prescribed for the degree; and

(c) has passed the examinations prescribed for the degree").

1 The degree of Bachelor of Divinity is open to candidates who have obtained the degree of Bachelor of Theology of the Melbourne College of Divinity or a degree from the University of Melbourne or an equivalent qualification as determined by the College.

2 For the purposes of Section 24(2)(a) and Regulation 5.1 an equivalent qualification as determined by the College shall be

(a) a degree from an Australian University or College of Advanced Education

(b) a degree from a New Zealand University

(c) any degree from a University, Institute or Faculty which the College from time to time shall prescribe by resolution on the recommendation of the Board of Studies (BD and Diplomas).

3 The Board may recommend to the College that certain awards in appropriate disciplines of other tertiary institutions or in. exceptional cases certain levels of relevant and attainment be recognised by the College as "equivalent qualifications" within the meaning of Section 24(2)(a) of the Act for the purposes of Regulation 5.1.2, and upon such recognition, either in general terms or in relation to particular applications, the Board may proceed as if the applicant fell within the terms of Regulation 5.1.2.

4 Candidates for the Degree of Bachelor of Divinity shall pass the examinations hereinafter prescribed.

1 Candidates shall proceed to the Degree of Bachelor of Divinity either as an Ordinary Degree or as an Honours Degree.

2 Candidates may apply to the College to be accepted as an Honours candidate after having passed either three of four subjects in their first annual examination. Acceptance shall depend upon the candidate having passed the subjects at a level determined by the Board of Studies (BD and Diplomas) as satisfactory for an Honours candidate. The candidate shall nominate, subject to approval of the Board, one or two of the fields A to E as the field or fields of specialisation.

1 The Degree shall consist of ten subjects. All candidates must take Old Testament Survey, Introduction to the Synoptic Gospels and Paul, Early Church History to 500 CE or Church History: Mediaeval and Reformation, Christology and Soteriology, plus one subject from either Field A or Field B, plus another subject from either Field C or Field D, plus another subject from Field F_ The foregoing named required subjects should normally be taken as the first subject within the respective field and other subjects will be examined on this basis. The remaining four subjects shall be the choice of the candidate, provided that no candidate may obtain credit for more than one of the optional subjects listed in Regulation 5.5.

2 All candidates are required to pass in either a Field A (Hebrew) or Field B (Greek) subject listed in Regulation 5.5.

3 A candidate may not enter at one Annual Examination for more than four subjects.

4 When a candidate has passed in five subjects, the remaining five subjects required to complete the Degree must be passed in not more than four subsequent sittings. A year in which only an essay subject or subjects are taken shall constitute a sitting.

5 A candidate who has passed in four subjects shall be entitled to take subjects by means of an essay as and when this option is offered provided that a candidate will be permitted to take a maximum of four subjects by means of an essay.

1 The Degree shall consist of ten subjects, in addition to which there shall be an essay, set as an examination paper on a topic relevant to the field or fields of specialisation as defined by the Fields A to E. The candidate must take Old Testament Survey, Introduction to the Synoptic Gospels and Paul, Early Church History to 500 CE or Church History: Mediaeval and Reformation, Christology and Soteriology, plus another subject from Field A or Field B, plus another subject from Field C or Field D. The foregoing named required subjects should normally be taken as the first subject within the respective Field and other subjects will be examined on this basis. Subject to the provisions of Regulation 5.4.2 the remaining subjects may be selected at the choice of the candidate provided that five of the ten subjects of the Degree are taken from the Field approved by the Board for the purposes of specialisation. When two Fields are approved by the Board for the purposes of specialisation the candidate shall take at least six of the ten subjects of the Degree from the two Fields.

2 Requirements for the special fields

(a) Honours in Field A

Candidates must take at least two of the subjects Old Testament Survey, Old Testament 1I, Old Testament III in Hebrew. A candidate who has passed Old Testament Survey and Old Testament ll' in Hebrew may take an Old Testament I/I examination set on Aramaic texts.

(b) Honours in Field B

Candidates must take at least two of the following subjects in Greek: Introduction to the Synoptic Gospels and Paul, John and Romans, Luke‑Acts, Later Epistles of the New Testament or Gospel of Matthew, Hebrews and James, or Apocalyptic and the Apocalypse.

A candidate must include the subjects Early Church History to 500 CE and Church History: Mediaeval and Reformation in the course.

A candidate must include the subjects Christology and Soteriology; 7he Christian Doctrine of God or Christian Anthropology,. Church, Ministry and Sacraments; and Faith in the Modern World or Contemporary Christian 7heology in the course.

A candidate must take one of the following sets of subjects:

3 Requirements for joint Fields Candidates must take at least three subjects in each of the Fields approved by the Board for the purposes of specialisation and, except as specified in this Regulation, must comply with the requirements of Reg 5.4.2.

When one of the approved Fields is Field D, the candidate must include the subjects Christology and Soteriology and either 7he Christian Doctrine of God or Christian Anthropology or Church, Ministry and Sacraments in the course.

When one of the approved Fields is Field E, the candidate may be granted permission to take only two subjects from one of the sets indicated in Regulation 5.4.2 provided that another approved subject from Field E is also taken.

4 All candidates are required to pass in either a Field A (Hebrew) or Field B (Greek) subject listed in Regulation 5.5.

5 Unless otherwise determined by the Board the candidate shall complete the requirements of the degree at three consecutive annual examinations.

6 When alternatives are offered in Fields A and B, only one alternative will be credited for the Degree.

7 A candidate who has passed in four subjects shall be entitled to take subjects by means of an essay as and when this option is offered provided that a candidate will be permitted to take a maximum of four subjects by means of an essay.

AII1 Old Testament Survey (Hebrew); or

AI 12 Old Testament Survey (English)

A201 Old Testament II (Hebrew); or

A202 Old Testament 11 (English)

A301 Old Testament III (Hebrew); or

A302 Old Testament III (English)

A401 The Old Testament Prophets and their Message; or

A491 The Old Testament Prophets and their Message‑Essay

A601 Old Testament Theology; or

A691 Old Testament Theology ‑ Essay

A790 Old Testament Studies ‑ Essay

A899 Old Testament Essay

A901 Old Testament Honours Essay Paper

B103 Introduction to the Synoptic Gospels and Paul (English) or

B104 Introduction to the Synoptic Gospels and Paul (Greek);

B203 John and Romans (English) or

B204 John and Romans (Greek);

B323 Luke‑Acts (English) or

B324 Luke‑Acts (Greek);

B325 Later Epistles of the New Testament (English) or

B326 Later Epistles of the New Testament (Greek);

B327 Gospel of Matthew, Hebrews and James (English) or

B328 Gospel of Matthew, Hebrews and James (Greek);

B331 Apocalyptic and the Apocalypse (English) or

B332 Apocalyptic and the Apocalypse (Greek);

B401 Recent New Testament Exegesis; or

B491 Recent New Testament Exegesis ‑ Essay

B512 New Testament Theology; or

B592 New Testament Theology ‑ Essay

B899 New Testament Essay

B901 New Testament Honours Essay Paper

C101 Early Church History to 500 CE

C201 Church History; Mediaeval and Reformation

C212 The Reformation in the English Speaking World

C301 Modem Church History; or

C391 Modem Church History ‑ Essay

C501 Early and Mediaeval Christian Liturgies

C502 Reformation and Modem Christian Liturgies

C601 Australian Church History; or

C691 Australian Church History ‑ Essay

C701 The History of Christian Spirituality; or

C791 The History of Christian Spirituality ‑ Essay

C801 New Zealand Church History

C899 Church History Essay

C901 Church History Honours Essay Paper

D102 Christology and Soteriology

D202 The Christian Doctrine of God

D213 Christian Anthropology

D302 Church, Ministry and Sacraments

D492 Faith in the Modem World ‑ Essay

D592 Contemporary Christian Theology ‑ Essay

D601 Basic Christian Ethics

D602 Christian Social Ethics

D690 Christian Ethics ‑ Essay

D712 The Theology of Mission (as in Field E)

D801 Study of Religions

D821 Ecumenics

D899 Systematic Theology Essay

D901 Theology Honours Essay Paper

EIOI Principles of Pastoral Care

E102 Aspects of Pastoral Care

E201 Clinical Pastoral Education

E311 The Pastoral Tradition

E401 Theology of Pastoral Care

E490 Pastoral Studies ‑ Essay

E511 Education in Christian Faith

E512 Christian Theology and Education

E590 Christian Education ‑ Essay

E601 Basic Christian Ethics (as in Field D)

E602 Christian Social Ethics (as in Field D)

E690 Christian Ethics ‑ Essay (as in Field D)

E711 Missiology: History and Issues

E712 The Theology of Mission

E821 Sociology of Religion

E899 Field Related Essay

E901 Honours Essay Paper

Regulation 5.6 ‑ Requirements for Essays (Note: Regulations 5.3.5 and 5.4.7)

1 The candidate shall write an essay of at least 10,000, and not more than 12,000 words, on a topic set or approved by the College.

2 The essay shall be prepared in consultation with a supervisor, whose name shall be submitted to the Board for approval, when the essay is submitted, the supervisor shall provide the Dean with certification that the essay has been prepared under the approved supervision and is the work of the candidate.

3 The essay shall be submitted by 31st October in any year.

4 The essay shall contain a full and orderly bibliography, and give precise references to works which are quoted or referred to in the text.

5 The essay shall be presented on A4 pages, typewritten or computer produced, double‑spaced, with the pages firmly fastened together.

A candidate who fails to qualify for an Honours Degree may apply to the College for admission to the ordinary degree.

1 A candidate holding the Diploma in Theology and after completion of such Diploma becoming eligible to be admitted as a candidate for the BD Ordinary Degree may be given credit for subjects in the BD as determined by the Board of Studies (BD and Diplomas), (provided that no candidate shall receive credit for more than four subjects).

2 The Board may grant credit for a subject in the BD on the basis of the successful completion at a tertiary institution of an equivalent subject which the Board regards as having been taken at a level equivalent to that of the BD, provided that no candidate shall receive credit for more than four subjects. Such credit shall normally not be granted for subjects successfully completed for the purposes of a qualification whose requirements have been met.

3 Where a candidate does not satisfy the requirements as set out in Sections 1 & 2 above, but has completed equivalent subjects in theological study at a tertiary level and has completed at least two subjects of the Bachelor of Divinity degree at the level of credit or above, the Board may grant credits for up to two subjects unspecified.

When a candidate enters for the degree and for a diploma, the maximum number of subjects which may be entered at one annual examination is five.

Candidates who enrolled for the degree prior to 1996 may complete their course of studies under the Regulations in force at the time of their enrolment. Such studies must be completed before 31 December 1999.

    Page last updated on 10 October, 2003