Bachelor of Arts (Combined Theology)

Please note: There is no further entry into this course, this combined course is being phased out.

To meet the requirements for the BA/BTheology degree students must complete subjects totalling at least 500 points, usually five years of full-time study. A minimum number of subjects must be taken towards the arts component, and a minimum number towards the theology component of the combined degree:

Arts: 225 points

Theology: 240 points

From either arts or theology: 45 points of theology or 37.5 points of arts. Students have the option of completing one or two majors in the arts component. Areas of study are the arts-approved areas available in the Bachelor of Arts, as listed here.

The theology component of the degree is offered by the following institutions:

Churches of Christ Theological College, 44 - 60 Jacksons Road, Mulgrave, 3170
Catholic Theological College, (PO Box 146) 278 Victoria Parade, East Melbourne, 3002
Whitley College, 271 Royal Parade, Parkville, 3052
United Faculty of Theology, Kernick House, Queens College, Parkville, 3052
Yarra Theological Union, (PO Box 79) 98 Albion Road, Box Hill, 3128

For information on policies that govern this degree, see Academic Policies and Procedures listed in the Melbourne Policy Library.

The Bachelor of Arts has as its objectives that graduates:

• can demonstrate a sound knowledge and understanding of selected fields of studies in the humanities, languages and social and behavioural sciences;
• can access and appreciate national and international debates in their areas of study;
• can demonstrate an independent approach to knowledge that uses rigorous methods of inquiry and appropriate theories and methodologies that are applied with intellectual honesty and a respect for ethical values;
• can apply critical and analytical skills and methods to the identification and resolution of problems within a changing social context;
• can act as informed and critically discriminating participants within the community of scholars, as citizens and in the work force;
• can communicate effectively an,in the case of those students undertaking a language major, are able to read, write and speak another language with fluency and appreciate its cultural context;
• qualify for employment in a wide range of occupations;
• have a continuing committment to learning;
• are proficient in the use of appropriate modern technologies, such as the computer and other IT systems, for the acquisition, processing and interpretation of data.

Students must complete at least 225 points towards the arts component of the combined degree comprising:

50 points of level one arts (usually four subjects)
75 points of level two arts (usually six subjects)
100 points of level three arts (usually eight subjects)

Students in the combined Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Theology are only eligible to enrol in arts-approved subject areas, as listed here.

No more than 162.5 points may be taken in any one area of study: a maximum of 25 points at first year level and 137.5 points at second/third year level.The theology component of the combined degree requires the completion of a minimum of 240 theology points (where one semester unit equals 15 points). These usually include:

30 points in Old Testament (field B)
30 points in New Testament (field B)
30 points in Systematic Theology (field C)
30 points in Church history (field C)
60 points in Moral and Practical Theology (field D)

One discipline in either field B (Biblical Studies) or field C (Christian Thought and History) must be taken to Level 3 (90 points).

There will be no further entry into this combined course from 2007.

For information about course requirements and entry into the new Bachelor of Arts, see the future students page.

For information about course requirements and entry ninto the Bachelor of Theology, see the Melbourne College of Divinity website.

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this course are articulated in the Course Description, Course Objectives and Generic Skills of this entry.
The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Arts offers many opportunities for further study. An honours year or postgraduate diploma, leading on to a masters degree or PhD, can add vocational and/or research skills to your undergraduate arts degree and increase your employment options. Arts graduates also use postgraduate study to explore in greater depth and detail subjects they found interesting during their undergraduate study or to study a completely new field of knowledge.

Graduate study of a vocational nature might include diplomas or masters in Applied Linguistics, Management, Art Conservation and Curatorial Studies, Arts Management, Criminology, Economics, Linguistics, Information Management, Landscape Architecture, and Science Communication. The list of postgraduate courses you might wish to consider after finishing your undergraduate arts degree is varied and growing.

The Bachelor of Arts is recognised by universities and institutions around the world. Many University of Melbourne graduates travel overseas to complete further study. For more information on entry into a coursework masters degree, please refer to the The Graduate School of Humanities & Social Sciences.

See course objectives

Arts students are encouraged to pursue their academic interests and professional aspirations by taking a variety of subjects in a range of different areas of study. All arts subjects provide students with transferable generic skills that prepare them for further study and the workplace.

As a result of attendance at scheduled classes, participation in planned activities and discussion groups, and timely completion of essays and assignments, arts graduates should acquire transferable generic skills in the following areas:

• research

  through competent use of the library, electronic databases, and other information sources, and the definition of areas of inquiry and methods of research;

• critical thinking and analysis

  through recommended reading, essay writing and tutorial discussion, and by determining the strength of an argument;

• thinking in theoretical terms

  through lectures, tutorial discussion, essay writing and engagement in the methodologies of the humanities and social sciences;

• thinking creatively

  through essay writing, creative writing, tutorial discussions and presentations, conceptualising theoretical problems, forming judgements and arguments from conflicting evidence and by critical analysis;

• understanding of social, ethical and cultural context

  through the contextualisation of judgements, developing a critical self-awareness, being open to new ideas and possibilities and by constructing an argument;

• communicating knowledge intelligibly and economically

  through essay writing and tutorial and seminar discussion;

• written communication

  through essay preparation and assignment writing;

• public speaking

  through tutorial and seminar discussion and class presentations;

• attention to detail

  through essay preparation and writing, and examination revision;

• time management and planning

  through managing and organising workloads for recommended reading, essay and assignment completion and examination revision;

• teamwork

  through joint projects and group discussions.