Graduate Certificate in Ministry

CSU’s Graduate Certificate in Ministry is a practice-oriented course and an excellent way for ministers to upskill as you reflect on your ministry practice.

The course comprises a single core subject on reflective practice in contemporary ministry, along with three electives. Electives permit you to explore such areas as pastoral counselling, supervision, church governance, management and leadership, applied pastoral theology, chaplaincy, and contemporary mission and evangelism.

This course is a pathway into the Master of Ministry. (Completion of this course awards you with 32 out of the 96 required credit points for the Master of Ministry.)

INTERESTED IN THIS COURSE?

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Course highlights

The Graduate Certificate in Ministry aims to assist ministers and others in church leadership by providing skills in ministry to a range of contexts for professional practice.

The course aims to

provide opportunities for professional development in ministry
facilitate critical theological reflection on the practice of ministry
broaden the knowledge and skills of church leaders to meet ministry challenges in contemporary contexts.

Course duration

1 to 2 years part-time

Study mode

Online
Classroom-based (on campus) with possible residential school components for selected electives

Admission

Candidates for admission need to have

an undergraduate degree in Theology from a recognised Australian university or equivalent, or hold the Graduate Diploma of Theology with a Credit average or higher; and
have at least two years of full-time professional experience in ministry.

Course structure

The Graduate Certificate comprises 4 subjects, beginning with a core subject that introduces reflective practice in contemporary ministry.

Students may then choose to study any 3 of the electives listed below. A full list of subjects and electives will be available on the CSU website late in 2018.

Core Subject

MIN400 — Reflective Practice in Contemporary Ministry (8 points)

Electives

Choose subjects that build to 24 points from one of the following fields. All subjects are 8 points unless otherwise stated.

MINISTRY IN CONTEXT

MIN402 Church Governance and Management
MIN403 Christian Chaplaincy in Context
MIN405 Applied Principles of Church Leadership
MIN406 Group and Peer Supervision*
MIN418 Practical Studies in Liturgy and Worship
MIN419 Contemporary Issues in Practical Theology
MIN438 Contemporary Mission and Evangelism
MIN440 Public Theology for Ministry
THL445 Foundations for Pastoral and Spiritual Care of Older People
THL446 Pastoral and Spiritual Care of Older People
THL451 Theological and Ethical Issues for People in Later Life
MIN503 Professional Supervision 1
MIN525 Professional Supervision 2*
MIN540 Approaches to Enquiry in Ministry (16 points)
MIN541 Reflective Practitioner Perspectives in Ministry (16 points)

*Professional Supervision 1 is a prerequisite for Professional Supervision 2 and Group and Peer Supervision.

PASTORAL COUNSELLING

THL400 Pastoral Counselling Skills
THL420 Pastoral Counselling: Theory and Professional Issues
THL428 Pastoral Counselling: Grief and Loss*
THL430 Pastoral Counselling: Crisis Intervention*
THL432 Pastoral Counselling: Relationships and Family*
THL434 Spiritual Direction in the Christian Tradition
THL435 Applied Pastoral Theology

*Pastoral Counselling Skills and Pastoral Counselling: Theory and Professional Issues are prerequisites for Pastoral Counselling: Grief and Loss; Pastoral Counselling: Crisis Intervention; and, Pastoral Counselling: Relationship and Family.

For further information please see Charles Sturt’s Course Guide/Handbook.