Module Descriptions
Higher Certificate in Christian Ministry (NQF5)
For a description of each module, see Module Descriptions below
Core Curriculum
The Higher Certificate in Christian Ministry has a minimum duration of one year and a maximum completion period of three years, involving a total of 124 credits. The program is delivered through in-person contact sessions.
If the required number is not reached by the end of the registration period, the programme will only receive new students in the next registration period. New students already registered for the programme will be advised on the options available to them, and paid fees will be refunded where applicable. Students who have already completed one or more semesters will not be affected.
Study Year 1 of 1 (NQF 5)
This module is designed to enhance students' academic writing and research skills while fostering critical thinking and analytical abilities
This module is designed to introduce students to the concept of integration and its implications both for Christian faith and praxis, and for the relationship between the disciplines of theology, psychology, and community development. The module frames these disciplines within their respective branches of knowledge, inviting students to consider how each discipline operates within a particular worldview. Students explore the necessity of moving from a compartmentalised understanding of their faith and vocation to thinking and living in ways that reflect integration between their faith life and their work life.
Laying a foundation for a theology of mission by tracing the biblical (creation to Israel, Israel to Christ, and Christ to the eschaton) and theological (key movements and paradigms) trajectory of mission, this module seeks to develop an understanding of the nature and task of world evangelisation and mission. This foundation informs a more detailed engagement with Urban Mission, by introducing the theory and practice (locally and globally) of urban mission. And with special attention given to urban mission in cross-cultural contexts, students are also introduced to some important tools from the social sciences.
The first half of this module is designed to introduce the student to the nature, purpose, and interpretative process of the Scriptures. Attention is given to the historical backdrop of the Old and New Testaments and to the development of the biblical canon (Jewish, Protestant, and Catholic). Tracing the narrative trajectory of the Bible, this module is designed to equip students with a basic skill set necessary for the artful and faithful interpretation of the biblical text both within the church and public space.
This module offers a comprehensive understanding of leadership from various theoretical perspectives, aiming to empower individuals for effective leadership in various contexts, particularly within South African and African settings. It delves into transformative leadership theory and practice, fostering personal and character growth. Additionally, the module introduces students to conflict resolution theory and practice, imparting essential communication skills to enrich inter-group and interpersonal relationships. Students gain insights into their conflict attitudes, self-reflect on approaches, and explore diverse conflict types through case studies. The module underscores the interconnectedness of communication, behaviour, and conflict, with a focal point on reconciliation strategies, enriching the learning experience.
This module is designed to help the student build an ethical framework that considers a holistic understanding of the human person (head, heart and hands). Students are exposed to ethical theories that enable them to reflect on ways in which to respond to current moral, intellectual and social questions. Students work to integrate ethical theory into their experience of life and explore how this contributes to the good of the world.
This module is designed to introduce the student to the methodology and discourse of both systematic and practical theology and provide a framework within which to make sense of these disciplines, how they overlap and intersect, what specific angles of vision they offer the church in its engagement, theologically and practically, with the world. Special attention is given to the relationship between theology and its cultural contexts, particularly within a South African context.
The student will do fieldwork in an area of Christian Ministry as an extension of the academic programme. Fieldwork is a multidisciplinary application of what has been learned theoretically. It measures the practical capabilities of the student within a field or sphere of learning.