PostGraduate Diplomas
PROGRAMME
The Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip) is a one-year programme for students to do concentrated courses to attaining a certain level of specialisation in a particular theological discipline: Biblical Studies (BS), Theology and Ethics (TE), History of Christianity (HC), Practical Ministry (PM), or Ecumenism (EC).
The programme also involves developing a research thesis proposal, postgraduate seminar presentations in a specialised Discipline, and the Koro research mentoring seminar.
All PgDip students, regardless of specialisation, successfully take the same number of courses overall in the PgDip programme as a progression pathway to formally entering the MTh programme in the following year. The courses taken include two ‘School Wide’ courses (SW400 Applied Research Skills) and (UW401 core Pasifika Hermeneutics: Why Context Matters). Specialisation is safeguarded through concentration on a particular discipline in the thesis proposal component.
RATIONALE
The programme is the foundational coursework for the MTh. Some students take it as a standalone award.
It is an advanced programme that builds on the student’s prior training in biblical, theological, ministerial and historical studies with a more issue-based focus. The intent is to equip students in serving the needs of Pasifika communities in any capacity using ‘whole of life’ and justice-driven approaches appropriate to their contexts.
ONE YEAR POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA PROGRAMME STRUCTURE
Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
UW401 (University-wide Core course 30 credits) | SW400 (Core course 30 credits) |
2 of the following 400 courses (one specialised, one inter-disciplinary: | 2 specialised courses: |
BS400 (Specialised course 30 credits) | BS401 (Specialised course 30 credits) |
BS402 (Specialised course 30 credits) | |
TE400 (Specialised course 30 credits) | TE401 (Specialised course 30 credits) |
TE402 (Specialised course 30 credits) | |
HC400 (Specialised course 30 credits) | HC401 (Specialised course 30 credits) |
HC402 (Specialised course 30 credits) | |
PM400 (Specialised course 30 credits) | PM401 (Specialised course 30 credits) |
PM402 (Specialised course 30 credits) | |
EC400 (Specialised course -30 credits) | EC401 (Specialised course 30 credits) |
EC402 (Specialised course 30 credits) | |
ASE (English – Non-credit course) | |
Postgraduate Research Seminar BS500: Specialised Discipline TE500: Specialised Discipline HC500: Specialised Discipline PM500: Specialised Discipline | Postgraduate Research Seminar BS500: Specialised Discipline TE500: Specialised Discipline HC500: Specialised Discipline PM500: Specialised Discipline |
Postgraduate Research SeminarInter-Discipline Seminar | Postgraduate Research SeminarInter-Discipline Seminar |
KORO Research Mentoring Seminar | KORO Research Mentoring Seminar |
Research and Developing Thesis Proposal | Writing Thesis Proposal October 24: Submit Thesis Proposal (final draft) to Supervisor for Approval by Specialised Discipline and report to Dean’s Office. November 7: Thesis Proposal endorsed by University Faculty in last meeting for grades. |
OVERVIEW OF POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA PROGRAMME STRUCTURE
SEMESTER 1 (3 COURSES: 1 core, 1 specialty, 1 interdisciplinary) | |||
UW401 | Pasifika Hermeneutics: Why Context Matters | CORE All students across university | |
BS400 | Biblical Interpretation and Hermeneutics | Biblical Studies Specialisation | |
TE400 | Pasifika Theologies in Colonial Contexts | Theology and Ethics Specialisation | |
HC400 | Pasifika Orality, Textuality and Materiality | History of Christianity Specialisation | |
PM400 | Ministry in a Social Context: Pasifika and Beyond | Practical Ministry Specialisation | |
EC400 | Ecumenism TBC | Ecumenism Specialisation | |
ASE400 | English (NON-CREDIT) | Available to new BD, BE, PgDip, MTh, and PhD students | |
Students take one extra ‘elective’ inter-disciplinary course option (400 course) from outside their own discipline (in addition to their own specialty 400 course). Semester 1 Postgraduate Research Seminars: (Compulsory, satisfactory pass required) ▪ BS500: Specialised Discipline Seminar ▪ TE500: Specialised Discipline Seminar ▪ HC500: Specialised Discipline Seminar ▪ PM500: Specialised Discipline Seminar ▪ EC500: Specialised Discipline Seminar ▪ Inter-Discipline Seminar ▪ KORO Research Mentoring Seminar Research & Developing Thesis Proposal | |||
SEMESTER 2 (3 COURSES: 1 core, 2 specialty) | |||
SW400 | Applied Research Skills | CORE All students | |
BS401 | Apocalypse and Empire | Biblical Studies Specialisation | |
TE401 | Land and Ecotheology | Theology and Ethics Specialisation | |
HC401 | History of Ecumenism in Pasifika and the World | History of Christianity Specialisation | |
PM401 | Theologies of Mission and Counselling | Practical Ministry Specialisation | |
Ecumenism* TBA | Ecumenism Specialisation | ||
BS402 | Job and God and Creation in the Book of Job | Biblical Studies Specialisation | |
TE402 | Pasifika Ethics: Justice Issues and Approaches | Theology and Ethics Specialisation | |
HC402 | History of Religions and Interfaith Engagement | History of Christianity Specialisation | |
PM402 | Methods in Christian Education | Practical Ministry Specialisation | |
EC402 | Ecumenism* TBA | Ecumenism Specialisation | |
Semester 2 Postgraduate Research Seminars:
- BS500: Specialised Discipline Seminar
- TE500: Specialised Discipline Seminar
- HC500: Specialised Discipline Seminar
- PM500: Specialised Discipline Seminar
- EC500: Specialised Discipline Seminar
- Inter-Discipline Seminar
- KORO Research Mentoring Seminar
Along with Writing Thesis Proposal and Submitting for Approval.
- English Course
The course in foundational English is non-credit-bearing but obligatory course for new BD, BE, PgDip and Masters students which examines basic grammatical concepts in English, leading into sentence construction with a focus ultimately on putting paragraphs together. The course concentrates on academic reading of theological texts in particular, and of critical thinking. The new PhD students can audit the course if necessary.
- Postgraduate Research Seminar
The postgraduate research seminar for specialised Discipline is non-credit bearing but obligatory for presenting and discussing academic work (e.g., thesis proposals) of PgDip students. Participation in the specialised Discipline seminar is not fine-graded; rather, it is based on a ‘satisfactory/unsatisfactory’ grading system. The Inter-Discipline postgraduate research seminar requires a presentation (e.g., a draft thesis chapter) by final year MTh candidates. However, PgDip students will also participate in the inter-Discipline seminar, learn and practise skills in discussing academic work, and will also learn and practise how to present their own work in an academic context (i.e., a specialised Discipline research seminar). The postgraduate research seminar for specialised Discipline can prepare PgDip students for further studies at a Masters degree qualification (level 9) or its overseas equivalent. The specialised Discipline seminars run throughout the academic year. Registration will take place in semesters 1 & 2 of an academic year.
- Koro Research Mentoring Seminar
(Platform for Community Oriented Learning)
The Koro research mentoring seminar is a platform for community-oriented learning that concentrates on developing an analytical foundation pertinent to critical reading and writing at the postgraduate level. This research mentoring platform is for PgDip, MTh, PhD students (and may also include BD and BE students).
The platform is an integral foundation for which each of the specialised disciplines can build on. It has two main features identified as KORO. The first part focuses on developing and refining the research skills of students within a collegial environment with peers and faculty. The second part aims to develop and formulate a research proposal together with communities.