BACHELOR OF THEOLOGY HONOURS

What is an Honours degree?

Although Honours degrees are entrenched in South Africa's higher education framework, they are little known in the rest of the world (except for Australia and New Zealand). An Honours degree is a complete qualification that lies between a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree. In South Africa, the Bachelor's degree is a 3-year programme (360 credits, NQF 7) and the Master's degree a 1- to 1½-year programme (180 credits, NQF 9). The BTh Hons is a one-year (120 credits, NQF 8), postgraduate degree that serves as a bridge from the BTh to the MTh.

The illustration below shows how the South African structure compares with the European. The Bachelor's and the Doctorate correspond, but we divide Europe's two-year Master's into two qualifications, namely, the Honours and Master's.

The following diagram (see below) compares the South African framework with the American. In America, the Bachelor's degree is four years, and the Master's is one year. Therefore, our MTh corresponds closely to the American MA, while our BTh and BTh Hons together are approximately equivalent to their BA. (A key difference is that the South African degrees tend to be more narrowly specialised than their American counterparts.)

These illustrations are not an exact representation of reality, but they should give you a good idea of the role the BTh Hons plays in the South African framework.

Is the Honours a research degree?

The BTh Hons is deemed to be a postgraduate degree. As such, it is a first research degree, and part of its purpose is to introduce you to theological research and specialised knowledge in theology. However, it is not a full-blown research degree. Our Honours combines extensive foundational reading with the opportunity to develop your research skills by writing 30-page academic papers.

Is the programme accredited?

Yes. The BTh Hons is accredited by the Council on Higher Education and registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training. The BTh Hons is a complete qualification on level 8 on South Africa's National Qualifications Framework.

What is the curriculum for the BTh Hons?

The BTh Hons consists of five 24-credit structured-research papers (papers are equivalent to subjects). At present, the curriculum consists of five papers, one each in New Testament, Old Testament, Systematic Theology, Practical Theology, and Missiology.

NTS4241 New Testament 4A
OTS 4241 Old Testament 4A
THE4241 Systematic Theology 4A
PRA4241 Practical Theology 4A
MIS4241 Missiology 4A

In the future, we intend to introduce additional courses in each discipline (e.g. New Testament 4B and 4C), which will allow you to specialise in a particular field of theology. We do not anticipate offering such specialisation options before 2013.

How are the individual modules designed?

The modules are designed as guided research papers . Each paper begins with a foundational phase, in which you are required to complete approximately 800 pages of assigned readings. You then proceed to the specialisation phase, in which you are required to write a research paper of approximately 30 pages on a chosen topic within the field covered by the module.

The readings that constitute the foundational phase are assessed by means of a report, examination, or assignment—depending on the course writer's preference. This assessment constitutes 20 per cent of your grade.

The specialisation phase begins with the submission of a two-page research proposal; the proposal constitutes 20 per cent of your final grade. When this is approved by the lecturer, you may proceed with the writing of your research paper, which constitutes the remaining 60 per cent of your course grade.

This module design allows you considerable freedom to select and research topics of interest to you. For example, you are particular interested in ministry to children, you could focus each of your research papers on an aspect of children's ministry. In the New Testament paper, you could examine what the NT teaches about children. In the Practical Theology paper, you might examine the practices of your church with respect to children's ministry.

How are the courses delivered?

The courses are delivered via our online system, MySats ( www.satsonline.org/satsecampus ). You will download all your study materials (some courses require you to purchase prescribed textbooks) from the site. You will be able to interact with the lecturer and other students through a forum that is available on the site. You will also submit your assignments and receive your results on MySats.

Each Honours course is offered over six months. You are required to complete the readings by the mid-point of the course, and pass the assessment task based on the readings. The second half of the course is devoted to writing your research paper. There are prescribed dates for the submission of each assignment; if you fail to meet one of those dates, you fail the course.

What are the entrance requirements?

To qualify for admission to the BTh Honours, you must have maintained an average of at least 60 per cent in your undergraduate degree. (This relates to degrees earned at South African universities; the admissions committee will establish equivalencies for degrees from other countries.) You must additionally meet ONE of the following admission criteria:

An accredited Bachelor of Theology or cognate qualification. (SATS considers most qualifications earned in the Human or Social Sciences to be cognate.)
An accredited Bachelor's degree in a non-cognate field, accompanied by an accredited Certificate or Diploma in Theology.
An accredited Bachelor's degree in a non-cognate field, accompanied by extensive ministry experience.

If you are applying under category 3, you need to provide evidence of life and ministry experience, as well as any informal studies in Bible or theology that you have undertaken. The Admissions Committee will assess your portfolio and, if deemed necessary, either set an admission test or prescribe bridging coursework (typically in the form of undergraduate subjects in the discipline).

What access to further studies does the Honours provide?

The BTh Hons articulates vertically into an MTh or MA in Theology. If you successfully complete the BTh Hons and maintain an average of 60 per cent for all the courses, you would be readily accepted into a relevant Master's degree at any other accredited institution in South Africa.

How much does the Honours cost?

In 2012, the price is R3200 ($600) per subject.

How do I enrol?

To submit an online application, click here. You will need to submit scanned copies of your identity document and your prior qualifications.

Alternatively, an Application Form can be obtained from the Postgraduate Registrar: postgraduate@sats.edu.za.
When you have completed it, please email it, together with scanned copies of your identity document and your prior qualifications, to the Postgraduate Registrar at postgraduate@sats.edu.za .

If you have any queries, you are welcome to contact the Postgraduate Registrar at postgraduate@sats.edu.za .

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