The Program
Diploma in Practical Christian Ministry
Every student is enrolled in the same program. There are no separate tracks or majors, because the diploma is designed as one integrated preparation for ministry rather than a menu of electives.
The program runs for twelve months and is broken into three modules of three months each, alongside a supervised practicum, an internship period, and a final ministry project. On completion, each student is awarded the Diploma in Practical Christian Ministry. A student who completes any individual module may also be issued a Certificate of Completion for that module, detailing the courses taken and the hours completed.
Program at a Glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Award | Diploma in Practical Christian Ministry |
| Duration | 12 months |
| Structure | 3 modules of 3 months, plus practicum, internship, and final ministry project |
| Class day | Mondays |
| Class time | 7:00pm to 9:00pm |
| Mode | Hybrid, mostly online with scheduled in-person sessions |
| Tuition | $500 per module, $1,500 for the full diploma |
| Application fee | $50, non-refundable |
Curriculum
The diploma is delivered across three modules. Module 1 opens the academic year and is presented in full below. The remaining courses are listed by title, and full detail for each will be published ahead of the module in which it is taught.
Now open for applications.
Module 1: Preparations For Ministry
Module 1 lays the foundation. Before a student is sent anywhere, they must be able to read the Scriptures well and understand the story they are standing inside. This module covers the origins of God's dealings with his people in the Pentateuch, the life and ministry of Jesus Christ in the Gospels, and the disciplines of sound biblical interpretation that will govern everything the student teaches for the rest of their ministry.
Courses in this module
- BOT 101
Old Testament Studies 1: Pentateuch and Foundations of Faith
A study of the first five books of the Bible, tracing creation, covenant, law, and the formation of a people, and establishing the foundations on which the rest of Scripture is built.
- BNT 101
New Testament 1: The Gospels, Life and Ministry of Jesus Christ
A close study of the life, teaching, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as presented in the four Gospels, and what his pattern of ministry means for those who follow him.
- BTH 101
Hermeneutics: Principles of Biblical Interpretation
Training in how to read, interpret, and apply Scripture faithfully, covering context, genre, and the disciplines that protect a minister from handling the word carelessly.
Courses in Future Modules
The remaining courses of the diploma are taught in the modules that follow. Full details for each are published ahead of the module in which it is taught.
- BNT 102New Testament 2: Acts of the Apostles
- BIM 101Missions: Evangelism and Discipleship
- BPC 101Pastoral Care and People Skills
- BNT 103New Testament 3: Pauline Epistles, New Testament Doctrine and Introduction to Revelation
- BCR 101Conflict Resolution
- BMS 101Ministry Stewardship: Non-Profit Registration, Administration, Finance, Leadership and Health
Practicum
Between modules, every student completes a practicum of forty hours of supervised ministry service. Each student is issued a letter assigning them to a specific ministry assignment, and the practicum is completed before classes resume. This is where the classroom is tested, and it is a required part of the diploma rather than an optional extra.
Internship and Final Ministry Project
The closing part of the academic year is given to internship and to a final ministry project, which each student must complete before the new academic session begins. The project is the student's opportunity to plan, execute, and account for a piece of real ministry work under supervision.
Graduation
Graduation is held at the close of the academic year