Graduate Diploma in Pastoral and Spiritual Care
The Graduate Diploma in Pastoral and Spiritual Care provides students with the opportunity and skills for reflective and critical engagement in the conversation between the texts of human experience, contemporary culture, ministry or service or wider societal context, and Christian scriptures and tradition. The purpose of this engagement is to encourage the development of relevant, flexible strategies for effective pastoral mission and practice in partnership with all those who seek to serve the world through individual or systemic practice.
On site at St Francis College Milton and/or by Zoom
Study Mode
Full-time 1 year / Part-time up to 3 years
Duration
Course Highlights
You'll be introduced to four main sub-disciplines of theology: Biblical studies, church history, systematic and practical theology subjects. You'll also have the opportunity to choose elective subjects within these disciplines to tailor your studies to meet your interests.
Career Opportunities
The skills and attributes you gain in the Graduate Diploma in Pastoral and Spiritual Care are valued in a broad range of careers. Graduates may be eligible to proceed to a Masters award.
ADMISSION CRITERIA
Successful completion of a Bachelor degree, or an approved equivalent; or
Has obtained a Graduate Certificate from the University of Divinity
The Graduate Diploma in Pastoral and Spiritual Care consists of 144 points (6 units) comprised of:
Program 1
72 points of Postgraduate Foundational units comprised of:
i) 24 points in the discipline of Biblical Studies
ii) 24 points in the discipline of Systematic Theology
iii) 24 points in the discipline of Pastoral Theology and Ministry Studies72 points of postgraduate units in the discipline of Pastoral Theology and Ministry Studies
OR
Program 2
48 points of Postgraduate Foundational units comprised of:
i) 24 points in the discipline of Biblical Studies or Systematic Theology
ii) 24 points in the discipline of Pastoral Theology and Ministry Studies96 points of postgraduate units in Clinical Pastoral Education
Graduation
Graduates of the Graduate Diploma in Pastoral and Spiritual Care:
have knowledge of sources, terms and concepts required for theological engagement and articulate the nature of practical theology as a method of biblical and theological inquiry;
apply their own experience and practice (personal or professional) to social and behavioural sciences and / or cultural studies and offer an integration of these with the Christian tradition;
have skills to explore issues of Christian identity, personal vocation and self-understanding through the methods and practices of theological reflection and dialogical engagement with their ministry and mission context;
apply advanced pastoral helping skills with a developed capacity to engage in the processes of theological reflection.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Subjects
All students regardless of their course of study, are strongly encouraged to contact the Registrar, Linda Burridge, to discuss their course of study prior to making any subject selections.
Biblical Studies
Reading the Bible 1: Introduction to Biblical Texts (BS1001Z/BS8001Z)
Reading the Bible 2: Introduction to Biblical Languages (AL1002Z/AL8002Z)
Becoming the People of God: The Pentateuch in Context (BA2001Z/BA9001Z)
Stories of the Early Christians: The Gospels and Acts in Context (BN2002Z/BN9002Z)
Holy Land Study Tour (BS2051T)
Praying the Psalms: Theology, Poetry and Liturgy (BA2013Z/BA9023Z)
Loving God: The Theological Imagination of John's Writing (BN3001Z/BN9031Z)
New Testament Letters: The Voices of the Early Christians (BN3002Z/BN9032Z)
Words to Live By: The Idea of Wisdom in Biblical Literature (BA3013Z/BA9033Z)
Crying for Justice: Prophetic and Apocalyptic Literature (BS3013Z/BS9033Z)
Biblical Languages
Please contact the Academic Dean for further information
Church History
Telling History: Introduction to Church History (CH1001Z/CH8001Z)
Building a Church: Christianity and Imperium in the First Millennium (CH1002Z/CH8002Z)
Fatally Flawed and Flourishing: Uncovering the Roots of the European ‘Reformations’ (CH2001Z/CH9001Z)
The World ‘Made New’: European ‘Reformations’ and the Reconstruction of Identity (CH2002Z/CH9002Z)
The Church in the Age of Revolutions: Confronting Modernity (CH3001Z/CH9031Z)
Mission & Ministry
Forming Communities: Introduction to Church and Ministry (DA1001Z/DA8001Z)
Pastoral Care: Theological Reflection and Praxis (DP1006Z/ DP8006Z)
Growing Faith: Forming Christians in Multiple Contexts (DA2001Z/DA9001Z)
Bearing Witness: Second Year Capstone (DA2002Z/DA9002Z)
God in Contemporary Culture: Theology & the Arts (DA3013Z/DA9023Z)
From Birth to Death: Life, Loss, and Liturgy (DL3001Z/DL9031Z)
Being Anglican: History and Practice (DL3002Z/DL9032)
Forming Disciples: Undergraduate Capstone (XD3001Z/XD9001Z)
or Undergraduate Capstone Project (XS3900Y)
Systematic Theology
Thinking Theologically 1: Challenges & Tasks (CT1001Z/CT8001Z)
Thinking Theologically 2: Theologies in Context (CT1002Z/CT8001Z)
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Approaches to Theology (CT1001M)
Becoming Flesh: The Incarnation of God (CT2001Z/CT9001Z)
Mystical Theology: The Ecstasy of God (CT3002Z/CT9002Z)
Humanity: Theology and Vocation (CT3025Z/CT9025Z)
At the Edge of Thought: Philosophy and Theology in Dialogue (CT3001Z/CT9031Z) (even years)
Atheism for Christians (CT3300T/CT9300T) (odd years)
Theology in Context: A Case Study (CT3002Z/CT9032Z)
Troublesome Texts: Complex Texts in the Christian Tradition (AR3013Z/AR9033Z)
Thinking With a Theologian: A Case Study (CT3013Z/CT9033Z)
Queer Theology (CT3001P/CT9001P)
The Graduate Diploma in Pastoral and Spiritual Care requires the completion of 6 standard postgraduate units. Fees for 2025 are $3,268 per standard unit or $19,608 for a full-time year (6 units).
Fees are subject to change from year to year. For more information about fees, please visit the Fees page.