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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Master of Divinity 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
15451  Master of Divinity 
ORIGINATOR
Stellenbosch University 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education  HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework 
QUALIFICATION TYPE FIELD SUBFIELD
Master's Degree  Field 07 - Human and Social Studies  General Social Science 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  180  Level 8 and above  NQF Level 09  Regular-Provider-ELOAC 
REGISTRATION STATUS SAQA DECISION NUMBER REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE
Registered-data under construction  EXCO 0324/24  2024-07-01  2027-06-30 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2028-06-30   2031-06-30  

Registered-data under construction

The qualification content is currently being updated for the qualifications with the status “Registered-data under construction” or showing “DETAILS UNDER CONSTRUCTION” to ensure compliance with SAQA’S Policy and Criteria for the registration of qualifications and part-qualifications on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) (As amended, 2022). These qualifications are re-registered until 30 June 2027 and can legitimately be offered by the institutions to which they are registered.

 

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION 
a) The general aim of the programme is to equip students with relevant and appropriate knowledge of the implications of the Christian faith and theology for ministry. Thus the need for developing different models for ministry and the communication of the Christian faith along the lines of a practical theological ecclesiology

b) To equip students with a sophisticated knowledge and understanding of a new field in theology, i.e. a practical theological ecclesiology, in order to deal with the complexity of ministry in a scientific and academic way.

c) To do independent research through training in research methods and methodology on all relevant ministerial issues as related to theory formation within a practical theological ecclesiology. Advanced research focuses of the design of different ministerial models and church structures in order to enhance the relevancy of doctrine contexts.

d) The development of intellectual, communicative and hermeneutical skills for ministers, in order to operate as Christian leaders and pastors within different contexts and situations of personal and relational crises

e) To enhance the competence of Christian leaders to minister effectively to local faith communities and people in need

f) To develop the capacity of ministers, pastors and caregivers to fulfil the following roles:
  • Preacher
  • Caregiver
  • Christian leader
  • Minister 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
    Senior Certificate with Matriculation Exemption or equivalent university admission qualification

    First year degree: BTh (4 year)

    Honours degree: BTh (4 year)

    Other qualifications:

    A four year BTh - degree or any other qualification comparable to a BTh degree 

    RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
    N 

    EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
    1. GENERIC / CRITICAL CROSS FIELD OUTCOMES
  • The ability to operate as a Christian leader within a local faith community and different social communities as determined by culture and context
  • A sensitivity for the needs of people and to care for those in need and those exposed to various situations of conflict and suffering
  • A thorough understanding of the dynamics of ministry and worship, the functioning of a local faith community, the responsibility of the church towards broader community problems and development
  • A knowledge of a practical theological ecclesiology and its implication for ministry and community outreach
  • The development and formation of an understanding of spiritual maturity and Christian identity

    2. GENERAL OUTCOMES
  • An understanding of the link between theory and practice
  • Conversational and counselling skills for pastoral care and the Christian outreach to families, marriages, people suffering from different diseases, people in hospitals, youths, community issues such as reconciliation, justice and poverty
  • The ability to do exegesis of the Bible and to apply theological hermeneutics to the interpretation of the Bible in order to effectively communicate the gospel.
  • The development of communication skills for conflict management and conflict resolution
  • The competence to operate as a Christian leader, minister and pastoral caregiver in different congregational and social environments
  • The competence to communicate the gospel within different cultural contexts

    3. SPECIFIC OUTCOMES

    A thorough understanding of the identity of Christian theology and its link to congregational issues and community development. (Theory formation will regard to a practical theological ecclesiology)

    The graduate will have:
  • An understanding of the functioning of local faith communities
  • An understanding of denominational identity within historic and cultural settings

    The graduate will be able to:
  • Preach, to conduct a service of worship and to operate as a liturgist in the worship of the local faith community
  • Partake in the inter - religious dialogue and the ecumenical debate
  • Apply cross cultural communication to different missionary settings
  • The graduate will demonstrate:
  • The competence to link church polity and ethics to social and ecological issues/questions
  • The competence to operate as a pastor, a youth worker and a catechist
  • A mature approach to life issues as connected to Christian spirituality and faith
  • Adherence to academic integrity and ethics as determined by Christian theology
  • Mastery of theoretical subject matter within a comprehensive knowledge of ministry
  • Mastery of advanced theory and its application to ministry
  • Capacity for independent study via the completion of a research assignment (30%) 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
  • The assessment used for the MDiv ensures that the purpose of the qualification is achieved.
  • A range of formative and summative assessment methods such as simulation, verbatim, supervision, written and oral examinations are used.
  • Competence in outcome will be demonstrated if the student shows an ability to correlate information and concepts learned in a range of modules and propose valid solutions for a range of theoretical and practical problems as related to ministry and leadership.

    INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT
  • The carrying out of research projects/papers where students are exposed to both the identity of the church and different contextual, philosophical, and ethical issues. The presentation of the results occurs mostly within small groups (group discussions). An open book evaluation will be conducted at the end of the year. At the beginning of the year, students are given a comprehensive topic and problem which they can work on throughout the course in preparation of this final integrated assessment
  • Assessment of specific outcomes:
  • Written tests during the different modules
  • Group evaluations
  • The writing of a research assignment. The student selects a topic from any of the modules.
  • Written essays and smaller assignments to assess self-learning ability.
  • Practical work under supervision and the writing of counselling reports and verbatims 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
  • This qualification serves as an entry point to the related qualification(s), Licentiate in theology, MTh
  • This qualification provides credits for the related qualification(s), MTh 
    		•

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    The university of Stellenbosch has a system of external peer review and evaluation of departments. One of the aspects of the system is an evaluation of the standards and assessment practices of the department

    The programme concerns different churches including those contractually related to the university. 

    CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS 
    The academic staff of the university of Stellenbosch will be used in a manner which fits into the quality assurance system of the university 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION: 
     
    NONE 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    1. Stellenbosch University 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.