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SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED QUALIFICATION: 

Bachelor of Divinity 
SAQA QUAL ID QUALIFICATION TITLE
15945  Bachelor 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
National First Degree(Min 480)  Field 07 - Human and Social Studies  Religious and Ethical Foundations of Society 
ABET BAND MINIMUM CREDITS PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL QUAL CLASS
Undefined  480  Level 6  NQF Level 08  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   2034-06-30  

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 give the students an understanding of the interconnectedness of hermeneutics and theology and to equip them with a relevant and appropriate knowledge of the implications of the Christian faith and theology for ministry within different contexts.

(b) To equip students with a sophisticated knowledge and understanding of theology and hermeneutics in order to deal with complexity of ministry in a scientific and academic way.

(c) To equip students to do research through training in research methods and methodology which is applicable to the six different fields within theology: Old Testament Studies; New Testament Studies; Systematic Theology; Ecclesiology; Practical Theology; Missiology

(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 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

Other qualification:

A fourth year BTh - degree or any other qualification comparable to a BTh degree as approved by senate 

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING? 
N 

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES 
1. GENERIC / CRITICAL CROSS FIELD OUTCOMES
  • An understanding of the interdisciplinary character of theology and the relevance of hermeneutics for ministry
  • The ability to operate as a Christian leader within a local faith community and various social and cultural communities
  • Sensitivity for the needs of people and ability to care for those in need and exposed to different situations of conflict and suffering
  • The development of critical and analytical thinking and of communication skills
  • The development and formation of a theological understanding of spirituality

    2. GENERAL OUTCOMES
  • A thorough understanding of the identity of Christian theology and its link to congregational issues and community development
  • A thorough understanding of the dynamics of ministry and worship
  • 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, to apply the principles of theological hermeneutics to the interpretation of the Bible, to effectively communicate the gospel
  • The development of 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

    3. SPECIFIC OUTCOMES


    The graduate will have:
  • Knowledge of the connection between theology and hermeneutics
  • An understanding of the functioning of congregations
  • An understanding of denominational identity within historic and cultural settings

    The graduate will be able to;
  • Preach, to conduct a sermon and to operate as a liturgist in the worship of the congregation
  • Partake in inter-religious dialogue and ecumenical debate
  • Apply cross-cultural communication to different missionary settings

    The graduate will demonstrate:
  • The competence to link church policy and ethics to social and ecological issues/questions
  • The competence to operate as a pastor, a youth worker and a catechist
  • An understanding of 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 essay (20%) 
    		•

    ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA 
  • The assessment used for the BD 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 students 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

    Assessment of specific outcomes:
  • Written tests during the different modules
  • Group evaluations
  • The writing of a research essay. The student selects a topic form any of the six fields in theology
  • Written essays and smaller assignments to assignments to assess self-learning ability.
  • Practical work under supervision and the writing of counselling reports and verbatim 
    		•

    ARTICULATION OPTIONS 
    This qualification serves as an entry point to the related qualification MTh 

    MODERATION OPTIONS 
    The university of Stellenbosch has a sytem 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 

    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 2006; 2009; 2012; 2015. 

    NOTES 
    N/A 

    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.