Bachelor of Arts in Theology

If your love of God, the Church, and your fellow man has urged you to study our faith more deeply, the perfect degree is ready for you here at Helderberg.

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If your love of God, the Church and of other people has given you a burning desire to study our faith more deeply, the perfect degree is waiting for you here at Helderberg College of Higher Education. This stimulating, inspiring and satisfying programme will feed both your mind and soul, while preparing you for a life of service to God’s Church.

Programme Purpose

  • To prepare committed pastors for ministry, spiritual nurture, counselling and evangelism in the Seventh-day Adventist Church
  • To expose you to the following areas of knowledge: Systematic Theology, Practical Theology, Biblical Languages, Missiology and Pastoral Care
  • To give you opportunities for preaching and doing practical mission work in the community
  • To develop in you a strong work ethic
  • To create in you a powerful sense of Christian values
  • To teach you research skills
  • To prepare you for further study

Qualification Outcomes

A BA Theology degree will prepare you to:

  • Have a knowledge and love of God which will help you become a leader with strong values
  • Have a deep understanding and appreciation of the field of Theology, including: Systematic Theology, Practical Theology, Biblical Studies, Missiology and Pastoral Care
  • Think and reason like a theologian by appreciating the possible impact which different theoretical models can have on people’s faith and behaviour
  • Understand and be proficient in Biblical Greek and Hebrew (the languages of the Bible)
  • Have an in-depth understanding of Seventh-day Adventist theology and how it can be applied in a South African context

Degree Details

4 YEARS NQF Level 7

SAQA Qualification ID Number: 58333

Career opportunities

Church Pastor

Chaplain

Pastoral Counsellor

Teacher/ Lecturer

Evangelist

Community Worker

You can do postgraduate studies in the following areas:

  • Systematic Theology
  • Biblical languages
  • New and Old Testament
  • Church History
  • Homiletics
  • Pastoral Ministry
  • Evangelism
  • Missiology
  • Youth Ministry
  • Pastoral Clinical Care
  • Pastoral Counselling

Alumni

Holders of the BA (Theology) degree from the Faculty of Theology serve the church as pastors, many of them assuming leadership roles in the various structures of the church. In addition, there are many opportunities for our graduates to pursue further studies in South Africa and elsewhere upon completion of the Bachelor of Arts in Theology programme.

DEGREE CURRICULUM

YEAR 1 | SEMESTER 1

CODE
TITLE
CREDITS
INFO
BHS 151
Philos of Education & Service
8
CPT 118
End User Computing l
8
ENG 142
Academic Writing
16
HLD 126
Principles of Health
8
REB 110
OT Studies I: Law & Writings
12
REB 137
NT Studies I Gospels
8
REP 111
Spiritual Formation
8
ENG 111
Principles of English l
16
MTH 052
Foundation Mathematics I
16

YEAR 1 | SEMESTER 2

CODE
TITLE
CREDITS
INFO
BHS 145
Research Meth & Design
8
BIB 151
Bilbical Exegesis
8
BIB 165
Biblical Greek I
12
CPT 125
End User Computing ll
12
PSY 101
Fundamentals of Psychology
12
RET 104
Systematic Theology l
8
ENG 112
Principles of English ll
16

YEAR 2 | SEMESTER 1

CODE
TITLE
CREDITS
INFO
BIB 265
Biblical Greek II
12
REB 238
NT Studies ll (Acts & Ep)
8
REP 221
Pastoral Formation I
8
REP 210
Pastoral Counselling I
12
REP 231
Homiletics & Liturgy I
12
REP 235
Principles of Evangelism
12

YEAR 2 | SEMESTER 2

CODE
TITLE
CREDITS
INFO
BHS 241
Research Rudiments I
8
BIB 285
Biblical Hebrew I
12
MGT 241
Introduction to Management
8
REB 216
OT Studies II: Early Prophets
8
REM 281
Missiology I: African Studies & Multicultural Ministry
12
RET 251
Systematic Theology II: God & Humanity
12

YEAR 3 | SEMESTER 1

CODE
TITLE
CREDITS
INFO
BIB 385
Biblical Hebrew II
12
REB 320
Apocalyptic Studies I: Daniel
8
REH 325
Church History I
8
REM 381
Missiology II: Urban Ministry & Community Development
12
REP 321
Pastoral Formation II
8
RET 311
Systematic Theology III: Church & Sabbath
12

YEAR 3 | SEMESTER 2

CODE
TITLE
CREDITS
INFO
BHS 341
Research Rudiments II
8
REB 316
OT Studies III: Latter Prophets
8
REB 330
History of Earth & Life
8
REP 325
Moral Philosophy & Ethics
12
REP 327
Pastoral Ministry & Leadership
12
REP 341
Homiletics & Liturgy II
12

YEAR 4 | SEMESTER 1

CODE
TITLE
CREDITS
INFO
BHS 411
Research Paper
8
REH 426
Church History II
16
REP 429
Evangelism Field School
12
RET 411
Systematic Theology IV: Christology & Soteriology
12
RET 462
Life & Teachings of EG White
12

YEAR 4 | SEMESTER 2

CODE
TITLE
CREDITS
INFO
REB 431
Apocalyptic Studies II: Revelation
12
REB 439
NT Studies III: Acts & Epistles
8
REH 441
History of the SDA Church
12
REM 481
Missiology III: Missions & World Religions
12
REP 411
Pastoral Counselling II
12
REP 441
Studies in Denominational Finance
8

FOUNDATION – YEAR

SEMESTER 1

CODE
TITLE
CREDITS
INFO
CPT 033
Fundamental Computing I
8
ENG 020
Basic English - Lang & Voc
20
MTH 040
Math Literacy
12
REB 017
Values, Character, & Personal Enrichment
4

SEMESTER 2

CODE
TITLE
CREDITS
INFO
CPT 034
Fundamental Computing II
8
EDU 070
Study Skills
12
ENG 082
Academic Language Skills
20
ENG 084
Academic Reading Skills
8
SOC 101
Principles of Sociology
12

Faculty of Theology

Prof. Simbarashe Musvosvi, Associate Professor
Dean

Edward Appollis
Professor

Leander Chalice
Associate Professor

Adrian Platts
Associate Professor

Contract Lecturers

Dr. Passmore Hachalinga
Contract Lecturer

Pr. Ben McKenzie
Contract Lecturer

Dr. Tankiso Letseli
Contract Lecturer

Pr. Penny Brink
Contract Lecturer

Bachelor of Arts (Theology)