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The Wycliffe Bible

Honours Baccalaureus Artium (Honours B.A.)

Theology/Biblical Studies

Field of Study

The Honours B.A. (Theology/Biblical Studies) programme at John Wycliffe Theological College under the auspices of North-West University provides an advanced qualification in Biblical and Theological studies and builds upon a Bachelor degree in the same disciplines. [1] Consequently, these studies are aimed at further equipping the pastor to faithfully handle the Word of God. 

Duration of Study

The duration for this NQF level 7 qualification 128 credit-hour programme entails a minimum of one year to a maximum of two years fulltime study. The same programme on a part-time basis involves a minimum of two years and a maximum of three years study.

Curriculum Outcomes

Learners should be able to:

• manifest skill in one or more of the following: faithful interpretation and application of the Scriptures, pastoral ministry and counselling, and biblical ethics all with relevance to the communities within which they minister
• minister in diverse cultural and geographical contexts
• pursue theological studies on an M.A. level.

Admission Requirements

• Possession of an applicable Bachelor degree
• Admission according to the guidelines of the Faculty of Theology, Potchefstroom Campus, North-West University
• Screening by the College according to University procedures, which examines the learner's academic performance and understanding of pertinent first Bachelor degree modules
• A minimum percentage of 60% in relevant third-year level modules for the first Bachelor degree.

Completion of Programme

Programme content

The Honours BA at John Wycliffe Theological College will consist of the completion of one compulsory module worth 48 credits, which includes a mini-dissertation and five out of eight electives of 16 credits each. The total for the modules and mini-dissertation combined is 128 credits.

Module content

• Lectures, readings, assignments, research papers, and examinations pertinent to the module.
• A mini-dissertation according to NWU guidelines for TEOL 673.

Module completion and marks

• All prescribed work in the module must be completed by the assigned deadlines.
• The participation mark will be formulated from lecture participation, readings, assignments, and/or research papers pertinent to the module as prescribed in the module study guide.
• Entrance to the module examination on the assigned date will only be granted upon the successful completion of prescribed work for the module.
• The final module mark (FM) is comprised of the combined and weighted participation mark (PM) and examination mark (EM).
• A minimum of 40% must be achieved on the EM and PM for a minimum FM of 50%.
• The Honours programme is completed once all modules are passed.
• A learner may repeat the examination once in any module, if the second sitting takes place within twelve months of that module's registration date. After this time, the learner must register for the module again.

List of Modules [2]

Module Code	Level	Credits	Subject Name
COMPULSORY MODULES:
TEOL 673	7	48	Honours mini-dissertation
ELECTIVES:
Five modules (16 credits each) from:
DOGM 874	7	16	Dogmatics
HOML 671	7	16	Homiletics
MISS 874	7	16	Missiology
OTES 611	7	16	Old Testament
ETIE 874	7	16	Ethics
KDGE 874	7	16	Church and Dogma History
NTES 611	7	16	New Testament
PAST 671	7	16	General and Specific Counselling
TOTAL	128

Module Descriptions

TEOL 673:     HONOURS MINI-DISSERTATION IN THEOLOGY

After the completion of this module, learners should be able to:

• submit a research proposal
• display knowledge of research methods and techniques for the chosen subject discipline
• scientifically document the problem statement, objective, research set-up, procedure, results, and conclusions
• display analytical potential, critical aptness, and independent insight
• report on research skill and the ability to record and give feedback on research results.

DOGM 874:   PERSPECTIVES ON DOGMATICS

After the completion of this module, learners should be able to:

• discuss a selection of topics from the field of Dogmatics and formulate their own viewpoint on each of them.

HOML 671:   HOMILETICS: THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL ASPECTS

Section 1: Theoretical aspects

After the completion of this section, learners should be able to:

• define Trinitarian preaching and identify its elements
• define and apply the elements of indicative, imperative and promise in a sermon
• define and apply preaching by objectives
• highlight the chief communication elements in the presentation of a sermon
• name the requirements for a sermon in a post-modern era.

Section 2: A few practical aspects

After the completion of this section, learners should be able to:

• be able to prepare sermons for special occasions, for instance funerals, marriage ceremonies, and days of thanksgiving or self-abasement
• be able to use various types of preaching (e.g. narrative preaching)
• be able to apply nonverbal communication effectively, adapt their presentation to the audience in question skilfully, and make effective use of verbal techniques to communicate information clearly
• master the technique of speaking (breathing, sound production, resonance and articulation), various methods to organize the content, guidelines on effective use of spoken language and audience analysis.

MISS 874: PERSPECTIVES ON MISSIOLOGY

After the completion of this section, learners should be able to:

• discuss a selection of topics from the field of Missiology and formulate their own viewpoint on each of them.

OTES 611:     INTRODUCTION TO THE INTERPRETATION OF THE OLD TESTAMENT AND THE PENTATEUCH

Section 1:        Introduction to the interpretation of the Old Testament

After the completion of this module, learners should be able to:

• evaluate the principles and methods of the interpretation of the Old Testament
• interpret a section from the Hebrew Old Testament
• explain the basic principles of textual criticism of the OT and apply them to the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia.

Section 2:        The Pentateuch

After the completion of this module, learners should be able to:

• interpret narrative text and laws
• discuss the origin, background, and message of the Pentateuch as a whole and of to the individual books
• describe the world of the OT in the context of the second millennium before Christ
• discuss the basic characteristics of the Geography of the Old Near East, and indicate its importance for a study of the Old Testament.

ETIE 874: ETHICAL PERSPECTIVES

After the completion of this module, learners should be able to:

• discuss a selection of topics from the field of Ethics and formulate their own viewpoint on each of them.

KDGE 874:    PERSPECTIVES ON CHURCH AND DOGMA HISTORY

After the completion of this module, learners should be able to:

• discuss a selection of topics from Church and Dogma History and formulate their own viewpoint on each of them.

NTES 611:      NEW TESTAMENT EXEGESIS

Section 1:        Introduction to NT Exegesis and socio-historical context of the New Testament

After the completion of this section, learners should be able to:

• name and apply the steps and methods for the exegesis of the New Testament for Reformed ministry of the Word
• give an account of the Graeco-Roman world of the New Testament and make use of this knowledge in exegesis.

Section 2:        Key themes of Revelation History, General Canonics

After the completion of this section, learners should be able to:

• formulate viewpoints on the origin, scope, and authority of the Canon that are fundamentally, scientifically, and Scripturally justifiable, and to arrange exegetical material systematically by means of aids in order to describe facets of God's revelation in the New Testament
• formulate and assess viewpoints on key themes of NT revelation history in a scientific and Scripturally accountable manner.

PAST 671:    GENERAL AND SPECIFIC COUNSELLING

After the completion of this module, learners should be able to:

• define biblical counselling
• conduct a pastoral dialogue
• explain briefly what counselling model should contain
• design their own counselling model
• provide introductory biblical counselling to fellow believers.

[1] Please see "Calendar," Faculty of Theology, Potchefstroom Campus, North-West University (2007).  All  information pertaining to the Hons BA programme at John Wycliffe Theological College is dependent upon the Calendar with only minor revisions. See pp34-35; 38.

[2] The following component modules corresponds exactly to the curriculum T613P: George Whitefield College as listed in T.6.2.6 of the NWU Faculty of Theology Calendar 2007, p.38.