Bachelor of Church Planting

The Bachelor of Church Planting requires the completion of 216 credit points (24 units) which shall include:

One Compulsory Unit (9 credit points): from T7140 Theology of Mission; AND 

• at least 36 credit points of Specified Electives chosen from Schedule 1; AND
• at least 45 credit points of Specified Electives chosen from Schedule 2; AND
• at least 18 credit points of Supervised Ministry (or units with equivalent hands-on ministry practice); AND
• a major (54 credit points) in Mission; AND
• at least 27 credit points in the Discipline of Biblical Studies; AND
• at least 18 credit points in the Discipline of Theology, in addition to T7140 Theology of Mission; AND
• at least 18 credit points of Electives taken from the subdiscipline of Pastoral Theology in addition to the 18 cps of Supervised Ministry; AND
• one (9 or 18 cps) elective research unit (capstone, independent guided study, research project, or action research project) focused on church planting in a specific environment.

Candidates who have completed 108 credit points towards the Bachelor of Church Planting may select up to 36 credit points from the Schedule of 8100 and 9200 series units. Within these units, a candidate can only select up to 18 credit points of 9200 series units, provided they have already completed at least a sub-major in that sub-discipline with a Grade Point Average of at least 2.0.

All course units will be taken from the University College accredited units. 

A major in a discipline or sub-discipline requires 54 credit points from the discipline or sub- discipline, with no more than 18 credit points from 7100 series units.

A sub-major in a discipline or sub-discipline requires 36 credit points from units assigned to that discipline or sub-discipline, including no more than 18 credit points from 7100 series units.

Within the AUCD (but not necessarily within every award) Majors and sub-majors are available in:

• Biblical Studies
• Christian Spirituality, Mission, Pastoral Counselling, Pastoral Theology, Christian Life & Ministry [Discipline]
• Church History, Philosophy, Humanities in the Christian Tradition [Discipline];
• Theology [Discipline]; Systematic Theology; Worship & Liturgy

Units coded “A” are not counted towards a major/sub-major in any discipline or subdiscipline. 

Graduates of the Bachelor of Church Planting will receive (at least) a major in Mission.

SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 1 

• M7132 Foundations for Church Planting
• M7234 Church Planting: From Launch Team to Multiplication
• M7235 Church Planting: Assessing Your Fit
• M7293 Seminar in Church Planting
• M7295 Minor Independent Guided Study in Mission
• P7233 Church Planting Through Neighbourhood Engagement

SCHEDULE 2 

• M7109 Introduction to Discipleship
• M7110 The Evangelising Mission of the Church
• M7205 Paradigms for Contemporary Mission
• M7260 Communicating the Gospel in Australia and New Zealand
• P7104 Introduction to Theological Study
• P7105 Introduction to Ethical Ministry Practice
• Bachelor of Church Planting Regulation (Version 1, 29 July 2025) 7
• P7139 Foundations of Christian Community Development
• P7222 Leading Change in Ministry
• P7232 Cultural Analysis
• P7245 Church and Ministry
• P7258 Team Ministry Skills
• P7259 Distinctives of Church Movements
• P7288 The Church Minister
• P7271 Supervised Ministry I
• P7272 Supervised Ministry II
• S7101 Formation in Spiritual Living
• S7103 Personal Transformation
• S7201 Relational Dynamics in Spiritual Formation
• S7202 Spiritual Formation for Ministry
• S7205 Community Transformation

Graduates will have: 

• a coherent and in depth body of knowledge in the underlying principles and concepts in developing new Churches
• a broad knowledge in Christian Life and Ministry, Theology, Biblical Studies, and other theological areas of practice that will form the basis for independent lifelong learning

Skills

Applications of Knowledge and Skills

Graduates will have the ability to:

• demonstrate an understanding of theological knowledge by applying it creatively in new church settings

• make high-level, independent judgments in a range of new church settings

• initiate, plan, and implement activities and projects within a range of new church settings

Exit Points

Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Church Planting may exit with a Diploma of Church Planting or Associate Degree of Church Planting, provided they have met the requirements of the award.

A candidate may seek credit up to a maximum of 144 credit points in the Bachelor of Church Planting.

Credit will be granted in accordance with the University College Credit Policy.

This award is not approved for CRICOS study.

The Bachelor of Church Planting is offered through the individual colleges and an application for enrolment must be made to the Registrar of the teaching institution. The registrar will be able to help you with any information regarding your study, including fees, units, mode of delivery and timetable.

A domestic student at the Australian University College of Divinity is designated as full-time if enrolled in three units (27 credit points) or more in a semester or part-time if enrolled in less than three units (27 credit points) per semester. AUCD offers a wide range of units and students have the option to study one or more units across the colleges delivering AUCD awards, whilst enrolled with one college.

International students

International students are subject to the conditions of their Australian student visa and are required to maintain a full-time enrolment of four units (36 credit points) per semester. If you are planning to enrol as an international student, you have the responsibility to ensure that you comply with your visa conditions at all times. Learn more about your responsibilities, rights, and what studying in Australia can offer you. Not all our teaching institutions offer study programs for international students.

Check out the locations and courses offered to international students, and for more information email us at aucd@aucd.edu.au