Undergraduate

Bachelor of Theology

The BTh is the ideal preparation for those called to pastoral ministry or other forms of vocational Christian service. Our BTh contains a strong, balanced focus on Bible, theology, and ministry.

BTh Fundamentals

SATS offers an affordable, accredited, online Bachelor of Theology that provides ideal equipping for Bible teachers, pastors, missionaries, Christian counsellors, and serious believers who love the Word of God and want to know it and live it. Our characteristic commitment to the truth and authority of Scripture, to the lordship of Jesus Christ, and to the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit pervade our courses.

You need to complete 30 courses to earn the BTh. (You can be exempted from some on the basis of RPL.) You can choose to work steadily towards your degree by taking one course per term (four per year), in which case the degree will take you 7½ years to complete. If you can manage two courses per term, you can finish in 3–3½ years.

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Do I Qualify?

Please note that you may not register for the BTh programme if you are currently registered for a cognate programme at another institution.

To register for the BTh, you need to have a school-leaving certificate that grants university access. If you do not qualify for direct admission to the BTh, you can start with the Higher Certificate in Christian Life.

BTh Concentrations

We offer two concentrations in our Bachelor of Theology.

Firstly, the general Bachelor of Theology (this page you are on) provides a broad range of courses in Biblical studies, systematic theology, missions, ministry, and so on. You have considerable freedom to choose courses that fit your interests and ministry priorities. You should prefer this option if your motivation is to prepare for pastoral ministry, missions, teaching, or if you are studying to enrich your knowledge of God and his Word.

Secondly, the Bachelor of Theology with a concentration in Christian Counselling is for those who are called to serve as pastoral or lay counsellors. This programme has a fixed curriculum, consisting of 18 theological courses and 12 counselling courses. The counselling courses seek to integrate theological and psychological truths from a Bible-based, Christ-centred, Spirit-led perspective.

BTh General Theological (The Page You Are On Now)

The Bachelor of Theology is the ideal preparation for those called to pastoral ministry or other forms of vocational Christian service. Our BTh contains a strong, balanced focus on Bible, theology, and ministry.

BTh (Counselling Concentration)

The BTh with a focus in Christian Counselling is 60 per cent theology and 40 per cent counselling psychology.

Courses

Programme requirements

Compulsory Courses

These are the courses that you must do in order to graduate from the BTh. If you earn 360 credits but do not have all of them as completed courses, you will not be eligible to graduate.

Total Credits (360)

The BTh requires that you earn a minimum of 360 total credits (30 x 12-credit courses, 10 of which must be at 3rd year level). You must choose 4 electives each from the available 1st year and 2nd year courses, and 5 elective 3rd year courses.

Additional requirements

  1. Exit-Level (3rd Year) Credits (120)
    120 credits required

    To graduate with the BTh, you must have 120 third-year credits in your completed subjects (120 Credits = 10 x 12 Credit subjects). If you have 360 total credits, but less than 120 third-year credits, you will not be able to graduate. The first number in the course code indicates the year level (e.g., BIB3124 is a third-year course because the first number is a 3). Note: If you have not yet taken any third-year courses, this bar will not show anything—it only works when you have at least one third-year subject.

Select a year below to view its courses.

Code
Course
Credits
Compulsory Courses6
BIB1121How to study the Bible12 credits
BIB1123The Words and Works of Jesus12 credits
PRA1122Introduction to Youth Ministry12 credits
THE1120Introduction to Theology12 credits
THE1121Christian Foundations12 credits
THE1122Biblical Worldview12 credits
Elective Courses7
BIB11221 Corinthians12 credits
BIB1124Survey of the Old Testament12 credits
BIB1125Deuteronomy12 credits
PRA1121Christian Relationships12 credits
PRA1124Biblical Leadership 112 credits
THE1123The Holy Spirit: What the Bible Teaches12 credits
THE1124Survey of Church History12 credits

Please Note:

To reap the full benefits of the Biblical Language course, you will need to take all 4 Greek or Hebrew courses.

Minimum study requirements: You are required to complete 48 credits of study every 12 months (commencing with date of enrolment).

NB! You are required to complete 10 Courses (120 Credits) at 3rd Year level in order to graduate. This includes 5 compulsory courses and 5 elective courses.

Timetable

The Seminary’s academic year runs from 1 February to 31 January. The year is divided into four three-month terms.

Term 1
1 Feb. to 30 Apr.

Term 2
1 May to 31 July

Term 3
1 Aug. to 31 Oct.

Term 4
1 Nov. to 31 Jan.

The majority of undergraduate courses in the Higher Certificate in Christian Life (HCCL), Higher Certificate in Christian Counselling (HCCC) and the Bachelor of Theology (BTh) programmes run over a three-month term. Most courses are offered twice each year, either in Term 1 and 3 or in Term 2 and 4.

You should select at least one course from each timeslot—that is, one each from Term 1, 2, 3 and 4 for the academic year. You are required to complete at least four courses each year.

For the BTh Programme, you are required to complete 10 Courses (120 Credits) at 3rd Year level in order to graduate. This includes 5 compulsory courses and 5 elective courses.

Language Courses

There are 4 Greek and Hebrew language courses. Each course is run online over a 6-month period.

To reap the full benefits of the Biblical Languages courses, you will need to take all four Greek or Hebrew courses.

Term 1 (1 February to 30 April) and Term 3 (1 August to 31 October)
First Year Courses

Second Year Courses

Third Year Courses

Term 2 (1 May to 31 July) and Term 4 (1 November to 31 January)

First Year Courses

Second Year Courses

Third Year Courses

Rules for Assessment, Credit Accumulation, Progression and Qualification

Assessment

Unless otherwise indicated, the pass mark for all assessment tasks is 50%. To pass a course, you must maintain a grade average of 50% or above.


Credit Accumulation And Qualification

Each undergraduate course is worth 12 credits, which will accrue towards your qualification. When you complete your studies, whether or not you have earned a qualification, you will be issued with a transcript detailing all your courses and the credits you have earned.

You need to accumulate 120 credits to be awarded a qualification at Higher Certificate level and 360 credits for a Bachelor of Theology. The Bachelor of Theology Honours requires 120 credits above a Bachelor’s degree. An additional 180 credits are needed to obtain the Master's degree (i.e., 660 credits in total), and a further 360 credits for the Doctor of Philosophy degree.

Progression

Once you have met all the requirements for your chosen qualification, you will be awarded the qualification.

Curriculum Design

When the Seminary was founded, instead of the traditional curriculum design, we researched what Christians at both leadership and non-leadership levels need to know and be able to do in their life and ministry. We used this analysis to develop a series of learning outcomes from which we developed the curriculum. In other words, the courses you study all yield essential knowledge and skills.

Since then we have consistently researched the changing landscape of theology and its application. We have come to realise that leaders and pastors need to be kept abreast of changes and their application. Our aim is to make studying as pleasant as possible for you without compromising standards.

Minimum study requirements: You are required to complete 48 credits of study every 12 months (commencing with date of enrolment).

Advantages of Studying at SATS

When you enrol at SATS, you meet a team of committed believers who are passionate about serving Jesus by serving you. Our team is creative, innovative, dedicated, and enthusiastic about the way they teach and serve your study needs. When you enrol at SATS, you can expect to

  • grow under the teaching of a seminary and a team of lecturers who believe the Bible and love the Lord (Luke 6:40);

  • receive an accredited qualification that is respected worldwide;

  • love the convenience of instant online access to everything you need for your studies;

  • experience a challenging programme that maintains high academic standards;

  • enjoy fast, friendly service from academic and administrative staff;

  • join a seminary that responds to the needs and inputs of its students;

  • interact with peers from all around the world who love Jesus, making new friends in the process;

  • learn from a diverse team of highly qualified academics who love Jesus and the truth;

  • grow with a ministry that is innovative in its use of technology;

  • benefit from a programme that is simultaneously thoroughly biblical and deeply practical;

  • engage with lecturers who are actively engaged in theological research;

  • and rest in the knowledge that our staff prays daily for our students.

Pricing

Click here to see the Full Price List for all programmes

Kindly note that all fees paid to SATS are non-refundable.

Complete our online application form, or contact us.