External courses

Students must take external courses, courses taken at an educational institution other than the Centre for Christian Studies, to complete the four-year diploma and one-year certificates.

Why are external courses part of the CCS program?

• Provide opportunities for students to experience a wider variety of learning and teaching styles
• Provide an opportunity for students to bring experiences of other teaching styles into the integrative process in CCS courses
• Provide opportunities for students to learn from a variety of theological perspectives and to practice articulating their perspective in dialogue
• Provide opportunities for students to learn together with people preparing for other expressions of ministry
• Enable other communities of learners to benefit from the experience of students in an integrative process of learning
• Provide opportunities to draw on resources that are available in the wider geography of Canada
• Increase the accessibility and reduce the cost of the program
• Enhance the resources and expertise among CCS staff, complementing the skills of CCS staff
• Further demonstrate CCS commitment to the value of scholarly work and affirms the importance of intellectual resources

What external courses are required?
Eight semester-long courses are required for the four-year diploma, and one is required for the one-year certificate.

Introduction to Christian Scriptures an overview course of the content and context of the Christian Scriptures which introduces methods in biblical criticism; in some situations these courses are in two parts (semesters), one part is sufficient, but then the Christian Scriptures Theme should be complimentary		Introduction to Theology an overview course which introduces theological concepts and methodology in theological thinking
Christian Scriptures: Theme or Focus a specific course (generally would require a prerequisite introductory course) and where appropriate and possible, at a second or third year level, that concentrates on a book or books, a writer, a theme or issue		Theology: Theme or Focus a specific course (generally would require a prerequisite introductory course) that concentrates on a theological topic or particular school of theological approach
Introduction to Hebrew Scriptures an overview course of the content and context of the Hebrew Scriptures which introduces methods in biblical criticism, in some situations these courses are in two parts (two semesters), one part is sufficient, but then the Hebrew Scriptures: Theme or Focus should be complimentary		Church History a survey course of church history: three options are available, a complete overview of early church to modern era, an overview from early church to reformation, and an overview from reformation to modern era
Hebrew Scriptures: Theme or Focus specific course (generally would require a prerequisite introductory course) that concentrates on a book or books, a writer, a theme or issue		Introduction to Ethics an overview of methods in ethical thinking and approaches, not a "professional ethics" course.

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