Program Overview

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Introduction to the Master of Ageing and Pastoral Studies

The Master of Ageing and Pastoral Studies is a comprehensive program that includes the Master of Ageing and Pastoral Studies, Graduate Diploma of Ageing and Pastoral Studies, and Graduate Certificate in Ageing and Pastoral Studies. This program is designed to provide students with a deep understanding of the ageing process and the pastoral care of older people.

Awards and Availability

The course includes the following awards:

• Graduate Certificate in Ageing and Pastoral Studies (GradCertAgeing&PastStud)
• Graduate Diploma of Ageing and Pastoral Studies (GradDipAgeing&PastStud)
• Master of Ageing and Pastoral Studies (MAgeing&PastStud) The availability of these programs is subject to change, and students are advised to verify the availability prior to enrolment.

Normal Course Duration

The normal course duration for each program is as follows:

• Master of Ageing and Pastoral Studies: Full-time 1.5 years (3.0 sessions), Part-time 3.0 years (6.0 sessions)
• Graduate Diploma of Ageing and Pastoral Studies: Full-time 1.0 years (2.0 sessions), Part-time 2.0 years (4.0 sessions)
• Graduate Certificate in Ageing and Pastoral Studies: Full-time 0.5 years (1.0 sessions), Part-time 1.0 years (2.0 sessions)

Admission Criteria

The admission criteria for each program are as follows:

Master of Ageing and Pastoral Studies

• Successful completion of an undergraduate degree in either Theology, Social Work, Psychology, or equivalent
• Successful completion of the CSU Graduate Diploma of Ageing and Pastoral Studies, or equivalent

Graduate Diploma of Ageing and Pastoral Studies

• Successful completion of an undergraduate degree (or AQF equivalent) in either Theology, Social Work, Psychology, or equivalent
• Successful completion of the Graduate Certificate in Ageing and Pastoral Studies, or an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) equivalent

Credit and Articulation

• Applicants who have successfully completed the Graduate Diploma of Ageing and Pastoral Studies will receive 64 credit points towards the Master of Ageing and Pastoral Studies.
• Applicants who have successfully completed the Graduate Certificate in Ageing and Pastoral Studies will receive 32 credit points towards the Graduate Diploma of Ageing and Pastoral Studies. The Master, Graduate Diploma, and Graduate Certificate make up an articulated set of courses, and credit is given in each higher-level course for the subjects completed in the lower.

Graduation Requirements

To graduate, students must satisfactorily complete the following points:

• Master of Ageing and Pastoral Studies: 96 points
• Graduate Diploma of Ageing and Pastoral Studies: 64 points
• Graduate Certificate in Ageing and Pastoral Studies: 32 points

Course Structure

Graduate Certificate in Ageing and Pastoral Studies

Students may exit from the Graduate Diploma/Master of Ageing and Pastoral Studies upon completion of the three core subjects and one restricted elective:

• Core subjects:
  • THL445 Foundations for Pastoral and Spiritual Care of Older People
  • THL446 Pastoral and Spiritual Care of Older People
  • THL451 Theological and Ethical Issues for People in Later Life
• Restricted elective:
  • GER402 Ageing Bodies, Ageing Minds
  • WEL424 Loss, Grief and Palliative Care for Older People

Graduate Diploma of Ageing and Pastoral Studies

To graduate with the Graduate Diploma of Ageing and Pastoral Studies, students must complete 64 points made up of 5 core subjects and 3 restricted electives:

• Core subjects:
  • THL445 Foundations for Pastoral and Spiritual Care of Older People
  • THL446 Pastoral and Spiritual Care of Older People
  • THL451 Theological and Ethical Issues for People in Later Life
  • GER402 Ageing Bodies, Ageing Minds
  • WEL424 Loss, Grief and Palliative Care for Older People
• Restricted electives (choose 3 subjects):
  • THL400 Pastoral Counselling Skills
  • THL435 Applied Pastoral Theology
  • THL444 Pastoral and Spiritual Care in Residential and Community Aged Care Settings
  • THL521 Theological Ethics for the Helping Professions
  • THL530 Social Research Methods for Pastoral Studies
  • THL564 Mental Health Challenges for Pastoral and Spiritual Care
  • THL566 Pastoral Practice in Ageing: Politics, Policy and Principles

Master of Ageing and Pastoral Studies

To graduate with the Master of Ageing and Pastoral Studies, students must complete 96 points. Students can choose from two streams: Professional Practice or Research.

• Core subjects (48 points):
  • THL445 Foundations for Pastoral and Spiritual Care of Older People
  • THL446 Pastoral and Spiritual Care of Older People
  • THL451 Theological and Ethical Issues for People in Later Life
  • GER402 Ageing Bodies, Ageing Minds
  • WEL424 Loss, Grief and Palliative Care for Older People
  • THL530 Social Research Methods for Pastoral Studies
• Professional Practice stream (48 points):
  • Core subject: THL560 Issues in Ageing: Project (16 points)
  • Restricted electives (choose 4 subjects/32 points with at least 2 subjects at Level 5):
    • THL400 Pastoral Counselling Skills
    • THL435 Applied Pastoral Theology
    • THL444 Pastoral and Spiritual Care in Residential and Community Aged Care Settings
    • THL521 Theological Ethics for the Helping Professions
    • THL564 Mental Health Challenges for Pastoral and Spiritual Care
    • THL566 Pastoral Practice in Ageing: Politics, Policy and Principles
    • MIN550 Advanced Seminar in Chaplaincy (16 points)
• Research stream (48 points):
  • Core subject: THL660 Masters Dissertation in Ageing and Pastoral Studies (32 points)
  • Restricted electives (choose 16 points from this list):
    • THL400 Pastoral Counselling Skills
    • THL435 Applied Pastoral Theology
    • THL444 Pastoral and Spiritual Care in Residential and Community Aged Care Settings
    • THL521 Theological Ethics for the Helping Professions
    • THL564 Mental Health Challenges for Pastoral and Spiritual Care
    • THL566 Pastoral Practice in Ageing: Politics, Policy and Principles
    • MIN550 Advanced Seminar in Chaplaincy (16 points)