Top Theologians for St Augustine Post-Grad Course

This year South Africa’s only Catholic university has more than 250 students registered across its various qualification offerings.

And the number of students at St Augustine College in Johannesburg is expected to increase.

“Applications for postgraduate study are received throughout the year; while a July intake for the higher certificate in biblical studies, and the bachelor of arts and commerce degrees will also attract additional students,” said university president Prof Garth Abrahams.

Apart from the qualifications traditionally on offer — MPhil in theology, philosophy, applied ethics, and culture and education — a number of students registered for the reintroduced honours degree in peace studies.

The next postgraduate teaching week will run from April 1-5. It week will include a module by Dutch theologian Prof Jan Jans on “An Introduction to Ethics”, and a module on bioethics in which Dr Fr Anthony Egan SJ will address a range of life and death issues.

Apart from registered postgraduate students, these modules are also open, as non-degree courses, to those who simply want to enhance their own personal knowledge.

As an option for deacon training, which is endorsed by the South African Catholic Bishops’ Conference, most candidates for the diaconate in the archdiocese of Johannesburg and the dioceses of Witbank and Klerksdorp are now completing their biblical studies section through St Augustine.

Other deacons and lay persons — drawn from a range of Christian denominations from across the country—are also registering for the qualification, Prof Abrahams said.

For more information on St Augustine’s programmes, visit www.staugustine.ac.za