Master of Theology in Practical Theology: Focal Area in Youth Ministry

• Any degree programme in Theology at NQF level 8, or any other appropriate four-year qualification equivalent to a four-year training deemed by Senate to be suitable for the proposed study; and
o you must comply with further requirements that the relevant discipline group may set;
o during your Theology studies you must have maintained an average achievement of at least 60% in the subject in which you wish to acquire the MTh degree, and obtained an average of 60% in the final year of Theology-related studies preceding the MTh degree;
o you must have applied in writing and have been admitted to the MTh programme by Senate, or
by the Executive Committee acting on behalf of Senate; or
• A BAHons (Religious Studies) which you have obtained after a BA (with Theology) at this University, or some other honours degree deemed equivalent by Senate, or if you have achieved in another way a standard of competence in your particular field of study, deemed adequate by Senate; and
o you must comply with further requirements that the relevant discipline group may set;
o during your Theology studies you must have maintained an average achievement of at least 60% in the subject in which you wish to acquire the MTh degree, and obtained an average of 60% in the final year of Theology-related studies preceding the MTh degree;
o you must have applied in writing and have been admitted to the MTh programme by Senate, or by the Executive Committee acting on behalf of Senate; or
• If you have passed this University’s Postgraduate Diploma in Theology with an average of at least 65%, and received a mark of at least 60% for the research assignment in the subject in which you wish to obtain the MTh degree, you may apply to sit for an admission examination, as determined by the relevant discipline group, with a view to enrolment for the MTh programme.
• If you wish to write an MTh thesis, you must submit a research proposal in which the research problem, the research methodology and the method of work are set out to the satisfaction of your supervisor(s).

Departmental form
Download and fill in the following departmental form, and submit with your application:
https://files.su.ac.za/public/postgraduate-studies/documents/2025-09/pt…

Document placeholder name on application portal:
Dept-MTh Prac Theology: Youth Ministry (thesis)

Duration of Programme

• The duration of the programme is at least one year.
• A supervisor may, after consultation with the discipline concerned, require a minimum period of six months’ residence for MTh students from outside Southern Africa.

Programme Content
Total 180 credits

The programme consists of three modules to the value of 60 credits and a thesis to the value of 120 credits.

Compulsory Modules (credits = 160)
Research Methodology (Youth Work) 872(20)
Thesis Youth Ministry 872(120)
Youth Ministry as Specialised Congregational Ministry 872(20)

plus

Elective Modules (credits = 20)
Choose one module to the value of 20 credits from the subjects below.

Ecclesiology 873(20)
Missiology 872(20)
New Testament 872(20)
Old Testament 872(20)
Systematic Theology 872(20)

Assessment and Examination

The programme is assessed by means of a thesis, oral examinations and assignments.

Programme Outcomes

The programme is designed to equip students for youth ministry. The programme aims:
• to provide students with specialised knowledge of today’s youth and specific youth problems;
• to illustrate the way in which the Gospel must be communicated to the youth in order to develop faith and growth towards religious maturity; and
• to impart the knowledge and skills necessary for empirical research.