Theology at Murdoch

~an ecumenical enterprise of the University and the Perth College of Divinity Inc

A brief history:

The Perth College of Divinity Inc. (PCD) came into being in 1985 as result of an initiative taken in 1984 by the Western Australian chapter of the Australia and New Zealand Association of Theological Schools. It brought together the Anglican Institute of Theology, the Baptist Theological College of Western Australia, the Catholic Institute for Adult and Tertiary Education and the Perth Theological Hall of the Uniting Church in Australia. During 1984-1985 the PCD opened negotiations with Murdoch University with a view establishing the teaching of Theology as an offering of the University.

In 1986 the University commenced offering degrees in Theology on the basis of an Affiliation Agreement with the PCD: the University Academic Council approved courses, units and lecturers, and managed the Theology Programme through the Board of Theological Studies, which included representatives from the PCD.

Theology staff continued to be employed solely by the PCD institutions and taught full time in the Murdoch Programme. As a result of an initiative of the University this changed. The University sought and obtained normal funding for Theology places within its overall student load. The result is that from 1994 the University has jointly funded the Programme with the PCD. Staff teaching in Theology now have fractional contracts with both the University and the PCD institution on a 40:60% split (one at 49:51) and continue to teach full time in the Programme. The PCD contribution ensures that Theology remains able to offer the full range of units which are considered integral to the discipline.

In 1994 the Theology Programme was fully integrated into the then School of Social Sciences and is now part of the School of Social Sciences and Humanities.