1) COURSE STRUCTURE

1.1 Certificate & Licentiate Programmes. EQUIP offers a flexible structure for its certificate and licentiate programmes that provide more focus and flexibility in participants’ choice of courses. Participants can progress through these programmes at their own pace.

1.2 At Your Own Pace. Alternatively, participants may choose to attend EQUIP courses as an audit participant (i.e. no assignment at the end of the course) and without signing on to the certificate and licentiate programmes.

1.3 Course Duration. Each course comprises 7 2-hour weekly sessions. Students have to attend a minimum of 5 sessions and pass the course assignments with a minimum of a D grade to complete each course.

1.4 Assignments. Course assignments usually comprise of a 1500-2000 word essay or 2-hour examination, but may vary according to the course and instructor.

2) CERTIFICATE & LICENTIATE PROGRAMMES

2.1 Licentiate in Christian Ministry

The Licentiate in Christian Ministry (LCM) offers training that goes beyond the certificate-level programmes.  It is designed for those who wish to deepen their understanding of scripture and theology, as well as to prepare for effective service. The additional modules give students the opportunity for a broader-based training that would widen their perspective of Christian ministry. Participants may choose and successfully complete any 16 EQUIP courses to be awarded the LCM.

2.2 Certificate in Christian Ministry

The Certificate in Christian Ministry (CCM) is a foundational course offered to Christians who wish to have a strong foundation for Christian life and ministry. The essentials of Bible and Theology are emphasised, which provides opportunities to reflect on various aspects of Christian living and ministry. Participants may choose and successfully complete any 8 EQUIP courses to be awarded the CCM.

2.3 Certificate in Mission Practice

The Certificate in Mission Practice (CMP) is offered by Trinity Theological College, together with the co-operation of the Anglican Diocese and the Singapore Centre for Global Missions. It is specially designed for mission workers prior to leaving for overseas mission assignments on 6-month to 2-year terms. It is also suitable for members of church mission boards and mission agencies involved in policy formulation, missionary sending and roles in mission leadership.

The CMP comprises 8 required courses covering biblical, theological, historical and missiological courses offered over a 2-year cycle. The CMP includes a Practicum Component which requires participation in a cross-cultural overseas field assignment or local internship for 2-3 weeks in service learning projects supervised by CMP facilitators in selected overseas or local mission agencies. Costs for the practicum component are additional and will be borne by participants.

The 8 required courses in the CMP programme are as follows:
1) Old Testament Survey*
2) New Testament Survey*
3) Christian Doctrine*
4) Missio Dei: Historical & Holistic Perspectives
5) Issues in Christian Mission
6) Theology of Mission
(*Those with theological degrees are exempted)

For the remaining 2 required courses, participants choose either the Mission Service or Mission Ministry tracks and attend the respective courses under each track:

Mission Service (for those preparing for short term missions between 6 months and 2 years)

7a.         Cultural Anthropology
8a.         Introducing World Religions

Mission Ministry (for those serving in church missions committees)

7b.         Church Mission Programme
8b.         Missionary Selection and Care

Upon completion of the CMP, participants may elect to complete any 7 additional EQUIP courses to be awarded the Licentiate in Christian Ministry.

2.4 Programme Completion. Completion of the EQUIP certificate and licentiate programmes are based on a system of credits called EQUIP Points. Students attend courses to accumulate EQUIP Points to complete the respective programmes. The points requirements to complete the respective programmes are shown in the table below.

Programme                                             EQUIP Points

Licentiate in Christian Ministry                    224
Certificate in Christian Ministry                   112
Certificate in Mission Practice                    126

Each EQUIP course comprising 7 sessions of 2 hours each is validated at 14 points. The completion of a certificate programme requires the equivalent of 8 standard EQUIP courses. The CMP practicum component is equated to a standard EQUIP course and validates an additional 14 points (this may be applied towards the LCM). The completion of the licentiate programme requires the equivalent of 16 standard EQUIP courses. Participants will also need to maintain an average of GPA of 2.0 to graduate from the respective programmes.

2.5 Other Initiatives. From time to time EQUIP may offer other initiatives (e.g. special lectures, conferences, or events) of various duration and/or frequency. These initiatives may also be allocated EQUIP points and if so, this will be announced in the publicity materials.

 2.6 Time Limits for Completion of Certificate & Licentiate Programmes. The certificate programmes must be completed within 4 years and the licentiate within 8 years. The Director of EQUIP may approve requests for extensions for valid reasons. The decision of the Director is at his/her own discretion and final.

2.7 Conversion of EQUIP Credits for TTC Diploma or Degree Programmes.

EQUIP participants who have completed their EQUIP certificate or licentiate programmes with assignments may request for the conversion of their EQUIP credits for credit in diploma or degree programmes offered by TTC.

TTC will accord each completed EQUIP course with the assignment graded B+ and above 0.5 credit. An LCM would equate to 8 TTC credits, and the CCM and CMP equate to 4 TTC credits. The extra 0.5 credit earned via the CMP practicum component may only be applied toward completion of the LCM and conversion to TTC credits thereafter. These credits may only be applied to TTC elective courses.

EQUIP participants must make their request in writing to the Registrar of TTC when registering for their diploma/degree programme. The conversion request is subject to the approval of the Registrar of TTC, whose decision is final.

3) COURSE REGISTRATION

3.1 Course Registration. Courses will available for registration 2 months before the start of each quarter and registration closes 1 week before the start of each quarter. EQUIP reserves the right not to approve any course registration without explanation.

3.2 Course Fees. The fee for each 7-week course is $100. TTC Alumni and current matriculated students may attend EQUIP courses free of charge but registration is required. Spouses of current matriculated students only need to pay $50. Payment is via PayNow, internet banking, or cheque.

3.3 Refunds. Course fees are non-refundable. If a course is postponed, participants may elect to join the course on the new date or receive a full refund. If a course is cancelled, participants will receive a full refund.

3.4 No Trial Sessions. EQUIP does NOT offer trial sessions for prospective participants who wish to try out a course for a week. EQUIP makes every effort to invite highly qualified and engaging instructors for all our courses.

3.5 Replacement of Participants. Participants who are unable to attend a course after registration may request for another person to take their place up to 1 week BEFORE the start of any course. Thereafter, no replacement of participants for a course (or part thereof) will be allowed in order to facilitate a safe and conducive learning community for the other participants of each course. In the case of online courses, participants are reminded that only the registered participant should view and participate in the online course.

4) LEARNING ARRANGEMENTS, RESOURCES & REQUIREMENTS

4.1 Recording by Participants. Participants are not permitted to record the weekly sessions of their courses (including the lectures, visuals, and discussions) in any way (including audio, video, screenshots, and photography). Course instructors may make notes, copies of presentation slides, and other materials available to participants at their sole discretion.

4.2 Recording by EQUIP. EQUIP reserves the right to record EQUIP course sessions in their entirety and in different formats. Participants consent via the registration process to these recordings and their use for pedagogical or publicity purposes. When EQUIP records sessions, participants who are absent for valid or medical reasons may request for such audio/video recordings subject to the restriction that these recordings may not be disseminated in any way and must be deleted after two weeks.

4.3 Access to TTC Library. EQUIP participants are granted complimentary access to TTC library (without borrowing privileges) for the duration of their course. Please present a copy of the letter/email confirming your EQUIP registration to the librarian on duty. Library membership with borrowing privileges (up to 4 books) is also available to EQUIP participants at a fee of $50 for 6 months.

4.4 Course Assignments. Written assignments should be submitted as a Word document in 12-point font, paginated double-spaced, with one-inch margins on all four sides, and no additional spacing between paragraphs. Sources and quotations must be referenced via footnotes but no bibliography is required. Participants should email their assignments to the EQUIP office ([email protected]) for collation to each course instructor.

4.5 Time Limits for Course Assignments. All course assignments must be submitted no later than 2 weeks after the last session of the course. Course instructors may approve requests for extensions for valid reasons for up to a further 2 weeks. No further extension is permitted thereafter without written approval from the Director of EQUIP. Such requests for further extension not be approved normally unless there are extenuating circumstances and will be subject to the approval of the Director of EQUIP at his/her sole discretion and whose decision is final. When a course assignment is not submitted in time and/or passed, the course will not count toward the completion of the certificate/licentiate programs.

4.6 Video Turned On for Online Courses. Participants in online courses conducted by EQUIP via Zoom or other means are required to keep their video turned on during the duration of an online class/session including in breakout rooms except during breaks designated by the instructor or brief personal/toilet breaks. This requirement serves to create a safe and effective online learning environment and facilitate: i) verification of identity and attendance; ii) participants being present to, and engaged with, the instructor and other participants; and (iii) the shaping of a genuine and effective online learning community for the duration of each course.

GENERAL

5.1 Amendments. EQUIP reserves the right to amend these Guidelines from time to time and participants agree to abide with such amendments. EQUIP will inform participants of such amendments via email.

5.2 Ambiguity or Dispute. In the case of ambiguity or dispute relating to any of the EQUIP courses or initiatives, course arrangements or instructions, these guidelines, and/or any other EQUIP or TTC publication, the determination and decision of the Director of EQUIP will be final.

CONTACT EQUIP

For more information or if you have any questions, please email [email protected].