Diploma of Leadership

The Higher Education Diploma of Leadership (DPL) combines cutting edge leadership training and a Christian perspective to impact others for good.

Course Description

You can take your leadership skills to a new level and inspire, motivate and empower teams. This course of study introduces you at a foundation level leadership discipline areas and provides training which emphasises immediate application in church and NFP contexts. You will get to develop your writing and research skills, and be able to apply a body of knowledge in a range of leadership contexts. 

This course of study draws on AC’s established expertise in the area of leadership. The DPL also allows flexibility for students who may wish to start with a short undergraduate course before committing to a Bachelor program.

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Course Structure

This course structure is based on two semesters (each of 13 weeks duration), with four subjects taught in each semester. It comprises:

  • 5 core subjects (50 credit points)
  • 3 specialisation OR elective subjects (30 credit points)

To qualify for award of the degree of Diploma of Leadership a candidate shall accrue an aggregate of at least 80 credit points, including satisfactory completion of the core subjects.

For more information see the Enrolment Guide or Student Handbook.

Subjects

Core / 5 Subjects

Choose one of the following:

Christian Studies Specialisation

  • BIB009 Old Testament Foundations OR BIB010 New Testament Foundations
  • THE005 Introduction to Theology
  • 10 credit points of BIB/CCM/LEA/MIN/THE

Electives

The specialisation for this course is optional. Students can opt to complete 3 subjects from accredited AQF Level 5, 6 or 7 subjects offered by AC instead.

View the full list of subjects for this course.

For more details on which subjects you can choose, see the current enrolment guide for this course.

Note

The required subjects for this course have changed in 2022. Students who commenced before 2022 are encouraged to contact Student Services for enrolment support.

Admission Criteria

Academic

Applicants with Recent Secondary Education (within the past 2 years)

Applicants admitted on the basis of their recent secondary education must demonstrate the completion of NSW Higher School Certificate (or the completion of an International Baccalaureate or the interstate or overseas equivalent qualification and result) for admission into this course.

Applicants with Vocational Education and Training (VET) Study

Applicants whose highest level of study enrolment since leaving secondary education is a Vocational Education and Training (VET) course must demonstrate the completion of an AQF Certificate III or higher by an authorised institution or registered training organisation for admission into this course.

Applicants with Higher Education Study

Applicants whose highest level of study enrolment since leaving secondary education is a complete or partially complete higher education qualification must demonstrate the completion of an AQF Level 5 Higher Education Diploma (or higher) by an authorised institution for admission into this course.

Applicants with Work and Life Experience

If you are under the age of 21 at the time of commencement, you can apply to a prescribed program of non-award study on the basis of provisional entry, and complete the provisional entry qualifying period to become a full candidate of this course.

If you are over the age of 21 at the time of commencement, you can apply for admission into this course on the basis of provisional entry, and complete the provisional entry qualifying period to become a full candidate.

Language

Overseas students are required to demonstrate their English proficiency skills. Such students admitted into our programs must attain an overall IELTS (or equivalent) score of 5.5 (with no score below 5.0 in any of the four skills areas). IELTS (or equivalent) is not required for applicants who have undertaken five years of required higher education study (or equivalent) in English from an approved country or who have completed a Certificate IV or higher qualification awarded in English under the Australian Qualification Framework by an authorised institution or registered training organisation.

Study Modes

Locations: Fully available Online. Some subjects available at Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne and Adelaide campuses
Full-time Duration: 1 year
Part-time Duration: Up to 4 years
2024 Intakes: Sem 1, Sem 2

See the timetable to confirm individual subject location and mode availability.

Fees & Timetable

A complete Fee Schedule for all Alphacrucis programs and courses can be found in our Fees Information section.

For a full list of course dates for new and continuing students please see our Timetables.

FEE-HELP is available for eligible students to assist you in financing your studies. For more information and other options, please visit the Financing Your Study page. For students who cannot access government loans, an alternative option is Study Loans, a private student loan provider. To learn more about loans provided by Study Loans, click here.

Course Learning Outcomes

Demonstrated:

  • general understanding of key issues, recent scholarship and practices within chosen discipline area of leadership, consistent with a Christian worldview;
  • depth of understanding of practical fieldwork;
  • technical and theoretical understanding of research principles and methods, and knowledge of research approaches used in the discipline area of leadership.

Demonstrated ability to:

  • identify, analyse and synthesise theoretical knowledge in the discipline area of leadership;
  • examine a complex problem or presenting issues using appropriate leadership methodologies and theories;
  • communicate technical and creative skills to express leadership ideas and perspectives;
  • transfer knowledge and specialised leadership skills to peers and general audiences in diverse contexts;
  • apply theoretical and technical knowledge and skills acquired within the specialist area of leadership in a range of professional contexts;
  • work independently, responsibly and with the level expected in a broad range of professional and leadership contexts;
  • collaborate in team projects to make a positive contribution toward social issues;
  • undertake self-reflection and evaluation of performance for the purpose of vocational development.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of this course may find employment in occupational fields that require skills in research and critical thinking, such as:

  • Chaplaincy
  • Ministry or church-based organisations
  • Not-for-profit organisations
  • Missions-focused organisations
  • Educational institutions

Alumni Story

“The teachers I have encountered are passionate about what they teach and care about us as students. It’s not just relevant content but an engaging experience in the classroom.”

Cassandra Ta’ala,

Diploma of Leadership Graduate

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Work-integrated Learning

To qualify for the award of the Diploma of Leadership, a candidate will complete at least 1 subject (10 credit points) of Professional Practice. Students are usually required to find their own workplace/ employer/ mentor to be approved by AC. In some cases, a new aspect within a student’s current paid employment may be suitable as a work placement.

Student Services

For more information on the suite of student support services available, please see our Student Services section.

CRICOS Course Code: 094097G