Facts & Stats
MCSI Classes & Students
From the first Winter school in 1999 to the most recent classes in Semester 2, 2008, a total of more than 1400 students took MCSI classes. The great majority of these students (1150) were undergraduate university students who included MCSI's Christian Studies electives as part of their normal university degree (at Macquarie University or other Australian Universities).As MCSI became established it was also able to offer subjects at a postgraduate level and an increasing number of postgraduate students enrolled in subjects that applied Christian thinking and values to a variety of workplace and professional situations such as Values in Education, Theology of Work, Ethical Risk in Finance, Theology of Christian Education, Curriculum & Pedagogy, Theology of Christian Counselling. A total of 65 students enrolled at Postgraduate Level from 2004-2008.
MCSI didn't only cater for university students - all MCSI subjects could also be taken for personal interest and development. Many people from a large variety of church and professional backgrounds took the opportunity to explore the Christian faith at a deeper level in this way. Nearly every MCSI class ever offered included at least 1 "audit" student. Often the audit students were also mature age students who contributed to the breadth and depth of the classes by bringing the richness and wisdom of their life experiences - and their tricky questions - to classes. In total 196 audit students enjoyed MCSI classes.Class Modes
MCSI classes were not only offered in the traditional lecture/tutorial mode. Many different modes of teaching and learning were used:Summer and Winter Intensives
Lots of students took advantage of the intensive classes offered during vacations. These classes were usually held over a 1-2 week period in which the required 36-39 hours of classes were run - sometimes 9am-5pm, sometimes in the evenings, sometimes on the weekends. Students said it was a great way to study because relationships between students and teachers developed quickly and they could focus intently on the subject matter for a relatively short period of time. Plus students could get an extra subject completed during their holiday break. All together 278 students enrolled in MCSI Summer or Winter Intensive classes.
Online Learning
In 2004 MCSI introduced a selection of "Online" subjects which enabled students to complete subjects online using their computer. Around 150 students took up this flexible learning option over the next few years.
Top five most enrolled subjects
- Bible Survey (Living World of the Bible: Genesis - Revelation) MCSI 101: 288 students
- Worldview Survey (Quest for Meaning in Western Culture) MCSI 100: 183 students
- Jesus: Person, Politics & Ethics MCSI 206/306: 115 students
- Everyday Ethics: Sex, Money & Friendship (Sex,Money (work) & Friendship: Biblical Perspectives) MCSI 205/305: 112 students
- Christian Spirituality: An Introduction (Knowing and Experiencing God) MCSI 211/311: 85 students