This new subject is being provided by the non-denominational Macquarie Christian Studies Institute (MCSI), based at Macquarie University. MCSI is the only place in Australia where career-focused Christian subjects can earn credit points towards degrees at public universities.

MCSI Director Rev Dr Gordon Preece said DeCoding the Da Vinci Code and Dan Brown was a special interest topic for people who wanted to study the issues raised and the Dan Brown phenomenon at university level.

"The Da Vinci Code covers so many areas it was a great platform for multi-disciplinary study," Dr Preece said. The team of expert lecturers all come from a Christian background, but Christianity is not a pre-requisite for any MCSI units, nor a factor in the marking, so the students are expected to come from various backgrounds.

Like all MCSI subjects, DeCoding the Da Vinci Code and Dan Brown is accredited by both Macquarie University and the Australian College of Theology. This means students can take it as an elective and cross-credit it towards many degrees, including arts, media, science, teaching or IT, at most Australian universities or bible colleges. Members of the public can also ‘sit-in' on this and other MCSI subjects. This gives anyone the opportunity to have a university experience at a reduced cost and pressure ie without having to complete any assignments (not-for-credit).

Dr Preece, who will also be one of the lecturers for the subject, said the team presenting it comes from disciplines including, ancient, medieval and modern history, art history, biblical studies, English literature and the philosophy of science. Guest lecturers will include Head, Dept. Ancient History, Macquarie University, Prof Alanna Nobbs and Dr Greg Clarke Dir. of CASE, New College, UNSW, writer of much of the challengingdavinci.com website.

Unit convenor Stuart Johnson said students of English literature, history and popular culture were expected to be interested as well as those just looking for something a bit different. He said when studying DeCoding the Da Vinci Code and Dan Brown, students will seek to account for the extraordinary popularity of the Da Vinci Code as well as examine its accuracy and the controversial issues raised such as Jesus Christ and the 'Holy Grail', the formation of the Bible, Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper, the status of secret societies (Knights Templar,Priory of Sion, Illuminati) and religious organizations (Opus Dei), women and Christianity, Gnosticism, religion and science, religion and war, sexuality within Christianity and postmodern religiosity in the West.

MCSI also recently hosted the visit of one of the world's greatest New Testament scholars and Da Vinci ‘code-breakers', the Bishop of Durham, Dr Tom (NT) Wright. The DVD featuring his address, DeCoding the Da Vinci Code is available from MCSI.