Purpose Graduate Program Master of Divinity Three-year program: 90 credits Twenty-six Core courses: 78 credits Four Elective courses: 12 credits All M.Div. courses are 3 credit hours The Master of Divinity (M.Div.) is a three year professional degree program designed to train men and women preparing to serve Christ in pastoral and other Christian ministries. The Master of Divinity degree is designed to meet the needs of pastors or other full-time Christian workers, especially those who wish to improve their ability to study, understand, and proclaim the Word of God. It covers a traditional seminary curriculum including Biblical, Exegetical, Systematic, Historical, and Practical Theology. Students can choose from one of the following two emphases to focus their studies: Biblical Counseling or Biblical Studies. The Biblical Counseling emphasis offers rigorous and specialized training to prepare men and women for the ministry of biblical counseling. This emphasis is designed for pastors and other church leaders who seek to do a significant amount of counseling ministry. The Biblical Studies focus is on the study of scripture and theology. In this course of study, students engage in intensive biblical language study and explore theology, philosophy, and history in depth. Upon the completion of this program, graduates may work in marriage and family ministry, pastorate, missions, campus/collegiate ministries, biblical and theological studies, evangelism, doctoral studies, or teaching in a university or seminary. Program Learning Outcomes Graduates of this program will be able to: verbalize a general knowledge of the Bible, including a systematic understanding of the major books. evidence an understanding of the historical development of theology, and an ability to support their theological views and apply them to contemporary issues. demonstrate ability to do exegesis in the Hebrew and Greek texts of the Bible. evidence an understanding of the educational program of the local church and an awareness of the worldwide mission of the church. lead a local church or other group by means of biblical exposition, leadership skills, evangelism, and service. 51
Graduate Program First Year Master of Divinity Courses Fall NT 5101 Biblical Greek 1 OT 5102 Old Testament Introduction OT 5103 Pentateuch ST 5104 Prolegomena and Bibliology EN 5105 Academic Research & Writing Spring NT 5206 Biblical Greek 2 NT 5207 New Testament Introduction BT 5208 Biblical Hermeneutics ST 5209 Theology and Anthropology Elective Second Year Fall OT 6111 Biblical Hebrew 1 OT 6112 Historical Books NT 6113 The Gospels ST 6114 Christology and Soteriology OT 6115 Historical & Geographical Studies of Israel Spring OT 6216 Biblical Hebrew 2 PT 6217 Introduction to Biblical Counseling NT 6218 Acts and Pauline Epistles ST 6219 Ecclesiology and Eschatology Elective Third Year Fall OT 7121 OT Poets NT 7122 General Epistles and Revelation ST 7123 Apologetics CH 7124 Church History 1 Elective Spring OT 7226 OT Prophets PT 7227 Biblical Missions PT 7228 Pastoral Theology CH 7229 Church History 2 Elective Electives Biblical Counseling Biblical Studies PT 5210 PT 6220 PT 7125 PT 7230 Qualities of a Biblical Counselor Biblical Counseling Problems Marriage and Family Counseling Addiction Counseling NT 5231 NT 6232 NT 7133 OT 7234 Life of Christ Exposition of Romans Exposition of Hebrews Exposition of Isaiah Frequency of Course Offerings All (first, second, and third year) Fall semester courses will be offered every Fall. All (first, second, and third year) Spring semester courses will be offered every Spring. 52
Purpose Doctor of Ministry Two-year program: 30 credits and a Ministry Research Project Five Core courses: 15 credits Five Elective courses: 15 credits All D.Min. courses are 3 credit hours Graduate Program The Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) is a two-year professional degree program designed to provide the highest level of training and to equip those actively involved in vocational ministry with greater competence in the practice of ministry. The D.Min. program concentrates on developing expertise in the biblical rationale, sociological strategy, and practical implementation of ministry. The Doctor of Ministry degree is the highest professional degree for men and women engaged in local church ministries, world missions, and various parachurch ministries. Each course assumes ministry experience, and endeavors to integrate learning with the student s present context of ministry as well as future goals. Students can choose from one of the following two emphases to focus their studies: Biblical Counseling or Christian Leadership. Program Learning Outcomes Graduates of this program will be able to: demonstrate an advanced understanding and integration of ministry in relation to the biblical, theological, academic, and pastoral disciplines. articulate and apply a comprehensive and critical philosophy of ministry. demonstrate advanced competencies in the areas of critical thinking, research and writing, biblical theology, biblical counseling, Christian leadership, and pastoral care. plan, implement, and critically evaluate major undertakings in ministry toward the fulfillment of the Great Commission and the Great Commandment. evaluate personal, spiritual, and professional development, and design a plan for lifelong learning. make a contribution to the understanding and practice of ministry through the completion of a doctoral-level project. 53
Graduate Program First Year Doctor of Ministry Courses September October November January February TH 8101 Biblical Worldview for Ministry TH 8102 Theology and Ministry PT 8103 Church and Parachurch Ministries TH 8104 Biblical Theology PR 8105 Project Methodology and Research Electives Biblical Counseling Christian Leadership March PT 8106 Introduction and Theology of Biblical Counseling PT 8111 Foundations in Christian Leadership April PT 8107 Biblical Counseling Methodology PT 8112 Spiritual Formation May PT 8108 Issues in Biblical Counseling PT 8113 Christian Leadership June PT 8109 Marriage and Family Counseling PT 8114 Principles of Discipleship July PT 8110 Addictions and Biblical Counseling PT 8115 Developing Leadership Strategies Second Year September - February March - April Ministry Research Project Ministry Research Project Defense The ten courses are taken over a period of ten months. Each course will be four days long. Classes will usually be held on four Mondays of each scheduled month from 9am to 5pm. 54
Ministry Research Project Graduate Program Students should give thought to the choice of the research project topic early in their program. Students must register for and complete a major research project on an approved subject. It must be directly related to the student s ministry, and it must make a significant contribution to the field of professional ministry, as well as to the student's personal life. The project should normally deal with some aspect of communication, administration, nurture, or Christian education. The research project proposal should state a thesis: what, exactly, does the research project propose to demonstrate or express? The research project proposal should then indicate the problem this demonstration would solve. The proposal should also provide schematic guidelines for developing and defending the principle thesis claims by chapters, anticipate methodological or other problems in the research project, and provide a select bibliography of primary and secondary sources. An optimum D.Min. research project length is 60,000 to 70,000 words. Three complete draft-copies of the research project must be submitted to the Director of the Doctoral Program by January 30 th (for May graduation) for review by the Examination Committee. The Examination Committee will decide whether the dissertation is ready for defense, and if it is, they will determine (before February 30 th ) the time for the defense. The research project must be successfully presented and defended in a face-toface oral examination (viva voce) before the Examination Committee at least thirty days prior to the anticipated graduation. The project writing must conform to the format and bibliographical style requirement in A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, by Kate L. Turabian (5th Edition, 1987). 55
Graduate Program Purpose Doctor of Theology Three year program: 54 credits and Dissertation Ten Core courses: 30 credits Eight Elective courses: 24 credits All Th.D. courses are 3 semester hours The three year program leading to the Doctor of Theology degree (Th.D.) is designed to prepare men and women for vocations of teaching and research and for the scholarly enhancement of Christian ministry. The ideals of the Th.D. encompass the view that the best tools for such vocations develop through training in Biblical Hermeneutics, Biblical Theology, Biblical History, and Biblical Exegesis. The curriculum is thus structured around these primary components based on the inerrancy, sufficiency, unity, and perspicuity of the scripture. Program Learning Outcomes Graduates of this program will be able to: do in-depth research in both primary and secondary sources related to theological studies. understand and critique the major issues in theological scholarship and the main views on those issues. complete a significant, scholarly dissertation that has practical value for the Christian community and the academic community. develop and employ a fully-formed Biblical Theology and Biblical Hermeneutics in all scholarly research. clearly articulate conservative Evangelical hermeneutics and theology in the dissertation and demonstrate skill in communicating that to the academic community. communicate effectively through one or more of the following: preaching, teaching, evangelism, and writing. develop scholarly research practices that are compatible with the objectives of the academy of professional scholars. develop skills and knowledge that will contribute to the vitality and strength of Evangelical scholarship and thus the Christian church. faithfully and honestly represent and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ in all scholarly endeavors and contexts. 56
Doctor of Theology Courses Graduate Program Core Courses NT 9101 New Testament Theology NT 9102 NT Hermeneutics & Exegetical Method OT 9103 Historical-Geography and Archaeology of Israel OT 9104 Old Testament Theology 1: Law/History OT 9105 Old Testament Theology 2: Prophets/Wisdom OT 9106 OT Hermeneutics & Exegetical Method TH 9107 Comparative Theology of Major Denominations DR 9108 Dissertation Research TH 9109 Theology and Ministry TH 9110 Biblical Theology Elective Courses NT 9211 Advanced Greek Reading NT 9212 Exegetical Seminar in John NT 9213 Exegetical Seminar in Romans NT 9214 Exegetical Seminar in Hebrews NT 9215 Exegetical Seminar Revelation OT 9216 Advanced Hebrew Reading OT 9217 Biblical and Targumic Aramaic OT 9218 Exegetical Seminar in Genesis OT 9219 Exegetical Seminar in Deuteronomy OT 9220 Exegetical Seminar in Isaiah OT 9221 Exegetical Seminar in Psalms OT 9222 Historical and Geographical Israel Tour TH 9223 Ancient Historical Theology TH 9224 Reformation Historical Theology TH 9225 Biblical Ethics TH 9226 Biblical Apologetics TH 9227 Theology of Biblical Counseling TH 9228 Modern Historical Theology Dissertation Dissertation Research Project 57
Graduate Program Dissertation Research Project Students should give thought to the choice of the dissertation topic early in their program. Students must register for and complete a dissertation on an approved subject. The dissertation project should be on a subject giving evidence of the student s ability to do independent research and to think and write creatively. An optimum research dissertation length is 70,000 and 75,000 words. The dissertation proposal should state a thesis: what, exactly, does the dissertation propose to demonstrate or express? The dissertation proposal should then indicate the problem this demonstration would solve. The proposal should also provide schematic guidelines for developing and defending the principle thesis claims by chapters, anticipate methodological or other problems in the dissertation project, and provide a select bibliography of primary and secondary sources. Three complete draft-copies of the research dissertation must be submitted to the Director of the Doctoral Program by January 30 th (for May graduation). The Dissertation Committee will decide whether the dissertation is ready for defense, and if it is, they will determine before February 30th the time for the oral defense. The dissertation must be successfully presented and defended in a face-to-face oral examination (viva voce) before the Examination Committee at least thirty days prior to the anticipated graduation. The dissertation must conform to the format and bibliographical style requirement in A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, by Kate L. Turabian (5th Edition, 1987). Dr. Stephen Hague teaching Biblical Theology 58