Master of Divinity & Board Certification

A general introduction to the history of the Christian Church from the Apostolic Age to the Protestant Reformation. Studies will include the early church and the Roman Empire, major ecclesiastical and doctrinal developments, the rise of the Papacy, the development and impact of monasticism and scholasticism, the Eastern and Western church split, the characteristics of the Eastern Church, and the theological and political forces leading to the Reformation.

A general introduction to the history of the Christian Church from the Reformation to the twenty-first century, including Protestant origins and development. Special emphasis will be given to the Western Church including Reformation movements, the Counter-Reformation, rationalism and pietism, revivalism, the growth of denominations, liberalism, Vatican II and liberation theology, the modern charismatic movement, the New Age movement, modern-day secularism and pluralism.

This course introduces students to the basic knowledge and skills of pastoral care within and outside the hospital setting. Basic knowledge of pastoral care includes, among other things, a knowledge of one’s personal history as this relates to issues of identity formation, attitudes, assumptions, and the corresponding behaviors that impact ministry, an understanding of the dynamics of a pastoral visit to a person(s) in crisis, spiritual assessment, a knowledge of one’s own theology of care, interventions, pastoral referrals, expanding of self-awareness, and self-evaluation of a pastoral encounter.

This course introduces students to the immediate knowledge and skills of spiritual formation and growth of members in both parish and non-parish settings. Using a heuristic approach to study the sense and use of self and others in relations, students gain better insights into what it means to be a student, person, and a pastor. The course requires the completion of a spiritual formation and growth paper that highlights insights gained that can be translated into a specialized ministry of choice.

LA 532 Greek I
An introductory study of the forms, grammar, vocabulary, and composition of biblical Greek.

LA 536 Hebrew I
An introductory study of the pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, and composition of biblical Hebrew, with an emphasis on nouns, pronouns, adjectives, prepositions, and the Qal stem of the verb. Readings from the Hebrew Old Testament begin.

LA 525 Greek Language Tools
An introduction to biblical Greek and an introduction to the exegetical tools available for aiding translation and interpretation.

An exegetical study of Romans including a brief study of the authorship, background, destination, and purpose.

A critical introduction to the canon and text of the New Testament: composition, authorship, date, and content of each book.

A study of the introduction and unfolding of theology through the Old Testament.

A critical introduction to the canon and text of the Old Testament: composition authorship, date, and content of each book. Special emphasis will be placed on the refutation of higher critical view.

This course examines various models of Christian worship, including special occasion worship services. The student will be expected to create sample worship services for regular and special occasion worship, including weddings and funerals.

Advanced study of the principles and techniques of pastoral counseling with special attention given to specific problems pastors face in ministerial counseling.

This course is designed to provide an introduction to the individual and corporate disciplines of the Christian life. Students will explore ways to cultivate communion with Christ to the end of total transformation into the image of Christ. Emphasis will also be given to how they may direct others in the practice of these Christian disciplines.

A detailed study of the development of expository preaching with special attention to the preparation of outlines and messages that emanate from a historical, contextual, and grammatical approach to interpreting and communicating the biblical text. Students will prepare three outlines and manuscripts in three different biblical genres.

Students practice delivery of sermons developed in PS 631, crafted for different audience and cultural contexts. Guided by the professor, students learn to evaluate sermons and to offer constructive oral and written feedback to one another. Videotaping of sermons aid in the self-evaluation process. Prerequisite: PS 631.

A supervised internship experience in either a pastoral, chaplaincy, or counseling setting. (billed as two courses)

A systematic topical overview of Christian doctrine with special emphasis of five of the ten classic topics in biblical theology: Bibliology, Theology Proper, Christology, Pneumatology, and Angelology.

A systematic topical overview of Christian doctrine with special emphasis on five of the ten classic topics in biblical systematic theology: Anthropology, Harmartiology, Soteriology, Ecclesiology, and Eschatology.

An intensive study of the science and methodology of interpretation of the Bible based on principle found in Scripture.

A systemic study of Christian ethics and various ethical systems.

Required of all students in the Master’s of Divinity program and offered in the fall semester of the senior year, this course will function as a writer’s group in order to help the student significantly advance the process of conceptualizing, organizing, and writing a research-based test. In class students will read each other’s work, discuss the concepts, methods, and mechanics of constructing and writing a thesis, and provide comment to help with the process. Thesis topics will be approved and students will begin writing the thesis prior to the end of the semester.

This course is a continuation of TD 630A and is offered in the spring of the senior year. Students will work independently with the instructor writing the actual thesis according to the parameters set in the first semester. The completed thesis is submitted by mid-semester to a team of readers that will serve as the thesis defense committee (thesis reader fees apply).

Explores the various aspects of the ministry as a chaplain. Aspects of the chaplaincy will include: hospital, prison, military, and industrial. The course will include field trips to various military, prison, and hospital locations and guest lectures by various chaplains. Students examine some of the challenges associated with this special type of ministry such as privileged communication, church-state relationships and free exercise challenges. Each student will be given a chance to explore in detail an aspect of this ministry as a future calling.

This course introduces students to an advanced knowledge of theory and practice of pastoral care and supervision in different clinical settings. Students are introduced to different methods of developing theological, educational, and personality theories of pastoral care and practice. Each theory is meant to account for what informs a student’s practice of pastoral care and supervision in a setting of choice.

A practical experience in learning pastoral care in a hospital setting under the supervision of a Certified Teaching Chaplain with the Hospital Chaplain’s Ministry of America (HCMA). Students will explore their attitudes about disease, pain, suffering, psychic dysfunction, separation from family, death and dying; develop skills in the visitation of patients and family members, and in relating to hospital staff; and sharpen skills to reflect theologically in connection with personal encounters in the hospital setting.