
Description
The Master of Divinity provides students with a well-rounded biblical and theological foundation; equips them in ministry, leadership, contextualization and communication skills; and nurture spirituality and character necessary to lead fruitful, and dynamic Christian ministries in their respective contexts. It can also serve as a foundation for further advanced studies.
Target Group
This program is appropriate for pastors, evangelists, missionaries, teachers, and leaders in para-church staff, and Christian leaders in any organizations. The program equips students with the skills to be lifelong learners and leaders.
Majors / Emphases
LEADERSHIP STUDIES MAJOR
Leading Organizational Change This course equips existing and emerging leaders to lead and sustain organizational change through a team towards a mission and vision. Students learn how to successfully implement new ideas or programs in ways that support organizational values and goals. The course enables students to ground their strategic leadership and development of leaders in biblical principles, spiritual dependence, and appropriate cultural or contextual factors. Students will be exposed to and evaluate several models of change and contemporary tools for planning with their context in view. (3-lecture units-course; 3 hours per week) |
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Coaching to Build Leaders This course exposes students to a variety of approaches to coaching, mentoring, and management while developing critical skills in listening, asking questions, and developmental or crucial conversations for higher performance. Students learn to apply coaching and developmental skill sets to help others in areas of conflict, personal character, underperformance, and goal achievement. Students gain tools and perspectives that enhance their ability to develop leadership capacity around them, to help others achieve goals in their context, and to solve everyday problems hindering performance and success. (3-lecture units-course; 3 hours per week) |
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Organizational Behavior and Development This course increases students’ capacity for building healthy and effective organizations by providing insights into how individuals and groups behave within organizations and the factors that influence such behavior. It surveys theories of personality, motivation, group dynamics, and leadership style as applied in various cultures. The course explores vital topics such as the sources and uses of power, especially in Asian hierarchical settings like the traditional family-owned business, the military, the corporate marketplace, and formal ministries. Students learn to use practical assessment tools, conceptual frameworks, and development strategies to build leaders and steward their organizations to health and effectiveness. (3-lecture units-course; 3 hours per week) |
FOUNDATION COURSES FOR MASTER OF DIVINITY
COURSE DESCRIPTION
TOTAL NUMBER OF UNITS | ||
CORE COURSES: | ||
General | 06 units Common Core courses 04 units Iron Sharpening Group | 06 units Common Core courses 04 units Iron Sharpening Group |
Practicum | 4 units Field Ministry | 4 units Field Ministry |
Capstone & Portfolio | ||
Capstone & Thesis | ||
Comprehensive Examination | ||
MAJOR Courses | ||
ELECTIVE Courses | ||
Major/Emphasis Biblical Studies Leadership Studies Intercultural Studies Theology |
MASTER OF DIVINITY CORE COURSES
Designing and Teaching High Impact Trainings This course introduces the principles and skills of developing curricula for a specific educational context such as formal education, church trainings, marketplace seminars, and other multi-session teaching settings. Students learn an educational process of designing training programs for a specific context that includes audience analysis, identifying needs, setting outcome-based objectives, developing sessions, and making a syllabus. In addition, students learn adult education principles and practices and are exposed to multiple teaching opportunities using achievement-based objectives, effective lecture techniques, active learning, in-class tasks, graphic organizers, and handouts. (3-lecture units-course; 3 hours per week) |
Biblical Preaching This course helps Christian leaders develop exegetically sound messages from Scripture that sensitively and effectively bridge the gap between the original meaning of the text and the current realities of a contemporary audience. The goal is Christ-centered messages that bring about personal and corporate transformation. Students learn how to assess their own hearts in the preaching process as well as the hearts and minds of their audience. Students will learn to address the heart issues of their audience and prepare their own hearts during sermon preparation. (3-lecture units-course; 3 hours per week) |
Bible Language: Greek 1 This course introduces students to the basic elements of Greek language and grammar. Students learn to use tools designed to aid in the study of New Testament Greek texts. The course will also help students to discover basic exegetical insights by studying grammatical features, including an introduction to outlining a passage in Greek. (3-lecture units-course; 3 hours per week) |
Bible Language: Greek 2 Students will learn the exegetical process, developing expertise in exegeting a text with a primary focus on writing an exegetical outline and isolating exegetical ideas that enable them to address their home context. Students will also learn to use Greek to relate to theological issues and concepts. (3-lecture units-course; 3 hours per week) |
Bible Language: Hebrew 1 This course introduces students to the orthography, phonology, grammar, and syntax of Biblical Hebrew. Students will gain facility in using appropriate tools to assist them in developing accurate and exegetically rich interpretations of Old Testament Hebrew texts so they can teach and preach with greater confidence. (3-lecture units-course; 3 hours per week) |
Bible Language: Hebrew 2 This course aims to deepen students’ understanding of Old Testament Biblical Hebrew and introduce them to the tools and methods necessary for accurate exegesis of Old Testament texts. Students will start to develop the skills necessary to: do exegesis in select narrative texts; distill their messages; and communicate these in relevant ways in order to effect change in themselves and their audience. (3-lecture units-course; 3 hours per week) |
Major Asian Religions This course explores the history, beliefs, and practices of the major non-Christian religions in Asia. Special attention is given to understanding animistic perspectives, as well as the theological and practical similarities and differences of these faiths in relation to the Christian faith. The course introduces students to contextualized strategies of sharing the gospel so that they can develop their own approach to presenting the gospel effectively in their context. (3-lecture units-course; 3 hours per week) |
Development of Christian Thought This course exposes students to the progression of Christian thought during critical periods in the life of the church. By deepening students’ understanding of seminal theological issues as they have been shaped by individual theologians, creeds, confessions, and councils, it equips future leaders to engage the present world in light of the riches of the Christian tradition. (3-lecture units-course; 3 hours per week) |
In the World: Christians and Current Issues This course sharpens students’ critical theological skills through application of theological method to a variety of social, ethical, and ecclesiological concerns. Students gain familiarity with the contours of significant contemporary issues (e.g. LBGTQ + issues, poverty, the impact of internet and social media), and bring a variety of theological resources together in order to foster thoughtful Christian witness and discipleship in today’s world. (3-lecture units-course; 3 hours per week) |
Lifelong Leader Formation This course guides students through a deep exploration of their personal spiritual formation and leadership development for the sake of lifelong leadership impact and faithfulness. Students gain insight into how God develops leaders, leadership character, and spiritual authority over a lifetime, while gaining awareness of significant threats to their character and credibility. Students learn how to ground their character, development, and leadership influence in spiritual dependence and confidence in God’s presence and sovereignty. (3-lecture units-course; 3 hours per week) |
Field Ministry This course equips the students with the laboratory environment to train, contextualize and experience spiritual multiplication through a weekly off-campus, team-based field work. The course is the students’ platform to apply the learnings from the courses they are taking and reflect these in light of disciple-making, God’s faithfulness and their heart condition. |
Iron Sharpening Group The Iron-Sharpening Group (ISG) is an intentional community designed for students to participate in and experience spiritual transformation. Spiritual formation involves God reaching deeply into the spirit of each individual to accomplish His divine work. “The more we become like Christ in the way we live in relationship with people individually and corporately, the more those people will see the light of the glory of Christ in us and will be thereby transformed.” (Averbeck, 2008) The Apostle Paul summarizes well the process of spiritual transformation, “Rather speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up into Him who is the head, into Christ. From whom the whole body joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” (Ephesians 4:15-16) |
ELECTIVE COURSES FOR MASTER OF DIVINITY
(To be determined)