MDiv 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)

Capstone

Thesis (for thesis track)

Portfolio (for non-thesis track)

Comprehensive Examination

APPLICATION INFORMATION

We are pleased that you have made the decision to apply for admission to a master’s program at the International Graduate School of Leadership (IGSL). The following information will help you complete the application process correctly.

Student Classifications

Applicants are accepted to IGSL under the following categories based on their qualifications and the judgment of the Admissions department. Before you complete an application form, be sure that you are qualified for the program for which you are applying and have requested the correct set of application materials.

Audit Student:

Audit status is available to anyone who desires to take a course for personal enrichment without receiving credit for the course. Courses are open to Audit Students on a space-available basis only, and instructors are not required to grade their coursework.
Special Student:

A limited number of applicants who have not been admitted to a degree program may be allowed to take courses for credit as Special Student Special Students must hold a Bachelor’s degree; complete a Special Student application; and be accepted for Special Student status. They are allowed to take a total of 24 credit units on a space-available basis. All standard prerequisites apply when enrolling in courses. Acceptance as a Special Student does not guarantee admission to regular degree status. Class fees are the same as those for Degree Students.
Master’s Degree Student:
An individual who meets all master’s degree program requirements may be admitted into one of the degree programs. A Degree Student must hold a Bachelor’s degree, be of sound character as biblically defined, have enough ministry experience to discern God’s call to Christian ministry, and be accepted by the Admissions Committee for their desired program.
Doctoral Degree Program Participant:
An individual who meets all the doctoral degree program requirements specific to one of the programs (Transformational Leadership or Peace Studies) may be admitted into that specific doctoral degree program. A Doctoral Degree Program Participant must hold a Master’s degree and meet various requirements (including sound character as biblically defined, years of ministry experience, proven academic ability).

GENERAL GUIDELINES

Master’s program applicants – Do not send your application materials until the application is complete If at any point in the application process, you encounter a difficulty in completing the steps, request clarification on how to proceed from the Office of Admissions. The Admissions Committee will not review your application until all of the application material has been received and all of the requirements for the application have been fulfilled.

Doctoral program applicants – Send your application papers in as they are completed in the order noted in the Application Information sheet downloaded with the application forms. If at any point in the application process, you encounter a difficulty in completing the steps, request clarification on how to proceed from the Program Director for that program. International applicants must use their passport name on all forms. Filipino applicants must use their birth certificate name. The name that you have listed will be used on your transcripts and your diploma.

ONLINE APPLICATION PROCESS