Note: Some required courses may be waived through transfer credit.

Knowledge (18 credits)

Christian Tradition: Biblical Origins. In this area requirement students gain familiarity with the contents of the Jewish and Christian Scriptures, including chronology of events and theological and ethical concerns; understand important issues of historical background and historical reliability of books of the Bible; and become familiar with major critical views concerning authorship, date and settings of Biblical books.

All students fulfill this requirement through the following:

RLST 5200 Survey of the Old Testament (3)

RLST 5300 Survey of the New Testament (3)

Christian Tradition: Historical Development. In this area requirement students gain an understanding of the philosophical, social and cultural factors that have helped shape the Christian tradition; identify key individuals, issues, institutions, events and movements in the Christian tradition from its earliest days to the present; and become familiar with what Christians have believed, how they have responded to the unique challenges of their particular eras and cultures, and how they thought the Christian life should be lived out in their circumstances.

All students fulfill this requirement through:

RLST 5400 Survey of Church History (3)

Christian Tradition: Theological Formulations. In this area requirement students gain a broad historical perspective on major theological issues and viewpoints in the Christian tradition; understand the biblical origin, historical developments and contemporary formulations of key theological concepts in the Christian tradition; and gain familiarity with the writings of major past and present Christian theologians.

All students fulfill this requirement through the following:

RLST 5510 Survey of Christian Theology (3)

Christian Tradition: Faith and Reason. In this area requirement students gain familiarity with the ways in which Christians have understood and defended their beliefs from the early church to the present; and understand contemporary arguments and evidence for and against the major truth-claims of Christianity.

All students fulfill this requirement through one of the following:

RLST 6600 Christian Apologetics (3

RLST 6610  Systems of Apologetics (3) 

Christian Tradition: Global Perspective. In this area requirement students gain familiarity with the presence and role of Christianity around the world, and the challenges and opportunities that Christians face today.

All students fulfill this requirement through one of the following:

RLST 6490 Christianity in Global Perspective (3)

MNTY 5300 Introduction to World Missions (3)

Skills (6 credits)

Character Formation. In this area requirement students gain an understanding of the central role of “spirit” in human personhood and life; learn the role of values and beliefs in character formation; identify and understand moral and intellectual virtues in classical Greek, Hebrew and Christian traditions; and learn personal strategies to cultivate and develop moral and intellectual virtues.

Students in the MA in Spiritual Formation fulfill this requirement through the following:

SPFM 5001Personal Transformation 1 (3)

Students in the MA in Biblical Studies and Christian Studies fulfill this requirement through one of the following:

SPFM 5001 Personal Transformation 1 (3)

SPFM 5101 Spiritual Formation (3)

Leadership Development. In this area requirement students become familiar with emotional intelligence, its value in leadership and strategies for growth; learn one’s strengths and highest values and how to live them out; understand behavioral styles and how to use that knowledge in effective communication; gain a clear understanding of different styles of leadership; gain a practical knowledge of leadership influence; acquire professional competencies such as self-management, collaboration, interpersonal relations, communication, building trust, financial and project management, strategic planning and problem-solving; and create a personal mission statement.

All students meet this requirement through one of the following:

MNTY 5000 Foundations for Leadership (3)

MNTY 5010 Foundations of Leadership (3) 

And completion of required assessments, mentoring and life-coaching

Community Service. In this area requirement students are equipped to identify needs in a community that can be met through personal involvement and group projects; identify churches, religious and service organizations who are committed to community service; join groups and individuals in service projects; and create strategies, and enlist and mobilize volunteers for community service.

All students meet this requirement by being involved in two community service projects during their degree program.