Master of Divinity Courses
First Year
First Semester
NT113 Greek I *—This course involves instruction in the grammar, vocabulary, and syntax of the Greek New Testament.
OT113 Hebrew I*—This course is a study of the grammar, vocabulary, and syntax of Biblical Hebrew.
TM113 Reformed Worship (intensive)—A consideration of Scriptural principles regarding worship, both in the Old and New Testament. Attention is given to historical developments and the various modes of public worship. Some contemporary issues will be discussed, while detailed emphasis is given to the actual practice of public worship and an introduction to biblical genres.
ST113 Prolegomena—An introductory course to Systematic Theology. This course embraces the idea, source, method, and task of systematic theology. It is predicated on the fact that a systematic theology must be able to define what it is that is being done, the object under investigation, and the way in which the object is to be investigated. There is a particular emphasis on the doctrine of revelation and knowledge and the extent of the human intellectual capacity.
CH113 Ancient Church History—A study in Church History from the close of the Apostolic Age to the rise of Gregory the Great. This course concentrates on the relationship between the Church and the Roman Empire, the development of church government and polity, the refinement of theological issues and Church doctrine, and the ways in which the spread of Christianity influenced life and practice.
First Semester Total Hours—12
Second Semester
NT123 Greek II *—This course is a continuation of NT113. (prerequisite NT113)
OT123 Hebrew II*—This course is a continuation of OT113. (prerequisite OT113)
BT123 Biblical Theology—Emphasis is given to development of an appropriate Old and New Testament biblical theology framework. Course purpose is to observe historical and biblical themes over the progression of Old Testament canon development. Fulfillment and examination of these themes in New Testament canon will also be studied.
AP123 Introduction to Apologetics—A study in the background, development, and application of the presuppositional apologetics of Cornelius Van Til. Special attention will be given to the characteristics of non-Theistic thought and ways in which presuppositional thinking is used to defend the Christian faith.
TM122 Homiletics I—This course will focus upon the principles and practice of writing and preaching sermons for the church at worship, methods in crafting a sermon, and the nature of effective, lively preaching.
BT122 Hermeneutics—This course will consider the examination of presuppositions and interpretation, survey of Bible translations, introduction to principles of exegesis, use of tools for Bible interpretation concordances, lexicons, Bible dictionaries, and commentaries), and biblical theological interpretation.
Second Semester Total Hours—13
Total Course Hours for First Year: 25
Second Year
First Semester
ST213 Theology Proper—The Reformed doctrine of God, concentrating on the knowability, nature, and attributes of the Triune God. This course includes the historic doctrines that relate to the work of God in the divine decrees, predestination, creation, providence, and miracles.
CH213 Med. Church History—A survey of Church History from Gregory the Great to the 95 Theses. This course concentrates on the rise and consolidation of the papacy in the Western Church, the division between the Western and Eastern Churches, the rise of monasticism, the development of mysticism, the medieval division and class structure, and the precursors to reform.
BT213 Isagogics—A Introductory Survey of the books of the Old and New Testaments with a consideration of authorship of each books, the time period they were written, the historical context for each book, and a study on the Canon of Scripture.
TM211 Homiletics II—A consideration of the various Sermon Types seen through History and the most effective ways of applying a passage to the congregation.
(Biblical Language)—three hours
First Semester Total Hours—13
Second Semester
ST223 Anthropology—The Reformed doctrine of man, concentrating on the origin, nature, and original state of man and the manner in which evil has come into the world through man’s fall and disobedience, including the doctrine of sin, depravity, inability, and free agency.
OT223 Pent. & OT Hist.—Attention is given toward an overall historical framework, Ancient Near Eastern background and major theological themes of the Old Testament. The aim of this course is to familiarize students with an in-depth understanding of a representative range of Old Testament texts, introduction to major schools of Old Testament interpretation, and further training in the skills of Old Testament exegesis. (Perquisites OT113, 123, BT 123, 122, 213)
(OT221 OT Sermon Pent. and Hist.**)—Sermon on an OT Historical Narrative.
(Biblical Languages)—three hours
NT223 Gospels— A selective survey and critique of the various ways the gospels have been viewed and understood. Special attention is placed on the theology of Christ in the gospels including exegetical and linguistic work with the Greek. (Perquisites NT113, 123, BT 123, 122, 213)
(NT221 NT Sermon**)—A sermon on an assigned Parable.
Second Semester Total Hours—14
Total Course Hours: 27
Third Year
First Semester
ST313 Christology—The Reformed doctrine of Christ, including His person, natures, offices, work, and states.
TM313 Pastoral Counseling—The student is introduced to several counseling theories and methods. These models will be critically evaluated, with basic consideration given to the question whether an integration of Christianity and psychology is possible. A detailed study is made of problems which may present themselves in the context of the ministry, e.g. guilt, depression, marital breakdown, etc. The course focuses especially on application of biblical principles governing the church’s pastoral care of individuals and families.
CH313 Reformation Church History—A survey of the Reformation movement during the 16th and 17th centuries, concentrating on the major figures of the time and the development of the Protestant Creeds.
NT313 Acts & Pauline Epistles—A study in the foundation of the Christian Church as recorded in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles and an in-depth study of the basic theology in the epistles of Paul.
(NT311 NT Sermon**)—A Sermon on Didactic Passage from one of Paul’s Epistles.
First Semester Total Hours—13
Second Semester
ST323 Creeds & Confessions (intensive)—An examination of the importance of creeds and confessions in the life and history of biblical Christianity, including a study of the development, structure, and theology of the principal Christian creeds. Special attention is given to Reformed/Presbyterian Creeds written from the time of the Reformation to the present.
NT323 General Epistles & Revelation—Exegesis from selected passages in the general/catholic epistles and the Book of Revelation.
(NT321 NT Sermon General Epistles & Revelation**)—a sermon on a passage assigned from the Book of Revelation.
ST323 Soteriology—The Reformed doctrine of salvation, including the person, work, and gifts of the Holy Spirit as well as the application of redemption by the Holy Spirit, union with Christ, grace and election, calling, regeneration, faith, justification, sanctification, and glorification.
OT323 Prophetic Books— In this course, special attention is directed toward the theology of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the Book of the Twelve as well as concentrating on the major messianic and covenantal themes.
(OT321 OT Sermon**)—a sermon from the Prophets.
Second Semester Total Hours—14
Total Hours: 27
Fourth Year
First Semester
AP413 Applied Apologetics—A study of the application of presuppositional apologetic principles to historic philosophic systems, and to other apologetic systems that have been used in the Christian Church.
ST413 Christian Ethics—The course offers a biblical foundation for Christian ethics. A survey is conducted of the various ethical systems and ways in which motive, goal, and standard operate to produce an ethical system. Concentration on ways in which Christian ethics relates to many contemporary issues is also an area of focus.
CH413 Modern Church History—A survey of the intellectual impact and development of Protestant and Non-Protestant thought, concentrating on the influences of the Enlightenment, the awakening movements, the missionary movements, 19th century scientific thought and 20th century political theory.
ST412 Ecclesiology—The biblical foundation of the Church, its nature and work as a divinely instituted community is considered to gain a proper understanding of the Church of Christ.
TM411 Homiletics III—Consider the various occasions for sermon writing and preaching within pastoral ministry (funerals, weddings, chapels, etc.) and catechetical preaching.
TM413 Evangelism & Missions (intensive)—A study in theology and methods of evangelism. Emphasis is given to development of an evangelistic outreach for the local church and the methodology of missions.
First Semester Total Hours—15
Second Semester
TM423 Pastoral Theology— A study of the biblical and theological foundation of the teaching ministry of the church, with special emphasis on instruction of covenant youth. This course also concentrates on other aspects of the pastoral life including family visitation, record keeping, sacraments, denominational work, and other miscellaneous duties of the pastoral profession.
ST422 Eschatology— The eschatological nature of the biblical message: death, immortality, and the intermediate state, the second coming of Christ, millennial views, the resurrection, and the final judgment.
OT423 Poetical Books—This course gives special attention to the theology of Proverbs and the origin, use, and theology of the Psalms in ancient Israel including the development and theology of the Psalter. Exegetical work will be done from select passages of both Proverbs and the Psalms.
(OT421 OT Sermon: Psalm Sermon**)—a sermon on an assigned Psalm.
CH422 RCUS History (intensive for RCUS students)—a survey of the people and events of the RCUS.
TM422 Contemporary Issues (intensive elective)— This course deals with contemporary challenges to biblical Christianity, both by the recently militant false religions around the world such as Islam and Eastern spirituality, as well as secularism and “Christian” Liberalism. It will focus on apologetic issues, and the moral degradation instigated by such non-Christian movements.
Second Semester Total Hours—11
Total Hours: 26
MDiv Total Hours: 105
There are an additional 6 credit hours earned during Summer Internships.
*Biblical Languages will be taught in alternating years.
**These are Sermon Labs where the student is required to write a sermon on an assigned passage and preach the sermon before the faculty of the Seminary during the semester. This course has no lecture hours therefore the student will not be required to pay for the credit hour tuition. This course however will affect his overall grade due to the grading of the sermon manuscript and delivery of sermon.