Master of Arts in Bible and Theology – 39 Credit Hours

The Master of Arts in Bible and Theology is designed as a one-year onsite or online graduate degree preparing students with a general understanding of Bible, theology, and graduate level learning tools. The program is constructed to provide grounding for life and service, and the foundations needed for continued learning – both formal and informal.

Objectives

• The student uses a consistent, dispensational approach when interpreting the Scriptures and applying them to his own life and the lives of others.
• The student possesses a store of biblical and theological facts as a foundation for personal development, teaching, and further study.
• The student acquires the tools necessary for personal Bible study and has practiced the skill of exegesis and exposition.

Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling – 60 Credit Hours

The Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling degree provides a graduate-level, biblically, theologically, and psychologically focused education for men and women who desire to enter into biblical counseling service. The training prepares men and women to engage as counselors in churches, para-church organizations, and various community settings. The program utilizes courses from three distinct and interconnected cores (Bible and Worldview, Theology, and Counseling) to provide students with the foundational knowledge and skills necessary for effective biblical counseling practice.

Objectives

• The student will utilize critical thinking to formulate a counseling theology, philosophy, methodology, and practice founded in Scripture.
• The student will identify and explain how different counseling perspectives compliment and contrast a Biblical worldview.
• The student will be able to practice counseling skills.
• The student will be able to practice self-care.
• The student will be prepared for the National Counselors Exam and Missouri licensing procedures.

The Master of Divinity program serves to provide solid preparation for ministry in the local church, on the mission field, and in other ministry-related settings. Ministry goals, such as Christian education, campus ministry, or counseling will also benefit from the biblical, theological and practical ministry foundation offered in the Master of Divinity program. Advance standing is granted for those who have adequate undergraduate preparation in the specified areas.

The Master of Divinity program builds on any of the M.A. programs of the Seminary. Because the core is the same for all M.A. programs, any M.A. degree may be applied toward the M.Div. degree.

Objectives

• That the student be prepared be able to assess the spiritual maturity (of self and others) to
  influence spiritual growth.
• That the student be able to defend the biblical worldview through the application of sound
  research methods and the consistent literal grammatical-historical hermeneutic.
• That the student be able to develop a biblical philosophy and strategy for Christian ministry.
• That the student be able to present biblically accurate, culturally relevant, and personally
  applicable ministry communication (oral and written).
• That the student be able to discover the God-given spiritual igfts, abilities, and calling (of self
  and others) to lead effective Christian ministry. 

The mission of the Ph.D in Bible and Theology program is to produce outstanding exegetes and theologians who are able to contribute to and articulate scholarship in Biblical worldview, and who can serve both the academy and the church as researchers in the field of Biblical and theological studies, promulgating their findings through publication, education and leadership.

Objectives

The Ph.D in Bible and Theology program will enable students to:

• Analyze the Biblical text in its original language(s).
• Synthesize the content and theology of each of the books of the Bible.
• Critically evaluate scholarly opinion.
• Engage and assess diverse theological perspectives in relation to the Biblical worldview.
• Advance Biblical and theological research and education.