Biblical Interpretation: 5 credit hours
Biblical Counseling: 10 credit hours
Church History and the History of Christian Thought: 3 credit hours
Missions and Evangelism: 5 credit hours
New Testament: 22 credit hours
Old Testament: 19 credit hours
Practical Theology: 9 credit hours
Systematic Theology: 13 credit hours

Courses will be scheduled primarily on only one full day of the week. Some semesters may require two days per week. Approximately four or five one-week, modular courses will also be taken throughout each academic year. This type of schedule permits students to be on campus part-time and working at their home church part-time. The schedule will also permit churches within a commute’s drive to have students who commute to class and then return home for ministry.

The M.Div. program is only offered once every three years, in sequence, and there are no electives. As such, if students wish to graduate in 3 years, they must take each class as it is offered or receive credit for classes through advanced standing or transfer credit.

1. Complete 86 credit hours required by the M.Div. program with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5. A maximum of 40 percent of course work may be completed through appropriate transfer credits that correspond to courses in the FBS established curriculum. A list of required courses is available in the catalog.
2. Complete the required three-year internship experience (unless there has been a special exemption granted; see Special Situations on the Internship page).
3. Consistently exemplify the character requirements outlined in 1 Tim. 3 that are essential to effective service in Christian ministry.

1.0 Understanding the Sufficient Scriptures as evidenced by

• 1.1 An understanding of and commitment to the gospel and evangelical orthodoxy within its historical context.
• 1.2 An understanding of and commitment to Scripture as the ultimate authority by which every realm of human knowledge and endeavor should be judged.
• 1.3 A growing hermeneutical competence in understanding the message of Scripture in its original languages and synthesizing its theology in order to apply truth to oneself, the church, and society.

2.0 Enhanced Academic Ability as evidenced by

• 2.1 A demonstrated ability to research topics pertaining to Christian ministry and critically evaluate trends and practices from a Scriptural basis.
• 2.2 A growing ability to responsibly engage in scholarly discourse in regard to past and current theological issues.
• 2.3 An understanding of worldviews and how to responsibly engage others with different worldviews to bring to bear the claims of the gospel.

3.0 Spiritual Growth as evidenced by

• 3.1 A life that demonstrates a commitment to being a humble disciple of Christ and growing in obedience to His commands, learning to frame life in terms of loving God wholeheartedly and loving one’s neighbor.
• 3.2 A growing dependence on and submission to the Holy Spirit as evidenced by the fruit of the Spirit in the context of relationships.

4.0 Valuing Relationships as evidenced by

• 4.1 A commitment to caring and praying for the physical and spiritual needs of one another during the seminary experience.
• 4.2 A growing ability to minister the Word to one another through encouragement, exhortation, confrontation, and vulnerable sharing of God’s work in one’s own life.

5.0 Preparation for Service as evidenced by

• 5.1 The ability to articulate a biblical vision for the local church and pastoral leadership, engaging the multifaceted challenges of ministry with integrity and growing wisdom.
• 5.2 A growing proficiency in the ministry of the Word and the “care of souls,” both in corporate and individual contexts.
• 5.3 An understanding of and commitment to a biblical strategy for equipping the body for the worship of God, ministry to one another unto Christian maturity, and outreach to the local and world community.
• 5.4 An understanding of God’s historical-redemptive mission in the world and commitment to being a partner in that mission through word and deed.
• 5.5 An understanding of and commitment to cross-cultural engagement for the sake of the gospel, critically reflecting on one’s own cultural biases and seeking to be a learner from other cultures for the sake of the gospel.