NOTE: Students completing courses marked with an asterisk [*] must receive faculty approval in order to use that course to fulfill one of the two required “areas”.

CHS 510 Old Testament History and Interpretation I (3)
This is a seminar study of the history of Israel from its early beginnings to the post-exilic period. The course will include a critical examination of the formation of the Old Testament, Pentateuchal analysis, a study of the rise and fall of the Israelite monarchy and the exilic and post-exilic settings. Prerequisites include an undergraduate or graduate course of introduction to the Old Testament.

CHS 511 Old Testament History and Interpretation II (3)
This is a study of the prophetic, poetic, and wisdom literature of the Old Testament. Attention will be given to their significance in the religion and faith of Israel as well as the Ancient Near Eastern parallels and backgrounds. Prerequisites include an undergraduate or graduate course of introduction to the Old Testament.

CHS 513* Old Testament Prophets (3)
This is a seminar which involves intensive study of the prophetic literature of the Old Testament. Attention will be given to the ancient near eastern (ANE) culture, Israelite historical setting, literary features and theological interpretation of the text. Professor's permission is prerequisite for this seminar.

CHS 520 New Testament History and Interpretation I (3)
A survey of the four gospels and of the life of Jesus, the course combines an historical study of Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John with various methods of gospel interpretation. Prerequisites include an undergraduate or graduate course of introduction to the New Testament.

CHS 521 New Testament History and Interpretation II (3)
A survey of the origin and development of the earliest Christian movement through an examination of the Acts of the Apostles through the book of Revelation. Prerequisites include an undergraduate or a graduate course in the introduction to the New Testament.

CHS 525* The General Letters (Hebrews-Jude) (3)
An historical and exegetical study of the general letters of the New Testament: Hebrews, James, 1 & 2 Peter, James, 1,2, & 3 John, and Jude with a focus on the development and struggles of the early church, theological themes and issues of the letters, and implications of the letters in the life and work of the contemporary church. Professor's permission is prerequisite to this seminar.

CHS 531 Christian Theology I (3)
A study of the basic teachings of Christian faith from a systematic perspective. 

CHS 543 Ethics of the Christian Faith (3)
An investigation of the Christian moral ideal and Christian principles of judgment and action in ways appropriate to the interests of ministers. The course examines biblical, theological and historical themes in Christian ethics through an examination of major personalities, movements, principles, and practices.

CHS 544 Philosophy of Christian Religion (3)
An introduction to the nature and scope of the philosophy of Christian Religion, the problem of religious knowledge, and contemporary issues in the philosophy of religion.

CHS 551 Journey into Christ-likeness: Forming and Being Formed (3)
The teaching and practice of spiritual formation, personal as well as corporate, as it relates to those who are pursuing active service in some capacity of ministry.

CHS 552 Pastoral Ministries (3)
The purpose of this class is to study pastoral ministries as they relate to the minister and h/h personal and professional life with special regard to pastoral leadership of a congregation.

CHS 553 Ministry of Proclamation and Worship (3)
A survey of Christian worship with major emphasis on worship styles, communication methodologies, and sermonic strategies. Focus will be placed upon biblical roots of worship and Protestant preaching styles since 1850, with major emphasis on preaching and worship since the second half of the 20th century. 

CHS 555 Pastoral Care and Counseling (3)
A survey of the biblical, theological, historical foundations of Christian pastoral care and counseling with due consideration to the human health sciences during the 20th century. The purpose of this course is to assist students to develop a beginning awareness of the history of both ancient and modem pastoral care and counseling as well as to encourage and equip students in the beginning practice of the discipline.

CHS 556 Christian Evangelism and the Church (3)
A biblical and theological study of evangelism and the relationship between evangelism and the local church in today’s context. Attention will be given to ideas and premises of the discipline of evangelism that have emerged in the last decade, while at the same time, exploring the historical impetus that forms the background of these developments. Considerable emphasis will be placed upon the biblical incorporation of a twenty-first century evangelistic strategy in the local church an/or in the Christian outreach organizations.

CHS 557 Church Planting (3)
A study of the foundations, principles, and practices of planting new churches. It is focused on planting churches in North America. The course will survey biblical materials pertaining to church planting, provide principles appropriate for differing church planting models, and provide practical direction and strategies for church planting. Students will learn about various approaches to church planting and the resources available. The course will equip students to plan new churches in their ministry contexts.

CHS 558 Pastoral Care in Human Crisis (3)
A study of the specific role and practice of "ministers" in traumatic crises events touching the lives of the families for which they have ministerial responsibility. Attention will be given to the biblical, theological, ethical, and legal dimensions of a minister's role as a "professional caregiver" as well as "colleague" of other community caregivers. Empirical research is introduced as a primary methodology. 

CHS 561 Introduction to Educational Ministries (3)
This seminar studies the biblical and historical foundation of educational ministry. Attention is given to the teaching-learning process as well as the church's strategies for educational ministries.

CHS 562 Intergenerational Ministries (3)
A focused study of the use of intergenerational theory and practice as a foundation for Christian education in the churches and the marketplace. The goal of the course is to keep students on the leading edge of educational ministry theory and practice.

CHS 563 Principles and Practice of Children’s Ministry (3)
The course will examine the Biblical, theological, educational, and sociological foundations to effective children’s ministry, will equip students to develop and evaluate children’s ministry programs, and teach skills in relating to, listening to, and communicating with today’s children (one to twelve year olds).

CHS 564 Principles and Practice of Youth Ministry (3)
The course will examine the Biblical, theological, educational, and sociological foundations to effective youth ministry, will equip students to develop and evaluate youth ministry programs, and increase skills in relating to, listening to, and communicating with today’s young people.

CHS 567 Leadership Development (3)
This seminar is focused on equipping students with leadership skills necessary for educational ministries. The seminar includes an overview of older and contemporary leadership theory as well as the discovery and development of each participant's leadership and relational style.

CHS 571 The Pre-Reformation History of the Christian Church (3)
A survey of the history of Christianity from the beginnings of the Christian church until the Reformation. Special attention is given to the major contextual historical events, development of the biblical canon, confessions of faith, authority within the church, the response of the growing church to its various cultures, and to significant leaders of the church.

CHS 572 The Post-Reformation History of the Christian Church (3)
A survey of the history of Christianity from the Reformation until the present. Focused attention is given to Western Christianity and the spread of the Christian faith to North America.

CHS 580* Selected Topics (3)
Seminars offered in one or more of the areas of study with a specific rather than a general learning pattern. Offered occasionally and by student request when three or more students petition for the course to be offered.

CHS 580* Pastoral Letters, Pastoral Leadership (3)
An historical, sociological, rhetorical, and theological analysis of Paul's letters to Timothy and Titus (1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus) with an investigation into the implications the letters hold for Christian pastoral leadership.

CHS 580* Archeology and Bible Studies (3)
An introduction to the field of archeology with emphasis upon its contribution to the interpretation and understanding of the Bible. 

CHS 599 Supervised Practicum (3)
A one semester practice of ministry jointly supervised by a member of the School of Theology faculty and by a faculty approved minister practitioner in the field. The student will be engaged in campus based ministry instruction and on site ministry supervision, and a minimum of eight hours of ministry practice each week during the semester in a church, institution of the church, or in some carefully structured outreach ministry. The curriculum is goal oriented in relationship to the selected ministry, and the research and reading selected is ministry specific. Offered in regular fall and spring semesters and modified for ten more intensive weeks in the summer.

CHS 634 Gospel and Postmodernism (3)
A survey of current definitions, histories, and implications for the cultural paradigm shift of the 20th century referred to as postmodernism as well as an introduction to Christian apologetics within this setting. This seminar may be used as an area requirement for either Theological, Pastoral, or Educational areas.

CHS 661 Innovative Educational Ministry (3)
This seminar study focuses upon innovative ministries designed to penetrate the secular culture with Christian evangelism from within the church reaching toward the marketplace. Contemporary trends are studied as a context of the gospel with an emphasis on the 20th and 21st centuries.

CHS 681 Thesis Writing I (3)
The preparation and completion of half of the student's thesis to be offered as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the M.Th. degree under the careful supervision of a student's faculty advisor. Prerequisites include: the successful completion of the student's first two semesters in residency for the M.Th. degree (at least one semester for students transferring at least 6 hours of transfer credit for the degree); satisfactory completion of 12 hours of seminars offered toward the degree (including transfer seminars); a thesis topic approved by the School of Theology faculty; the official appointment of a faculty advisor; a faculty approved prospectus for the thesis to be researched and written (see course requirements); and a satisfactory GPA in M.Th. studies (3.0).

CHS 682 Thesis Writing II (3)
The preparation and completion of the final draft of the student's thesis offered as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the M.Th. degree under the supervision of the student's faculty advisor. Prerequisites include: completion of CHS681; completion of three semesters of M.Th. studies (or at least two semesters for a transfer student); and a satisfactory GPA in Th.M studies (3.0)
Additional Courses that may be applied to the Pastoral Ministry area:

COU 500 Counseling Theories and Practice I (3)
This course is a survey of the major theoretical systems of counseling and psychotherapy. Specific application of theoretical principles will be investigated, analyzed and described regarding therapeutic intervention. Course content includes an emphasis in systems theory, development of basic counseling techniques, philosophy, principles, and skill development through the video-stimulated recall (VSR) method where students critically interact with each other in reflection and integration of theory and practice for individuals, groups, and family systems.

COU 515 Marriage and Family Counseling (3)
This course will study the dynamics of marriage and family relationship with emphasis on understanding and assessing their structure and function through a family systems approach. Attending to family developmental life cycle issues, students will learn ways in which counselors may approach marriage and family counseling as a creative, preventative, and healing enterprise. Both theory and techniques of marriage and family counseling are presented and integrated with careful attention given to psychological, systemic, and theological perspectives. 

COU 516 Marriage and Family Counseling II (3)
This course is an advanced theoretical exploration of the prevailing models for doing marriage and family counseling with special attention paid to critique and theological integration. Students will explore the historical foundations and evolution of marriage and family therapy as a profession and be exposed to dominant theoreticians and models for the assessment and treatment of marriages and families. Skill building will be emphasized through the video-stimulated recall (VSR) method. Prerequisite: Marriage and Family Counseling.