Master of Divinity (M. Div.)

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Purpose 
The Master of Divinity program is to prepare a person for pastoral works in various ministry settings such as congregational ministry, cross-cultural missions, church planting, Christian education, theological education, Christian organization leadership, and media communication. This is the required degree for ordination in many churches and denominations, although not all students in the program intend to seek ordination.

Goals
The M. Div. program aims to foster and equip students to have the following qualities:
1.  Strong personal spiritual life and character. This is to be achieved through
     a. Immersing in character-building learning experience in the curriculum.
     b. Participating in required or optional corporate and individual spiritual activities such as chapel worship, retreats, 
         prayer meetings.
2.  Competence in biblical and theological understanding. This is to be achieved through
     a. Mastering the elements of biblical languages and the skills to do exegetical work.
     b. Grasping the overall content of the Bible and its messages.
     c. Learning the historical and systematic developments of Christian theology.
     d. Training in the capacity to think critically, biblically, and theologically.
3.  Competence in essential ministerial and leadership skills. This is to be achieved through
     a. Studying of principles in various skills such as pastoral leadership, counseling, and preaching.
     b. Integrating praxis of these skills both in simulated situations in class and in various real-life ministry settings through field
         education.
4.  Preparedness in different kinds of cultural environment. This is to be achieved through
     a. Studying of Asian American ministry.
     b. Being exposed to and interaction with persons from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds, including North American,
         Asian, and various strands of Chinese culture. Participating in cross-cultural missionary works.

Admission Requirements
1.  A bachelor or higher degree from an accredited four-year university or seminary with a GPA of (B- or 80%) or above.
2.  Had been converted, and baptized for at least three years, with a clear calling or the commitment in full-time ministry.
3.  A demonstration of maturity in personal and spiritual life, with two recommendations from church pastors or leaders.
4.  The ability to understand Mandarin. (An interview will be given to assess the listening comprehension)
5.  Proof of English proficiency is required.  Minimum TOEFL score of 450 / 45 (TOEFL iBT).  Applicants with TOEFL score within 5 years may do translation test of a sample English research paper (provided by Academic Office).  (Applicants with a Bachelor or higher degree from English speaking schools are exempt from this requirement.)

Program requirement
Students are required to complete 92 units of course work.  This includes 77 units of core courses, and 15 units of elective courses.  
  
Duration and Location
The program must be completed between 3 years to 7 years.  Students may petition to extend for one more year.  In order to ensure a communal educational experience, at least one year of full-time study shall be completed at the main campus.

Core Courses 

I.       Biblical Languages (12 units)
LAS511, 512       Greek I, II     (6) 
LAS531, 532       Hebrew I, II   (6)  

II.      Biblical Studies    (21 units)
OTS542  The Pentateuch   (3)
OTS559 Prophetic Literature  (3)
OTS528 Historical Literature   (3)
OTS554 Psalms & Wisdom Literature  (3)
NTS541 The Gospels  (3)
NTS555 Acts and the Pauline Epistles  (3)
NTS579 General Epistles and Revelation  (3)
 
III. Theological & History Studies  (12 units)   
TSS504   Library Information Research Method (1)
TSS534   God, Bible and Christology  (3) 
TSS535   Soteriology, Penumatology, and Sanctification  (3) 
TSS537   Ecclesiology and Eschatology  (2)
CHS510  Church History  (3)
TSS502   Theological Research Methods  (0)  

IV.      Practical Theology    (29 units)
PTS517           Spiritual Formation  (2)
MCS527          Personal Evangelism   (2)  
PCS531, 532  Pastoral Counseling I, II   (6)
PTS521,524   Preaching Method I,II   (6)
PTS531, 532  Shepherding and Leadership I, II   (4)
CES511          Christian Education  (3)
MCS521          Introduction to Missiology   (3)
PTS572-A       Asian American Ministry (AAM)   (3)

V.      Field Education    (2 units)
FES501,502 Field Education for 2 semesters  (2)
FES521 Short-Term Mission  (0)
FES529 Pastoral Internship    (0) 

VI.   Capstone Project (1 unit)

M. Div. Three-year curriculum schedule
First Semester			Second Semester
1st year			1st year
	Spiritual Formation	(2)		Personal Evangelism	(2)
	Greek I	(3)		Greek II	(3)
	The Gospels	(3)		Acts and Pauline Epistles	(3)
	Library Info Research Methods	(1)		Christian Education	(3)
	God, the Bible and Christ	(3)		Soteriology, Pneumatology, Sanctification	(3)
	Intro to Missiology	(3)
		15			14
Summer	Short-term mission	(0)	Summer	AAM	(3)
2nd year			2nd year
	Hebrew I	(3)		Hebrew II	(3)
	The Pentateuch	(3)		General Epistles and Revelation	(3)
	Shepherding and Leadership I	(2)		Shepherding and Leadership II	(2)
	Basic Preaching Method I	(3)		Basic Preaching Method II	(3)
	Pastoral Counseling I	(3)		Pastoral Counseling II	(3)
	Field Education	(1)		Field Education	(1)
		15			15
Summer	Pastoral Internship	(0)	Summer	Elective	(3)
3rd year			3rd year
	Ecclesiology and Eschatology	(2)		Church History	(3)
	Psalms and Wisdom Literature	(3)		Prophetic Literature	(3)
	Historical Literature	(3)		Capstone Project	(1)
	Elective course	(3)		Elective course	(3)
	Elective course	(3)		Elective course	(3)
		14			13