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Divinity School Course Descriptions
Please keep in mind that each "hour" represents 12 hours of class plus 28 hours of related academic work outside of class.


1.1  Bible-based: Biblical Content, Understanding, and Application
                                   

*      B31 - Biblical Hermeneutics (2 hours)—An examination of the processes and resources available for truth-based interpretation of Scripture and of cultural contexts for applying Scripture.


*      B41 and B42 - Survey of the Old Testament (2 courses, 4 hours)—A study of the background and key themes of the nature, content, and history of the Old Testament with special attention to issues of culture and behavior.


*      B51 and B52 - Survey of the New Testament (2 courses, 4 hours)—A study of the background and key themes of the nature, content, and history of the New Testament, with special attention to issues of culture and behavior.         


1.2  Christ-centered: Biblical Consciousness, Conduct, Culture and Cogency                 

(For the Master's-Level Certificate of Arts in Faith and Practice, these courses can be substituted with courses in Biblical Ethics courses.)

*      C31 and C32 - Christian Theology: Doctrine (2 courses, 4 hours)—a theological study of foundational Christian perspective and belief (including methodology of analysis, revelation and reason, God, Trinity, creation, human nature, family, government, evil, and sin) and perspective and belief’s individual and groups behavioral implications and personal and community outcomes.  


*      C41 - Christian Theology: Contemporary (2 hours)—a theological study of  present issues in our multicultural, post-modern contexts—and the trustworthy guidance provided by the Bible, the Holy Spirit, and the present vibrant, international classic Christian community.    


*      C51 and C52 Apologetics (2 courses, 4 hours)--Defending the faith.  Articulating and employing cogent reasons to believe the Gospel and the Bible--using pre-modern, modern, and post-modern resources.


1.3  Spirit-led: Biblical Personal Development and Ministry-Skill                                    

(* There is a substantial internship component in the three courses marked with this asterisks.)

*      * S21 - Spiritual Formation for Leaders (2 hours)—An active integration of Christian disciplines to nurture personal excellence and spiritual growth—based in Christian spirituality and the Biblical disciplines of the inward journey—focused to minimize the issues that keep leaders from finishing well and to maximize glory and honor to God and to his work in and through us.

 
*      * S11 - Preparing Biblical Messages (2 hours)—An intensive study of Biblical values applied to key leadership issues—including conflict management—to enable students to witness a more full and focused self-development and guided development of other leaders in their organizations.  Methodologies to prepare and refocus leaders’ lives are both experienced and integrated, so that these principles will be transferred into various specific contexts of leadership development.         

*      * S22 - Leadership-Coaching in Marketplace and Ministry (2 hours)—A humble mastery of Bible-based, Spirit-led gifts and skills for designing and leading effectual people and organizations.  Students understand, engage, challenge, transform and utilize individual, cultural, and social patterns, talents and giftedness—in nurturing additional Godly leaders.



2.  Courses Required for some of the Divinity School Programs

2.1  Bible-based: Biblical Content, Understanding, and Application

*      Old Testament Book Study (electives in next section below, 2 hours)—An intensive and comprehensive study of a section of the Old Testament, including context, author, purposes, structure, initial impact, historic significance, and applications to our belief and behavior now.


*      New Testament Book Study (electives in next section below, 2 hours)—An intensive and comprehensive study of a section of the New Testament, including context, author, purposes, structure, initial impact, historic significance, and applications to our belief and behavior now.                       
                 

*      B11 and B12 - Elementary Hebrew (2 courses, 4 hours)—An introduction to the Hebrew of the Old Testament, including basic grammar, syntax and vocabulary.


*      B13 - Intermediate Hebrew – Syntax and Exegesis (2 hours)—A study of intermediate Hebrew grammar with emphasis on vocabulary, syntax and Biblical textual reading.


*      B21 and B22 - Elementary Greek (2 courses, 2 hour)—An introduction to the Greek of the New Testament, including basic grammar, syntax and vocabulary.


*      B23 - Intermediate Greek – Syntax and Exegesis (2 hours)—A study of intermediate Greek grammar with emphasis on vocabulary, syntax and Biblical textual reading.


2.2  Christ-centered: Biblical Consciousness, Conduct, Culture and Cogency


*      C11 and C12 - History of Christian Thought and Conduct (2 hours each)—A study of the history of Christian thought, philosophy, ethics, theology, from the end of the Book of Acts through the present, , looking at the role of the Gospel in the lives and thought of men and women on six continents.


*      C21 and C22 Biblical Ethics (2 hours each)—an intensive study of the application of Biblical truth to aspects of our individual and community values and decisions.


2.3  Spirit-led: Biblical Personal Development and Ministry-Skill            


*      S12 - Preaching Workshop (2 hours)—A development of communication, educational and homiletical skills for developing expository teaching and preaching.


*      S13 - Pulpit Ministry (2 hours)—A development of skills for organization, application, style, and delivery to communicate, cogently, well-researched Biblical teachings.



3.  Elective Courses and Specializations

Please Note:  Specialization Certificates are awarded in each of these areas—only for those who complete eight (8) hours in that specialization, whether or not they complete their Programs


BE  Biblical Ethics—These may substitute for worldview/theology courses.


*      BE1-Biblical Ethics: Personal (2 hours)—A decisive study of the basic personal values practiced in contemporary personal choices, strategies, problems and dilemmas, from a Biblical worldview.


*      BE2-Biblical Ethics: Organizational/Social (2 hours)—An essential study of values embedded in present organizational/social/economic/civic structures, and the contemporary organizational/social/economic/civic choices, strategies, problems and dilemmas, from a Biblical worldview.


*      BE3-Biblical Ethics: Live Case Studies (2 hours)—Recognizing and resolving real-life case studies, personal and organizational, in the light of Scripture.  



BN  Biblical Inquiry: New Testament Book Studies (2 hours each)—An intensive and comprehensive study of a section of the New Testament, including context, author, purposes, structure, initial impact, historic significance, and applications to our behavior and belief now.  These studies may include:

BN1-Gospel According to Matthew

BN2-Gospel According to John and John’s Three Epistles

BN3-Gospel According to Luke and Acts of the Apostles

BN4-Paul’s Epistles to the Romans and Galatians

BN5-Paul’s Two Epistles to the Corinthians

BN6-Paul’s Epistles to Timothy, Titus and Philemon

BN7-Apocalypse of Jesus Christ—in relation to Prophesies of Daniel



BO  Biblical Inquiry: Old Testament Book Studies (2 hours each)—An intensive and comprehensive study of a section of the Old Testament, including context, author, purposes, structure, initial impact, historic significance, and applications to our behavior and belief now.  These studies may include:

BO1-Genesis and the Pentateuch

BO2-Historical Literature: I Samuel through II Chronicles

BO3-Psalms

BO4-Job and the Theology of Suffering

BO5-Wisdom Literature: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs

BO6-Isaiah and Jeremiah

BO7-Ezekiel and Daniel.


CP  Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE)

*      CP1,CP2,CP3-Each half unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is worth 3 hours.  Students will be connected with Clinical Pastoral Education programs endorsed by the College of Pastoral Care and Psychotherapy and/or the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE)



CT  Church Training Ministries

*      CT1-Educational Ministry in the Churches (2 hours)—Learning discipling and teaching strategies to obey the Great Commission within each Church, for Church growth.


*      CT2-Ministries with Youth and Children (2 hours)—Effectively engaging the new generation of Church and Church leadership, Bible-based and nurturing holistic growth in the Lord.


*      CT3-Adult Church Education (2 hours)—Productively engaging all adult Church members and Church leadership, Bible-based and nurturing holistic growth in the Lord.


*      CT7-Music Ministry and the Pastor (2 hours)Biblical planning & cooperation for excellent worship & music ministry.



EM  Evangelism and Missions Strategy

*      EM1-Urban Evangelism (2 hours)—An examination and development of strategies for evangelism and church growth in urban settings, including field experience.


*      EM4-Urban Church Growth (2 hours) – Preaching, principles & practices for growth of Christ-centered Churches and ministries.


*      EM5-Church Planting (2 hours)— The calling, strategy, preparation, engagement and pursuit of fruitful church planting


*      EM9-Evangelism Practicum (2 hours)—Each student strategically designs, directs, and completes an evangelism or missions project, with peer criticism and guidance from other students and guidance from a seasoned minister with background in the area.


MM  Ministry with Moslem-Background People

*      MM1-Effectively Reaching out to Moslems in America  (2 hours) – Learning to relate with Moslems in a personal, practical and informed manner.  Themes discussed will include gaining familiarity with the basics of Islam and how to respond from a Biblical perspective, differentiating key issues in theological and cultural terms, and gaining a familiarity with the Moslem communities in America.


*      MM3-Bringing the Gospel to Moslems in American-based Islam (2 hours) – An examination of American based Islam, including the different groups called “Nation of Islam,” to understand their history, methods and attraction, including in prisons, and to prepare to represent the Lord Jesus Christ in these contexts.   


*      MM5-Building Ministry among Moslem-Background People (2 hours) – Discipling Moslem background believers (MBBs). Understanding the process of believing, modeling the life of Christ with seekers, developing the spiritual life and witness of MBBs, effectively gathering MBBs together, and empowering MBBs in the development of Biblically-indigenous forms of worship.


*      MM7-Understanding the Qur’an, Hadith and Sharia Law (2 hours) – A comprehensive study of the history, sources, scriptures, doctrines, practices, divisions and modern movements within Islam, around the world and in America. 



PC  Pastoral Counseling
                                   
*      PC1-Personal Counseling (2 hours)—Basic theories of counseling are combined with skill development and effective communication for informal and formal counseling concerning personal problems and spiritual growth.


*      PC2-Psychology and Theology of Family Relationships (2 hours)—A Biblical worldview and theological understanding of family interaction, attitudes, conflicts, adjustments, mutual interdependence in contemporary families, as well as influences competing with or distorting healthy, well-adjusted family life.

           

*      PC3-Marriage and Family Counseling         (2 hours)—A development of skills for assessing and treating dysfunctional family relationships, utilizing theories and techniques, and for nurturing healthy, well-adjusted family relationships.



PR  Prison/Prison-Release Ministry                       

*      PR1-Introduction to Prison Ministry (2 hours)—An introduction to effective principles of ministry in prisons, including protocol, prison structure and culture, limitations and opportunities in working with wardens and chaplains.


*      PR2-Prison-Release Ministry (2 hours)—A development of strategic skills for individuals and church-based groups to work with inmates, their families, their communities, and others to help prepare for a positive prison-release, without return to crime.


*      PR5-Advanced Prison Ministry (2 hours)—A development of strategic skills for prison ministry, including structured Bible studies, worship, seminars on life skills, understanding Christian worldview in prison life, and preparing inmates for prison release. 



TR  Thesis Research, Writing and Defense

*      TR1-Research Methods (2 hours)—A study of research methods, including Biblical hermeneutics, library exploration, on-line investigation, observations, interviews, and other methods.


*      TR4 and TR5-Research and Thesis Writing (6 hours)—The proposal of a research project, extensive research, and clear, cogent reporting of information and conclusions in a thorough, well-written thesis that will become part of an accessible collection in the NYDS library. 



UC   Urban/Cultural Studies

*      UC1-Religions of New York City (2 hours) – An examination of the full range of present religious practices and trends in the New York metro area in comparison and contrast with Scriptural teaching.


*      UC2-Religions of the World (2 hours) – An examination of present religious practices and trends in the world in comparison and contrast with Scriptural teaching.


*      UC5-Urban Awakenings and Transformations (2 hours) – a study of spiritual awakenings and religious transformations in America and other countries, especially in urban settings.


*      UC6-Strategic Mission in Christian Worldview (2 hours)—a multifaceted exploration of Biblical, historical, cultural and strategic dimensions of evangelization and Christian service in the United States and around the world.



VC  Victim Care for ministry with traumatized people

*      VC1-Victim Care (2 hours)—An introduction to the role of a Victim Chaplain and principles of ministry for people traumatized by domestic violence, street crime, dysfunctional families, terrorist attacks, transportation catastrophes, natural disasters, and such like.


*      VC2-Critical Incidents Victim Care (2 hours)—Development of strategic ministry skills for assisting dysfunctional families and communities, Red Cross training, working with other private and governmental agencies, police relations and collaboration, and care for the care-givers.


*      VC5-Restoration Ministries in Victim Care (2 hours)—Longer term tactical ministries for both the victimized and the care-givers, police precinct partnerships and other special relationships, and supervised chaplaincy experience with victim cases.



WM  Writing Ministry

*      WM1-Ministry of Prose Writing in Christian Media (2 hours)—Strategizing publishable writing skill for effective Gospel communications in Christian media, through essays, news articles, devotionals, written expository sermons and other written communication.


*      WM3-Ministry of Prose Writing in Secular Media (2 hours)—Strategizing publishable writing skill for effective Gospel communications in secular media, through essays, news articles, devotionals and other written communication.


*      WM4-Ministry of Poetry Writing (2 hours)—Strategizing publishable poetry writing skill for effective Gospel communications in worship, and in Christian and secular media.



WT Worldview/Theology

*      WT1-Augustine’s World/view/Theology (2 hours)—An examination of Augustine’s worldview, and the impacts of this African bishop’s writings on behavior and belief around the world.


*      WT5-American Church History (2 hourss)—a study of the sources, values, and developments of churches within many ethnic traditions.


*      WT7-History, Doctrine and Polity of a Denomination (2 hours)—The study of a particular denomination’s history, doctrine and polity, in preparation for ordination or ministry in that denomination.  This study will be structured according to denominational requirements, and taught by people approved by both a denominational leader and the New York Divinity School.
Other Electives may be added.

 

 


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