Course Descriptions

BIBL-Biblical Literature

BIBL6520. Biblical Foundations of Christian Educational Ministries (4) 
The course will provide a biblical framework for Christian education ministry. Special attention will be given to a Wesleyan hermeneutical process of interpretation as well as Bible study methodologies. 

BIBL6540. Gospel & Culture (4)
This course approaches the biblical texts from a Christocentric narrative with special attention given to the role of culture on the biblical writers, as well as those who have interpreted Scripture in the past and present.

BIBL6560. Introduction to Biblical Studies (3) 
An in-depth study of the books of the Bible in their historical, cultural, and literary context. Matters of canon, text, content, structure, theology, chronology, geography, and archaeology will be emphasized.

BIBL6599. Independent Study (3-4)
Study of an assigned topic or guided research as directed by a graduate faculty member. Signature of department Director required. 

BIBL7330. Youth, Families & Faith Throughout Scripture (4) 
This course will survey and examine selected passages from the Bible [such as The Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-9) and Paul’s treatise on the Body (I Corinthians 12)] that deal specifically with issues pertaining to young persons, families, and the formation of faith, character and community. This course will also give attention to broader issues of biblical interpretation that are concerned with reading the Bible in formative ways that gain expression in various forms of Christian practice. 

BIBL7560. Biblical Theology (3) 
A survey of the historical and theological discipline and data of biblical theology. Some attention is given to its history, definition, methods, and challenges. The course will focus on the content of biblical theology: its major witnesses, themes, and theologically significant passages. Some consideration is given to the relationship between this synthesizing account of the religious and theological message of the Bible and responsible exegesis, hermeneutics, systematic theology, and preaching. 

BIBL7580. Biblical Interpretation for Life & Ministry (4)
This course seeks to upgrade students’ use of scripture in personal spiritual formation in their ministry by focused attention to several critical tasks involved in biblical interpretation. This interpretive work will aid in the development of the spiritual discipline of "listening to the text".

BIBL8090. Advanced Biblical Exegesis (3)
An in-depth exegetical study of an Old Testament and/or New Testament book/s. The course will emphasize the historical occasion, purpose, and theological message of the selected biblical books. It will survey relevant contemporary biblical hermeneutics. It will utilize inductive, grammatical, historical-critical, literary, and reader-oriented exegetical methods. The course will self-consciously focus on interpretation within and for the believing community. Prerequisite: BIBL6XXX or BIBL7XXX course.

CHED-Christian Education

CHED6120. Introduction to Christian Education (4)
The course focuses on the integration of theology and the social sciences particularly as it relates to developing a philosophy of Christian education. The development of a philosophy of Christian education provides students avenues to critically evaluate educational structures and forms of Christian discipleship in local congregations. Particular attention is given to the role of Christian education in congregational life and formation. 

CHED6160. Christian Educational Ministries (3)
The course provides a Wesleyan approach to Christian discipleship by integrating Wesleyan theology and current developmental theories. The course explores how pastors can develop educational ministries that foster faith formation and Christian discipleship in local congregations. Particular attention is given to the role congregations play in forming faith disciples through teaching, worship, and congregational life. 

CHED6520. Topics in Christian Education: Postmodern Ministry (Youth/Children) (4)
The course focuses on the impact of postmodernism on youth and children’s ministry, drawing upon experts in the area of youth and children’s ministry.

CHED6599. Independent Study (3-4)
Study of an assigned topic or guided research as directed by a graduate faculty member. Signature of department Director required. 

CHED7320. Family Based Youth/Children’s Ministry (4)
The course approaches ministry to youth and children from a family systems perspective, drawing on current models and approaches from experts in the field of youth and children’s ministry. 

CHED7720. Seminar in Christian Education: Youth/Children’s Ministry (4)
The course focuses on contemporary issues and topics in the field of youth and children’s ministry, drawing upon experts in the area of youth and children’s ministry. 

CHIS-Church History

CHIS6540. Wesleyan Tradition in Context (4)
This course explores how John Wesley’s historic vision for the practice of Christian ministry engaged his cultural context. Students will also assess how Wesley’s approach to theology and practice may serve as a foundation for missional ministry engagement today.

CHIS6560. History of Christianity I (3)
A study of the historical development of Christianity from 150-1500 C.E. from the Patristic period through pre-Reformation. The course will trace theological and doctrinal development as well as offer a general survey of the history of the Church in its ecclesiastical and cultural contexts. The student will have opportunity to read primary as well as secondary sources, and do research on a specified and focused area of interest.

CHIS6580. Sources for Western Spirituality (4)
This course is designed to provide a historical underpinning for spiritual formation by examining Wesley’s theological sources. Particular attention will be given to how these sources have contributed to Wesley’s understanding of the spiritual disciplines and the means of grace. 

CHIS6599. Independent Study 3-4)
Study of an assigned topic or guided research as directed by a graduate faculty member. Signature of department Director required. 

CHIS6960. History of Christianity II (3)
A study of the historical development of Christianity from 1500-present, C.E. from the Reformation through the 20th century. The course will trace theological and doctrinal development as well as offer a general survey of the history of the Church in its ecclesiastical and cultural contexts. The student will read primary as well as secondary sources, and do research on a specified and focused area of interest.

CHIS7120. Historical & Psychological Foundations of Christian Formation/Nurture (4)
The course explores the historical foundations of Christian nurture and formation. Particular attention will be given to the historical development of Christian nurture as well as the impact of developmental theories on Christian formation. 

CHIS7130. History & Practice of Christian Formation & Education: From Early Church to Emergent (4)  
This course will trace the history of how the Church has attempted to shape individuals and communities from its beginning through Emergent catechesis.  Selected cultural approaches to character formation that the Church has utilized will be examined.

PHIL-Philosophy

PHIL6520. Theoretical Foundations of Christian Education (4)

The course will be primarily concerned with issues related to human anthropology and the development of the self. This will include study in the following areas: critical reasoning, human psychology, and character/moral development.

PHIL6599. Independent Study (3-4)
Study of an assigned topic or guided research as directed by a graduate faculty member. Signature of department Director required. 

PHIL7330. Postmodern Culture & Families (4) 
This course will involve readings in modern and postmodern philosophy in an effort to understand how these important philosophical shifts have affected families.  Students will be expected to demonstrate how postmodernity has affected the traditional family, given rise to significant changes in the definition of family, and how to minister to families based on this understanding. 

PHIL7540. Premodern, Modern & Postmodern Philosophies (4)
This course examines the breadth of human thought across the history of philosophy. Special attention will be given to the ways in which these philosophical perspectives have shaped or been shaped by the Christian message.

PHIL7560. Philosophical Foundations of Ministry (3)
This course will provide the fundamentals for logical reasoning, review the philosophical foundations of theology, explore contemporary issues in the philosophy of religion, and develop methods for making ethical decisions within the framework of Christian values.

PHIL7580. Theoretical Foundations for Spiritual Formation (4)
This course explores the theoretical foundations, or basic assumptions, of spiritual formation. The course will be primarily concerned with issues related to human anthropology and the development of the self. This will include study in the following areas: critical reasoning, human psychology, and character development.

PRTH-Practical Theology

PRTH6000. Program Orientation (0)
This course orients the student to the resources, procedures, electronic operations, and expectations of the program. 

PRTH6140. Introduction to Ministry & Culture (4)
This course introduces students to the discipline and challenge of missional leadership today. As the first course in the program, this course offers extensive examination of the nature and scope of missional leadership, and deeper understanding of the cultural contexts in which students live and serve. 

PRTH6180. Introduction to Spiritual Formation (4)
This course gives an intensive examination of the discipline of spiritual formation. Particular emphasis will be given to the examination and practice of the fourteen disciplines of spiritual formation with the purpose of helping students in their personal spiritual formation. 

PRTH6560. Ministry Formation (3)
The personal and spiritual formation of the minister will be explored. Special attention will be given to personal and spiritual formation, the role of the family in ministry, pastoral care and counseling, and congregational care.

PRTH6599. Independent Study (3-4)
Study of an assigned topic or guided research as directed by a graduate faculty member. Signature of department Director required. 

PRTH6940. Communicating Visually (4)
This course focuses on a leader’s need to develop a broader communications palette for communicating in an increasingly postliterate world. Special emphasis will be placed on the development of visual metaphors from Scripture in leadership, teaching, worship, and preaching.

PRTH6960. Missiology & Contextualization (3)
This course provides a study of the challenge and complexity of mission within the cultural diversity of today's world. Students will review the historical dimensions of missiology, develop biblical and theological foundations for missional ecclesiology, and strategize for cross-cultural communication of the gospel.

PRTH6980. Topics in Spiritual Formation (4)
This course focuses on historical and contemporary issues, and draws upon the expertise of noted experts in the area of spiritual formation in order to optimize relevance for the student.

PRTH6990. Supervised Ministry (3)
Under the direction of a ministry mentor, students will be involved in practical ministry experience in a local ministry context. Special attention will be given to preaching, counseling, teaching, education, evangelism, and administration. The experience will be under the direction of the instructor in cooperation with the supervising ministry mentor.

PRTH7540. Missional Practicum (4)
This course at the beginning of a student’s second year of study includes an optional multiple-day on-site practicum with his or her colleagues through interactions with a variety of leading edge missional pastors and churches.

PRTH7560. Pastoral Leadership (3)
This course will help to equip ministers to lead and manage churches and mission agencies. Special attention will be given to the student’s ability to conceive and articulate purpose, mission, and vision for ministry and assist the student in developing the strategic means to realize that vision.

PRTH7580. Seminar on Spirituality & Ministry (4)
This is a course designed to give a small-group, intensive experience in which the relationship between spiritual formation and ordained ministry is considered. The course includes examination of the minister as person, professional, and practitioner. The small group will be located in the locale of the student. It will be made up of ministers and laypersons who will provide an optimum group experience. 

PRTH7940. Community, Context & Transition (4)
In this course, students develop a ministry project from their own cultural context, assessing their own leadership, church structures, and community needs and developing strategies for more effective missional ministry implementation.

PRTH7960. Preaching & Worship (3)
An advanced study of the methods of homiletics as well as application of principles of biblical interpretation to worship and preaching. A major focus of the course will be on practical application to selected biblical passages through the writing and preaching of expository sermons as well as a study of the Christian practices of the Church including baptism, funerals, weddings, and the Eucharist. 

PRTH7980. Spiritual Direction (4)
This course explores the meaning, place, models, and dynamics of the ministry of spiritual direction through an intensive experience. Participants will be mentored by a spiritual director, receive feedback on their own ministry of offering spiritual direction, and consider the place of spiritual direction within their own ministries. A reflective journal of spiritual direction will be required. The spiritual mentor will be someone located in the locale of the student.

THEO-Theology

THEO6330. God in the Everyday: Theological Interpretation of Popular Culture (4)
This course will critically examine recent cultural phenomena (such as social networking) from a theological perspective. Students will be expected to form their own practical theology of these phenomena and their usefulness (or lack thereof) in the context of the Christian Church and youth group. 

THEO6580. Readings in Western Spirituality (4) 
Students will read contemporary theological works and explore their relation to spiritual formation. Critical analysis of the different theologies will provide the student with an understanding of contemporary issues in spiritual formation. 

THEO6594. Introduction to Biblical & Theological Studies (3)
A foundational study of the Wesleyan tradition as it relates to Scripture and theology. Designed as an independent study for online graduate students in the School of Theology & Christian Ministries who have been admitted provisionally due to a lack of prerequisite course work in Bible, Theology, and/or Western Philosophy.

THEO6599. Independent Study (3-4)
Study of an assigned topic or guided research as directed by a graduate faculty member. Signature of department Director required. 

THEO7120. Theological Foundations of Christian Education (4)
The course is designed to provide an underpinning for Christian education by examining John Wesley’s theological sources. Particular attention will be given to how theology informs Christian educational ministry practices. 

THEO7560. Christian Theology I: Central Issues (3)
Students will explore the theological issues pertaining to the classical doctrines of the Wesleyan tradition. This exploration will focus upon the main characteristics of the nature of God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, the human person, sin, salvation, the Christian life, the Church and sacraments, and eschatology. 

THEO7940. Theology of Leadership (4)
This course explores the implications of how a missional understanding of God shapes followers of Christ and faith communities, as well as how various theologies relate to our understanding of God. Special attention will be given to evangelism, church structure, and ecclesiology.

THEO7960. Christian Theology II: Holiness and Contemporary Theology (3)
Students will reflect theologically on life and ministry by exploring various sources of theological reflection. In particular, dominant themes and figures in contemporary theology will be explored. In this exploration, students will compare and contrast distinctive characteristics of Wesleyan theology, including various understandings of holiness, with issues found in contemporary theology. 

YMIN-Youth Ministry

YMIN6130. Foundations of Youth Ministry (4)
This course focuses on developing one's personal vision and practice of youth ministry and gives attention to the foundational and diverse elements of youth ministry.  It will additionally serve as an introduction to the YCC program and the embedded curricula of the model of practical theology used herein, the mentoring environment and the need for professional and personal accountability to last as a youth minister. It will explore the biblical and theological foundations of ministry with young people, ranging from those in early to late adolescence. Attention will be given to the role faith plays in adolescent development and identity formation, and to the church’s responsibility to young people in and beyond congregations. This course emphasizes incarnational and missional approaches to the gospel, as well as young people’s own agency as participants in the total mission of the church. 

YMIN6530. Leadership in Youth Ministry (4)
This course explores recent literature written about both secular and ecclesiastic leadership.  Students will be shepherded through a process of honing their own philosophy of leadership in the Church.  Attention will be given to case studies and the formation of a practical theology of leadership.    

YMIN6599. Independent Study (3-4)
Study of an assigned topic or guided research as directed by a graduate faculty member. Signature of department Director required. 
  
YMIN6730. Outreach & Evangelism (4)
This course explores the biblical mandate to follow the call to "go to all nations," especially as it relates to adolescents. Students will learn how to articulate and pass on to others the biblical and theological view of evangelism and outreach. Through readings, lecture, projects, and discussion, students will learn how to design an incarnational as well as relational ministry program which takes seriously Christian care and evangelism with unbelieving young people.

YMIN7930. Developmental & Spiritual Formation of Youth & Families (4)
Because adolescence has been a relatively new identifiable sociological phenomenon, how adolescents grow into adults as a unique process has received far less attention than the more traditional models and theories of child development. In a changing cultural environment, where even the definition, length, and “life task” of the adolescent is hotly debated by researchers and scholars, this course seeks to help the student to: (a) understand the issues that govern adolescent development, (b) recognize the points of discussion and intersection with the familial literature with the adolescent literature, and, most importantly, (c) create a ministerial response to the developing adolescent and his/her family.