GRADUATE CERTIFICATE OF CHRISTIAN STUDIES
Purpose and Intended Students:
The Graduate Certificate of Christian Studies is intended for the person has a personal calling to deeply understand the Christian faith and be equipped for effective lay ministry within the church and in community at large. It is also appropriate for certain types of missionary service. The program requires an exposure to each area of the Seminary curriculum and allows significant latitude to explore specific areas a student’s personal interest during the elective component (the last third of the program).
The Certificate is ideal for those who would supplement their college studies with a year in seminary and who are not seeking an advanced degree. Both the recent college graduate and the more mature learner will find the Certificate a valuable resource to better equip themselves for service in a church as a layperson. The Certificate also accommodates those who wish to explore seminary study. A Certificate meets the requirement of many missions boards that expect a candidate for cross-cultural ministry to pursue a year of graduate study at a seminary. It is also well suited to those seeking a specialized ministry, allowing the student to gain the background and skills necessary areas such as worship, discipleship, or spiritual formation.
Objectives:
- To enable the student to understand more fully and deeply the Christian faith, his or her own personal calling, and the world mission of the church.
- To provide the student with background knowledge, resources, and analytical thinking skills to understand the integration of the Christian faith within his or her profession and life calling.
- To equip the student for effective lay ministry within the church or in the marketplace and for certain types of missionary service.
Program Requirements:
Interdisciplinary |
0 hours |
| GN 500 Introduction to Graduate Research and Study | 0 |
Biblical Studies |
6 hours |
Christian History and Thought |
6 hours |
Practical Ministry |
6 hours |
Electives |
9 hours |
Total Semester Hours Required |
27 hours |
The following courses are recommended for Certificate students to include in their studies in order to get a breadth of exposure to the varied parts of the Seminary curriculum:
From Biblical Studies: |
|
| BI 501 Old Testament Survey | 3 |
| BI 502 New Testament Survey | 3 |
| BI 510 Inductive Bible Study Methods | 1 |
From Christian History and Thought: |
|
| CH 501 History of Christianity 1 | 3 |
| CH 502 History of Christianity 2 | 3 |
| TH 501 Theology 1 | 3 |
| TH 502 Theology 2 | 3 |
From Practical Ministry: |
|
| FM 502 Spiritual and Personal Formation | 3 |
