Each M.A. Concentration contains courses which require Projects related to two textbook and audio lectures which will be located in the Online Resource Room. The audio lectures are also available for personal ministry use. In addition to the courses in the Concentration, there is a Master of Arts Summative Examination. This is a written summation of the learning experience in the M.A. concentration, and is to include how this M.A. experience will be applied by the graduate in life and ministry. You may also replace one or two courses in the Major Concentrations with two elective courses.

Biblical Studies Major Concentration

Courses and Textbooks

BS501 Biblical Theology: An Approach to Biblical Theology… Charles H. H. Scobie

BS502 Old Testament Theology: Dominion in Dynasty: A Study in O. T. Theology… Stephen G. Dempster

BS503 Old Testament History: A Biblical History of Israel… Provan, Long and Longman

BS504 Hermeneutics: An Introduction to Evangelical Hermeneutics… Mel Couch

BS505 Christology: Christology… Gerald O’Collins

SF506 Spiritual Formation: Hearing God… Peter Lord

BS510 M.A. Summative Exam

Additional Textbooks List

BS501 Biblical Theology: The Ways of Our God: An Approach to Biblical Theology… Charles H. H. Scobie

BS502 Old Testament Theology: A Biblical Theology of the Old Testament… Roy Zuck, Eugene Merrill, and Darrell Bock

BS503 Old Testament History: Biblical Theology of the Old and New Testaments: Theological Reflection on the Christian Bible… Brevard S. Childs

BS504 Hermeneutics: Basic Theology: A Popular Systematic Guide to Understanding Biblical Truth… Charles Caldwell Ryrie

BS505 Christology: New Testament Theology: Many Witnesses, One Gospel… I. Howard Marshall

SF506 Spiritual Formation: Select any book from the two lists.

Alternative Textbooks List

BS501 Biblical Theology: Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine… Wayne A. Grudem

BS502 Old Testament Theology: Everlasting Dominion: A Theology of the Old Testament… Eugene H. Merrill

BS503 Old Testament History: Kingdom of Priests: A History of Old Testament Israel… Eugene H. Merrill

BS504 Hermeneutics: Gospel-Centered Hermeneutics: Foundations and Principles of Evangelical Biblical Interpretation… Graeme Goldsworthy

BS505 Christology: He Came Down from Heaven: The Pre-existence of Christ and the Christian Faith… Douglas McCready

Audio Lectures

Old Testament Synthesis I (Approx. 16 Hours)

Old Testament Synthesis II (Approx. 16 Hours)

Theology of Ministry

Christian Counseling Major Concentration

Courses and Textbooks

CC501: Christian Counseling I: Introduction to Psychology and Counseling… Meier, Wichern, and Ratcliff

CC502: Christian Counseling II: Christian Counseling: An Introduction… Maloney and Augsburger

CC503: Christian Counseling III: Effective Biblical Counseling… Lawrence Crabb

CC504: Marriage Counseling: Solving Marriage Problems… Jay E. Adams

CC505: Ethics in Counseling: Christian Counseling Ethics… Randolph Sanders

SF506: Spiritual Formation: Hearing God… Peter Lord

CC510: M.A. Summative Exam

Additional Textbooks List

CC501: Christian Counseling I: Christian Counseling 3rd Edition: Revised and Updated… Gary R. Collins

CC502: Christian Counseling II: Biblical Concepts for Christian Counseling: A Case for Integrating Psychology and Theology… William T. Kirwan

CC503: Christian Counseling III: Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling (AACC Library)… Mark R. McMinn

CC504: Marriage Counseling: Counseling Families Across the Stages of Life: A Handbook for Pastors and Other Helping Professionals… Andrew J. Weaver

CC505: Ethics in Counseling: Ethics in Psychotherapy and Counseling: A Practical Guide… Kenneth S. Pope and Melba J. Vasquez

SF506: Spiritual Formation: In Living Color: An Intercultural Approach to Pastoral Care and Counseling… Emmanuel Y. Lartey and James Poling

Alternative Textbooks List

CC501: Christian Counseling I: Theology of Christian Counseling… Jay E. Adams

CC502: Christian Counseling II: The Biblical Basis of Christian Counseling for People Helpers: Relating the Basic Teachings of Scripture to People’s Problems… Gary Collins

CC503: Christian Counseling III: Competent Christian Counseling, Volume One; Foundations and Practice of Compassionate Soul Care… Timothy Clinton and George Ohlschlager

CC504: Marriage Counseling: I Have a Plan: a Pastor’s Guide to Counseling Troubled Marriages… Charles L. Rassieur

CC505: Ethics in Counseling: Religious Ethics and Pastoral Care… Don S. Browning

SF506: Spiritual Formation: No Alternative

Audio Lectures

Comparative Analysis of Human Psychology

Counseling Adolescents

Dealing with Difficult People

Managing Conflict

Women’s Issues in Counseling

Pastoral Ministry Major Concentration

Courses and Textbooks

PM501 Pastoral Ministry I: How to Shepherd Biblically (MacArthur Pastor’s Library)… John MacArthur and Master’s Seminary Faculty

PM502 Pastoral Ministry II: Skills for Collaborative Ministry… Pimlott and Nash

SF503 Spiritual Formation: The 2959 Plan… Peter Lord

PM504 The Bible and Ministry: Using the Bible in Christian Ministry… Pattison, Trevor Cooling and Margaret Cooling

PM505 Family Ministry: Family Ministry… Charles M. Sell

PM506 Mentoring: The Soul of Ministry: Forming Leaders for God’s People… Ray S. Anderson


Additional Textbooks List

PM501 Pastoral Ministry I: Church Administration: Creating Efficiency for Effective Ministry… Robert H. Welch

PM502 Pastoral Ministry II: Preventing Ministry Failure: A Shepherd Care Guide for Pastors, Ministers and Other Caregivers… Michael Tood Wilson and Brad Hoffmann

SF503 Spiritual Formation: Hearing God … Peter Lord

PM504 The Bible and Ministry: Practical Theology and the One Body of Christ: Toward a Missional-Ecumenical Model (Studies in Practical Theology)… Thomas John Hastings

PM505 Family Ministry: A Generous Presence: Spiritual Leadership and the Art of Coaching… Rochelle Melander

PM506 Mentoring: The Teaching Ministry of Congregations (Interpretation of Bible Studies)… Richard Robert Osmer

Alternative Textbooks List

PM501 Pastoral Ministry I: Practical Guide for Life and Ministry: Overcoming 7 Challenges Pastors Face… David Horner

PM502 Pastoral Ministry II: Pastoral Ministry According to Paul: a Biblical Vision… James Thompson

SF503 Spiritual Formation: No Alternative

PM504 The Bible and Ministry: Apologetic Preaching: Proclaiming Christ to a Postmodern World… Craig A. Loscalzo

PM505 Family Ministry: The Dynamics of Pastoral Care (Ministry Dynamics for a New Century)… David Wiersbe

PM506 Mentoring: Empowered Church Leadership: Ministry in the Spirit According to Paul… Brian J. Dodd

Audio Lectures

Dynamic Pulpit Communication

Pastoral Mentoring

Performing Ministry Responsibility

Resolving Conflict in the Church

Theology Major Concentration

Courses and Textbooks

TH501 Theology I: Christian Theology: An Introduction… Alister McGrath

TH502 Bible DoctrineAn Introduction to Bible Doctrine… Wayne Grudem

TH503 Theology II: Christian Theology… Millard Ericson

TH504 Biblical Theology: An Approach to Biblical Theology… Charles H.H. Scobie

TH505 Theology III: The Gospel of John and Christian Theology… Buckingham and Mosser

SF506 Spiritual Formation: Hearing God… Dr. Peter Lord

Additional Textbooks List

TH501 Theology IBasic Theology: A Popular Systematic Guide to Understanding Biblical Truth… Charles Caldwell Ryrie

TH502 Bible DoctrineAn Exploration of Christian Theology… Donald A. D. Thorsen

TH503 Theology IINew Testament Theology: Many Witnesses, One Gospel… I. Howard Marshall

TH504 Biblical Theology: A Biblical Theology of the Old Testament… Roy Zuck, Eugene Merrill, and Darrell Bock

TH505 Theology III: The Ways of Our God: An Approach to Biblical Theology… Charles H. H. Scobie

SF506 Spiritual Formation: Select any textbook from the other courses in this Degree Program for 2nd required textbook.

Alternative Textbooks List

TH501 Theology I: Four Views on Moving Beyond the Bible to Theology… Gary T. Meadows; Stanley N. Gundry; Walter C. Kaiser, Jr.; and Daniel M. Doriani

TH502 Bible DoctrineSoteriology Simplified: Conversionism Instead of Calvinism. Transformed Theology Instead of Reformed Theology… Bob Hadley

TH503 Theology II: Everlasting Dominion: A Theology of the Old Testament… Eugene H. Merrill

TH504 Biblical Theology: Preaching the Whole Bible as Christian Scripture: The Application of Biblical Theology to Expository Preaching… Graeme Goldsworthy

TH505 Theology IIIEncountering Theology of Missions: Biblical Foundations, Historical Developments, and Contemporary Issues… Craig Ott

SF506 Spiritual FormationNo Alternative

Audio Lectures

Old Testament Synthesis I

Old Testament Synthesis II

Introduction to New Testament Theology

Sample M.A. Program Syllabus:

Project One

Create a two-level annotated outline for the two textbooks that detail what you consider to be the most important elements or sections in the book.

Project Two

Write a Review Essay for each textbook. Your Review Essays should be not less than 750 words each. 

Project Three

Write a Response (reaction) Essay for each textbook. These should be not less than 750 words.

Project Four

Use at least 300 words to describe your learning experience in the course. Include how you will use what you have learned in your professional and/or personal life.

Summative Examination

The Summative Exam is an “open book” summation of your learning experience in the M.A. degree program. Using your textbook outlines, essays, and notes from the audio lectures, write a summation of your educational experience in no less than 1,500 words.

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