Master of Divinity

Curriculum Structure

 

The curriculum for NGU’s MDiv degree consists of seven core courses. Students are encouraged to complete five of these courses in the beginning of their study. Following this completion, students can focus on taking the elective courses required for each ministry area within the program; students must take four to five courses from within each area for degree completion. The program ends with the Integration Project serving as the final capstone course.

This 75-hour degree is comprised of study areas necessary for effective ministry leadership. The program offers rolling enrollment, with five 8-week online terms and two 16-week on-campus terms available per year. Students may choose to enroll fully online or fully onsite, or they can even select a hybrid combination of the two formats.

Example Course Sequence

 

If you would like to complete your MDiv degree in the suggested timeframe of 36 months, then we recommend taking a full-time load of courses each term in the following order:

1. Core Courses – Complete five out of the six initial core courses.
2. Specialized Electives – Choose four to five from each ministry area.
3. Capstone Course – Finish the program by taking the capstone course (CM 6390) last of all.

 

Core Courses

 

Begin by choosing five of the following core courses:

BI 5300 Biblical Interpretation (3 credit hours)                                                                      

CM 5000 Spiritual Formation (3 credit hours)                                                            

CM 5305 Personal Evangelism (3 credit hours)                                                                                              

NT 5300 NT Research and Application (3 credit hours)                                            

OT 5300 OT Research and Application (3 credit hours)                                            

TH 5300 Christian Theology (3 credit hours)

CM 6390 Integration Project (3 credit hours) Note: Take this capstone course last, after you have completed your core courses and elective requirements.

 

Specialized Electives

 

After completing your core courses, you can choose from among the elective courses required for each ministry area within the program:

 

Church Growth and Revitalization 

Choose four of the following courses:

CM 5315 Church Growth and Renewal (3 credit hours)

CM 5316 Church Revitalization (3 credit hours)

CM 5330 Christian Education in the Local Congregation: Building a Great Commission Sunday School (3 credit hours)

CM 5334 Practicum in the Southern Baptist Convention (3 credit hours)

CM 5335 Contemporary Issues in Church Growth (3 credit hours)

CM 5337 Spiritual Gifts (3 credit hours)

 

Discipleship and Spiritual Formation 

Choose five of the following courses:

CM 5005 Theology of the Christian Life (3 credit hours)

CM 5006 Angelology and Spiritual Warfare (3 credit hours)

CM 5007 Psalms and Christian Spirituality (3 credit hours)

CM 5008 Contemporary Evangelical Spirituality (3 credit hours)

CM 5010 Devotional Classics of the Christian Faith (3 credit hours)

CM 5312 Prayer and Spiritual Awakening (3 credit hours)

CM 5331 Discipleship (3 credit hours)

 

Missions and Evangelism 

Choose five of the following courses:

CM 5306 Contemporary Issues in Evangelism (3 credit hours)

CM 5310 Evangelism and Church Planting (3 credit hours)

CM 5311 Effective Evangelism in the Local Church (3 credit hours)

CM 5345 Introduction to Christian Missions (3 credit hours)           

CM 5347 Christian Faith and World Religions (3 credit hours)

CM 5355 Practicum in International Missions (3 credit hours)

CM 5356 Practicum in North American Missions (3 credit hours)

 

Pastoral Ministry 

Choose four of the following courses:

CM 5320 Introduction to Biblical Preaching (3 credit hours)

CM 5332 Leadership Development (3 credit hours)

CM 5333 Pastoral Ministry in the Local Congregation (3 credit hours)

CM 5336 Pastoral Theology (3 credit hours)

CO 5300 Basic Pastoral Counseling (3 credit hours)

CO 5310 Minister as Pastoral Care Leader (3 credit hours)

CO 5320 Pre-Marital and Marriage Counseling (3 credit hours)

 

Course Descriptions

 

These are the MDiv courses offered at NGU and their respective course descriptions, listed alphabetically:

BI 5300 Biblical Interpretation (3 credit hours) – A study of the principles and methods of biblical exegesis and interpretation with an emphasis on the problem of communicating the biblical message in the modern world.

 

CM 5000 Spiritual Formation (3 credit hours) – An intensive process to encourage spiritual growth through the study of Christian spirituality and disciplines based on the teaching of the Bible.

 

CM 5305 Personal Evangelism (3 credit hours) – A study of the nature and practice of evangelism, with emphasis on its biblical, theological, and historical roots. Special attention will be given to the rationale and context for evangelization.

 

CM 6390 Integration Project (3 credit hours) – Planned with the student’s advisor, the goal of this experience is to integrate the student’s coursework, personal experience, and goals in a “Theology of Ministry” that will further define the student’s view of self in the ministry. The written project plan, literature search, and analysis of results is the capstone experience in the Master of Christian Ministry. (Prerequisite: 30 credit hours in the MDiv program)

 

NT 5300 NT Research and Application (3 credit hours) – A study of the exegetical issues involved in understanding the New Testament including historical, linguistic, and cultural backgrounds, as well as the nature of the New Testament texts, canon, and text and versions. Includes an introduction to the books of the New Testament by groups and individual texts with a discussion of the meaning of the different passages in their original settings and potential applications for contemporary society.

 

OT 5300 OT Research and Application (3 credit hours) – A study of the exegetical issues involved in studying the Old Testament including historical, linguistic, and cultural backgrounds, as well as the nature of the Old Testament texts, canon, and text and versions. Includes an introduction to the books of the Old Testament by groups and individual texts with a discussion of the application of their message for their day and today.

 

TH 5300 Christian Theology (3 credit hours) – A systematic survey of the major theological teachings of Christianity regarding God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, revelation, humanity, sin, salvation, the church, and eschatology. Special attention will be given to 1) the Biblical basis of these doctrines, 2) theological methodology, 3) how philosophical and cultural influences have shaped these doctrines, 4) how these doctrines have changed and been held at different periods in church history, and 5) how these doctrines are relevant to contemporary belief and practice.