Introduction to Academic Programs

The Seminary offers graduate and doctoral level degrees at the main campus. Courses offered at the graduate level and at the doctoral level are separate and distinct. Graduate level students are not allowed to enroll in doctoral seminars.

Doctoral students are not allowed to take graduate level courses for credit to fulfill requirements for doctoral seminars. Doctoral students are allowed to audit or to take for credit graduate level courses for remedial purposes or for their personal edification.

The Master of Divinity (90 semester hours, emphases in Biblical Counseling, Christian Education, Missions and Intercultural Studies, and Pastoral Ministry) and the Master of Arts (60 semester hours, emphases in Christian Education, Theology and Worship) may be earned concurrently with a minimum of 120 semester hours. A minimum of 30 hours of course credit is required, beyond the initial degree completion, for graduates to obtain a second degree.

In the light of its stated institutional purpose, Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary seeks to achieve the following general educational objectives in its academic programs:

1. To develop an understanding of the Bible and its relevance for today; 2. To develop a comprehensive theological framework within which to interpret God’s message to man’s need; 3. To develop a functional philosophy of Christian ministry in contemporary society;

4. To develop personal spiritual vitality and Christian character through

Bible study, prayer, and devotional reading; 5. To develop appropriate skills required to preach, teach, and otherwise communicate the Word of God; 6. To develop appropriate skills required to exercise leadership positions in the church and denomination; 7. To develop the appropriate skills required to communicate the gospel and plant churches cross-culturally; 8. To develop a Great Commission worldview to encourage involvement in missions endeavors and support; and 9. To develop a personal commitment to and involvement in evangelism nationally and internationally.

Specific educational objectives of each individual academic program are set forth in the subsequent sections which describe each respective program.

The initial letters indicate the subject category of the course:

AP Apologetics LA Latin BH Cross Departmental MA Mathematics CA Church Administration MS Missions CH Church History MU Church Music CM Christian Ministries NT New Testament CN Counseling OT Old Testament CS Computer Science PH Philosophy EN English and Literature PM Pastoral Ministry EV Evangelism SC Sciences GR Greek SP Spanish HB Hebrew TH Theology HM Homiletics WH World History

In each course listing, the subject category code letters are followed by a fourdigit number which indicates the course level and identifies the specific course within the subject category. The classification of course numbers is as follows:

5000–7999 Graduate Level Courses 5000–5099 Biblical Archaeology 5100 Cross Departmental 5101–5599 Old Testament and Hebrew 5600–5999 New Testament and Greek 6000–6199 Church History 6200–6299 Evangelism 6300–6599 Missions 6600–6909 Theology and Philosophy 6910-6999 Apologetics 7000–7399 Practical Theology 7400–7699 Christian Education 7700–7779 Church Music 7780–7799 Bridge Program Courses 7900–7999 Communication Skills

8000–8999 Doctor of Ministry Courses 8000–8099 Colloquium 8100–8399 Pastoral Ministry 8400–8799 Missiology 8800–8899 Expository Teaching 8900–8999 Christian Education

9000–9999 Doctor of Philosophy Courses 9000–9099 Required Proficiencies 9101 Biblical Archaeology 9102–9299 Old Testament and Hebrew 9300–9499 New Testament and Greek 9500–9599 Church History 9600–9699 Evangelism and Missions 9700–9799 Theology 9800–9899 Practical Theology 9900–9999 Education

The Seminary reports academic credits in units of semester hours. Each course description listed for graduate level subjects represents a threesemester-hour unit.

A schedule of required and elective course offerings is published each June for the academic year. The registrar’s office also maintains a proposed schedule of required course offerings for the following year so that students may plan for completion of graduation requirements.

Elective courses are available each semester. Students are encouraged to take required courses first, and then to utilize their free elective hours to select elective courses which are meaningful to their individual educational goals.

It is the goal of the Seminary to provide a clear path for students who register for five courses per semester to graduate in the allotted time-frame for their degree program. The Seminary, however, reserves the right to change the times when courses may be offered, offer courses more than once a year, change or drop courses, and add new courses to the schedule during the school year.