• Old Testament (OT/LEAD)
• New Testament (NT/LEAD)
• Theological & Historical (TH/LEAD)
• Practical Theology (PT/LEAD)
  
• Counseling & Psychology (MAC)
• CCEF online counseling courses (PT CCEF)
  
• Doctor of Ministry (DM)

Old Testament (OT/LEAD)

OT501/LEAD522/U Reading the Old Testament Missionally
This course introduces students to the first part of God's plan of redemption, from creation to the return of Israel from exile. You will see an overview of God's mission as it is embodied in the Hebrew Scriptures, with attention to each of the biblical writings. Three hours. Auditing prohibited.

OT510 Biblical Hebrew 1
In the OT God spoke in and through culture by way of the Hebrew language. Studying Biblical Hebrew helps us to understand (and appreciate) God's unique revelation of himself and his story to and through ancient Israel in its historical situation. . Hebrew 1 and 2 foster that understanding by studying the alphabet, vowel system, sounds, and vocabulary of Biblical Hebrew, as well as the systems of the noun and strong verb. Three hours. Auditing prohibited.

OT511 Biblical Hebrew 2
Building on Biblical Hebrew 1, this course entails the systems of the weak verbs, vocabulary, and reading (translating) the biblical text, as well as an introduction to textual criticism and basic exegetical principles of biblical narrative. Prerequisite: Biblical Hebrew 1. Three hours. Auditing prohibited.

OT522/LEAD523/U Old Testament Pentateuch Book Study
The story of God's plan for his people and his planet starts dramatically with the creation of the cosmos, the blessing on Abraham's family and the nations, the deliverance from Egypt and the establishment of the covenant. Within this narrative, this course will focus on one book of the Pentateuch, examining in detail one aspect of God's redemption of his people. As a result, students will gain skills to enable them to not only profitably study the text but also to gain biblical perspective on their role in the story of the God's ongoing mission. Prerequisite: OT 511 for OT 522. Three hours.

OT605/LEAD524/U Old Testament Prophets Book Study
Prophets were the heroes of the Old Testament. They spoke for God, risking their lives to confront rulers and nations, and all the while anticipating a future Messiah. We read their story in the books of the Former prophets (Joshua-Kings) and their writings in the Major and Minor prophets. This course will begin by looking at the literature of the prophets generally, but then primarily focus on one prophetic book specifically. Particular attention will be devoted to the unfolding of God's mission within the book and how it, along with other prophetic literature, impacted the writings of the New Testament. Students will thereby be equipped both to understand prophetic texts as well as to apply them into their pluralistic contemporary contexts. Prerequisite: OT 511 for OT 605. Three hours.

OT606/LEAD712/U Old Testament Writings Book Study
As an introduction to the Old Testament prophetical books this course examines the contents of these prophets with a view to set proper foundations for exegetical analysis (in translation) and relevance for application within our pluralistic contemporary context. Particular attention is devoted to the unfolding of God's mission in the prophets and how it, in turn, impacted the writings of the New Testament. Prerequisite: OT 511for OT 606. Three hours.

OT610 Hebrew Readings: Ruth & Jonah
This course gives students extensive opportunity to read (translate) the biblical texts of Ruth and Jonah, and introduces exegetical principles of some non-poetic genres. Prerequisite: Biblical Hebrew 2. Three hours.

OT651 God of the OT: Angry? Racist? Sexist? Correcting Common Distortions
Why does the God of the OT have such a bad reputation? Based on certain texts Christians sometimes conclude that the OT God is angry, violent, legalistic, sexist or racist, and they struggle to reconcile this "mean" image of God with the "nice" image found in the NT. Thus, it appears that a version of the Marcionite heresy (the OT God is harsh while the NT God is loving) has survived in popular forms of Christianity. In order to correct this distorted view of the OT, we will examine texts that address these issues and discuss problematic aspects of the portrayal of God's character in the OT. While these tensions can never be fully resolved, understanding the broader purposes of God throughout Scripture will help us realize not only that there is in fact only one God, but also that Jesus helps us reconcile these two supposedly contradictory perspectives. We will also gain insight into how to address these problematic issues that the church struggles with today. Three hours.

New Testament (NT/LEAD)

NT501/LEAD613/U Reading the New Testament Missionally
This course introduces students to the second half of the drama of redemption, beginning with the coming of Christ, followed by the founding of the church, and continuing through the consummation. You will learn the story of the NT from a missional perspective. Through this lens you will learn the basic content of the NT and apply it to your life as a follower of Christ. Prerequisite: OT 501/LEAD522/U. Three hours. Auditing prohibited.

NT510 Biblical Greek 1
The Apostle Paul writes, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that all God's people may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17). This course is designed to help serious students of the Word learn the Scripture in more depth by introducing them to Koine Greek, the language of the New Testament. The course begins by examining the nature and constraints of language, and then moves to a study of the basic grammatical elements of NT Greek. Students will also practice the disciplines of Scripture meditation and journaling in order to be formed by the Word. Three hours. Auditing prohibited.

NT511 Biblical Greek 2
Greek 2 continues the study of Koine Greek, the language of the New Testament. The course covers the basic grammatical elements of NT Greek, focusing on the Greek verbal system. The class also examines common errors of exegesis. Students will apply what they learn in translation and exegesis of selected passages, as well as in application of the Word to their lives. Prerequisite: Biblical Greek 1. Three hours. Auditing prohibited.

NT522/LEAD614/U New Testament Gospels Book Study
If Jesus was the prophesied Messiah, why was he rejected by his own people and abandoned by his own disciples? Why did Jesus speak and act in such mysterious ways? Why did Jesus so often appear to act in tension with the Old Testament? Why are there four gospels that differ significantly from each other? Why do the gospels ignore so much of Jesus' life? As you focus on one of these gospels, you will tackle these and many other vital questions and in the process be confronted by the bewildering majesty of Jesus, challenged to a more radical discipleship, and instructed in how to read and communicate the gospels in missionally relevant ways. Prerequisite: NT 510 for NT 522. Three hours.

NT605/LEAD617/U New Testament Acts/Pauline Book Study
The book of Acts and the Pauline Epistles are missional works. The book of Acts describes what the risen Christ continued to do by his Spirit through his chosen emissaries in the first-century, Greco-Roman world; Paul's letters give us first-hand knowledge of one of those emissaries as he embodied Jesus' Spirit driven mission to the Gentile world. In this course, you will focus on the content of one of these texts with the goal of integrating and applying it to the pastoral and missional task facing the church in a 21st-century world. Prerequisite: NT 511 for NT 605. Three hours.

NT606/LEAD713/U New Testament General Epistles Book Study

By the early A.D. 60’s the Early Church was beginning to experience some of the problems of adolescence. Key members of the original leadership team were passing from the scene; a demographic shift from culturally Jewish to culturally Gentile was accelerating among the Christian communities; social-cultural diversity within the Christian movement was contributing to different and sometimes incompatible understandings of the faith; both Jewish and Roman authorities were beginning to perceive the Christian movement as something that transgressed the boundaries of traditional Judaism in worrisome ways; and a new generation of leaders within the Christian movement was being called to respond to these and other realities in creatively faithful ways. In this course, you will focus on the content of one of the biblical texts addressing this context with the goal of integrating and applying it to the pastoral and missional task facing the church in a 21st-century world.. Prerequisite: NT 511 for NT 606. Three hours.

NT610 Greek Readings: 1 John & James
Greek Readings continues the study of Koine Greek, the language of the New Testament, from Greek 1-2. The course provides an inductive approach to the study of New Testament Greek by focusing on the first Johannine letters and James. It consists largely in carefully working through these letters, identifying important grammatical features, learning new words and sentence constructions, and translating them into accurate English sentences. Prerequisite: Biblical Greek 2.Three hours .

NT612 New Testament Backgrounds
This course will introduce you to the main contours of the ancient Greco-Roman world with all of its variety arising from the interplay of Jewish and pagan cultures and biblical and non-biblical religious traditions. It will also attempt to guide you in thinking carefully about the methodological and theological issues raised by the very presence of these rich contextual data. The foundational assumption of the course is that against this rich background the unique beauty and power of the Gospel will become even more compelling and challenging to our own times and cultures. Three hours.

Theological & Historical (TH/LEAD)

LEAD501U Missional Church (Urban LEAD)
Christians in the 21st century U.S. culture find themselves in a new, post-Christendom world. Such a world represents both new challenges and new opportunities for the ministry of the church; new models of ministry are called for. This course serves as an introduction to the theological curriculum at Biblical Seminary. Groundwork is laid for understanding the current context and for lighting a passion in the student for ministering effectively to people needing the message of Christ, whether inside or outside the walls of the traditional church. Three hours.

TH502/LEAD521 Introduction to the Christian Tradition
An introduction to basic Christianity, this course introduces students to core elements of Biblical Christian faith from a generously orthodox perspective. The course will explore historic Christian formulas such as those found in the classic creeds and catechisms, and assess theological questions from the great traditions of the church. The course will expose students to diverse theological perspectives, encouraging a balanced recognition of their particular vantage points in the larger theological enterprise. ctively to people needing the message of Christ, whether inside or outside the walls of the traditional church. Three hours.

TH521/LEAD611/U Missional Theology 1: Introduction, God, & Creation
Missional theology involves continual intellectual and imaginative reflection on the interaction between the Gospel and culture and the creative outworking of this activity in socially embodied forms of communal life. From this perspective this course provides an introduction to the discipline of missional theology along with critical and constructive reflection on Christian teaching concerning the doctrines of God and Creation. Topics to be covered include: the nature, task, and purpose of theology; Scripture and its relationship to tradition and culture; the Trinity; the character and actions of God; the created order; humanity; the nature of sin; and the human condition. Attention will be given to the biblical witness, historical appropriation, and contemporary expression of these doctrines and their implications for missional Christian life and witness. Three hours.

TH525/LEAD525U Pursuing Authentic Biblical Interpretation
Knowing what the Bible says, what it means, and how it can be applied to life is a challenge for every serious student of the Scriptures. This course seeks to develop a respect for proper biblical interpretation, a confidence in the student's ability to understand and apply Scripture, both to their own lives and to the lives of those among whom they minister. Three hours.

TH531/LEAD525/U World Christian History 1
This course explores the formation and expansion of the church from the beginning of the second century to the eve of the Reformation. This course is designed to examine and reflect upon the theology, worship and missional practices of the major Christian traditions prior to the Reformation. The goal of this course is for each student to acquire a critical appreciation for a period of church history that has been long neglected and much maligned, but has nourished the souls of millions of Christians throughout the ages. Three hours.

TH532/LEAD526/U World Christian History 2
Church History 2 explores the formation of new church traditions, as well as the renewal of the Orthodox and Roman Catholic traditions, from the time of the Reformation to the present. This course is designed to examine and reflect upon the theology, worship and missional practices of the major Christian traditions after the 16th century. As a part of the course we will also explore how God has used his people to take the gospel to the ends of the earth. The end result is a diverse global church made up of many ethnic groups, cultures and languages, who as one people of God bend the knee and confess Jesus Christ as Lord. Prerequisite: WCH1. Three hours.

TH602/LEAD711/U Missional Theology 2: Reconciliation & Redemption
A continuation of Missional Theology 1, this course will involve critical and constructive reflection on Christian teaching concerning the doctrines of reconciliation and redemption. Topics to be covered include: the covenant; Israel; and the person and work of Christ; the Holy Spirit; salvation; the church; and eschatology. Attention will be given to the biblical witness, historical appropriation, and contemporary expression of these doctrines and their implications for missional Christian life and witness. Prerequisite: MT1. Three hours.

TH605/LEAD715/U Theology, Ethnicity, & Gender
The practice of theology is an inherently contextual enterprise. It always bears the marks of the social conditions from which it emerges and these conditions serve to differentiate various theological perspectives including those that share a common commitment to the authority of scripture. This course will examine the significance of ethnicity and gender in the task of theology and its implications for the life and witness of the church in the contemporary setting. Topics to be covered include: the mission of God; the relationship between theology, culture, and experience; the plurality of scripture; the plurality of the Christian tradition; Black theology; Asian American theology; feminist and womanist theology; and the significance of these theologies for the church local and catholic. Three hours.

TH606/LEAD716/U Christianity & World Religions
The course deals with topics such as Hinduism, Islam, primal religion, secular religions, American popular spirituality, and New Age. Other issues include: theology of religion, globalization and Jihad, political religions, and modern myth. Three hours.

TH675 Karl Barth, Postmodernity, & Evangelical Theology
Karl Barth is often referred to as the most significant theologian of the twentieth century and his thought continues to be widely discussed and highly influential in the discipline of theology. His theology has increasingly been connected to postmodern themes by those who believe that his thought provides a significant resource for the construction of a postmodern theology while other leading Barth scholars dispute this connection. At the same time interest in Barth is growing among many evangelicals while others remain deeply critical and suspicious of Barth's influence. In this seminar style course, we will examine Barth's theology through his presentation of the doctrine of the word of God in the first volume of the Church Dogmatics. In this context we will consider the interpretation of Barth's theology in relationship to postmodernity and evangelical theology for the purpose of gaining clarity concerning the basic issues being discussed and also in order to foster constructive theological engagement with postmodern thought from an evangelical perspective. Three hours.

TH760 Issues in Dispensationalism & Covenant Theology
In the 1930s-1940s, a controversy erupted between exponents of these two Bible-believing, American evangelical systems of theology. Since that time, the points at issue between these two camps have often dominated intra-evangelical agendas and discussions. This course explores both the history and the issues involved and encourages students to be peacemakers in the controversy as they develop their own conclusions on the specific issues in contention. Three hours.

Practical Theology (PT/LEAD)

LEAD518U Exegeting the City (Urban LEAD)
Exegesis is most spoken of when it comes to the proper examination of the scripture. However, many who have taken the time to do exegetical work end up unclear when it comes to applying their findings in a particular context. Exegeting the city is a course where the student is expected to invade their context of ministry with the exegetical findings of scripture. This is what makes one a scholarly practitioner. The following course will aid the student in closing the neglected gap between one's study of scripture and the study of one's context. Three hours.

LEAD519U Church Leadership in an Urban Context (Urban LEAD)
The problems facing many cities and families regarding violence, abuse and much more, are devastating. Solutions exist within the local church among its laity and leadership to help aid in the transformation of these communities. This course will examine the urban church's distinctive socio-cultural location and long history of producing quality leadership despite inadequate materials and social resources. It will concentrate on the vital principles and practices of urban leadership that define it as "service" rather than privilege. In addition, we will examine past and present urban ministry and leadership models. Three hours.

LEAD607U Church Planting in an Urban Context (Urban LEAD)
leadership J. I. Packer notes, "Evangelism is a work of communication in which Christians make themselves mouthpieces for God's message of mercy to sinners." We will evaluate evangelism in the local church both as a program and as a practice of the local ministry, especially in an urban context. Two hours.

LEAD712U Justice and Mercy
This course will provide an understanding of mercy ministry and community development, from a theological and sociological perspective. Demography, as an applied science, will assist the student in understanding the issues facing many people groups in our urban centers. This research will also uncover personal and systemic causes that bring about pain and suffering. The primary context of study will be Philadelphia.  Two hours.

LEAD715U Islam
A look at the world of Islam, its beginning, its growth and the doctrines of its major divisions. The current movements and stresses in the global Muslim community are examined along with the challenge they pose to the church. This study surveys the development and demographic profile of various American Islamic communities in the U.S. as well as their international connections. It examines the Muslim immigrants, the American born descendants of these immigrants as well as the American converts to Islam. This course also explores reasons behind the rapid growth of Islam today among Americans without a Muslim background. In addition this course suggests ways the church can meet today’s Islamic challenge.  Two hours.

PT500/LEAD500/U Formation & Mission
This course is designed to explore how we can incarnate the story of Jesus and engage in his mission. Priority is given to assessment of character, temperament, gifts, talents, abilities, ministry and relational skills, sense of call and other characteristics relevant to spiritual formation and ministry. Special attention is given to the spiritual formation process and how it is expressed through the practice of spiritual disciplines and a missional engagement with a postmodern culture. This course must be taken early in the student's program (e.g., first or second term). Three hours.

PT505/LEAD527/U Pastoral Counseling
Whatever ministry role you fill now or in the future, people will seek your advice and counsel. This course will provide you with the principles and basic skills of effective Christian counseling, and help you cultivate biblical wisdom. Three hours.

PT525 Ministry & Media
To minister effectively in our rapidly-evolving digital culture, church leaders must gain fluency in the use of contemporary media. By examining key shifts in modern communications theory, this course will equip learners with practical tools to understand, identify, and use emerging media (graphics, film clips, worship video, sermon podcasts, blogs, etc) in a creative ministry context. Students will learn where to find high-quality video & images as well as work collaboratively to produce their own original media for use in a worship setting. Three hours.

PT523A Counseling in the Local Church (online, with CCEF)
This course explores how to make everyday relationships more consciously biblical and helps you to apply biblical counseling principles in many settings. It seeks to help you discern where you could serve as a biblical counselor. Its purpose is to build a thoroughly biblical understanding of the local church as a ministering community where everyone plays a part. Students are helped to find their place in ministry within the context of the local church and to help others do the same. This class emphasizes the importance of both public and private ministry of the Word of God and how they interrelate. Topics include a biblical foundation for private ministry of the Word; the role of community and relationships in the process of sanctification; developing a practical ecclesiology; and developing an eye for ministry opportunities such as conflict resolution, children's ministry, evangelism, and church discipline. Two hours. Auditing prohibited. Taught by T. Lane, DMin

PT526A  Biblical Interpretation (online, with CCEF)
In this course, students will gain an overall framework for interpreting/applying any passage of Scripture, a framework that is sensitive to the importance of the reader’s world, the author’s world, and the text itself. Students will gain experience in seeing the Christological/Gospel-centered implications of any text as a prerequisite for meaningful personal application. The overall aim of the course is for students to grow in their ability to rivet Scriptural truth to real-life ministry situations. 3 hours. Auditing prohibited. Taught by M. Emlet, M.D.

PT528A  Counseling Problems and Procedures (online, with CCEF)
The goals of this course are to know the depth of Scripture; to biblically understand common life problems (e.g., guilt, suffering, fear and anger) and minister to those who struggle with them in ways that are meaningful; know the breadth of Scripture and understand some modern problems that don’t seem to be clearly addressed in Scripture (e.g., depression, schizophrenia, mania); learn to minister to those who struggle with them in ways that are helpful and insightful; and apply the approach we take in class to any problem. 3 hours. Auditing prohibited. Taught by E. Welch, PhD.

PT529A Counseling and Physiology (online, with CCEF)
The goals of this course are to think more biblically about the body/soul distinction in order to develop a more practical biblical anthropology; gain a better understanding of a select group of acute and chronic problems having physiological manifestations, particularly those which affect intellect and mood, which you are likely to encounter in ministry; develop biblical strategies for pursuing counselees with such problems in your sphere of influence; Intelligently refer counselees to health care providers when the counseling picture appears complicated by a medical issue; and critique the reigning presuppositions of biological psychiatry that serve to undermine Scripture’s authority in the counseling process and discern what aspects of a psychiatric approach, including psychoactive medications, may prove beneficial in the context of biblical counseling. 2 hours. Auditing prohibited. Taught by M. Emlet, M.D.

PT530A Marriage Counseling (online, with CCEF)
The goals of this course are to describe and apply a basic marriage/relationship counseling model that provides biblical concepts and principles for addressing typical problem areas in marriage; know the basic elements of marriage/relationship counseling method and understand how marriage counseling is distinct from individual counseling;  and interact critically and constructively with secular models, appreciating their strengths and weaknesses as understood within a biblical worldview. 3 hours. Auditing prohibited. Taught by W. Smith

PT532A Dynamics of Biblical Change (online, with CCEF)
All true and lasting change in individuals works with the answers to a series of questions, such as: what are you facing? what influences affect you? what is the meaning of your hardships (and your felicities), your troubles (and your opportunities)? why do you act, think, feel, react, remember, talk, fantasize, choose… the way you do? how do you change? what is the process of change like? how can you help others? This course seeks answers to such questions. This is a course about people. It is about how people change into the “image-in-action” of Jesus Christ. I intend our course to be practical theology. Not abstraction. We’ll get onto the street and into the heart (where people live, where the Bible lives, where Jesus lived and continues to live, where you live). 3 hours. Auditing prohibited. Taught by D. Powlison, PhD.

PT534 A  Theology and Secular Psychology (online, with CCEF)
This course aims to develop your skills in both critical thinking and constructive communication regarding contemporary personality theories and psychotherapies. It is not a survey course. It is a course on how Christian faith meaningfully engages a body of thoughts and practices. It is a course on how ministry engages people who believe those thoughts and live those practices. The fruit is growing ability to love others well in speaking timely, relevant, persuasive truth. The overall aim is to enable you to carry out practical apologetics as you interact and minister – now and throughout your ministry – within contemporary ‘psychologized’ cultures. 3 hours. Auditing prohibited. Taught by D. Powlison, PhD.

PT550/LEAD612/U Community & Mission
This course is designed to encourage you to continue to develop a missional Christian lifestyle. You will integrate biblical and theological principles of spiritual formation and missional living in the context of Christian community along with historical and contemporary expressions and applications. Each student participates in a small group, and is assigned the responsibility to engage in spiritual conversations outside of the classroom. Special attention will be given to the nurture of Christian community through exposure to the theory and practice of select missional communities. Three hours.

 Missional leaders model, inspire, and invite others to: enter the conversation, to be imaginative, to experiment, and to innovate. Missional leaders are adaptive and grow comfortable with discontinuous learning and leading. This course explores the biblical, theological, philosophical, and methodological approaches to Christian leadership. Various paradigms, mental models, and strategies will be discussed with emphasis on leadership development in various contexts. Principles of assessment, organization, planning, delegation, and decision making will be examined and discussed. Three hours.

PT601/LEAD615/U Homiletics
Authentically living and skillfully communicating the gospel is integral to spiritual formation and missional engagement of a biblical community. There is both an art and a science to such proclamation. This course is designed to develop the skills and passion necessary to construct and present Christ-centered and culturally relevant sermons. The course includes in-class preaching experience in a context of peer and professor critical evaluation using oral and written feedback, videotapes, and private conference. Prerequisite: completion of 4 exegetical courses. Three hours.

PT603/LEAD717/U Senior Seminar
This course serves to culminate your studies at Biblical. Assignments in this class are designed to refine, apply, and present the ministerial function of the biblical, theological, and missional truths you have garnered throughout your studies. You will reexamine the program goals and assess your growth since beginning your studies. You will consider the challenges of ministry, leadership, and personal spiritual growth in your ministry setting after seminary. Student initiative and leadership will significantly impact and guide specific class format and assignment structure. Prerequisite: should be taken during last year of student's program. Three hours.

PT611 Contemporary Communication
Advanced training in the development and delivery of sermons focusing on biblical interpretation, cultural awareness and relevance, audience analysis, and appropriateness. The course also includes an internship component where knowledge and skills from the course must be implemented and practiced in a ministry context. Prerequisite: Homiletics. Three hours.

PT615/LEAD714 Organizations and Change
In this course you will come to understand how organizations actually form, work, think, and learn. Navigating through the maze of human dynamics and complex structures that comprise organizational culture, you will be able to readily identify the mission, vision, and values of an organization. What organizations think and say they are doing is often very different from what is actually happening in practice. As a result of this course, you will be able to discern the delta that exists between perception and reality. You will aid your organizations by identifying blinding paradigms, and stimulating a healthy and helpful culture of continuous organizational learning. Three hours.

PT630 Pastoral Responsibilities & Church Leadership
An exploration of the concept of the ministry and minister's responsibilities with an emphasis on church leadership, administration, pastoral service, and role in public worship. The course is designed to familiarize the entry-level minister with the primary requirements of the pastoral office. The course also includes an internship component where knowledge and skills from the course must be implemented and practiced in a ministry context. Three hours.

PT631 Effectively Teaching Adult Learners
The typical ministry leader has many opportunities to lead others through the purposeful and persuasive teaching of the Bible and other subjects. This course will equip you with the knowledge and skills you will need to improve your teaching and increase student engagement in learning. You will examine a biblical model of the teaching-learning process, design dynamic lessons, and consider a variety of methods and strategies for achieving your teaching objectives. Three hours.

PT650 Ministry Internship Seminar
A seminar for students presently engaged in ministry to develop and sharpen ministry skills through practice and application in a ministry setting. The student identifies the learning outcomes desired and, with the guidance of a site supervisor, pursues that learning objective. In review sessions students interact with a variety of ministry situations in consultation with a faculty mentor. Prerequisite: PT 500 and internship contract form submitted and approved. Three hours.

 A study of the backgrounds, theology, history and practice of worship in community as it relates to ministry within the missional church. Particular attention will be given to the exegesis and implications of key New Testament texts, and to the planning and leading of corporate worship that is both biblically faithful and culturally relevant. Students will participate in a diversity of worship experiences and be challenged to pursue personal holiness and effective shepherding as worship leaders. Three hours.

Counseling & Psychology (MAC)

CCEF online counseling courses - PT523A - PT534A

MAC500 Human Development & Change
This course explores how humans grow, learn, and mature across the life-span. Special attention will be given to identifying developmentally specific challenges and how to address them in counseling from a Christian perspective. Each student will engage in a personal exploration project. Three hours.

MAC501, 511 & 521 Counseling & the Biblical Text I, II & III
Counselors from the Christian tradition recognize the value and influence of the Scriptures in shaping worldview and clinical practice. These three courses provide a general orientation to the biblical texts and to the various skills and disciplines needed to read, interpret, apply, and communicate the text to their life and professional work. Students will also engage the questions of postmodernism and contemporary culture as they impact the task of biblical interpretation application. Nine hours (Three course).

MAC502 Counseling & Theology: Cultural Issues
This course addresses the question of what it means to think theologically about counseling in our contemporary setting. Christian counselors should reflect on how to fulfill their calling in the light of the teaching of the Bible, the history of Christian tradition, and the specific opportunities and challenges presented by contemporary culture. Three hours.

MAC510 Helping Relationships
Based on the Biblical model of love, the nature of persons, problems and means of change, and informed by clinical research, students in this course will explore and practice the elements, skills, and character qualities needed to build effective helping relationships. Three hours.

MAC512 Psychopathology
Based on a deep understanding of human suffering, students in this course will explore the multi-faceted experience of those struggling with common psychological maladies. Effective interventions will be identified and practiced. Students will also critique a variety of taxonomies used to classify pathology. Three hours.

MAC520 Practicum & Professional Orientation
Based on previous coursework, students will begin to develop their professional identity and skills. The course provides a supportive learning environment for students to assess strengths and weaknesses as a counselor. Small group sessions will provide instruction on how to get the most out of the practicum experience, group consultation on counseling cases, and discussion of problems and issues relating to the life and work of the counselor. Students will reflect on how counseling impacts their own understanding and relationship with God. This course will also explore the ethical issues related to particular counseling environments. During this course students will complete 100 hours of practicum and gain professional experience at an approved practicum site. Three hours.

MAC600 & 610 Internship & Professional Seminar I & II
The purpose of these courses is to orient students to the internship experience and to assist and encourage them in their clinical work. They will focus on how to get the most out of internship experiences, counselor identity, group consultation on counseling cases, discussion of problems, and theological and ethical issues related to particular counseling environments. During these courses students will be in the process of completing 600 hours of internship at an approved setting. Three hours each.

MAC601 Marriage & Family Therapy
This course will focus on the theories and practices of marriage and family counseling. Students will be encouraged to think through the major causes of marriage problems and how to skillfully address these issues in the counseling context. Three hours.

MAC602 Counseling & Physiology
Building upon the foundation of a biblical anthropology, this course will develop practical approaches to counseling issues having physiological manifestations, particularly those which affect intellect and mood. In addition, the course will include an introduction to psychopharmacology and will provide criteria for medical and/or psychiatric referral. Three hours.

MAC611 Counseling & Theology: God & Human Beings
This course examines the Christian story and Christian beliefs concerning the being and character of God, his works of creation and providence, the nature of human beings, the nature and implications of sin, and the identity and mission of Christ. In addition, the identity and mission of the Holy Spirit, the nature and application of salvation, the nature and mission of the church, and eschatology . Attention is given to the biblical teaching, historical appropriation, and contemporary expression of these beliefs as well as their implications for Christian life and spiritual formation. Three hours.

MAC620 Advanced Marital Therapy
This course explores advanced skills needed for competent couples therapy. More specifically, students will learn strategies to deal with and train couples to recognize emotional connection points, and effective stratefies to prevent and deal with infidelity. Three hours.

MAC621 Child & Adolescent Counseling
This course will focus on the theory and practice of child, adolescent, and family counseling. Assessment tools unique to these populations will be identified and special focus will be given to the corresponding sections of the DSM. Distinctive treatment strategies such as play therapy will also be highlighted in the course. Finally, this course will also explore where these ideas fit within a Christian framework. Two hours.

MAC704 Models of Counseling
Classical and current theories of counseling will be explored and evaluated in light of the Bible, psychological sophistication, and practical relevance. Theories receiving major focus include: Psychoanalysis, behaviorism, person-centered, family systems and current psychodynamic theory. Three hours.

MAC801 Psychological Assessment
This course gives you theoretical and practical training in clinical assessment as a mental health professional. You will be introduced to the science and art of assessing and reporting client functioning (interviewing, testing, interpretation, and writing). The course will pay particular attention to proper ethical and cultural aspects of assessment. Two hours.

MAC802 Research & Program Evaluation
The focus of this course is on the philosophic foundations, overall value and generally accepted practices of both research design and methodology in the behavioral sciences, specifically as it applies to program evaluation. Two hours.

MAC 803 Social & Cultural Foundations of Counseling
This course builds on a prior coursework in professional ethics and cross-cultural diversity by exploring the historical and philosophical foundations of professional counseling. Students will study underlying assumptions, epistemologies, philosophies of science, theories, and approaches involved in the field of psychology and counseling. The first semester will explore historical and epistemological foundations of the field while the second semester will explore and critique the modern world of Christian counseling. Two hours.

MAC804 Career & Lifestyle Development
The principles of counseling for career and lifestyle development apply both in secular and in ministry environments. This advanced level course supports the Pennsylvania state requirement that those interested in pursuing licensure must have studies that provide an understanding of career development and related life factors. The course will address theories and their application in formal and informal settings. Students will receive instruction in class, through assignments including a choice of site visitations for a project, and through case studies.  The missionally focused capstone of the course will take place in week 5 with the student councelor's participation in an onsite clinic open to the public. Two hours.

MAC805 Group Counseling
This course is a comprehensive study of the major theories and techniques used in group psychotherapy and in other small group settings. Special focus will be on the dynamics of group process including the formation, stages and challenges of groups. Two hours.

Doctor of Ministry

CORE COURSES

DM911 Entering the Missional Conversation
This seminar examines the ongoing conversation concerning the primacy of mission for Christian thought and practice and provide an orientation for further advanced reflection in missinal theology and leadership. Three hours.

DM912 Missional Theology
Missional theology involves continual intellectual and imaginative reflection of the interaction between the gospel and culture and the creative outworking of this activity in socially embodied forms of communal life. This course provides an overview of the central theological commitments that shape this perspective. Three hours.

DM913 Missional Leader Formation
Using reflection on Jesus' ministry priorities, missional distinctives, and various assessment profiles, the student will deepen self-understanding of his/her personal story and deveop a plan for ongoing personal develpment addressing spiritual formation issues, ministry team building, and maintenance of healthy life and ministry balance. Three hours.

DM914 Cultural Engagement
This course explores the different perspectives that have a bearing on the task of interpreting culture and approaching it with engaging Christian ministry and the message of the gospel. Students examine their assumptions and predispositions in order to develop the necessary understandings and skills to be missional leaders in their context. Three hours.

URBAN TRACK COURSES

DM918  Mission in Global Cities
This course examines how God continues to utilize cities in his mission to reach the nations and how globalization has changed today's cities. Using a variety of models of analysis, students will expand their understanding of their urban contexts and their urban neighbors. Three hours. 

DM919  The Church and Mission in an Urban Global World
The urban global world is complex and missional leaders need contextual theology and contextual praxis. This course provides an overview of contextual theology, models of contextual theology used today, and elenctics: how to approach other religions that co-exist in the urban centers. Three hours.

TURNAROUND TRACK COURSES

DM922 Change Dynamics: Leading an Organization through Change
This course explores leader formation and change dynamics in organizations facing change or needing to change. Ecclesiology, missional culture formation, assessment of readiness for change, change dynamics management, and the establishment of appropriate benchmarks for the creation of healthy, reproducing Christian communities will be addressed. Three hours.

DM923  Re-missioning the Established Church
Re-missioning starts with appropriately skilled leadership and a restoration of values and purposeful action in the local congregation. This course examines the issues and models of restoration for chruches that have lost a sense of the importance and value of the local church and its ministry. Three hours.

COMMUNICATION TRACK COURSES

DM924 Communication in Context
This course examines how to teach and preach in a way that is sensitive and relevant to the surrounding culture, that is inviting and compelling, and that overcomes hindrances typically present in today's audiences. Three hours.

DM925  The Christotelic Hermeneutic
The label "Christotelic" reminds us that the Old Testament is a narrative that is going somewhere: to Jesus Christ. Jesus is the key to biblical interpretation. This course examines the reading and handling of the whole of the Bible through a Christotelic, eschatological lens. Three hours.

URBAN PROJECT MODULES

DM926  Urban Project Proposal Module

The purpose of this course is to familiarize doctor of ministry students with the requirements of the applied research project and provide a starting point for choosing their topic, planning their project, and identifying resources. Two hours.

DM927 Urban Project Research Module

The purpose of this independent study course is to provide a framework for candidates to develop their project proposal.  Two hours.

DM928  Urban Project Completion Module

The purpose of this independent study course is to provide a framework for candidates to complete their project and dissertation. Two hours.

DM929  Urban Projecct Continuation Module

The purpose of this independent study course is to provide a framework for candidates to complete their project and dissertation. No credit/Fees apply.

PROJECT MODULES - OTHER TRACKS

DM931A Project Proposal Module
The purpose of this online course is to familiarize doctor of ministry students with the requirements of the applied research project and provide a starting point for choosing their topic, planning their project, and identifying resources. Two hours.

DM932A Project Research Module
The purpose of this independent study course is to provide a framework for candidates to develop their project proposal.  Two hours.

DM933A Project Completion Module
 The purpose of this independent study course is to provide a framework for candidates to complete their project and dissertation. Two hours.

DM934A  Project Continuation Module 

The purpose of this independent study course is to provide a framework for candidates to complete their project and dissertation. No credit/Fees apply.