Master of Divinity (Missions and Intercultural Studies)
Mission
The mission of the Master of Divinity degree program is to equip servant leaders for making disciples worldwide by developing in them an accurate knowledge of the Word of God, the skills necessary to communicate the Gospel effectively, and character worthy of the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ for the leading of the church.
Missions and Intercultural Studies Specializations Mission
Provides training grounded in a sound biblical and theological framework for effective intercultural ministry (in both local and international contexts) including cultural awareness and sensitivity, understanding regional and national theological issues, ethnicity and ideology, intercultural communication, and the like.
Program Description
The Master of Divinity curriculum at Talbot School of Theology is designed to foster the purpose for which the seminary was established — education for the propagation of the faith. This purpose entails an accurate knowledge of the Word of God — the source of faith and the effective means of its communication. The course of study is therefore designed around these two basic foci.
Believing firmly that God in love and grace has provided an answer for the needs of the world in Jesus Christ, and that this Jesus is the Christ of the Scriptures, Talbot emphasizes a knowledge of the content of the Word of God. In order that the Word may be known and expounded accurately and authoritatively, matters of biblical background, including the languages of the Old and New Testaments, are studied. Sound principles of literary interpretation are also explored as a basis for the interpretation of the Scriptures. On the basis of such interpretation there comes systematic study so as to organize various parts of the Word into theological categories.
Since the faith of today does not stand alone but is rooted in past centuries during which God has preserved and instructed His people, cognizance of this heritage is taken in a study of the history of the Church and its doctrine. Previous interaction between faith and the world provides a basis for understanding modern times.
It is the seminary's aim that this knowledge of the faith first grip the life of the student and then motivate the student to share it with the world. In accord with this latter aim instruction is given in vital areas of ministry and communication. From the preparation and delivery of sermons to individual involvement in counseling, the curriculum is designed to provide instruction that will facilitate propagation of the faith in the various fields of God's call. Opportunity is also given for the development of ministry skills as principles are applied in the context of ministry in the Church.
With recognition that the Great Commission commands the Church to go into the world to minister to all peoples, the cross-currents of modern thought are considered relevant to the preparation of God's minister. Throughout the course of instruction, interaction is provided with various perspectives for the purpose of inculcating their contributions and understanding their divergences. All the while they are measured by the pattern of the Word.
Talbot's program focuses on the entire person and is meant to contribute to personal spiritual formation as well as cognitive awareness and the development of ministry skills. The curriculum is structured to develop sustainable habits that can be continued in life and ministry after graduation. The various components of the curriculum are designed to complement one another and to reinforce basic principles to which students have been exposed in other parts of their seminary program. A goal of the program is to equip students to think biblically and to respond appropriately to the variety of challenges of life and ministry.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Master of Divinity, students will be able to:
- Identify the basic contents of all books of the Old and New Testaments and the broad historical and cultural background information relevant to the study of the Old and New Testaments (ULO 1).
- Exegete and apply a biblical text properly through application of historical-grammatical hermeneutics (ULO 3).
- Explain the major doctrines of Christianity, including their biblical basis, historical development, and contemporary relevance (ULO 1).
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- Explain the basic elements of Spiritual Theology, namely, the nature, process, and practices of spiritual growth (ULO 1).
- Demonstrate how knowledge of self integrates with knowledge of God in one's own life (ULO 2).
- Demonstrate relational skills that develop community (ULO 3).
- Articulate how the biblical teaching on vocation shapes one's own understanding of vocation and gainful employment (ULO 1, 2, 3).
- Prepare and present sermons demonstrating biblical accuracy, oral clarity and contemporary relevance (ULO 3).
- Students will demonstrate ministry skills in areas such as evangelism, administration, teaching, counseling, and worship (ULO 3).
Each Program Learning Outcome (PLO) listed above references at least one of the University Learning Outcomes (ULO 1, 2, 3), which may be found in the General Information section of this catalog.
Missions and Intercultural Studies Specializations Learning Outcomes
As a result of this program, students will:
- Explain how major anthropological insights facilitate missiological understanding.
- Formulate a biblical theology of mission that integrates data from both the Old and the New Testaments.
- Demonstrate skills of integrating theological and missiological insights in ministry by engaging in specific cross-cultural tasks in course assignments and the field internship.
- Apply principles of intercultural communication to evaluate experiences from one’s own culture and from other cultures.
Admission Requirements
All applicants must hold the Bachelor of Arts degree, or its academic equivalent, with a 2.6 (on a 4.0 scale) grade point average. Applicants who do not possess a Bachelor of Arts degree or its academic equivalent from an accredited institution may still apply and may be provisionally admitted at the discretion of Talbot School of Theology. Additionally, applicants should have completed an accredited course in Old Testament survey and in New Testament survey prior to matriculation. To meet the prerequisite, students must have received a C or higher in approved undergraduate or graduate survey courses from a regionally accredited institution. If the prerequisite courses are not completed prior to matriculation, the student is required to take TTBE 519 and TTBE 520 during their program.
Graduation Requirements
- Satisfactorily complete 79 semester credits.
- Take the courses prescribed in the Master of Divinity curriculum.
- Complete the requirements in the specialization below, including co-curricular requirements.
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Students without previous courses in Old Testament Survey and New Testament Survey must take TTBE 519 and TTBE 520, in addition to the standard curriculum.
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Complete the online introduction to theological research and writing by the end of the second semester.
- At least 50% of the total credits required for the degree program must be completed at this seminary, calculated prior to applying any advanced standing or transfer credit.
- The M.Div. program can be completed in three years. For those who need to extend the program, contact the department for advising on a four-year curriculum for the Master of Divinity in Missions and Intercultural Studies specialization.
- Must have a 2.5 cumulative GPA with no grade below a D-.
- Meet with graduate academic records and degree specialist in the Office of the Registrar one year prior to graduation to declare intent to graduate. (See Graduate Graduation Check description in the Admission, Enrollment and Graduation Requirements section.)
Specialization Requirements
Changes of specialization may be authorized under certain circumstances prior to the completion of 40 credits, but are discouraged after that point.
Advanced Standing
Applicants who have taken undergraduate courses in biblical or theological studies may request advanced standing based on collegiate work. See Talbot Admissions Requirements for details.
Biblical Languages Requirement
Two biblical languages are required: Greek and Hebrew.
Greek
The courses listed below are required. Qualifying examinations to test out of TTNT 501 or TTNT 502 are available to all interested students. Depending on exam results, a student may enroll directly into TTNT 502 or TTNT 503. For any language courses waived by a qualifying examination, the student should take an equal number of credits in the New Testament department (3 or 6).
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| TTNT 501 | Beginning Greek I | 3 |
| TTNT 502 | Beginning Greek II | 3 |
| TTNT 503 | Introduction to Exegesis | 3 |
| TTNT 604 | Exegesis in the Gospels | 3 |
| or TTNT 605 | Exegesis in the Epistles | |
Hebrew
The courses listed below are required. Qualifying examinations to test out of TTOT 603 or TTOT 604 are available to all interested students. Depending on exam results, a student may enroll directly into TTOT 604 or TTOT 703. For any language courses waived by the qualifying examination, the student should take an equal number of credits in the Old Testament department (3 or 6).
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| TTOT 603 | Elements of Hebrew I | 3 |
| TTOT 604 | Elements of Hebrew II | 3 |
| TTOT 703 | Introduction to Hebrew Exegesis | 3 |
| TTOT 722 | Hebrew Exegesis | 2 |
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prerequisite Courses | ||
| Old Testament Survey | ||
| New Testament Survey | ||
| Program Courses | ||
| Students enrolling in the Missions and Intercultural Studies specialization will take the following courses: | ||
| TTBE 517 | Hermeneutics and Bible Study Methods | 3 |
| TTHT 505 | Patristic and Medieval Theology | 3 |
| or TTHT 506 | Reformation and Modern Theology | |
| or TTHT 514 | Historical Theology Survey | |
| TTNT 501 | Beginning Greek I | 3 |
| TTNT 502 | Beginning Greek II | 3 |
| TTNT 503 | Introduction to Exegesis | 3 |
| TTNT 604 | Exegesis in the Gospels | 3 |
| or TTNT 605 | Exegesis in the Epistles | |
| TTOT 603 | Elements of Hebrew I | 3 |
| TTOT 604 | Elements of Hebrew II | 3 |
| TTOT 703 | Introduction to Hebrew Exegesis | 3 |
| TTOT 722 | Hebrew Exegesis | 2 |
| TTPT 591 | Field Apprenticeship I | 1 |
| TTPT 609 | Expository Preaching | 3 |
| TTPT 707 | Foundations of Pastoral Care and Counseling | 2 |
| TTSF 501 | Introduction to Spiritual Theology and Formation | 3 |
| TTSF 503 | Personal Foundations for Spiritual Formation | 3 |
| TTSF 504 | Spiritual Formation, Vocation, and the Disciplines | 1 |
| TTSF 505 | Talbot Spiritual Direction I | 0 |
| TTSF 506 | Talbot Spiritual Direction II | 0 |
| TTTH 521 | Theology I: God, Scripture, Creation | 3 |
| TTTH 522 | Theology II: Christ, Humanity, Sin, Salvation | 3 |
| TTTH 623 | Theology III: Spirit, Church, Last Things | 3 |
| Missions and Intercultural Studies Specialization Courses | ||
| ISAN 507 | Cultural Anthropology | 3 |
| ISCL 751 | Theology of Mission | 3 |
| ISCL 791 | Field Internship | 1 |
| TTPT 592 | Field Apprenticeship II | 0 |
| TTPT 608 | Developing Strategic Church Ministries | 3 |
| TTPT 691 | Field Apprenticeship III | 0 |
| TTPT 730 | Biblical Leadership and Management | 3 |
| Emphasis/Elective Courses | ||
| Select an emphasis detailed below | 9 | |
| General elective courses | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 79 | |
Emphases
Students earning the Missions and Intercultural Studies specialization choose any three courses from the categories below. These three courses may be from one or from multiple categories below. Other courses offered by Talbot School of Theology may also be used to satisfy this requirement with the permission of the department chair.
Anthropology
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ISAN 528 | Cultures of the World | 3 |
| ISAN 555 | Kinship and Family in Cross-cultural Perspective | 3 |
| ISAN 561 | Economic Anthropology | 3 |
| ISAN 631 | Topics in Cultural Anthropology | 1-3 |
| ISAN 671 | Applied Anthropology | 3 |
| ISAN 751 | Social Anthropology | 3 |
| ISAN 761 | Culture and Transformation | 3 |
| ISCL 520 | Interpersonal and Intercultural Adjustment | 3 |
| ISCL 556 | World Religions | 3 |
Applied Linguistics
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ISAL 520 | Introduction to Language and Linguistics | 3 |
| ISAL 525 | Introduction to Syntax | 3 |
| ISAL 529 | Introduction to Semantics and Pragmatics | 3 |
| ISAL 535 | Introduction to Bible Translation | 3 |
| ISAL 646 | Sociolinguistics | 3 |
| ISAL 648 | Discourse and Text Analysis | 3 |
| ISAL 679 | Planning, Evaluation, and Research in Applied Linguistics | 3 |
| ISAL 683 | Topics in Linguistics | 1-3 |
Church Planting
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ISCL 520 | Interpersonal and Intercultural Adjustment | 3 |
| ISCL 555 | Introduction to World Missions | 3 |
| ISCL 556 | World Religions | 3 |
| ISCL 663 | Cross-cultural Implications in Evangelism | 3 |
| ISCL 727 | Principles of Church Multiplication | 3 |
| ISCL 732 | Church Planting Models and Strategies | 3 |
| ISCL 735 | Principles of Church Growth | 3 |
| ISCL 742 | History of the World Christian Movement | 3 |
| ISCL 743 | Urban Church Planting Models | 3 |
| ISCL 744 | Narrative in Scripture and Teaching | 3 |
| ISCL 765 | Cross-Cultural Leadership | 3 |
Cross-Cultural Education
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ISCL 520 | Interpersonal and Intercultural Adjustment | 3 |
| ISCL 555 | Introduction to World Missions | 3 |
| ISCL 575 | Multicultural Education | 3 |
| ISCL 709 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| ISCL 744 | Narrative in Scripture and Teaching | 3 |
Linguistics and Biblical Languages
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ISAL 520 | Introduction to Language and Linguistics | 3 |
| ISAL 521 | General Articulatory Phonetics | 3 |
| ISAL 523 | Introduction to Phonology | 3 |
| ISAL 525 | Introduction to Syntax | 3 |
| ISAL 529 | Introduction to Semantics and Pragmatics | 3 |
| ISAL 535 | Introduction to Bible Translation | 3 |
| ISAL 648 | Discourse and Text Analysis | 3 |
| ISAL 650 | Seminar in Linguistics and Biblical Exegesis | 3 |
Missiology
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ISCL 555 | Introduction to World Missions | 3 |
| ISCL 655 | Contemporary Theology of Mission | 3 |
| ISCL 680 | The Local Church and World Missions | 3 |
| ISCL 722 | Spiritual Conflicts in Cross-Cultural Context | 3 |
| ISCL 724 | Issues in Spiritual Warfare | 3 |
| ISCL 730 | Directed Study | 1-4 |
| ISCL 742 | History of the World Christian Movement | 3 |
| ISCL 747 | Christianity and Culture | 3 |
| ISCL 750 | Issues in Contextualization/Cross-Cultural Theology | 3 |
| ISCL 752 | Acts: Biblical and Missiological | 3 |
| ISCL 755 | Biblical Morality and Cultural Relativity | 3 |
Urban/Multi-Ethnic
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ISCL 520 | Interpersonal and Intercultural Adjustment | 3 |
| ISCL 531 | Peoples of Ethnic America | 3 |
| ISCL 559 | Topics in Urban Studies | 3 |
| ISCL 560 | Urban Research and Study | 3 |
| ISCL 568 | Theology of the City | 3 |
| ISCL 583 | Poverty and the City | 3 |
| ISCL 730 | Directed Study | 1-4 |
| ISCL 744 | Narrative in Scripture and Teaching | 3 |
