Master of

Divinity

Master of Divinity (MDiv)
96 units

AVAILABLE ON CAMPUS & 100% ONLINE

The Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree is recognized as the standard degree for vocational Christian ministries that communicate the Word of God. Generally, graduates may serve in senior leadership positions in the pastorate, missions, Christian education, youth ministry, chaplaincy, evangelism, denominational settings, and social work. By taking a full-time load of 9 units each trimester, the program can be completed in four years. Course availability, student load, adherence to student advisement, how soon the student completes the capstone doctrinal summary requirement, and other factors may extend or shorten the anticipated completion timeline.

PURPOSE

The MDiv degree is primarily designed to prepare students for:

1. Pastoral roles that Bible exposition or related senior leadership positions within the local church;
2. Chaplaincy in the military, law enforcement, governmental, or hospital settings; and
3. Post-graduate studies leading to a terminal degree such as the Doctor of Ministry or Doctor of Education.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

Upon successful completion of the Master of Divinity program students will be able to:

  1. Interpret the content of the Old and New Testaments utilizing a literal-grammaticalhistorical hermeneutic.
  2. Demonstrate a graduate-level proficiency in theological research and writing.
  3. Articulate and defend a robust understanding of the foundational theological doctrines of the Christian faith.
  4. Communicate biblical truths in a variety of settings.
  5. Exegete both the Hebrew text of the Old Testament and the Greek text of the New Testament.
  6. Exhibit advanced skills for Christian leadership and ministry within the local church.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

Each candidate for the MDiv degree must meet the general graduation requirements and:

  1. Complete 96 units of graduate-level courses.
  2. Complete the program curriculum with not less than a 2.5 GPA.
  3. Take a minimum of 78 units of the 96 units required for graduation through the MDiv program at SCS.
  4. Complete PM-751 and PM-752 Ministry Internship 1 and 2 (100 hours total of supervised ministry).
  5. Complete RS-795 Doctrinal Summary 1 and RS-796 Doctrinal Summary 2.

Doctrinal Synopsis: Doctrinal Synopsis is the capstone project which is designed to provide students with an opportunity for the writing of a summative research paper on the major areas of Christian doctrine in preparation for ordination and professional ministry. Completion of this project is a two-staged process. In the first stage, the student registers for RS-795 Doctrinal Synopsis 1, and writes the first three chapters. In the second stage, the student registers for RS-796 Doctrinal Synopsis 2, and prepares and defends the remaining chapters.

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Degrees that get you where you want to go

Southern California Seminary is more than just another Bible seminary, offering generic degrees in Ministry and Theology. We hold ourselves to the highest standards of biblical study and truth. Our distinctives cumulatively make our institution unique among biblical seminaries in a day and age where the Word of God is not taken at face value, and core doctrines are being diluted.

You have goals. Southern California Seminary can help you achieve them. Do you need a bachelor’s degree to help fulfill God’s call on your life? Do you need a master’s or doctoral degree to take the next step in your ministry or career? SCS has a program—either Online or On-Campus—designed to renew your mind and deepen your faith in Jesus Christ.

 SCS is seeking students with a hunger for learning about God and a desire to dig deeper into the Bible. From your first visit until your graduation, we will strive to support you in your spiritual growth, and prepare you to minister in the 21st century.

MDiv Core Curriculum

BIBLICAL STUDIES – 27 UNITS

  • BH-501 HERMENEUTICS
  • BH-505 METHODS OF INDUCTIVE STUDY
  • OT-511 OLD TESTAMENT 1: GENESIS – JUDGES
  • OT-512 OLD TESTAMENT 2: RUTH – SONG OF SOLOMON
  • OT-513 OLD TESTAMENT 3: PROPHETS
  • NT-506 GOSPELS AND ACTS
  • NT-507 PAULINE EPISTLES AND HEBREWS
  • NT-512 GENERAL EPISTLES AND REVELATION
  • NT-601 ANALYSIS OF ROMANS

THEOLOGY AND CHRISTIAN PHILOSOPHY – 24 UNITS

  • PH-501 LOGIC AND RHETORIC
  • PH-507 CHRISTIAN ETHICS AND LEADERSHIP
  • HI-505 CHURCH HISTORY AND CANONICITY (TRIMESTER)
  • TH-508 COMPARATIVE SYSTEMS OF THEOLOGY
  • TH-611 THEOLOGY 1: THEOLOGY PROPER, BIBLIOLOGY, ANGELOLOGY
  • TH-612 THEOLOGY 2: ANTHROPOLOGY, HAMARTIOLOGY, SOTERIOLOGY
  • TH-613 THEOLOGY 3: CHRISTOLOGY AND PNEUMATOLOGY
  • TH-614 THEOLOGY 4: ECCLESIOLOGY AND ESCHATOLOGY

BIBLICAL LANGUAGES – 12 UNITS

  • BL-501 ELEMENTARY GREEK 1 (TRIMESTER)
  • BL-502 ELEMENTARY GREEK 2 (TRIMESTER)
  • BL-551 ELEMENTARY HEBREW 1 (TRIMESTER)
  • BL-552 ELEMENTARY HEBREW 2 (TRIMESTER)

CHRISTIAN MINISTRY SKILLS – 14 UNITS

  • PM-505 SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND DISCIPLESHIP
  • MI-507 THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF MISSIONS
  • BC-510 FUNDAMENTALS OF CHRISTIAN COUNSELING
  • PM-701 HOMILETICS 1 (TRIMESTER)
  • PM-771 MINISTRY INTERNSHIP 1 (TRIMESTER)
  • PM-772 MINISTRY INTERNSHIP 2 (TRIMESTER)

RESEARCH AND THESIS – 7 UNITS

  • RS-501 GRADUATE RESEARCH & WRITING
  • RS-795 DOCTRINAL SUMMARY 1 (TRIMESTER)
  • RS-796 DOCTRINAL SUMMARY 2 (TRIMESTER)

ELECTIVES OR AREA OF CONCENTRATION – 12 UNITS

Chaplaincy Specialization

For those students who want to work as Chaplains in an institutional setting such as in the military, hospice care, nursing homes, Rehab clinics, hospitals, Civil Air Patrol, National Guard and prison ministries, we recommend completing a program of study that includes the Masters of Arts in Christian Counseling (MACC) degree and the Master of Divinity (MDIV) degree. Students pursuing this course of study can expect to earn the MACC degree in the first two years of their program, and continue seamlessly in the MDIV program. This requires no more than the 96 units of course work to complete the MDIV program. Together these programs provide a comprehensive education preparing the student for the various contingencies of serving as a Chaplain.

Completing both the MDIV and MACC programs can lead toward certification in Christian counseling, or to becoming a Board or Associated Certified Chaplain. SCS is recognized by the National Association of Professional Chaplains (APC) and graduates are eligible for Association of Gospel Churches (AGC) military Chaplaincy endorsement. This program also qualifies for Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) programs for those interested in pursuing hospital, prison or institutional ministries.

REQUIREMENTS

The following course should be completed as the MDIV program Electives and Practical Ministry Skills courses:

COUNSELING – 21 UNITS

  • BC-501 THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS OF COUNSELING
  • BC-504 MARRIAGE AND FAMILY COUNSELING
  • BC-508 CRISIS COUNSELING
  • BC-510 FUNDAMENTALS OF CHRISTIAN COUNSELING
  • BC-515 CONFLICT RESOLUTION
  • BC-600 FAITH INTEGRATION AND PRAXIS
  • BC-651 COUNSELING PRACTICUM

PRACTICAL MINISTRY SKILLS – 5 UNITS

  • PM-505 SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND DISCIPLESHIP
  • PM-771 MINISTRY INTERNSHIP 1 (TRIMESTER)
  • PM-772 MINISTRY INTERNSHIP 2 (TRIMESTER)

Our Distinctives

Southern California Seminary is more than just another Bible seminary — more than just another Christian College or Christian University. We hold ourselves to the highest standards of biblical study and truth. Our distinctives cumulatively make our institution unique among biblical seminaries in a day and age where the Word of God is not taken at face value, and core doctrines are being diluted.

Our Mission

Southern California Seminary’s mission is to bring glory to God by assisting local churches to equip believers of various cultures and languages to live and minister biblically based on the inerrant Word of God. This equipping includes building biblical knowledge, Christian character, and ministry skills—all at modest tuition.

Our Purpose

Southern California Seminary is a private institution of higher education dedicated to teaching from the inerrant Word of God. Here you will learn about God from His book – the Bible. As a ministry of Shadow Mountain Community Church, under the leadership of Dr. David Jeremiah, SCS offers the highest quality of biblical education with a tuition that is refreshingly affordable.

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