Bethel Seminary San Diego
The Master of Divinity San Diego Campus
This program is designed to provide a balanced background of studies with the courses taken from each of the departments of study. The aim of the program is to guide students in a process of growth through cognitive studies, skill courses and experiences, self-assessment measures, counseling, and community life that leads to self-understanding and spiritual maturity. Such preparation should also develop an attitude that learning and growth are a lifelong process.
The Master of Divinity degree is designed to prepare persons for professional ministry in the church (e.g., pastor, missionary, chaplain, denominational minister, parachurch leader). It seeks to graduate people who have knowledge and experience of the Christian faith, who give evidence of emotional and spiritual maturity, who relate to others with integrity, who possess skills for ministry, and who meet the educational requirements for ordination. Specifically, it seeks to develop leaders who:
- understand the contents of the Old and New Testaments, and have the ability to interpret the Scriptures using appropriate methods;
- have knowledge of the history and theology of the church;
- are able to formulate their own theological positions with awareness of past and present alternatives;
- are committed to the evangelism and discipleship of all peoples within their own cultural contexts;
- are sensitive to ethical problems and oppose social injustice;
- understand and are skilled in preaching, evangelism, teaching, and counseling;
- are able to develop, administer, and evaluate programs and ministries;
- model the practice of prayer, worship, a servant attitude, and personal discipleship; and
- are able to function as lifelong learners.
The seminary confers a Master of Divinity degree upon students who complete the prescribed sequence of courses and senior requirements. However, graduation is not automatic when academic requirements have been met. Since the seminary aims to graduate men and women who qualify as Christian leaders, the faculty and administration will evaluate a student’s qualifications in terms of spiritual, doctrinal, and professional standards as well as academic standards.
For graduation with a Master of Divinity degree, a student must complete a minimum of 36 courses and maintain at least a C (2.0) average. In addition, the following requirements must be met by all candidates for a degree. Failure to meet the deadlines indicated in the calendar will incur forfeiture of candidacy for a year. Candidates must:
- participate in a spiritual formation program;
- complete supervised ministry requirements, including the three-year assessment and evaluation program and the Profiles of Ministry;
- write a personal statement of faith acceptable to the faculty;
- present a clearance of financial accounts; and
- participate in graduation ceremonies unless approval has been given by the Academic Programs Assessment and Accreditation Committee to graduate in absentia.
The Master of Divinity with a Concentration in Marriage and Family Studies
Designed to prepare persons who wish to provide pastoral leadership, this program prepares students to understand family systems; to teach, to preach, to administer programs in ways that are sensitive to family issues; and to understand systemic dynamics of congregational life. The M.Div. portion of the program (including the marriage and family concentration courses) takes three academic years.
Concentration
Men and women in vocational Christian service must be prepared to serve in a broad range of ministries. The servant of God, properly trained, will know how to teach, preach, evangelize, counsel, administrate, and relate helpfully to people. Because of the growing demand for specialization in Christian ministry, however, most students will select defined concentrations in specific vocational interests. While the core courses in the curriculum lay the foundation for a multifaceted ministry, the advanced courses include the student’s concentration. Students choose these courses in consultation with their advisors.
The post-core courses are selected from two broad areas: applied and classical. The applied area includes the disciplines of discipleship in community, global evangelization and contextual ministry, ministry leadership, communications and preaching, pastoral care, and marital and family therapy. The classical area includes the disciplines of historical studies, New Testament, Old Testament, and theological studies.
To earn a concentration in marital and family therapy, a student needs 28 credit hours of MFT courses. They are: MF504 Theories of Marital and Family Therapy I; MF505 Theories of Marital and Family Therapy II; MF506 Individual Development and the Family Life Cycle; MF557 Families in Context: Gender, Class and Culture; MF565 Dynamics of Family Process; MF608 Sexuality and Intimacy in Couples and Families; MF718 Child Abuse Assessment and Intervention; MF719 Substance Abuse Assessment and Intervention; MF720 Domestic Violence Assessment and Intervention; MF726 Aging and Long Term Care; and two credits from the MFT electives.
A concentration is defined as a cluster of five related courses beyond the core, designed intentionally for vocational specialization either in one discipline exclusively or in two or more disciplines from the same area. A concentration in one area may recommend courses in the two-course section. Students anticipating diversified ministries requiring competence in several disciplines may choose the generalist distribution in either the applied or classical area. For the five-course section, this requires a minimum of one advanced course in each discipline within the area chosen. The concentration will be noted on the student’s transcript.
During the student’s total program of study, there is a cap of 10 courses for any one discipline, including both core and post-core courses.
For specific information on the distribution of courses and available concentrations, see listing below.
Admission to a Discipline
The student intending to receive a concentration in a specific discipline
must be pursuing course work in the Master of Divinity degree program, is expected
to meet specific criteria for admission to the discipline, and must fulfill
specified requirements for continuance in the discipline. A faculty advisor
will provide insight and assistance in planning a degree program
and concentration.
Admission to the seminary does not ensure admission to a particular discipline, and admission to the discipline does not ensure placement in that discipline. The seminary reserves the right to consider, as part of admission to and continuance in a discipline, those personal qualities, general health, scholastic achievement, conduct, attitude, or other standards seen as appropriately related.
Master of Divinity Language Tracks
Preaching the biblical gospel is central to Christian ministry. Therefore, Bethel’s faculty believes M.Div. students should learn the biblical languages. All M.Div. students are required to take a biblical language track. Students who pursue a concentration in one of the classical areas (biblical studies, historical studies, New Testament, Old Testament, theological studies) or a classical generalist program must take the Greek/Hebrew track.
Students in classical disciplines or other students desiring proficiency in both biblical languages will choose the Greek and Hebrew language track. This track requires three quarters each of Hebrew and Greek, including OT521, OT522, OT531, NT521, NT522, and NT531. The fourth quarters of Hebrew and Greek (OT640; NT641) may be taken as biblical studies electives.
The Greek language track and the Hebrew language track are offered for students pursuing a concentration in one of the applied areas, for whom one or the other languages is preferred.
In the Greek language track, students take four quarters of Greek, including NT521, NT522, NT531,and NT641. Exegetical methods of study will be covered in these language courses. Students who have taken undergraduate Greek may achieve advanced standing by passing the Greek qualifying exam. Those who pass this exam are not required to take NT521 and NT522, but must replace these courses with biblical studies electives.
In the Hebrew language track, students take four quarters of Hebrew, including OT521, OT522, OT531, and OT640. Exegetical methods of study will be covered in these language courses.
Supervised Ministry
All Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Christian Education students are required to participate in supervised ministry throughout their degree programs. Click here for a complete description of these requirements.
TL551 (TL101) Field Education Practicum:
This course begins in the winter
or summer quarter and continues throughout the academic year, or can be done
during the summer months in full-time ministry situations. Following orientation
classes at the beginning of the winter or summer quarter, the student engages
in supervised ministry in a local setting. Emphasis is placed upon the development
of practical ministry skills, the integration of biblical and theological studies
with actual ministry, and the importance of theological reflection in this
process.
TL552 (TS102) Professional Internship:
This course begins in the fall or spring
quarter, and runs concurrently with the academic year. The student engages
in ministry in an area related to his or her intended field of service.
Degree Requirements
Master of Divinity—Greek/Hebrew Track
| BI501 | Hermeneutics | 4 |
| CP501 | Introduction to Preaching | 4 |
| CP551A | Preaching Practicum A | 2 |
| CP551B | Preaching Practicum B | 2 |
| DC501 | Discipleship in Community | 4 |
| GC501 | Introduction to World Missions | 4 |
| GC505 | Evangelism for Discipleship | 4 |
| HS501 | Early Church to Reformation | 4 |
| HS502 | Church in the Modern World | 4 |
| ML504 | Worship | 4 |
| ML510 | Ministry Practice and Polity | 4 |
| ML513 | Leadership in Ministry | 4 |
| NT501 | The Gospels | 4 |
| NT502 | Acts and Pauline Letters | 4 |
| NT521 | Elementary Greek I | 4 |
| NT522 | Elementary Greek II | 4 |
| NT531 | Intermediate Greek | 4 |
| OT501 | Genesis - Ruth | 4 |
| OT502 | I Samuel - Song of Songs | 4 |
| OT521 | Hebrew Language I | 4 |
| OT522 | Hebrew Language II | 4 |
| OT531 | Intermediate Hebrew | 4 |
| PC501 | Introduction to Pastoral Care | 4 |
| TL510 | Celebrating Diversity and Embracing Unity | 4 |
| TS501 | Systematic Theology I | 4 |
| TS502 | Systematic Theology II | 4 |
| TS503 | Systematic Theology III | 4 |
| TS505 | Christian Social Ethics | 4 |
| Concentration Courses and Electives | 28 |
Supervised Ministry and Spiritual Formation
| SP501 | Disciplines of Spiritual and Pers. Formation | 4 |
| TL551 | Field Education Practicum | 0 |
| TL552 | Professional Internship | 4 |
Other Requirements
| Junior, Middler, Senior Assessments |
| Profiles of Ministry |
| Senior Statement of Faith |
A fourth quarter of Hebrew (OT640) and/or
a fourth quarter of Greek (NT641) may be taken as electives.
Master of Divinity—Greek Track
| BI501 | Hermeneutics | 4 |
| CP501 | Introduction to Preaching | 4 |
| CP502A | Preaching Practicum A | 2 |
| CP502B | Preaching Practicum B | 2 |
| DC501 | Discipleship in Community | 4 |
| GC501 | Introduction to World Missions | 4 |
| GC505 | Evangelism for Discipleship | 4 |
| HS501 | Early Church to Reformation | 4 |
| HS502 | Church in the Modern World | 4 |
| ML504 | Worship | 4 |
| ML510 | Ministry Practice and Polity | 4 |
| ML513 | Leadership in Ministry | 4 |
| NT501 | The Gospels | 4 |
| NT502 | Acts and Pauline Letters | 4 |
| NT503 | Hebrews - Revelation | 4 |
| NT521 | Elementary Greek I | 4 |
| NT522 | Elementary Greek II | 4 |
| NT531 | Intermediate Greek | 4 |
| NT641 | Greek Exegesis | |
| OT501 | Genesis - Ruth | 4 |
| OT502 | I Samuel - Song of Songs | 4 |
| OT503 | Isaiah - Malachi | 4 |
| PC501 | Introduction to Pastoral Care | 4 |
| TL510 | Celebrating Diversity and Embracing Unity | 4 |
| TS501 | Systematic Theology I | 4 |
| TS502 | Systematic Theology II | 4 |
| TS503 | Systematic Theology III | 4 |
| TS505 | Christian Social Ethics | 4 |
| Concentration Courses and Electives | 28 |
Supervised Ministry and Spiritual Formation
| SP501 | Disciplines of Spiritual and Pers. Formation | 4 |
| TL551 | Field Education Practicum | 0 |
| TL552 | Professional Internship | 4 |
Other Requirements
| Junior, Middler, Senior Assessments |
| Profiles of Ministry |
| Senior Statement of Faith |
A fourth quarter of Hebrew (OT640) and/or
a fourth quarter of Greek (NT641) may be taken as electives.
Master of Divinity—Hebrew Track
| BI501 | Hermeneutics | 4 |
| CP501 | Introduction to Preaching | 4 |
| CP502A | Preaching Practicum A | 2 |
| CP502B | Preaching Practicum B | 2 |
| DC501 | Dicipleship in Community | 4 |
| GC501 | Introduction to World Missions | 4 |
| GC505 | Evangelism for Discipleship | 4 |
| HS501 | Early Church to Reformation | 4 |
| HS502 | Church in the Modern World | 4 |
| ML504 | Worship | 4 |
| ML510 | Ministry Practice and Polity | 4 |
| ML513 | Leadership in Ministry | 4 |
| NT501 | The Gospels | 4 |
| NT502 | Acts and Pauline Letters | 4 |
| NT503 | Hebrews thru Revelation | 4 |
| OT501 | Genesis - Ruth | 4 |
| OT502 | I Samuel - Song of Songs | 4 |
| OT503 | Isaiah - Malachi | 4 |
| OT521 | Hebrew Language I | 4 |
| OT522 | Hebrew Language II | 4 |
| OT531 | Intermediate Hebrew | 4 |
| OT640 | Hebrew Bible Readings | 4 |
| PC501 | Introduction to Pastoral Care | 4 |
| TL510 | Celebrating Diversity and Embracing Unity | 4 |
| TS501 | Systematic Theology I | 4 |
| TS502 | Systematic Theology II | 4 |
| TS503 | Systematic Theology III | 4 |
| TS505 | Christian Social Ethics | 4 |
| Concentration Courses and Electives |
28 |
Supervised Ministry and Spiritual Formation
| SP501 | Disciplines of Spiritual and Pers. Formation | 4 |
| TL551 | Field Education Practicum | 0 |
| TL552 | Professional Internship | 4 |
Other Requirements
| Junior, Middler, Senior Assessments |
| Profiles of Ministry |
| Senior Statement of Faith |
A minimum of 144 quarter credits is required for graduation in the M.Div. program. Concentration courses must be taken at the advanced level, with the exception of pastoral care and M.F.T. courses. The student is responsible to meet all graduation deadlines and requirements. The associate registrar will be happy to answer questions and offer guidance.
The Bethel Seminary Catalog is provided online as a convenience for those who desire course information in electronic form. The printed version of the Bethel Seminary catalog is the official version, and it will be treated as the document of record in all seminary business.