Biola University 2014–15 Catalog
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. 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. Those not meeting this latter requirement, if accepted, will be placed on probation. Graduates from approved unaccredited colleges, if accepted, will be granted provisional acceptance, though exceptions may be made when the grade point average is 3.0 or higher. Graduates from approved unaccredited colleges may be required to take additional liberal arts course work (not applicable toward the graduate degree) if their undergraduate program did not include these courses. Students who have not had Greek but wish (or need) to take it in seminary may take Beginning Greek at Talbot and receive elective credit applicable toward the graduation requirement. Concentration Requirements Changes of concentration may be authorized under certain circumstances prior to the completion of 48 credits, but are discouraged after that point. Students without a working knowledge of Greek must take TTNT 501 and 502 (Beginning Greek) which are not for credit unless taken in place of elective credits. Electives in the Curriculum Electives are open to the student’s choice (check prerequisites listed in course descriptions) regardless of concentration, but that choice may be governed by the following guidelines: 1. If writing a thesis, the student’s advisor may require up to 4 credits of electives in an area of study in preparation for the thesis. 2. Students who do not write a thesis are required to take two additional elective credits for a program total of 98 credits. 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. Academic Probation Students are placed on academic probation if their grade point average for any semester falls below 2.5 and will remain on probation as long as the single semester of cumulative grade point average remains below 2.5. Students on probation are granted one semester in which to bring their academic work up to the required level (2.5) for continuance in the seminary. A student cannot graduate while on probation. Graduation Requirements A. Satisfactorily complete 96–98 semester credits. See (D) below. B. Take the courses prescribed in the Master of Divinity curriculum. C. Complete the requirements in one of the concentrations. D. Submit an acceptable thesis (4 credits) chosen in consultation with the major advisor or, at the option of the major advisor and in lieu of the thesis, complete 6 credits of electives. Students who write theses will have a total requirement of 96 credits, and those who take 6 credits of electives in lieu of a thesis will have a total requirement of 98 credits. Five unbound copies of the thesis are to be submitted to the librarian. E. 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/reduction or transfer credit. F. The M.Div. program can be completed in three years (as outlined below), although a more typical rate of progress will allow the program to be completed in four years. For those who need to extend the program, a five-year curriculum for the Master of Divinity in Pastoral and General Ministries
Concentration is available on our website: biola.edu/registrar/ services/index.cfm G. Must have a 2.5 cumulative GPA with no grade below a D-. H. Meet with Graduate Graduation Counselor in the Office of the Registrar one year prior to graduation to declare intent to graduate. (See Graduate Graduation Check description in Admission, Enrollment and Graduation Requirements section). Biblical Languages Requirement Two biblical languages are required: Greek and Hebrew. The first three classes of Greek (NT 501, 502, 503) are recommended to be completed prior to Hebrew since they are prerequisites to TTPT 609 Expository Preaching. Greek The courses listed below are required beyond beginning Greek. A qualifying examination is available to all interested students. Those who pass the examination may enroll directly in TTNT 503. TTNT 503 Introduction to Exegesis Credit(s): 3. TTNT 604 Exegesis in the Gospels Credit(s): 3. TTNT 605 Exegesis in the Epistles Credit(s): 3. Beginning Greek Requirement Students who do not take or do not pass the qualifying examination must take the courses listed below (for 2 credits each) as prerequisites to TTNT 503. TTNT 501 Beginning Greek I Credit(s): 2. TTNT 502 Beginning Greek II Credit(s): 2. Hebrew The courses listed below are required. A qualifying examination is available to interested students. Those who pass the examination may take TTOT 604 plus 3–4 credits of Hebrew electives instead of TTOT 603. TTOT 603 Elements of Hebrew I Credit(s): 3. TTOT 604 Elements of Hebrew II Credit(s): 3. TTOT 705 Exegesis in Genesis and Selected Passages Credit(s): 3. Thesis Course Sequence If a student elects to write a thesis, the course “Thesis First Draft” will be taken at the completion of 64 credits and “Thesis Final Draft” at the completion of 80 credits. Neither is applicable toward graduation unless both have been completed. Some preliminary steps must be completed by the end of the semester prior to taking “Thesis First Draft.” See the Talbot graduate student handbook for details. Curriculum (96 or 98 Credits) Core Requirements (64 Credits) The following are the core requirements for all Talbot Master of Divinity Concentrations. Messianic Jewish Studies and the Spiritual Formation Concentrations both differ slightly in their requirements. These variations can be found under the specific concentration’s core requirements. TTBE 517 Hermeneutics and Bible Study Methods Credit(s): 3. TTBE 519 Survey of Genesis–Malachi Credit(s): 3. TTBE 520 Survey of Matthew–Revelation Credit(s): 3. TTBE 726
Expositional Methodology in Daniel and Revelation
Credit(s): 3. Credit(s): 3. Credit(s): 3. Credit(s): 3. Credit(s): 3. Credit(s): 3. Credit(s): 3. Credit(s): 3.
Patristic and Medieval Theology Reformation and Modern Theology
TTHT 505 TTHT 506 TTNT 503
Introduction to Exegesis
TTNT 501 and 502 are prerequisites to this course. TTNT 604 Exegesis in the Gospels
Exegesis in the Epistles Elements of Hebrew I Elements of Hebrew II
TTNT 605 TTOT 603 TTOT 604
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