TALBOT SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY
Master ofDivinity Program
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OBJECTIVES
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 con- tribute to personal spiritual formation as well as cognitive awareness and the development of ministry skills. The cur- riculum is structured to develop "sus- tainable habits" that can be continued in life and ministry after graduation. The various components of the curricu- lum are designed to complement one another and to reinforce basic princi- ples to which students have been exposed in other parts of their seminary program. Agoal of the program is LO equip smdents to think biblicallyand to respond appropriately Lo the variety of chal lenges oflife and ministry. ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS All applicants, to be accepted, must hold the Bachelor of Arts degree, or its academic equivalent. Theymust have a 2.6 (on a 4.0 scale) grade point average. Those not meeting this latter require- ment, if accepted, will be placed on pro- bation. Graduates from approved unac- credi ted 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 certain addi- tional 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 to take it in seminary may take Beginning Greek at Talbot and receive elective credit applica- ble toward the graduation requirement. EMPHASIS REQUIREMENTS Emphases are offered in the follow- ing areas of professional preparation: Pastoral and General Ministries Christian Education Marriage and Family Ministries Missions Urban/Multi-Ethnic Ministries Each smdent is to select an empha- sis and satisfactorily complete its requirements. Students should indi- cate their choice of emphasis at the beginning of their program. Changes of emphasis may be authorized under certain circumstances prior to the com- pletion of 48 units, but are discouraged after that point. Students without a working knowl- edge of Greek must take NT 50 I and
502 (Beginning Greek ) which are not for credit un less taken in place of elective units. Electives in the Curriculum Electives are open to the student's choice (check prerequisites) regard- less of emphasis, but that choice may be governed by the following guide- lines: I) If writing a thesis, the stu- dent's advisor may require up to four units of electives in an area of studyin preparation for the thesis; 2) Students who do not write a thesis are required to take two additional elective units for a program total of98 units. Program Reduction Based Upon Prior Academic Study Qualified students coming from accredited Bible colleges or Christian libera l ans colleges may request exemptio n from certain required courses. Requests for exemption may be considered from two perspectives: I) Program reductions are possible up Lo a maximum of 16 units from the normal M.Div. requirement, i.e. , 96-98 units may be reduced by up Lo 16 units. A reduction of as much as six units (included in the 16) is possible for stll- dents with collegiate studies in either Hebrew or Greek. Evaluations for reduc- tion are considered for undergraduate courses with satisfactory parallel content, provided that the collegiate courses are approximately double the unit value of the corresponding seminary courses. To qualify for such reductions the srudent must have earned at least a "B" grade in the specific course (s) and be able to demonstrate competency in the subject matter. In the event the srudent takes a course which had been previously waived, that previous reduction would then be nullified. 2) The substitution of electives in lieu of required courses may be arranged in certain circumstances. In some cases where one of the above cri te- ria may preclude a program reduction , the srudent may nevertheless be able to demonstrate a satisfactory level of com- petency in a given subject. In this event, electives may be substituted for the course in question. Interested students would contact the appropriate depart- ment chairman regarding course substi- tutions. This alternative is also available for those who qualify for the maximum program reduction indicated above. Request for program reduction should be rubmitted to the Admissions and Regi.s- trar's Offices before studies begin at Talbot,
because reductions for a specific course cannot be considered after registration for that cour.se. The substitution ofelectives in lieu of required courses may be requested anytime during the student 'sfir.st year. GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS A. Satisfactorily complete 96-98 semester units. See (D) below. B. Take the courses prescribed in the Master of Divinity curriculum. C. Complete the requirements in one of the emphases. D. Submit an acceptable thesis (four units) chosen in consu ltation with the major advisor, or at the option of the major advisor and in lieu of the thesis, complete six units of electives. Students who write theses will have a total requirement of 96 units and those who take six units of electives in lieu of a thesis will have a total requirement of 98 units. Five unbound copies of the thesis are to be submitted to the librarian. E. At least 24 units must be taken in this seminary by transfer students. Students are placed on academic probation if their grade point average for any semester falls below 2.5 and remain on probation as long as the sin- gle 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 con- tinuance in the seminary. A student cannot graduate while on probation. F. The standard rate of progress through the program (l 2 units per semester) will allow the program to be completed in four years. CURRICULUM Two biblical languages are required: Greek and Hebrew. Either maybe taken first. Greek- NT 503, NT 604 and NT 605 each required beyond beginning Greek. Aqualifying examination is available to all interested students. Those who pass the examination may enroll directly in NT 503; others must take NT 501 and NT 502 (two units each) as prerequisite to NT 503. He!Yrew- OT 603, OT 604 and OT 705 are required. Aqualifying exami- nation is available to interested stu- dents. Those who pass the examina- tion may take OT 604, plus 3-4 units of Hebrew electives instead of OT 603.
The Master of Divinity curriculum at Ta lbot School of Theology is designed to foster the purposes for which the seminary was established - preparation 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 therefor e designed around these two basic foci. Be lieving 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 knowl- edge of the content of the Word of God. So that the Word may be known and expounded accuratelyand authori- tatively, 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 interpre- tation of the Scriptures. On the basis of such interpretation there comes system- atic 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 cen- turies during which God has preserved and instructed His people, cogn izance of this heritage is taken in a study of the history of the church and its doc- trine. 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 instruc- tion is given in vital areas of ministry and communication. From the prepa- ration and delivery of sermons to indi- vidual involvement in counseling, the curriculum is designed to provide instruction which will facil itate propa- gation of the faith in the various fields of God's cal l. Opportunity is also given for the development of ministry ski lls as principles are applied in the context of ministry in the church. With recognition that the Great Commission commands the church LO go into the world to minister to all peo- ples , 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 per- spectives for the purpose of inculcating
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