TBS has three programs designed for students who have already completed an undergraduate (e.g. Baccalaureate) degree: Certificate of Theological Studies, Master of Theological Studies and the Master of Divinity. We also have a Master of Theology which requires the applicant to have already completed a Master of Divinity degree or equivalent. A description of each is outlined below.
| Program | Duration |
|---|---|
| CTS | 1 year |
| MTS | 2 years |
| MDiv | 3 years |
| ThM | 2 years (after MDiv) |
Credit Hour Requirements
Certificate of Theological Studies
The Certificate of Theological Studies is designed to help Christians with undergraduate degrees become grounded in the knowledge of God’s Word and thus become more effective Church members and workers. This year is designed to serve as a basis for a full graduate degree program, or by itself as a one-year programme.
Program Learning Outcomes
| PLOs | Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to: |
| 1 Biblical Knowledge | Demonstrate foundational knowledge of Scripture and the biblical storyline. |
| 2 Foundational Theology | Explain essential Christian doctrines using biblical support. |
| 3 Biblical Interpretation | Interpret Scripture using basic hermeneutical principles. |
| 4 Communication | Communicate biblical truth effectively in written and oral formats. |
| 5 Spiritual Growth & Church Service | Demonstrate spiritual growth and faithful participation in local church ministry. |
Credits Required for Graduation
- 30 Semester Hour Credit
- 4 Semester Hour Field Work Credit
Year 1 | ||
Subject | Fall | Winter |
Scripture & Interpretation(12 hours) | ||
| Biblical Hermeneutics | 3 | |
| N.T. Biblical Theology | 3 | |
| O.T. Biblical Theology | 3 | |
| Graduate Research & Writing | 3 | |
Theology & History(9 hours) | ||
| Christian Foundations | 3 | |
| Church History | 3 | |
| Systematic Theology (1 of I, II or III) | 3 | |
Ministry & Spiritual Formation(9 hours) | ||
| Elective | 3 | |
| Missions | 3 | |
| Spirituality | 3 | |
Total Semester Hours | ||
30 | 15 | 15 |
Mentoring & Ministry Practicums(4 hours) | ||
| Field Work | 1 | 1 |
| Mentoring Group | 1 | 1 |
Master of Theological Studies
The M.T.S. is designed as a two-year programme that should be considered the first step towards equipping individuals with undergraduate degrees who wish to pursue a calling in the academic realm. As such, the MTS focuses on the classical subjects of theology.
Program Learning Outcomes
PLOs | Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to: |
| 1 Biblical Interpretation | Interpret Scripture responsibly using appropriate historical, literary, and theological methodologies. |
| 2 Theological Understanding | Demonstrate advanced understanding of biblical, historical, and systematic theology. |
| 3 Critical Analysis | Evaluate theological positions critically and construct coherent theological arguments. |
| 4 Research Competence | Conduct graduate-level theological research using primary and secondary sources. |
| 5 Scholarly Communication | Communicate theological concepts effectively through scholarly writing and oral presentations. |
| 6 Spiritual Maturity | Demonstrate spiritual maturity and service within church and ministry contexts. |
Credits Required for Graduation
- 60 Semester Hour Credit
- 16 Semester Hour Field Work Credit
Year 1 | Year 2 | ||||
Subject | Fall | Winter | Summer | Fall | Winter |
Scripture & Interpretation(21 hours) | |||||
| Biblical Hermeneutics | 3 | ||||
| Bible Electives | 3 | ||||
| Graduate Research & Writing | 3 | ||||
| Life of Christ | 3 | ||||
| N.T. Biblical Theology | 3 | ||||
| O.T. Biblical Theology (I & II) | 3 | 3 | |||
Theology & History(21 hours) | |||||
| Apologetics | 3 | ||||
| Church History (I & II) | 3 | 3 | |||
| Christian Foundations | 3 | ||||
| Systematic Theology (2 of I, II, or III) | 3 | 3 | |||
| Theological Ethics | 3 | ||||
Ministry & Spiritual Formation(12 hours) | |||||
| Elective | 3 | ||||
| Homiletics | 3 | ||||
| Missions | 3 | ||||
| Pastoral Theology | 3 | ||||
| Spirituality | 3 | ||||
| The Worshipping Church | 3 | ||||
Total Semester Hours | |||||
60 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | |
Mentoring & Ministry Practicums(16 hours) | |||||
| Ministerial Field Work | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| Mentoring Group | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Ministry Internship | 4 | ||||
Master of Divinity
The Master of Divinity is specifically designed for students who have an undergraduate degree and who are now seeking to commence or continue further in the calling of a pastor or church planter. It is a full-orbed theological degree that provides an excellent grounding in the biblical languages and the classical subjects of theology, while also helping the student develop the necessary skills in the key areas of pastoral ministry and spiritual formation.
Program Learning Outcomes
PLOs | Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to: |
1 Biblical Interpretation | Interpret and apply Scripture competently using sound hermeneutical methods and appropriate use of biblical languages. |
2 Theology | Analyze, evaluate, and defend major Christian doctrines from a biblical and Reformed Baptist perspective. |
3 Preaching & Teaching | Preach, teach, and communicate Christ-centered biblical truth effectively in diverse ministry settings. |
4 Ministry Leadership | Provide competent pastoral leadership, discipleship, counseling, and ministry oversight within local church contexts. |
5 Spiritual Formation | Demonstrate Christian character, servant leadership, spiritual maturity, and faithfulness in ministry. |
6 Vocational Readiness | Demonstrate vocational readiness and effectiveness for pastoral ministry, church planting, missions, or other Christian service. |
Credits Required for Graduation
- 90 Semester Hour Academic Credit
- 22 Semester Hour Field Work Credit
Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | ||||||
Subject | Fall | Winter | Summer | Fall | Winter | Summer | Fall | Winter |
Scripture & Interpretation(42 hours) | ||||||||
| Biblical Hermeneutics | 3 | |||||||
| Graduate Research & Writing | 3 | |||||||
| Greek | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | |||
| Hebrew | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | ||||
| N.T. Biblical Theology | 3 | |||||||
| O.T. Biblical Theology | 3 | 3 | ||||||
Theology & History(27 hours) | ||||||||
| Apologetics | 3 | |||||||
| Baptist History | 3 | |||||||
| Christian Foundations | 3 | |||||||
| Church History | 3 | |||||||
| Senior Seminar/Thesis | 3 | 3 | ||||||
| Systematic Theology | 3 | 3 | ||||||
| Theological Ethics | 3 | |||||||
Ministry & Spiritual Formation(21 hours) | ||||||||
| Homiletics | 3 | 3 | ||||||
| Missions | 3 | |||||||
| Pastoral Theology | 3 | 3 | ||||||
| Spirituality | 3 | |||||||
| The Worshipping Church | 3 | |||||||
Total Semester Hours | ||||||||
90 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | ||
Mentoring & Ministry Practicums(22 hours) | ||||||||
| Ministerial Field Work | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||
| Mentoring Group | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Ministry Internship | 4 | |||||||
Thesis
The thesis is to be around 30,000 words. A prospectus of the thesis must be approved by the end of the fall of the first year. An oral defence involving three readers (two internal and one external), chaired by the thesis supervisor, will take place upon completion of the thesis. The candidate must be present at TBS for the defense.
Master of Theology
The Th.M is essentially a non-residential research degree.
Entrance into the degree is dependent upon an overall B+ average or higher in the preceding degree, which should be the Master of Divinity or its equivalent.
It is ideal for the person who would like a stepping-stone to a doctoral degree (especially a European Ph.D. that has no course requirements) or who would simply like a research degree beyond the Master of Divinity.
Program Learning Outcomes
PLOs | Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to: |
1 Advanced Scholarship | Demonstrate advanced mastery within a theological discipline. |
2 Independent Research | Conduct independent scholarly research utilizing appropriate academic methodologies. |
3 Theological Analysis | Evaluate and synthesize complex theological arguments. |
4 Scholarly Writing | Produce substantial scholarly writing suitable for doctoral studies or publication. |
5 Scholarly Communication | Defend research findings through oral and written academic discourse. |
6 Doctoral Readiness | Demonstrate intellectual, spiritual, and vocational readiness for advanced scholarship and ministry. |
Credits Required for Graduation
- 34 Semester Hours Academic Credit
Subject | Fall | Winter | Summer | Fall & Winter |
Graduate Research and WritingA four-day intensive module taken in the August prior to the year of studies. | 2 | |||
Reading courses in the area of specializationNew Testament, Systematic Theology, Christian Spirituality or Church History | 4+4 | 4+4 | 4 | |
Thesis proposalTo be submitted no later than May 31. | 1 | |||
ThesisTo be submitted by January 15; defence to be conducted by Feb 28. | 3 | 8 | ||
Total Semester Hours | ||||
34 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
Thesis
The thesis is to be around 30,000 words. A prospectus of the thesis must be approved by the end of the fall of the first year. An oral defence involving three readers (two internal and one external), chaired by the thesis supervisor, will take place upon completion of the thesis. The candidate must be present at TBS for the defense.
