Students are required to take Christian Ministry 300+ level courses. Students may also be able to talk Fast Track (500+ level) course to be articulated into the M.Div. Courses include but are not limited to the following:
CHR350. Christian Education and Ministry Management is a study of areas of Christian education in the context of church organizations and ministry management principles.
CHR353. Leadership in Ministry is a survey of principles and practices of leadership and management in the local church. Prerequisite: CHR250 or permission of instructor.
CHR360. Pastoral Ministry is an introduction to the theological foundations and practical strategies relating to pastoral ministry, including: pastoral care, worship, discipleship, spiritual disciplines, and topics in local church ministry. Prerequisite: CHR250 or permission of instructor.
CHR362. Christian Preaching is a study of the preparation and delivery of effective biblical sermons.
CHR363. Pastoral Care and Counseling is an introduction to the biblical-theological foundations and practical strategies relating to pastoral care and counseling in the local church.
CHR364. Worship is an introductory survey of the history, theology and practice of worship in the local church. Prerequisite: CHR250
CHR366. Missiology is a survey of missions and outreach with particular focus on Southern Baptist missions and emerging mission strategies in the 21st century. Prerequisite: CHR365 or permission of instructor.
CHR367. Ministry in the Contemporary Church is a study of practices and trends in ministry in contemporary churches, including use of technology, multi-site approaches, church planting strategies, and other topics. Students will be required to attend a major ministry conference as part of the course. Prerequisite: CHR250 or permission of instructor.
CHR369. Youth Ministry is a comprehensive study of the theology, theories, philosophies and practice of youth ministry in the local church. As part of this study, students will critique various philosophies of youth ministry and create a theology and philosophy of youth ministry of their own. Prerequisite: CHR 250.
CHR370. Youth Ministry Administration is a study of the various aspects of administering the work of the youth minister focusing on roles, relationships, resources and responsibilities, and practical application to the local church. Prerequisite: CHR369 or permission of instructor.
CHR372. Preaching Practicum provides students the opportunity to practice and further develop skills developed in CHR362, Christian Preaching. Students will sharpen their skills in effectively preparing and delivering sermons, discover insight on developing genre specific sermons, and learn to develop and implement a preaching plan. Prerequisite: CHR362 or permission of instructor.
CHR375. Church Planting serves as an introduction to the topic of Church Planting. Students will be provided a theological basis for church planting, analyze New Testament admonitions for church planters, and be introduced to the nature of church planting in the 21st century. Students will discover terms and concepts pertinent to church planting.
CHR380. Psychology of Religion examines empirical analysis of the effects of religion on the individual; topics include religious development; religious expression; religious conversation; religious attitudes and behaviors; and religion’s effects on mental health. Prerequisite: PSY101
CHR471. Topics and Issues in Youth Ministry is a study of the issues facing youth as well as the developmental nature of youth and the issues affecting them and their families, as well as an examination of the demands upon the schedule, priorities, family and other aspects of the youth minister’s life focusing on personal habits, family involvement, calling, career opportunities and continuing development. Prerequisite: CHR369 or permission of instructor.
CHR473. Special Topics in Preaching is a study of advanced topics in Christian preaching including hermeneutics, sermon forms, and delivery techniques. Prerequisite: CHR362.