Advanced Master of Divinity

The Advanced Master of Divinity allows students to build upon undergraduate theological training by taking advanced courses in place of the introductory courses in the regular Master of Divinity curriculum.

Entrance Requirements

The student must have an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum GPA of 3.0. The student’s undergraduate major should be in a discipline directly related to the courses in the Advanced M.Div. curriculum. The Advanced M.Div. is built upon 45-51 hours of prerequisites.

Course Title	Hours
Biblical Hermeneutics	3
Old Testament I, II, and III	6-9
New Testament I, II, and III	6-9
Greek or Hebrew (two years of one language)¹	12
Church History I and II	6
Systematic Theology (one year survey)	6-9
Christian Ethics	3
Philosophy of Religion or Christian Apologetics	3
Total	45-54

The prerequisites in Old Testament, New Testament, Church History, and Systematic Theology may each be completed with two survey courses or with one survey course and an additional elective in the same discipline. In either case, the prerequisite courses must cover the entire range of material covered in the SWBTS courses.

Prerequisite courses must be completed with a B- or better.

Students who have not fulfilled all prerequisites may complete the remaining prerequisites at the beginning of work toward the degree.

Degree Requirements

The 79-hour degree includes advanced courses in Biblical Studies, Theological Studies, Ethics and Philosophical Studies, as well as courses in Preaching and Pastoral Studies and Evangelism and Missions Studies. In addition, the degree includes 12 hours of free electives, 6 of which may be used to complete a thesis. Free elective hours may not be used for basic survey courses.

Greek electives assume two years of Greek as the prerequisite language.

Course Title	Course Number	Hours
Biblical Studies
Old Testament or New Testament Elective	OLDTS or NEWTS Elective	6
Biblical Theology Elective	BIBTH Elective	3
Biblical Hebrew I¹	HEBRW 4313	3
Biblical Hebrew II	HEBRW 4323	3
Hebrew Exegetical Method	HEBRW 5003	3
Hebrew Exegesis Elective	HEBRW Elective	3
Greek Exegesis Elective¹	GREEK Elective	3
Theological Studies
Baptist Heritage	BPTST 3203	3
Church History and Historical Theology Elective	CHAHT Elective	3
Systematic Theology I	SYSTH 3053	3
Systematic Theology Electives	SYSTH Electives	6
Ethics and Philosophical Studies
The Christian Home	ETHIC 4303	3
Christian Ethics Elective	ETHIC Elective	3
Philosophy of Religion Elective	PHILO Elective	3
Preaching and Pastoral Studies
Introduction to Expository Preaching⁴	PRCHG 3313	3
Advanced Expository Preaching⁵	PRCHG 3323	3
Preaching Practicum²	PRCHG 3000	0
Foundations of Christian Ministry I³	PASMN 3313	3
Christian Ministry Practicum²	PASMN 3000	0
Ministries of the Local Church	CFMIN 3001	1
Evangelism and Missions Studies
Contemporary Evangelism	EVANG 3303	3
Personal Evangelism Practicum²	EVANG 3000	0
Introduction to Missiology	MISSN 3363	3
Missions Practicum²	MISSN 3100	0
Spiritual Formation
Spiritual Formation I	SPFEV 3101	1
Spiritual Formation II	SPFEV 3111	1
Applied Ministry
Applied Ministry I - Mentoring	APLEV 4031	1
Applied Ministry II - Disciple-making in the local church	APLEV 4041	1
Free Electives/Concentration
Students may use free electives to pursue one of the concentrations listed below. Some concentrations require more than 12 hours.		12
	Total	80

Concentrations

Evangelism Concentration
Evangelism Electives (choose any five Evangelism electives)	EVANG	15
Islamic Studies Concentration
Missionary Anthropology Islamic Worldview	ISLST 4373	3
Islamic Electives (choose any three Islamic Studies electives)	ISLST	9
Praxis or Practicum in Islamic Studies	ISLST 5483, or equivalent	3
Missions Concentration
Missionary Anthropology	MISSN 4373	3
Introduction to Church Planting (North American or International)	MISSN 4493 or 4503	3
MISSN (Missions elective)		3
Glob. & Missions Strategies or Church Planting in the Urban Context	MISSN 3373 or 5453	3
Missions Praxis or Practicum	MISSN 5523 or equivalent	3
North American Church Planting Concentration
Introduction to North American Church Planting	MISSN 4493	3
Church Planting in Urban Contexts	MISSN 5453	3
Missionary Anthropology	MISSN 4373	3
Missions, Evangelism, Applied Ministry, or Islamic Studies Electives (choose two)	Choice of electives	6
Church Planting Internship (replaces APLEV 4031 and 4041 in the Advanced MDiv)	MISSN 5743	3

¹The exact language hours will be determined based on the pre-requisites and language credits earned prior to entering the Advanced Master of Divinity degree.

²Students will be enrolled in these practicums automatically when registering for the parent course above them in the degree plan.

³Female students should substitute WOMST 4003 Women's Ministries in the Local Church.

⁴Female students take WOMST 4043 Expository Communication of Biblical Truth.

⁵Female students take a free elective in lieu of Advanced Expository Preaching.

Advanced M.Div. with International Church Planting Concentration

This degree follows the same basic format as above with variances in the courses specific to the concentration. Students interested in the Adv. M.Div. with a concentration in International Church Planting should contact the Registrar's Office for information, application, and approval. The office is located in Scarborough 106 and can be reached by phone at 817-923-1921 extension 2000.

Transfers

Master's courses from an eligible institution may transfer into the Advanced M.Div. The courses must be comparable to the Southwestern courses for which transfer credit is requested and be completed with a “B” or better.

Additional Information

For additional information about the Advanced Master of Divinity, students should contact the Office of the Registrar at 817-923-1921 extension 2000 or in Scarborough 106.