Most religious denominations require a student to have seven or eight years of post-secondary education before considering ordination, which makes Bachelor’s of Divinity a challenging undertaking. Consequently, programs are not as widespread as they once were. Should placement in a Bachelor of Divinity program become available, students can anticipate the following types of course material, similar to what is found at the Master’s level outlined elsewhere:
- Introduction to the fundamentals of public speaking for religious purposes
- Discovery of the foundations of building an engaging sermon
- Understanding the church assembly and its dynamics
- Empowering people and parishes through ongoing pastoral care
- Basics of leadership
- Survey of the Old Testament, including construction, history, themes, archetypes and influences
- Survey of the Gospel, including historical timelines, characteristics of the Gospel writers, and cultural influences on writing
- Jesus’ life as fact, as fiction, and as an archetypal model for counsel in the modern world
- Introduction to the New Testament, including construction, history, themes, archetypes and influences
- Influences of the Christian Bible from Jesus to present; understanding cultural and historical influences and contexts
- Fostering fulfilling prayer life in self and others throughout a variety of settings
- Global Christian history and development
- Fostering spiritual growth and development
- Survey of denominations and doctrine in North America and their influence on pastoral and urban cultures
- History of North America from pre-industrialization to present day
- Understanding and implementing the integral mission of Jesus in each follower
- Building and living in communion with Christian communities
- Understanding Christian ethics and their modern practice
- Survey of women as spiritual directors and leaders
- Christ’s message and its implications for international development and peace
Read more about Masters of Divinity and PhD in Divinity programs.
