Birmingham Theological Seminary

The Master of Divinity degree is offered for those students who plan to enter the gospel ministry as a profession. To qualify as a minister in the Presbyterian Church in America, men must also complete a one-year internship, which may be done concurrently with the academic study.

Birmingham Theological Seminary offers two tracks in the Master of Divinity program, an ordination track and a non-ordination track. The ordination track, in accordance with the historical theological position held by the mainstream of evangelical churches, is limited to male students preparing for ordination. (Refer to “The role of Women in the Church a Rationale for the BTS Position) The non-ordination track is intended for both male and female students desiring to develop exegetical skills and a broader set of ministry skills for a variety of church and para-church ministries.

Old Testament (14)
OT1021-23 Old Testament Studies I, II, III
OT1511, 12 Beginning Hebrew I, II
OT1623 Advanced Hebrew
OT1526 Old Testament History & Theology

New Testament (12)
NT2011, 12 Beginning Greek I, II
NT2022, 23 New Testament Studies I, II
NT2521 Advanced Greek
NT2525 New Testament Theology

Systematic Theology (18)
ST3526-31 Systematic Theology I-VI
ST3550 Bible Interpretation
ST3655 Ethics
ST3744 Contemporary Theology

Historical Theology (10)
HT4528 Early & Medieval Church History
HT4529 Cultural History of the Church in America
HT4641 Church History in America
HT4721 Reformation & Modern Church History
HT4743 Presbyterian Church History

Practical Theology (28)
PT5523 Ministry of the Word I (Models of Preaching)
PT5524 Ministry of the Word II (The Art of Preaching)
PT5527 Communications I or PT5621 Conflict Resolution in the Church
PT5531 The Christian Worker’s Personal Life
PT5602 Biblical Principles of Christian Education
PT5631 Theology & Practice of Administration
PT5637 Personal Evangelism or PT5667 Biblical Principles of Evangelism
PT5673 Ministry of Teaching
PT5710 Discipleship
PT5713 Biblical Origins of Church Government & Discipline
PT5725 Ministry to Youth
PT5739 Principles of Church Growth
PT5750 Public Worship & Music
PT7815 Preaching

Missions (6)
MS6631 Biblical Theology of Missions
MS6652 Techniques of Church Planting
MS6710 The Development of the Local Church Missions Ministry

Biblical Counseling (8)
BC7501 Introduction to Biblical Counseling
BC7505 Advanced Biblical Counseling
BC7630 Marriage and Family Counseling
BC7631 Premarital Counseling

Old Testament (14)
OT1021-23 Old Testament Studies I, II, III
OT1511, 12 Beginning Hebrew I, II
OT1623 Advanced Hebrew
OT1526 Old Testament History & Theology

New Testament (12)
NT2011, 12 Beginning Greek I, II
NT2022, 23 New Testament Studies I, II
NT2521 Advanced Greek
NT2525 New Testament Theology

Systematic Theology (18)
ST3526-31 Systematic Theology I-VI
ST3550 Bible Interpretation
ST3655 Ethics
ST3744 Contemporary Theology

Practical Theology (24)
PT5527 Communication I
PT5621 Conflict Resolution in the Church
PT5531 The Christian Worker’s Personal Life
PT5602 Biblical Principles of Christian Education
PT5631 Theology & Practice of Administration
PT5637 Personal Evangelism or PT5667 Biblical Principles of Evangelism
PT5673 Ministry of Teaching
PT5710 Discipleship
PT5713 Biblical Origins of Church Government & Discipline
PT5725 Ministry to Youth
PT5739 Principles of Church Growth
PT5750 Public Worship and Music

Missions (6)
MS6631 Biblical Theology of Missions
MS6652 Techniques of Church Planting
MS6710 The Development of the Local Church Missions Ministry

Biblical Counseling (8)
BC7501 Introduction to Biblical Counseling
BC7505 Advanced Biblical Counseling
BC7630 Marriage and Family Counseling
BC7631 Premarital Counseling

Master of Divinity
Clinicals

MD7801 Teaching
This clinical consists of three quarters of successful experience teaching Sunday School class, home Bible study or other teaching arena. Students will develop lessons plans for each session demonstrating effective used of good teaching methods. These lesson plans will be submitted at the end of the third quarter along with a written evaluation by the church supervisor. A syllabus will be provided at registration providing details for the performance of this clinical.

Prerequisites: Old Testament I, II, III; New Testament I, II, Systematic I, II, Bible Interpretation, History and Philosophy of Christian Education.

MD7805 Evangelism
This requires participation in the personal and mass evangelism program of a local church for at least two semesters. It should include training and evaluation of effectiveness.

MD7810 Youth Work
A variety of settings can be utilized to fulfill this clinical including church youth group, summer camp, or Bible conferences. A syllabus will be provided at registration providing details for the performance of this clinical.

Prerequisites: Old Testament I, II, III; New Testament I, II, Systematic I, II, Bible Interpretation, History and Philosophy of Christian Education, Ministry to Youth.

MD7815 Preaching
In addition to 5523-24, each student will preach three times and the sermons will be recorded and evaluated.

MD7820 Administration
Budgeting, building, stewardship, janitor service, maintenance, and other functions of the elders and deacons will be included. Attendance at regular meetings of session and diaconate will be arranged.

MD7825 Counseling
Briarwood Counseling Ministries will provide the setting for most students to complete this clinical. However, other agencies may be utilized. A syllabus will be provided at registration providing details for the performance of this clinical. The student should be advised that the Briarwood Counseling Ministries will require attendance at a regular round table discussion in addition to the counseling hours. Clinical will required 50 hours of counseling activity including observation as a team member and lead counselor.

Prerequisites: Old Testament I, II, III; New Testament I, II, Systematic I, II, Bible Interpretation, Introduction to Biblical Counseling, Marriage and Family Counseling and Advanced Counseling.

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