2008-2009 Graduate Catalog - Bob Jones University

Seminary and Graduate School of Religionand theological liberalism. The reason for this extremely poor record can be traced largely to thenatural tendency of seminaries to put an unbalanced emphasis on intellectual development tothe deprivation of spiritual growth. To guard against this danger, our entire seminary programis coordinated to match intellectual development with spiritual growth. The education is of thehighest academic quality, but the emphasis throughout is on gaining spiritual principles from theWord of God for personal use and preaching.The seminary faculty holds to the inspiration, inerrancy, and preservation of the Word of God.We believe that it is the believer’s only rule for faith and practice. Our approach to teaching themeaning of Scripture is to follow a traditional, theologically conservative hermeneutic. Whileavoiding the extremes of both Calvinism and Arminianism, the faculty’s expository method ischaracterized by a moderate dispensationalism. This dispensationalism maintains the distinctionbetween Israel and the Church, a recognition of both the literal and spiritual forms of theKingdom of God, and a pretribulational, premillennial approach to eschatology.Certificate ProgramsThe seminary and Graduate School of Religion offers two certificate programs providing opportunitiesfor formal recognition of advanced studies in medical missions and Bible for those whosepreparation at the undergraduate level is not in religion and who are not preparing for pulpitministry.The Certificate of Biblical Studies is designed for students with a bachelor’s degree from a recognizedcollege who desire graduate training in religion prior to entering their vocation. It is especiallyappropriate for those with career goals in education, law, medicine, or business who desiregreater depth in the Word of God.The Certificate of Medical Missions is intended for individuals who have already completed theBachelor of Science in Nursing degree who desire to prepare for service as missionaries.The certificate programs are a combination of undergraduate and graduate courses. No gradebelow C will be acceptable toward the requirements of the certificate, and an overall C averagemust be maintained.Division of Professional Ministry StudiesThe Division of Professional Ministry Studies offers the Master of Ministry degree, the Specialistin Ministry degree, the Doctor of Pastoral Theology degree, the Master of Divinity degree, andthe Doctor of Ministry degree. The Master of Ministry, Specialist in Ministry, Doctor of PastoralTheology and Doctor of Ministry degrees are graduate degrees with an emphasis on ministry philosophyand practice specifically designed for those who have spent some time in the pastorate oron the mission field and recognize the need for additional training. These programs make it possibleto complete the degree with a minimum of interruption of one’s ministry. All requirementsmay be met through one- and two-week courses offered over a span of four years. The Masterof Divinity is a resident seminary degree which is specifically designed to prepare a person for aministry in the local church or on the mission field.Division of Graduate StudiesThe Division of Graduate Studies offers eight Master of Arts degrees (Bible, Bible Translation,Teaching Bible, Theology, Church Ministries, Youth Ministries, Pastoral Studies, and ChurchHistory). The Master of Arts programs may serve as terminal degrees, as foundation for the PhD,or as foundation for the Master of Divinity degree, or, in the case of the Master of Arts in BibleTranslation, the foundation for the Specialist degree in that field. The Doctor of Philosophydegrees provide opportunities for advanced study in Old and New Testament Interpretation,Theology, and Church History. The Doctor of Philosophy degree programs are designed for thosewho wish to teach on the college or seminary level or engage in a ministry of research and writing.Admission RequirementsA bachelor’s degree from a recognized college is required before a student will be consideredfor admission to graduate work in the seminary and Graduate School of Religion. Students areexpected to present a 2.5 grade point average on a four-point scale when seeking entrance into aMaster of Arts program. Those seeking entrance into the Master of Ministry or Master of Divinity41