Midwestern Baptist
Theological Seminary
2010-2012 Academic Catalog
5001 North Oak Trafficway
Kansas City, Missouri 64118-4697
816-414-3700
Application Information: 1-800-944-6287
email: [email protected]
Website: mbts.edu
While this Catalog was prepared utilizing the best information available at the time of publication, Midwestern Baptist
Theological Seminary reserves the right to make corrections and changes without prior notice in accordance with established
policies and procedures. June, 2011.
ii
Academic Calendar
2010-2011
2011-2012
Fall Semester
Music Placement Exams
August 19
August 18
Master‘s New Student Orientation
August 20
August 19
Fall Semester Registration/Fall Fees Due
August 23
August 22
Fall Classes Begin
August 23
August 22
Last Day to Add a Class
August 27
August 26
Labor Day
September 6
September 5
Fall Picnic
September 9
September 8
Last Day to Apply for December Graduation
Fall Break
October 11-16
September 15
October 10-14
Last Day to Drop a Classes Without Penalty
October 20
October 19
Master‘s Pre-Enrollment for January & Spring
October 25-November 5
October 24-November 4
Thanksgiving Break
November 22-27
November 21-26
Finals Week
December 13-16
December 12-15
Last Day to Apply for May Graduation
December 16
December 15
Christmas Recess
December 17-January 9
December 16 -January 8
December Graduation
December 16
January Term
Pre-Coursework for CCC First Courses Begins
December 13
December 12
January Fees Due; Except for CCC Courses for Which Fees
are Due 4-Weeks Prior to the First On-Campus Session
January 10
January 9
First Day of On-Campus Class Sessions
January 10
January 9
Last Day of On-Campus Class Sessions
January 21
January 20
Post-Coursework for CCC Last Courses Ends
February 18
February 17
Spring Semester
Music Placement Exams
January 27
January 26
Master‘s New Student Orientation
January 28
January 27
Spring Semester Registration/Spring Fees Due
January 31
January 30
Spring Classes Begin
January 31
January 30
Last Day to Add a Class
February 4
February 3
Doctoral Dissertation Project Due
February 15
February 15
Spring Break
March 21-26
March 12-16
Last day to drop classes without penalty
March 30
March 28
Master‘s Pre-enrollment for Summer & Fall
April 11-21
April 9-20
Good Friday Holiday
April 22
April 6
President‘s Day & Spring Picnic
May 3
May 1
Finals Week
May 16-19
May 14-17
Commencement
May 21
May 19
Summer Term
Pre-Coursework for First CCC Courses Begins
May 9
May 7
Summer Fees Due, Except for CCC Courses for Which Fees
are Due 4-Weeks Prior to the First On-Campus Session
June 6
June 4
First Day of On-Campus Class Sessions
June 6
June 4
Last Day of On-Campus Class Sessions
July 29
July 27
Post-Coursework for CCC Last Courses Ends
August 26
August 24
iii
President’s
Message
This catalog will be a
wonderful help to you in
discovering something of the
essence and mission of
Midwestern Baptist Theological
Seminary. Let me point out to you
several of the exciting elements of
our task and assignment.
First, it is ―God-given.‖ We
genuinely believe that seminary
education is an extension of the
Great Commission and therefore,
part of God‘s assignment for us. The Lord Jesus instructed
His disciples to make disciples, ―teaching them to observe
all things‖ that He had commanded. Those words
encapsulate all that we are about, discipling disciplers and
multiplying the multipliers.
God has set the agenda for our ministry and it is
contained in its fullness in His holy and trustworthy word,
the Bible. How rich and wonderful the Scripture truly is! It
points us to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. It
contains His truth and teachings, which we are to apply to
our lives and follow with all of the energy God gives us.
Midwestern is dedicated to studying and applying the
Bible‘s truths to our lives in fulfilling His mission.
Secondly, our mission is ―church-driven.‖ It is the
church of the Lord Jesus, as expressed through the
Southern Baptist Convention, which supports this
institution. It is her that we serve as we help train and
supply evangelists, pastors, teachers, missionaries, and
servants for the ―Body.‖
The church is God‘s one established entity for the
evangelization of the world. The more responsive we are in
ministering to her, in helping plant new congregations and in
the revitalization of plateaued or declining fellowships, then
the closer we are to being in on God‘s ultimate plan to bring
the world to Himself! We are and always will be church-
driven.
Thirdly, we are all about ―Biblical living.‖ Believing the
Book, which we do unreservedly, is vital and all-important.
It is, however, just the first step to the final objective and
that is the application of its truths. That is why Midwestern
sees Biblical living as its ultimate objective. It teaches us
how to order our personal lives, how to relate to others, and
perhaps most importantly, how to walk in fellowship with
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Additionally, Scriptural truths are meant to be lived out
in the life of the believer through evangelism, discipleship,
stewardship, church planting, burden bearing, and being salt
and light to a tasteless, decaying, and dark world.
Seminary education and training are never ends in
themselves. They are avenues of preparation for service in
the Kingdom of God. As you consider God‘s plan for further
training and instruction, remember that God‘s Word has
commanded each one of us to ―study‖ in order to show
ourselves approved unto God (2 Timothy 2:15). Midwestern
offers you God‘s best in professors, courses, and spiritual
growth, so that you can be the best servant of Christ
possible!
Thank you for taking the time to peruse this catalog.
Paper and print alone, with all of the facts that they represent
can never, however, communicate the full spirit and heart of
a God blessed institution like Midwestern. Plan on visiting
us as well to see, hear and experience all of these features for
yourself.
R. Philip Roberts, Ph.D.
President
iv
Board of Trustees
Term Expiring 2011
Richard L. Baker Nixa, Missouri
Patricia Bowen Little Rock, Arkansas
Nolan Duke Grandview, Missouri
Larry E. Hoffman Centralia, Illinois
Patrick McKay Flanders, New Jersey
Donald L. Paxton Abindom, Virginia
Kevin Shrum Madison, Tennessee
Term Expiring 2012
Term Expiring 2013
Larry T. Lewis Paducah, Kentucky
Richard Mathis Spartanburg, South Carolina
Dan T. McDonald Woodstock, Georgia
Ed Meyers Roswell, New Mexico
Emilio M. Meza Chula Vista, California
Kenneth J. Parker Kearney, Missouri
Sanford W. Peterson Leawood, Kansas
Term Expiring 2014
Judy L. Crain Trappe, Maryland
John J. Eckle Maple Valley, Washington
G. Richard Hastings Kansas City, Missouri
Roger Marshall Effingham, Illinois
Jim B. Shaw Trumann, Arkansas
Danny T. Stowe Mechanicsburg, Ohio
Steve E. Suttill Pheonix, Arizona
Term Expiring 2015
Dwight Blankenship St. Louis, Missouri
William D. Bowyer Wake Forest, North Carolina
Larry D. Dramann Lafayette, Colorado
James F. Freeman Lee‘s Summit, Missouri
J. Wendell Hudson Purvis, Mississippi
Stanley K. Mauldin King of Prussia, Pennsylvania
W. Harold Rawlings Walton, Kentucky
Table of Contents
Perspective ............................................................................ 1
Profile .......................................................................... 1
History ......................................................................... 4
Student Handbook ................................................................ 6
Introduction ................................................................. 6
Compliance with Federal Laws and Regulations ......... 6
Responsibilities-Academic .......................................... 8
Responsibilities-Community ....................................... 9
Responsibilities-Conduct ............................................. 9
Responsibilities-Expectations .................................... 11
Services ...................................................................... 12
Opportunities ............................................................. 14
International Students ................................................ 17
Finances .............................................................................. 19
Educational Fees ........................................................ 19
Meal Plan/Housing Fees ............................................ 21
Withdrawals and Refunds .......................................... 22
Financial Services ...................................................... 22
Financial Aid ............................................................. 24
Scholarships ............................................................... 31
Academic Information ........................................................ 35
Admissions ................................................................ 35
Policies ...................................................................... 38
Graduation ................................................................. 46
Programs of Study .............................................................. 49
Research Doctoral Program ....................................... 49
Professional Doctoral Programs ................................ 50
Professional Master‘s Programs ................................ 54
Research Master‘s Programs ..................................... 60
Nontraditional/Online Master‘s Program .................. 73
Graduate Certificate ................................................... 76
Pre-baccalaureate (Ministering Wife) Program ......... 77
Curriculum – Course Descriptions...................................... 78
Course Numbering Guide .......................................... 78
Doctoral Courses ....................................................... 79
Master‘s Courses ....................................................... 85
College Courses ....................................................... 103
Pre-baccalaureate Courses ....................................... 104
Off-Campus Programs ...................................................... 105
Administration and Faculty .............................................. 108
Biblical Foundation .......................................................... 111
The Seminary‘s Identity .......................................... 111
The Seminary‘s Confession of Faith........................ 111
The Baptist Faith and Message (2000) .................... 112
Index ................................................................................. 120
Maps ................................................................................. 123
Robert Ball Muncie, Indiana
Richard Z. Cox Lee‘s Summit, Missouri
Jeffrey Dial Little Rock, Arkansas
Gene Downing Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Bob Hartmann Wichita, Kansas
K. Wayne Lee Southlake, Texas
Harry E. Watson Las Vegas, Nevada
1 Perspective
Perspective
PROFILE
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, primarily a
professional graduate school, is an entity of the Southern
Baptist Convention, serving as a community of higher
learning for persons called to ministry. The Seminary is
supported by the Southern Baptist Cooperative Program and
is governed by a board of 35 trustees, elected by the
Southern Baptist Convention. In fulfilling their stewardship
for the Seminary, the trustees have adopted the SBC Baptist
Faith and Message, 2000 as the Seminary's Statement of
Faith.
Purpose Statement of the Southern Baptist
Seminaries
Southern Baptist theological seminaries exist to prepare
God-called men and women for vocational service in Baptist
churches and in other Christian ministries throughout the
world through programs of spiritual development,
theological studies, and practical preparation in ministry.
Mission Statement of Midwestern Baptist
Theological Seminary
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary serves the
church by Biblically educating God-called men and women
to be and make disciples of Jesus Christ.
Core Values
Veritas / Truth – “Know”
We believe that the Bible is the inspired, authoritative,
inerrant Word of God, and thus it instructs, motivates, and
guides us in all areas of ministry. We are committed to
helping students to understand, communicate, practice, and
defend Biblical truth.
Pietas / Devotion – “Be”
We seek to model and to instill in the lives of our
students supreme devotion to the Lord. We seek to provide
an atmosphere for students that cultivates consistent,
discipline, and balanced spiritual growth that validates their
call to ministry. We strive to accomplish this through
Biblically based teaching and by providing opportunities to
develop a lifestyle of Christian love and integrity. We
believe Christ-like relationships with God, family, church,
community, and world are essential and should be
cultivated.
Missio / Evangelism – “Do”
We believe it is the duty and privilege of every follower
of Christ and of every church of the Lord Jesus Christ to
endeavor to make disciples of all nations. The Lord Jesus
Christ has commanded the preaching of the Gospel to all
nations. It is the duty of every Christian to seek constantly to
win the lost to Christ by verbal witness undergirded by a
Christian lifestyle, and by other methods in harmony with
the gospel of Jesus Christ.
We believe in the primacy of the local church in the
work of evangelism. We prepare students to worship God,
evangelize the lost, edify believers, and establish Biblically-
based churches for the purpose of glorifying God.
We prepare student to be leaders who demonstrate
commitment to ministerial calling, cultural sensitivity, and
doctrinal integrity from a Southern Baptist perspective. We
seek to develop leaders who exemplify and communicate the
Great Commission in their ministry settings.
Teaching and Learning Values
We seek to train students to integrate Biblical teaching
within Midwestern's theological context in the construction
of a Christian worldview. We strive to accomplish this by
developing analytical, constructive, and interpretative
competencies with an emphasis on integrative theological
study as a base for the development of professional skills.
Institutional Objectives
Teaching Objectives: We seek to integrate Biblical
teaching within Midwestern's theological context to equip
students to mature in their Christian worldview and
professional ministry skills.
Learning Objectives: Through exegetical, theological,
and practical educational processes, we seek to produce
students who will: believe that the Bible is authoritative and
inerrant (2 Tim 3:15-16; 2 Pet 1:19; Mt 5:17-18); understand
and apply Biblical and theological truth (Rom 15:3-5; Jn
17:17); exemplify Biblical leadership and doctrinal integrity
in ministry (1 Pet 5:2-4); demonstrate Christ-likeness in
seeking and cultivating all relationships (Eph 4:30-32; Col
3:12-13); manifest a developing and disciplined Christian life
(Gal 5:22-23; 2 Pet 1:5-7; 1 Tim 4:7); be equipped to
minister in culturally relevant ways (1 Cor 9:19-23); and
commit themselves to fulfilling the Great Commission in
worshipping God, in evangelizing the lost, in edifying
believers, and in establishing healthy New Testament
Churches (Mt 28:18-20; Eph 4:11-14).
These institutional objectives were approved by the
Faculty of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary on
April 11, 2001 and adopted by the Board of Trustees on
April 23, 2001.
Accreditation
Midwestern maintains professional and academic
accreditation with two accrediting associations— the Higher
Learning Commission of the North Central Association of
Colleges and Schools (HLC-NCA) and the Association of
Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS).
Both HLC-NCA and ATS are recognized by the Council for
Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and the U.S.
Department of Education (USDE).
Perspective 2
In December 1961, Midwestern was granted associate
membership with ATS. Full membership and accreditation
were received on June 9, 1964. This accreditation is
periodically reviewed and has been successfully maintained.
ATS granted a separate accreditation of Midwestern‘s
Doctor of Ministry degree program in June 1977. ATS
granted preliminary accreditation to the Master of Church
Music degree in June 1991. In 2001 ATS granted approval
for Midwestern to begin offering the Doctor of Educational
Ministry degree program. In 2007 the Ph. D. program was
approved by ATS.
HLC-NCA awarded Midwestern accreditation of its
professional master's degree programs in March 1971 and its
professional Doctor of Ministry program in April 1975. The
undergraduate associate degree programs were approved in
2004. On August 12, 2005, HLC-NCA extended
Midwestern‘s accreditation to include the Bachelor of Arts
degree. In 2007, the Ph. D. program was approved by HLC-
NCA. In the summer of 2010, HLC-NCA approved
Midwestern to offer the Master of Arts degree, Theological
Studies major as an entirely online degree program.
Accreditation by this diversified and comprehensive agency
assists Midwestern in accomplishing its professional
objectives and commends its graduates to the larger
academic and professional communities.
Questions or appeals regarding accreditation issues
and/or matters needing outside mediation may be directed in
writing to ATS at The Association of Theological Schools,
10 Summit Park Drive, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
15275-1110, by phone at 412-788-6505, or by email at
[email protected]. Additional information may be obtained from
the ATS web page at www.ats.edu. HLC-NCA may be
contacted in writing at The Higher Learning Commission,
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500, Chicago, Illinois
60604, or by phone at 800-621-7440. Additional information
may be obtained from the HLC-NCA web page at
www.ncahlc.org.
Affiliation
Midwestern is a member of the American Schools of
Oriental Research (ASOR). A corporate entity located in the
United States, ASOR carries on its foreign operations
through grants made to independent centers in the Near East,
such as Jerusalem's Albright Institute of Archaeological
Research and Amman's American Center of Oriental
Research. Midwestern students have the privilege of
attending the Albright Institute without tuition charge and
may compete for fellowships offered for research in the Near
East. Through its relationship with ASOR, the Seminary and
its students participate in the work of exploration and
excavation in Bible lands, a work that helps unfold
information important to theological understanding.
Facilities
The Midwestern campus covers approximately 200
acres of beautiful woods and rolling meadows in Kansas
City North, just 10 minutes from downtown Kansas City.
The Seminary is strategically located, adjoining I-29, U.S.
69 and U.S. 169, and within five miles of interstate
highways 35, 70, 435 and 635. This proximity to major
transportation networks makes the campus easily accessible,
and many students and adjunct professors who serve on the
field can commute to Midwestern from the surrounding
areas.
The campus consists of five main areas—an
Administrative Complex, Chapel Complex, Trustees
Classroom Complex, Student Housing, and the Koehn-
Myers Center for World Evangelism. The Administrative
Complex includes the Library, Administration Building, and
Annex which houses Campus Operations and Information
Technology offices. The three major buildings of the
Administrative Complex surround a grassy courtyard and
fountain area.
The Midwestern Seminary Library is housed in a three-
story building near the center of the campus in the
Administration Complex. The collection consists of over
130,000 cataloged volumes in addition to a large body of
general and denominational periodicals (625 current
subscriptions) and other serial materials. The Library
participates in the Missouri Library Network, a
computerized system of shared cataloging, and the Missouri
Bibliographic Information Users System (MOBIUS), a
consortium of academic libraries in Missouri. Additionally,
many electronic full-text resources and databases are
available through the library‘s website for authorized users.
The Library also has another helpful resource, the
Curriculum Lab. The lab contains the curriculum material
published by LifeWay Christian Resources, other SBC
agencies, and the Woman's Missionary Union. Over 500
items of current materials are on display for students and
other interested persons.
The Charles H. Spurgeon Library Collection is now a
part of the Midwestern Library. The Charles H. Spurgeon
Library Collection was acquired by the Missouri Baptist
General Association (now Missouri Baptist Convention)
when it was available for purchase, in London, for 500
pounds during the sessions in 1905. Afterward, the
Collection was sent on the S.S. Cuban on Dec. 19, 1905, to
New Orleans, Louisiana, then on to Kansas City, Missouri
by the Illinois Central Railroad. The collection was housed
at a nearby academic institution for approximately 100
years.
Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-1892) was one of the most
prominent English Baptist pastors of the 19th century.
Representing the subject areas of literature, theology, travel,
biography, science, hymnody, history and humor, with
religion being the largest category, the Collection features
great Christian writers and has more than 6,000 volumes
including many of Spurgeon‘s personal works. Portions of
the Collection are on display in Midwestern‘s existing
library, while the remaining parts are currently housed in a
climate controlled library annex for classification,
cataloguing and restoration.
The Library Mission Resource Center is a collection of
mission artifacts collected from across the world. The late
Dr. Lavell Seats, who served as professor of missions,
3 Perspective
accumulated the collection over a lifetime. Seats was a
missionary for 17 years and a teacher for 43 years. He began
his collection while serving as a missionary in Nigeria,
donating the artifacts to the Seminary in 1994. The
collection is an educational tool for students who will be
working in different cultures as missionaries, giving insight
into these cultures and traditions. Items include nativity sets,
traditional clothing, dolls dressed in ethnic costume, and
everyday utensils used in the cultures.
The Morton Collection features over 1,000
archaeological artifacts from the Holy Land. These were
collected by the late Dr. William Morton, Biblical
archaeology professor from 1958 to 1984.
The Morton-Seats Institute of Archaeology and
Anthropology was formed by Midwestern to provide a
permanent and public display area for the Morton and Seats
collections; a research center for the ongoing archaeological
and anthropological study of the ancient and modern people
groups in North Africa and the Middle East; Midwestern
provides students the opportunity to participate in accredited
archaeological excavations and anthropological field studies
abroad; and support for the Master of Arts in Biblical
Archaeology degree program.
The recently renovated Trustees‘ building houses
classrooms; offices for Student Development, Admissions,
and Financial Aid; and a Student Center in the lower level.
Student mailboxes for campus mail are also located in the
Student Center area, along with the LifeWay Campus
Bookstore, owned and operated by LifeWay Christian
Resources. This building serves as an academic and social
gathering place.
The Koehn-Myers Center for World Evangelism is
named after two martyred missionaries, Bill Koehn and
Martha Myers, both of whom attended Midwestern Baptist
Theological Seminary. The Koehn-Myers Center houses the
Library Annex; Academic, Doctoral, and Faculty Offices; a
student lounge; and the Vines Café.
In early 2010 construction of a new Chapel complex
was begun. This facility will have a 1,000 seat auditorium,
additional class and conference rooms, missions area, prayer
rooms, and a large kitchen for serving banquets.
Faculty
Twenty-three full-time, three part-time, and six
administrative faculty members are assisted by
approximately 50 adjunct professors each year. Each faculty
member participates in a local Southern Baptist church,
teaching classes, serving as a deacon, or occasionally
serving as an interim pastor. The faculty is dedicated to
equipping men and women for a variety of Christian
ministries and is committed to the advancement of the
gospel of Jesus Christ.
Programs of Study
MIDWESTERN BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
RESEARCH/ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
Doctoral
Doctor of Philosophy
Old Testament Concentration
New Testament Concentration
Master‘s
Master of Arts Degree
Biblical Archaeology Major
Biblical Languages Major
Graduate Level
Graduate Certificate
Christian Foundations
PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS
Doctoral
Doctor of Ministry Degree
Doctor of Educational Ministry Degree
Master's
Master of Divinity Degree
Basic Program, no concentration
Biblical Languages Concentration
Christian Education Concentration
Collegiate Ministries Concentration
Counseling Concentration
International Church Planting Concentration
North American Church Planting Concentration
Urban Ministry Concentration
Worship Leadership Concentration
Youth Ministry Concentration
Master of Arts in:
Christian Education Degree
Plus an optional Worship Leadership Concentration
Church Music Degree
Counseling Degree
MIDWESTERN BAPTIST COLLEGE, SBC
(See the Midwestern Baptist College, SBC Academic
Catalog for details regarding the following programs of
study)
GRADUATE PROGRAM
Master of Arts Degree
Theological Studies Major (offered entirely online)
Perspective 4
UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS
Bachelor of Arts Degree
Biblical Studies Major
Christian Ministry Major
Basic Program
Christian Education Concentration
Cross-Cultural Studies Concentration
Pastoral Concentration
Missionary Aviation Major
Flight Training Concentration
Maintenance Concentration
Associate of Divinity Degree
Associate of Arts Degree
Biblical Studies Major
Christian Education Major
Music Major
NON-TRADITIONAL PROGRAMS
MACCEL Accelerated B.A., Biblical Studies Major
Contextualized Leadership Development (CLD)
Program, diploma
PRE-BACCALAUREATE PROGRAM
Diploma for the Ministering Wife
These programs prepare students for effective
leadership in pastoral, Christian education, and music
ministries. Opportunity is also provided for specializing in
evangelism, missions, preaching, collegiate ministries,
counseling, teaching, and administration. The Doctor of
Ministry and Doctor of Educational Ministry degrees are
advanced professional programs directed toward preparing
students for ministering in churches, denominational service,
and other ministry fields. The Doctor of Philosophy degree
is equips students for teaching and research positions in
theological schools, colleges, and universities, or for the
scholarly enhancement of ministerial practice.
Student Body Profile
The students at Midwestern Baptist Theological
Seminary come from a wide variety of cultural, economic,
and geographical backgrounds. By early September of 2010,
the fall enrollment was 962 students from 26 states and 13
foreign countries. The average age of these students was 37
and over 68 percent of them were married. Two hundred and
forty-one students were enrolled in undergraduate programs,
435 in master‘s programs, 267 in doctoral programs, and 19
in the WISDOM program for student wives. The students,
like the faculty and staff, are committed to theological
education in preparation for the practice of ministry.
The blend of new college graduates with second career
professionals brings a richness of life experiences to the
classroom. This dynamic, coupled with the classroom
instruction, prepares Midwestern students for ministry
anywhere God may lead them.
Trustees
As an institution of the Southern Baptist Convention,
Midwestern is guided by a board of trustees elected by the
convention at its annual meeting. Trustees elect faculty
members who subscribe to The Baptist Faith and Message
2000 of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Midwestern derives a significant portion of its financial
support from the SBC Cooperative Program. In addition to
Cooperative Program funds and student fees, alumni gifts
and endowments from special friends enable Midwestern to
further its far-reaching ministry.
Website
Extensive information about Midwestern is available at
www.mbts.edu. The site provides an online application
form, faculty profiles, news releases, chapel schedules,
current course offerings, and much more.
HISTORY
During the 1950s, a special committee on theological
education reviewed the need for establishing a sixth
Southern Baptist Convention seminary. Believing that a new
school, located near the so-called pioneer areas of Southern
Baptist work, would be of great value to convention
ministry, this committee recommended that a seminary be
established and that it be placed in Kansas City, Missouri.
Thus, on May 29, 1957, during its annual convention in
Chicago, the SBC founded Midwestern Baptist Theological
Seminary and elected a board of trustees for the new school.
Midwestern began its educational training in rented
facilities in Kansas City's First Calvary Baptist Church while
construction began on permanent facilities. By September
1959, the facility consisted of an administration and
classroom building, an auditorium, and a library. Two years
later, another classroom building was added. The Seminary
then began to address the need for student housing,
completing a residence hall in May 1963. From 1965 to
1973, a complex of 103 student apartments and modular
homes was constructed. In 1983, 12 additional apartment
units were built and in 1988, 28 two- and three-bedroom
apartments were constructed, raising the total to 143 units.
New faculty offices were constructed and the classroom
building was renovated in 1977. A childcare center was
completed in 1980 to provide childcare and a learning lab
for a children's education program.
In March, 2004 Midwestern‘s trustees voted to
authorize the establishment of Midwestern Baptist College,
SBC as an undergraduate school of the Seminary, and
Midwestern‘s accreditors granted approval for Midwestern
to offer the Associate of Divinity and Associate of Arts
degrees. On August 12, 2005 this was extended to approve
Midwestern to offer the Bachelor of Arts degree. In the
summer of 2010, the College was approved to offer an
entirely online Master of Arts degree with a major in
Theological Studies.
In September 1958, Midwestern Baptist Theological
Seminary began its educational training with a nucleus of six
faculty members and 136 students from 21 states and
Mexico. The Seminary has experienced gratifying growth in
5 Perspective
both numbers and in its ministerial outreach ever since. By
its second year, Midwestern had 10 faculty members, 275
students, and an enlarged staff. Today, 21 full-time, 3 part-
time, and 6 administrative faculty members; a number of
adjunct professors; over 100 staff members; and over 1,100
students per year comprise the Seminary community. With
the graduation of the class of 2010, over 4,340 theological
degrees have been earned by Midwestern students.
Dr. Millard J. Berquist, former pastor of the First
Baptist Church in Tampa, Florida, served as Midwestern‘s
first president from 1957 until his retirement in 1972. The
trustees then elected Dr. Milton Ferguson, former faculty
member at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort
Worth, Texas, as president of Midwestern. Dr. Ferguson
retired on July 31, 1995. Dr. Mark T. Coppenger was elected
as Midwestern's third president in June 1995 and served
until the fall of 1999.
Millard Berquist Milton Ferguson
Midwestern’s first president Midwestern’s second president
Mark T. Coppenger R. Philip Roberts
Midwestern’s third president Midwestern’s current president
Dr. R. Philip Roberts, former Vice President, Strategic
Cities Strategies Group, North American Mission Board,
SBC, was elected by the Midwestern Board of Trustees as
the Seminary‘s fourth president in January 2001. Dr. Roberts
began his duties as president in February 2001.
Seal and Symbol
The seal of Midwestern
Baptist Theological Seminary
includes:
the Bible which is the center
of our life and learning,
the Cross which is the heart
of our motivation and
commitment,
the World which is the
focus of our compassion and
service.
The seal also features the Seminary's focal scripture
reference, 2 Corinthians 5:18-20, and the institution's motto:
"In the heart of America for the hearts of the world."
The symbol for Midwestern Baptist Theological
Seminary is constructed around a rectangular field of blue
representing the big sky country of the Midwest. Reversed
from the center of this field is a cross representing the
central message of Midwestern Seminary: the atoning death
and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Also defining the edge of
the cross are blazing flames representing prairie fire and
Midwestern‘s emphasis on revival
and spiritual awakening. Lastly, in
the foreground, is a stalk of wheat
representing the Seminary's
geographic location in the heart of
the breadbasket of the world, but
more importantly, Midwestern‘s
focus on reaping a harvest of souls
around the world.
Through this symbol we are
communicating our commitment
to keep the preaching of the cross foremost in all our
endeavors, with an emphasis on fanning the flames of
revival among God's people while aggressively reaching our
world for Christ.
Student Handbook 6
Student
Handbook
INTRODUCTION
The Student Handbook clarifies policies designed to
provide a safe atmosphere conducive to campus living and
academic pursuits. While enrolled, students and family
members are to be familiar with the Handbook and its
obligations. Questions or requests for information regarding
the Student Handbook may be directed to the Student
Development Office.
Midwestern’s Core Values and Student
Responsibilities
Ministry is Biblical. Because we believe the Bible is
God‘s inerrant word, we believe that every person of every
race possesses full dignity and is worthy of respect and
Christian love. Midwestern students are expected to model
this value by showing respect and Christian love towards
other students, faculty, staff, and administrators. This
respect for other individuals includes an appreciation of
cultural backgrounds different from one‘s own, an
understanding of different attitudes and opinions, and an
awareness of the consequences of one‘s actions on the
broader community.
Ministry is Leadership. Because we seek to develop
leaders who exemplify and communicate God‘s vision in
their ministry settings, we believe students should strive for
the highest standard of integrity.
Ministry is Relational. Because we believe Christ-like
relationships with God, family, church, community, and the
world are essential and should be cultivated, students are
expected to model kingdom relationships with the various
members of the Seminary campus. While students are
encouraged to share their opinions and convictions, freedom
in any orderly relationship of human life is always limited
and never absolute. Therefore, students are expected to
strive towards high standards of compassion and courtesy in
the exercise of their freedoms.
Ministry is Personal and Spiritual. Midwestern seeks
to provide an atmosphere for students that cultivates
consistent, disciplined, and balanced spiritual growth and
that validates the student‘s call to ministry. Students are
expected to progress toward moral and spiritual maturity
through the indwelling presence and power of the Holy
Spirit.
Ministry is Focused. Midwestern prepares students to
be twenty-first century ministers who demonstrate
commitment to ministerial calling, cultural sensitivity, and
doctrinal integrity from a Southern Baptist perspective.
Student conduct is expected to reflect these commitments.
Emergencies
For immediate help in an emergency or threatening
situation, call 911—Kansas City‘s emergency telephone
number. This 911 number will reach fire, police, or
ambulance service. After relevant information is reported to
the 911 operator, campus personnel should be notified
immediately by calling 816-678-9355. This number may
also be called to report housing emergencies.
Kansas City, Missouri, emergency preparedness
officials conduct a monthly test of the city‘s severe weather
warning siren system at 11:00 a.m. on the first Wednesday
of each month.
COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL
LAWS AND REGULATIONS
Nondiscrimination
Midwestern complies with applicable laws regarding
nondiscrimination based on factors such as race, gender,
national origin, age, or disability in its educational and
employment policies. As a religious organization,
Midwestern does consider religious faith, practice, and
character to be relevant criteria in many educational or
employment decisions. Any questions about these polices
should be directed to the Student Development Office
located in the Trustees Building or by calling 816-414-3733.
Student Right to Know
Midwestern complies with the Crime Awareness and
Campus Security Act of 1990. This act requires Midwestern
to collect, prepare, publish, and distribute campus crime
statistics and security policies. This information is published
on an annual basis in the Student Right to Know and
Compliance Report and is available on the MBTS website
(www.mbts.edu). from the Student Development Office
located in the Trustees Building or by calling 816-414-3733.
Drug and Alcohol Awareness
Midwestern subscribes to the Drug Free Schools and
Communities Act. School policy expressly forbids the
possession, use, and/or distribution of alcohol, illegal drugs,
and all other controlled substances on Midwestern‘s campus
and extension sites. See the Disciplinary Action section later
in this Handbook for details of the sanctions applied for
violations of these school policies. More detailed
information about drug prevention; legal sanctions; health
risks; and drug and alcohol counseling, treatment and/or
rehabilitation programs is available on the MBTS website
(www.mbts.edu from the Student Development Office
located in the Trustees Building or by calling 816-414-3733.
7 Student Handbook
Facilities and Services for Disabled Students
Midwestern is committed to complying with Title II of
the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This Act
requires that no qualified individual with a disability will,
by reason of such disability, be excluded from participation
in, or be denied the benefits of an entities services,
programs, or activities or be subjected to discrimination by
any such entity. Similar obligations are found in Section 504
of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
Students with disabilities are expected to master the
fundamental skills and knowledge that are required for their
course of study. Students should not expect Midwestern to
excuse them from requirements that are difficult, but rather
should take the necessary steps to ensure that they are
getting the help they need to enable them to meet the
program‘s requirements.
Any student seeking effective auxiliary aids for a
current disability is responsible to provide the Student
Development Office with timely and adequate
documentation of the student's disability. Acceptable
documentation is a necessary prerequisite for proper
evaluation of the reasonableness of a proposed
accommodation or proposed modification to the rules,
policies, and practices of Midwestern. The Student
Development Office can provide the student with guidelines
for acceptable documentation of a disability.
It is the student's responsibility to initiate consideration
for accommodations relating to course or degree
requirements with the Student Development Office. Based
on appropriate documentation and discussion with the
student regarding past experiences, the Student
Development office will decide if accommodations are
warranted and what accommodations should be
recommended.
Further information is available from the Student
Development Office located in the Trustees Building, by
calling 816-414-3733, or on Midwestern‘s web site at
http://www.mbts.edu/about/consumer_information/.
Instructional Facilities and Labs
Information on the institution‘s instructional facilities is
available from the Student Development Office located in
the Trustees Building or by calling 816-414-3733. Also see
http://www.mbts.edu/academics/library/ for information on
library resources at Midwestern.
Campus Safety and Security Report
The Campus Safety and Security Report is available on
request from the Campus Operations office located in the
Administrative Complex Annex or by calling 816-414-
3732. Each fall semester the report is posted on
Midwestern‘s website at http://www.mbts.edu/downloads/_
about/campus_ security_report.pdf. Questions regarding this
information may be directed to the Director of Campus
Operations or the Student Development Office.
Job Placement
A complete listing of ministry opportunities sent to
Midwestern may be obtained from the Student Portal at
http://www.mbts.edu/current_students/ and clicking on "Job
Search." This is available only to current students at this
time. Midwestern alumni who wish to access job openings
or submit their resumes may contact the Student
Development Office located in the Trustees Building, call
816-414-3733, or submit information on the Midwestern‘s
web page at http://www.mbts.edu/student_life/ministry_
placement/.
For Christian organizations wishing to fill a ministry
position, Midwestern offers a database of ministry
opportunities that is accessible to our students and alumni.
Postings remain listed for four months unless special
instructions are given. To submit a ministry position
opening or for more information, contact the Student
Development Office located in the Trustees Building or by
calling 816-414-3733.
Peer-to-Peer File Sharing
The Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA)
includes provisions that are designed to reduce the illegal
uploading and downloading of copyrighted works through
peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing (an approach to content
distribution in which digital files are transferred between
―peer‖ computers over the Internet). Consistent with
principles of Midwestern and the expectations for student
behavior, Midwestern views education as the most
important element in combating illegal sharing of
copyrighted material and uses a variety of methods to
inform Midwestern‘s constituents about the law and
responses to claims of copyright infringement (see
http://www.mbts.edu/about/ consumer_information/ for
more detailed information).
Midwestern currently employs an enterprise-class
Sonicwall security device for analysis of all inbound and
outbound network traffic. Access to P2P protocols is
blocked as much as is practical by current technology.
When excessive sustained uploading is detected the IT
department makes an effort to identify the end user‘s system
and notify the user of the issue and possible causes. In
extreme cases when contact cannot be made with the system
owner the data connection is severed until the owner can be
reached and the issue resolved.
Students who share files that they are not the copyright
owner of, they are likely in violation of Seminary policy and
potentially subject to lawsuit by the copyright holder under
the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Students are
responsible for understanding what constitutes legal use of
music, movies, software, images, and other copyright works
that they own or use. In using Midwestern‘s network
resources, students agree to abide by the policies and
guidelines set forth by Midwestern.
Questions about file sharing may be addressed to
Midwestern‘s Helpdesk at 816-414-3763 or by emailing
[email protected].
Student Handbook 8
Student Body Diversity
For information about the diversity of Midwestern‘s
student body, contact the Registrar‘s Office in the
Administration Building or by calling 816-414-3713.
Additional Information
Additional information required by federal laws and/or
regulations to be included in this catalog is located on the
pages indicated:
Page
Academic Programs .................................. 3-4, 44-70
Accreditation ........................................................ 1-2
Admission Policies ........................................... 30-33
Cost of Attendance ........................................... 19-23
Credit Hour ............................................................ 36
Credit Hour Load .................................................. 36
Faculty and Administration .......................... 102-103
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act ..... 36-37
Financial Assistance ......................................... 24-29
International/Nonimmigrant Alien Students .... 17-18
Refund Policy ................................................... 22-23
Repayment/Return of Title IV Aid ........................ 25
Satisfactory Academic Progress ................. 25-27, 40
Sexual Harassment, see Abusive or
Disrespectful Behavior ...................................... 10
Student Complaints/Grievance Procedures ...... 10-11
Withdrawal from School ....................................... 41
Further information about Midwestern‘s compliance
with Federal laws and regulations may be obtained from the
Student Development Office located in the Trustees
Building or by calling 816-414-3733.
RESPONSIBILITIES-
ACADEMIC
Prospective Students
If you know someone who may be interested in
attending Midwestern Seminary, contact the Admissions
Office at 800-944-6287, 816-414-3733, or by email at
[email protected]. The Admissions Office will contact
the prospective student and send information about
Midwestern. All prospective students are encouraged to visit
the campus in Kansas City. Lodging and meals may be
provided by Midwestern for up to two days during the visit.
Pre-enrollment
Students enrolled in courses during the fall and/or
spring semesters may pre-enroll for courses in the following
January term and spring semester and/or the following
summer term and fall semester. Pre-enrollment dates are
listed on the academic calendar. Pre-enrolling gives the
student opportunity to schedule classes before incoming
students fill them. A pre-enrolled student may drop classes
at any time before the published deadline in the Registrar‘s
Office. After classes begin, student-initiated schedule
changes result in a $15 charge. Students pre-enrolling after
the scheduled pre-enrollment period will be assessed a $50
Late Pre-enrollment fee.
Transcripts
Students receive an unofficial copy of their transcript
each semester with pre-enrollment materials. Additional
copies may be obtained from the Registrar‘s Office. Official
transcripts are confidential documents and are issued only
when requested in person or in writing. Copies of official
transcripts are issued at a cost of $5 each, plus applicable
fees for electronic transcript services. Transcripts are only
released for persons who have accounts in good standing
with the Financial Services Office. Please allow up to two
weeks for processing through the Registrar‘s Office.
New Student Orientation
All newly admitted students are required to attend New
Student Orientation (NSO), which is held for graduate and
Ph. D. students each Spring and Fall semester on the Friday
before classes start. The non-refundable New Student
Orientation Registration Fee of $25 is due and payable upon
registration at NSO. Those students who fail to appear for
NSO are still responsible for the $25 fee as well as an
additional $25 penalty fee which will be billed to the
student‘s account. Contact the Student Development Office
at 816.414.3733 for questions or details.
Students Receiving Federal Title IV Funds
All students who receive U.S. government Title IV
Funds (e.g., Pell grants and/or loans) are required to attend
Midwestern‘s annual Financial Planning Workshop each
year that they receive Title IV Funds.
The federal government mandates that students who
withdraw from all classes may only keep the financial aid
(federal Title IV grant and loan assistance) they have
―earned‖ up to the time of withdrawal. Funds that were
disbursed in excess of the earned amount must be returned
to the federal government by the student and/or the
institution. The Financial Aid Office should be contacted
for a calculation of the actual amount the student must
return.
Academic Impact for Non- or Late Payment
Students with past due financial obligations to
Midwestern may not pre-enroll for future semesters/terms
and will not be officially enrolled in classes until their past
due financial obligations and semester fees have been paid
or approved arrangements for payment made. Students who
are more than four weeks delinquent in meeting their
financial obligations (including rent, if applicable) will be
suspended from classes. During the suspension period, the
student will be administratively marked absent from classes,
and assignments and exam grades will not be counted. The
student may be reinstated only after all delinquent financial
obligations are paid and clearance is obtained from the
Business Office.
9 Student Handbook
Students who have an outstanding financial obligation
to Midwestern or who are two months or more behind in
their rent by the middle of the eighth week of classes (the
end of the 25 percent refund period), may be
administratively withdrawn from all classes for that
semester, and in the case of late payment of rent, may be
required to vacate Midwestern housing.
Any appeals concerning the Academic Impact for Non-
or Late Payment should be made according to the appeals
process listed later in this Student Handbook section.
Withdrawal from Seminary
Students may withdraw from the Seminary at their
discretion. It is the student‘s responsibility to secure and
process the Exit Form with the Registrar‘s Office in order
that the withdrawal be made official. The academic record of
students withdrawing during a term is affected in the manner
described under ―Course Drop‖ in the Academic Policies
section of this catalog.
Any student withdrawing from the Seminary is to also
make proper arrangements with the Financial Aid Office,
concerning any remaining loans which a student has, and to
the Housing Office to ensure that proper notification is given
concerning moving from student housing. In addition, the
withdrawing student must communicate with the Financial
Services Office in order to arrange for the appropriate
payment of any unpaid accounts and to avoid the assessment
of late fees, penalties, or additional charges. An exit
interview with the Financial Aid Coordinator is required for
any student with a U.S. government student loan.
RESPONSIBILITIES-
COMMUNITY
Child Endangerment and Abandonment
Children should not be left unattended or placed in any
situation which might cause harm or injury to the child.
Children should be under adult supervision at all times in
Seminary buildings and facilities.
Maintenance
Any need for housekeeping attention, maintenance and
repairs in hallways, rest rooms, entrances, and other
common use areas should be reported to the Campus
Operations Office (816-414-3732).
Seminary Seal and Logo
Institutional seals and logos are unique, historic symbols
of an institution‘s identity and tradition. They represent the
entire institution and, therefore, should be used with care and
discretion. The use of Midwestern‘s seal and logo on
publications, merchandise, or gratuity items must be
approved in advance by the Communications Office.
Smoking
In keeping with our concern for the health and well-
being of students, smoking or any other use of tobacco
products is not permitted anywhere on the Midwestern
campus, including campus housing.
RESPONSIBILITIES-CONDUCT
Disciplinary Action
Disciplinary action may be initiated if a student is
involved in immoral or unethical behavior, including the
violation of the property rights of others. The following are
categories of conduct unacceptable in the Seminary
community:
Academic Misconduct. Academic misconduct includes
cheating and plagiarism. Students are to refrain from the
use of unauthorized aids on examinations and
assignments and to turn in only those assignments that are
the result of their own efforts and research (i.e., proper
citation is to be given for all quotations and/or
paraphrasing of other‘s work). Midwestern strongly
deplores plagiarism in all its forms. Dishonesty is
incompatible with the very purpose for which a student
avails himself of a Midwestern education. It is preferred
that one remain without a degree rather than to obtain it
by dishonest means; for Christianity cannot countenance
conduct that contradicts its basic tenets. It is further to be
hoped that each individual will recognize a responsibility
for his brother as well as for himself in all such matters.
Beverage Alcohol or Illegal Drugs. The purchase,
possession, distribution, or use of alcoholic beverages is
prohibited on or off campus. The purchase, possession,
distribution, or use of any illegal drug paraphernalia or
substance of abuse is also prohibited on- or off-campus. A
substance of abuse is any form of narcotics,
hallucinogenic, sports enhancement or ―street drug,‖
alcohol and any other controlled substances as defined by
law. Possession of beverage alcohol or illegal drugs in
campus housing will result in immediate suspension.
Discrimination and Harassment. Discrimination and/or
harassment in any form are prohibited.
Gambling. Gambling on- or off-campus is prohibited.
Sexual Impropriety. Sexual impropriety is participation in
premarital sex, extramarital sex, homosexual activities or
any form of deviant sexual behavior or cohabitation.
Pornography is also prohibited. Pornography is the
possession, purchase, distribution, or use of any
pornographic materials in any form (magazines, photos,
CD ROM, games, computer games, Web sites, etc.).
Neglect of Financial Obligations. Failure to pay rent,
tuition, fees, or other seminary bills in a timely manner as
prescribed by the Business Office constitutes neglect of
financial obligations. Intentionally writing bad checks
(i.e., checks with insufficient funds) is prohibited.
Giving False Information or Altering Records.
Student Handbook 10
Theft. Theft is the unauthorized taking, borrowing and/or
keeping of property belonging to others.
Abusive or Disrespectful Behavior.
Personal Abuse. Personal abuse is any behavior that
results in harassment, coercion, threat, disrespect and/or
intimidation of another person. It is also any unwanted
sexual attention towards another person. Actions or
statements that cause damage or threaten the personal
and/or psychological well-being of a person are also
considered personal abuse.
Breach of Peace. Breach of peace is any action which
disrupts the peace or which endangers or tends to
endanger the safety, health, or life of any person. It also
includes the disruption of the functional processes of the
Seminary by individuals or organizations.
Reckless Behavior. Any behavior that creates a risk or
danger to oneself or others in the Seminary community is
strictly prohibited.
These and other conduct that is unbecoming a Christian
minister is grounds for disciplinary action. Reports of such
conduct off campus will also be investigated, and the student
involved may be subject to disciplinary action. Students
involved in civil infractions are accountable to civil
authorities but may also be subject to discipline by the
Seminary.
The Dean of Students is responsible for the
administration of discipline among students. The Dean of
Students is responsible to the President. Cases involving
academic misconduct necessitate the administration of
discipline by the Academic Dean.
The purpose of disciplinary action is primarily remedial
and redemptive. The following are options available to the
administration:
Reprimand. Official warning that continuation or
repetition of an inappropriate behavior will result in a
more severe sanction.
Fine. Financial penalty appropriate to the violation.
Community Service. This sanction requires the student to
render a designated number of hours as specified service
to the Seminary or community.
Probation. Formal written warning that the student‘s
conduct is in violation of the Seminary‘s policies. The
continued status of the student as a student depends on the
maintenance of satisfactory citizenship during the period
of probation. Students on probationary status may not
hold student leadership or officer positions. Probation
may also include the forfeiture of other student privileges,
such as student housing or ministry referral assistance.
Voluntary Withdrawal. This sanction allows a student to
acknowledge that the student‘s actions are inconsistent
with expectations of the Seminary community. The
student who voluntarily withdraws must make a formal
written request if there is a desire to be readmitted later.
Suspension. Termination of student status at the Seminary
for not less than the remainder of the semester. The
student‘s presence on the campus may be prohibited
during this period.
Expulsion. Termination of student status at the Seminary
permanently or for an indefinite period of time.
If needed, the Dean of Students may convene an ethical
conduct committee. This committee will be chaired by the
Dean of Students and may include the student‘s faculty
advisor, the Academic Dean, the Registrar, or other
members of the faculty or administration who may be
appropriate to the situation. In the case of academic
misconduct, the student is referred to the Academic Dean. A
committee led by the Academic Dean and including the
Dean of Students may be formed. This committee may
confer with the student in question and will determine
appropriate disciplinary action.
Midwestern seeks to be a responsible and redemptive
community. In order that this may be true, it is expected that
staff, faculty, and students accept responsibility to report
those actions that might be detrimental to the reputation,
well-being, or safety of the Seminary community or the
ministries Midwestern serves. Conduct that is unethical or
otherwise inappropriate should be reported to appropriate
Seminary personnel. The Dean of Students will investigate
such reports and may talk with the individual(s) involved
personally. Any need for further action will result from this
investigation.
Grievance Process
There may be occasions when a student feels that the
decisions and/or actions by faculty, staff, or fellow students
are inappropriate and/or unjustified. There is an appropriate
way to appeal such decisions and/or actions, if the student
chooses to do so. The student is to first seek to resolve the
matter in a specific conference with the faculty member,
staff person, or fellow student involved. Careful and
thorough attention must be given to achieving a mutual
understanding of the perceived problem by determining and
agreeing on relevant facts, clarifying perceptions and
misunderstandings, and seeking to define the problem in a
way that is acceptable to both parties (Matthew 18:15-20).
If a student, after a good faith effort to resolve a matter,
feels that the problem persists to his injury or disadvantage,
the student may appeal to the Dean of Students. The Dean of
Students will meet with the student to hear the grievance and
take steps to resolve the problem.
Should a student find that a policy (current Student
Handbook) in regard to student life or the decision-making
process of a complaint has not been handled consistent with
Midwestern‘s policy and procedures, the student may submit
an official grievance to the Student Development Committee
for policy or policy process review. A formal grievance form
can be obtained from the Dean of Student‘s Office. It is to be
completed and returned to the Dean of Student‘s Office
within two business days. The Dean of Students will make a
copy for the student‘s file and forward the grievance form to
the chairperson of the Student Development Committee
within two business days. The Student Development
Committee serves as an objective interpreter of policy
processing and a monitor of policy integrity in relation to
specific student grievances.
11 Student Handbook
The Student Development Committee:
1. Will review the filed grievance form submitted by the
student.
2. Will review the filed grievance response submitted by the
Dean of Students.
3. May make a face-to-face inquiry with the student.
4. May make a face-to-face inquiry with the Dean of
Students.
5. May make a face-to-face inquiry with any party that can
assist in determining a solution to the grievance.
6. Will provide one of two responses:
a. The Committee will recommend a policy response for
future situations; with a description of those
principles which require a policy revision and a
conciliatory action recommended to the Dean of
Students for student restoration.
b. The Committee will recommend support of the policy
with an explanation of the principles that undergird
their decision and an accompanying recommendation
for student response to ensure restoration.
If the student believes the Student Development
Committee has violated the Student Handbook or has
violated due process, the student can file a Student
Development Committee Grievance with the President of the
Seminary. The student is to pick up a Student Development
Committee Grievance at the Dean of Student‘s Office. The
grievance form is to be completed and submitted to the Dean
of Students, who will forward it along with all relevant
documents to the President‘s Office within two business
days.
RESPONSIBILITIES-
EXPECTATIONS
Campus Wide Learning Opportunities
Classes are occasionally moved to accommodate
campus-wide learning opportunities. Seminary and College
students are expected to attend these events.
Dress
Maturity, dignity, warmth and a spirit of deference are
expected in every venue of seminary and college life,
marked by mutual respect and courtesy. Appearance and
attire, whether seasonal or semi-formal, should be modest
and Christ-honoring everywhere on campus. In order to
create a positive learning environment free of distractions,
tank tops and short-shorts are prohibited in class and in
chapel.
Divorce
Although Midwestern attempts to be a redemptive
institution, students with serious family problems should
defer seminary education. Prospective students with divorce
in their histories will be asked to note that fact as a part of
their application information and to provide an explanation
of the circumstances surrounding the divorce. Prospective
students with recent divorce need to wait until one year after
the divorce to apply to attend Midwestern. A member of the
Admissions Committee may ask for an interview with the
prospective student prior to approval for admission.
Midwestern considers marriage to be a covenant
relationship and a healthy marriage to be crucial to any
married student‘s ministry. Any change in a student‘s
marital status (marriage, divorce, separation, legal
separation) should be reported to the Student Development
Office. Those students who experience divorce or separation
after being approved for admission may be asked to
withdraw from classes so that appropriate attention might be
given to family needs. After one full year of withdrawal, the
student may reapply for admission to Midwestern.
Consideration of the student‘s application at that time will be
based on what has transpired in the student‘s marriage and
family relationship since the withdrawal.
Opportunities for service in local churches may be more
limited for graduates with a divorce than for other graduates.
Divorced applicants should explore the realistic assessment
of the range of opportunities of service open to them before
pursuing training at Midwestern.
Local Church Membership Certification
Midwestern serves the church by biblically educating
God called men and women to be and to make disciples of
Jesus Christ. As a school supported by the Cooperative
Program of the Southern Baptist Convention, Midwestern
affirms the importance and primacy of the local church in
evangelism and missions. Therefore, students are expected
to actively and regularly participate in a local church.
Degree-seeking students are to join a local church by the end
of their first academic year and are annually to certify their
membership in this local church.
The Local Church Membership Certification form is to
be completed annually by all non-doctoral level degree-
seeking students and returned to the Registrar‘s Office by
the Monday following Spring Break. Failure to do so will
result in the student being assessed the non-Baptist tuition
rate for future terms and the Dean of Students being notified
that the student has not reported active participation in a
local church.
Students are initially classified as ―Southern Baptist,‖
―other (non-SBC) Baptist‖, or ―non-Baptist‖ based on the
church membership information provided in their
application materials. This denominational status is used to
determine the tuition rate the student will pay. A student‘s
denominational status will not change unless the student
joins a church of a different denomination along with
reporting this on a new Local Church Membership
Certification form.
Student Handbook 12
Chapel Attendance
Chapel is viewed as a vital and distinctive part of the
educational experience on Midwestern‘s Kansas City
campus. Chapel helps define who we are and what we stand
for as a Southern Baptist, church-related, and evangelical
institution of higher education. All master‘s students are
strongly encouraged to attend the Tuesday and Wednesday
chapel services.
SERVICES
Bookstore: Life Way Campus Store
The bookstore is located on the lower level of the
Trustees Building adjacent to the Student Center. It is
operated by Life Way Christian Resources of the Southern
Baptist Convention and is one of the chain of Life Way
Bookstores.
The bookstore carries all Seminary-required texts,
relevant books, commentaries, and supplies. Many books are
discounted 15 percent on cash sales. Special sales are
offered periodically. The Bookstore may be contacted by
phone at 816-455-3925 or email at mbtstextbooks@
lifeway.com.
Midwestern Calendar
All meetings for student organizations, special interest
groups, and/or special events must be scheduled on the
Midwestern calendar. Students desiring to schedule an event
or meeting must schedule the date and campus facilities
through the appropriate campus office.
Meetings and events scheduled on the Midwestern
calendar can be listed in The Network as well as the
Midwestern website‘s online Calendar of Events. To list an
event in either or both of these, provide a written notice to
the Communications Office at least one week prior to the
Friday publication date of The Network.
Copy Center
A coin-operated copy machine is located in the Library
and in the Trustee Building hallway for student use.
Employment
International (F-1) Students. U.S. Immigration laws
prohibit first year F-1 students from being employed for
wages or working off-campus, and allow only 20 hours of
employment for wages or work per week on-campus. After
the first year, qualified F-1 students may seek approval and
authorization from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services to be employed off-campus. The spouse of an F-1
student holding an F-2 visa cannot work at all.
Campus. The Human Resources Office is located in the
Administration Building. It is the central location to learn
about on-campus employment and for submitting
applications. Midwestern believes in employing students
and student spouses and encourages them to submit
applications.
Church-Related. Students desiring church work are
encouraged to contact the Student Development Office. An
electronic copy of a resume should be placed on file in this
office. Student resumes are then distributed to churches as
requested. Students may also view a current list of ministry
opportunities on the Seminary‘s website (www.mbts.edu).
The Seminary encourages students to be in a ministry
setting and assists students as they seek ministry positions.
Other Employment. The Student Development Office
provides assistance to students in locating employment. A
list of current job opportunities is available on the bulletin
board in the Trustees building.
Business or Commercial Ventures on Campus.
Permission for any business or commercial ventures on
campus or within the Seminary housing area (including
baby-sitting services) must be requested in writing from the
Student Development Office. Off-campus businesses are not
allowed to solicit on-campus without written permission
from the Student Development Office.
Housing
All campus housing is subject to rules and regulations
deemed necessary for the best interests of all students and
families. Students receive information concerning these
rules at the time they receive their housing assignment.
Guest Housing. Limited guest housing may be
available on campus at a nightly rate. Arrangements are to
be made in the Housing Office to determine availability and
cost.
Campus Housing. Campus housing units are located
on-campus, and consist of one, two, and three-bedroom
apartments and double occupancy rooms in the Residence
Hall. Each residence is air-conditioned. Each apartment is
furnished with an electric range and refrigerator. Water and
trash removal expenses are included in the rent.
The housing area includes parking space for residents
and their guests, and a play area for children. Washing
machine and electric dryer hook-ups are provided in some
of the units for an additional cost. Coin-operated laundry
facilities are provided in the other apartment buildings.
Students should discuss the availability of appliance hook-
ups in the unit at the time the housing assignment is
determined.
Men’s Residence Hall. The Men‘s Residence Hall
includes a lounge, common kitchen, freezers, coin-operated
laundry facilities, TV room, and student rooms. Information
on the type and availability of accommodations will be
provided by the Housing Office on request.
Quiet Hours in the Men‘s Hall are between 11:00 pm
and 7:00 am each day. Women are only permitted to visit in
the commons area in the basement and the welcome area in
front of the Resident Advisor‘s office. Women are not
permitted to visit the halls or men‘s dorm rooms except for
Saturday‘s between 1:00 and 6:00 pm. Should a woman
visit in a dorm room, the door to the dorm room is to remain
completely open during the entire visit.
13 Student Handbook
Students who commute and desire to stay regularly on
campus during the week may rent a room if available.
Limited guest space is available in the Residence Hall in the
form of single rooms and efficiency apartments. A charge is
made for these guest rooms.
Requirements for Living in Campus Housing. An
on-campus residence hall and apartments are available for
degree-seeking students. Upon acceptance, students may
apply for on-campus housing. The application for housing is
mailed to the student along with the letter of acceptance.
Students living in campus housing are required to be degree-
seeking students enrolled in a minimum of nine credit hours
per semester plus January or summer terms (i.e., fall
semester plus January term or Spring semester plus summer
term). This nine-hour requirement applies to an individual
student, not the cumulative hours of family members.
Students enrolled in a professional doctoral degree program
are not eligible to live in campus housing.
A student may occupy campus housing during the time
required to earn the degree for which the student is
enrolled—however, maximum limits apply; contact the
Student Development Office for details.
Check-out procedures. When the resident is preparing
to vacate campus housing, the resident must submit an
―Intent to Vacate‖ form at least 30 days prior to the
anticipated move date. The ―intent to Vacate‖ is located on
the Housing page of the seminary‘s website. The resident
will be charged for a full 30-day period even though the
resident may actually vacate the unit earlier. In order to
prevent further rent charges from accruing on your account
after the unit is vacated, the resident must visit the Housing
Office during regular business hours to check out of campus
housing. Residents who neglect to turn in keys or fail to
complete the proper forms will continue to accrue rent
charges until the checkout process is completed and they
will also forfeit the Housing Deposit. MBTS shall remove
and dispose of, at the owners‘ expense, any personal
property left in the contracted space or any storage areas
after a tenant has vacated a unit. The resident will owe the
entire month‘s rent for the month in which they vacate the
unit. All or a portion of the housing deposit is refunded.
When a unit has been vacated, campus operations personnel
will inspect the unit. The status of this inspection, along
with the status of the student‘s accounts receivable record,
will determine the amount of deposit refunded.
Graduating students who are living in campus housing
must relocate to an off-campus location within 30 days after
completing requirements for graduation unless month-by-
month arrangements are made in advance with the Housing
Office. All persons, including graduating students, are
required to give a 30-day written notice of intention to move
or pay a month‘s rent in lieu of such notice.
Prohibitions. Beverage alcohol and tobacco are not
allowed anywhere on the Midwestern campus, including
campus housing. Possession of beverage alcohol or illegal
drugs in campus housing will result in immediate
suspension. Pets are not allowed in seminary housing.
Limits of Care
Midwestern Seminary‘s purpose is equipping
individuals for ministry. In the process of equipping
students, Midwestern is often asked to provide pastoral care
and counseling. The care provided by Midwestern Seminary
is defined as pastoral support-care. This means the Seminary
will offer encouragement, advice, prayer, and Biblical
guidance for our students. In no way does Midwestern
Seminary intend to present all its employees as professional
caregivers (licensed counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists,
etc.). The Seminary does not attempt to be the primary
caregivers for those with severe problems like clinical
depression, addictions, suicide, severe marriage and family
problems, or the like. In these cases the Seminary would
refer the individual or couple to a qualified caregiver.
Insurance
The Seminary encourages all students to obtain
hospitalization insurance for their own protection. A student
hospitalization plan is available through GuideStone
Financial Services of the Southern Baptist Convention and
other providers. At the time of enrollment all students will
be required to indicate whether they are covered by
hospitalization insurance or whether insurance is being
purchased through the plan offered by GuideStone or other
provider. Representatives from GuideStone and other
insurance agencies are on campus during the fall and spring
new student orientations to answer student questions. For
information at other times, GuideStone‘s toll-free telephone
number is 1-800-262-0511. Information regarding insurance
coverage and claim forms is available in the Financial Aid
Office. All international students (students holding F-1 or
J-1 Visas) are required to show proof of health insurance.
Life insurance is also available through GuideStone for
reasonable premium rates. Each student is encouraged to
carry some form of life insurance.
Seminary insurance does not cover the loss of personal
property or damage to personal items, whether on-campus or
in a seminary housing unit. Each student or resident is
encouraged to purchase such coverage from a private
insurance carrier.
Lost and Found
The campus ―Lost and Found‖ service is maintained in
the Student Development Office. Found items should be
taken there as well as inquiries for lost items.
Parking
All vehicles that are parked on campus are to have a
Midwestern parking sticker. Parking stickers are free and
may be obtained from the Housing Office.
Post Office and Campus Mail
Student mailboxes are located on the lower floor of the
Trustees Building adjunct to the Student Center. Each
student is assigned a campus box by the Business Office at
the time of registration. The student box is for internal
Student Handbook 14
campus use such as returning class papers and distribution of
course grades, campus flyers, memos, and The Network.
Questions concerning student mailboxes should be referred
to the Business Office in the Administration Building.
Campus boxes are for internal use only, not for the
delivery of U.S. mail. Mail sent through the U.S. Post Office
should be addressed to the student‘s home or campus
address. U.S. postage stamps may be purchased in the
Business Office.
Publications
Academic Catalog. Midwestern‘s Academic Catalog is
the Seminary‘s official statement of curricular offerings and
academic policies. The catalog provides information that
will enable students to make informed decisions concerning
their seminary education. The Seminary may require a
student whose enrollment has continued beyond five years to
graduate according to the requirements of a catalog issued
subsequent to the student‘s initial registration. Students
reenrolling after being out of school for one year or more
return under the requirements of the Catalog in effect at the
time they reenroll.
The Midwestern. The Midwestern is the official
publication for students, faculty, staff, alumni, trustees, and
friends of Midwestern. It is published quarterly by the
Communications Office. The newsmagazine-style
publication includes news and feature stories concerning the
entire Midwestern community.
Midwestern Journal of Theology. The Midwestern
Journal of Theology is a scholarly journal written to assist
Christians and churches in making disciples of Jesus Christ
throughout the world. Published twice a year, each issue
includes theological and exegetical articles, inspirational
sermons, and reviews of important books.
The Spire. The Spire is published by the
Communications Office each week of the fall and spring
semesters. This is an in-house publication containing
information about school activities. Notices for this
publication are to be submitted to the Communications
Office at least one week prior to the Friday publication date.
Meetings of student organizations on campus must first be
scheduled through the Student Development Office and
listed on the Midwestern calendar before being submitted for
publication in The Spire.
Student Directory. The Student Directory is published
by the Communications Office. The directory includes
pictures of the faculty, administrators, staff, and students. It
also contains addresses, telephone numbers, and other
pertinent information about the Midwestern community.
Pictures for the directory are taken at the beginning of each
semester. Appropriate attire is required (coat and tie for
men). Each student receives a complimentary copy of the
directory at the time of publication. Students have the option
of choosing not to have their pictures or personal
information listed in the Student Directory. Those choosing
this option must complete and submit an ―Opt Out‖ form
available in the Communications Office.
Student Handbook. The Student Handbook is included
as a section in the Academic Catalog and sets forth policies
and procedures pertaining to students and student families.
New students are required to submit a signed statement
affirming that they have read the Student Handbook. All
students and family members are encouraged to be familiar
with the Handbook. For any questions or information
regarding the Student Handbook, contact the Student
Development Office at 816-414-3733.
Security
Buildings and grounds are checked periodically.
Routine concerns after business hours are to be reported to
the recording by calling 816-414-3700. Security-related
matters of a more immediate nature may be directed to 816-
678-9356. Emergencies requiring assistance from Campus
Operations may be called in to 816-678-9355.
In the event of emergencies threatening life and
property, call 911 for immediate help from the Fire
Department, Police Department, or ambulance service.
Student Center
The Student Center is located in the lower level of the
Trustees Building and is open from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Monday through Friday. To reserve the Student Center for
an event, please contact the Student Development Office.
Koehn-Myers Center
The Koehn-Myers Center for World Evangelism is
named after two martyred missionaries, Bill Koehn and
Martha Myers, both of whom attended Midwestern Baptist
Theological Seminary. The Koehn-Myers Center houses the
Library Annex; Academic, Doctoral, Faculty offices; a
student lounge; and Vines Café.
Student Development Committee
The Student Development Committee is composed of
the Vice President for Student Development, three faculty
members, and a student representative. The Committee
proactively works with the Vice President for Student
Development for the watch-care of student life issues at
Midwestern and ultimately seeks for an environment that
enables success for Midwestern students.
OPPORTUNITIES
Midwestern Evangelism Teams (MET)
Midwestern Evangelism Teams (MET) is a student-led
program seeking to provide practical application
opportunities throughout the year. Students participate in
weekly evangelistic opportunities throughout the semester
with special emphasis on personal evangelism.
Involvement in MET is voluntary and open to anyone at
Midwestern who has a heart for sharing the Gospel of Jesus
Christ.
15 Student Handbook
Midwestern Women’s Fellowship
Monthly meetings of Midwestern Women‘s Fellowship
(MWF) feature programs of fellowship and inspiration for
wives of students, female students, and female employees.
The meetings are often thematic corresponding to special
interests of the Fellowship‘s members.
MWF sponsors the annual Carolyne Hester Student
Wives Retreat—a weekend retreat focusing on the needs of
wives preparing for ministry.
Ministry Opportunities
Over 550 Southern Baptist churches lie within a 100-
mile radius of Midwestern. The proximity of this great
number of churches makes it possible for a majority of
Midwestern students to serve in a ministry setting while
pursuing their theological education. Many Midwestern
students serve as pastors, assistant pastors, interim pastors,
or ministers of music, Christian education, or youth.
Students also serve in such specialized ministries as
language missions, new work ministries, Christian social
ministries, and student work.
The Student Development Office maintains a resource
for students and alumni to explore places of service in area
churches and across the convention. Students are encouraged
to take advantage of this resource by providing an electronic
copy of a resume for reference. Ministry inquiries may be
directed to the Student Development Office. Students may
also view a current list of ministry opportunities on
Midwestern‘s website (www.mbts.edu).
Music Opportunities
Seminary students, spouses, faculty, and staff join
together to form the Seminary choral group, the Midwestern
Singers. The choral group provides special music for the
seminary chapel services, programs, and events. The
Midwestern Singers provides a ministry opportunity and
creative outlet for talented musicians. Rehearsals are held
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 12:30 to 1:20 p.m.
Seminary credit is awarded at no charge for those enrolled.
An auditioned Midwestern Praise Team ensemble offers
opportunities in preparing contemporary music and
occasionally there is an instrumental ensemble. Interested
persons should contact the Church Music Office.
Midwestern Seminary and College offer a combined
student and community choral ensemble named the ―Choral
Union.‖ This ensemble presents choral works from our
sacred music heritage and new sacred music written for
choir by contemporary composers. No audition is required,
and students may enroll for one hour of credit per semester
at not cost. This group rehearses throughout the semester
and presents a semester-ending performance.
Recreation
Midwestern sponsors a recreation program under the
guidance of the Student Development Office. Midwestern
recognizes the importance of health and physical fitness.
Recreation at Midwestern involves assisting members of our
community to experience renewal and a sense of well-being
of mind, body, and spirit through the creative power of God.
The recreation program attempts to be inclusive, with
activities for students, faculty, staff, and family members.
This includes team and individual sports as well as leisure
recreation. Sports include intramural softball, basketball,
flag football, and ultimate Frisbee.
The recreation facilities provided by Midwestern are not
only for fun and relaxation, but also for physical and mental
health. Equipment for various activities may be checked out
through the Student Development Office.
A campus-wide picnic is scheduled each year in the fall
and spring. This is a campus-wide fellowship event to
celebrate the beginning and ending of the academic year.
Off-campus facilities are occasionally reserved for
recreation. Ball fields, gyms, pools, and other recreation
facilities are located near the campus.
All recreation and leisure activities and events are
posted on the recreation bulletin board located in the foyer
of the Trustees Building. Dates and general information for
events are also listed in The Network. Further information
regarding these events may be obtained through the Student
Development Office.
Scheduling Special Activities
Special activities or meetings on campus are to be
scheduled through the appropriate offices. The Koehn-Myers
Center is scheduled through the office of Vice President of
Administration, the Chapel is scheduled through the
President‘s Office and the Student Center is scheduled
through the Student Development Office. Rooms and times
are then placed on the Midwestern calendar. No event is to
be scheduled on campus prior to contacting the appropriate
office. Campus events that have been scheduled on the
Midwestern calendar may be listed in The Network.
Student Body Association
The Student Body Association (SBA) is the official
organization for student government on campus. Officers for
the association are elected annually by the general student
body. The SBA promotes student interests and conducts
activities directly related to student life. For example, the
SBA presents the needs and issues of students to Midwestern
and organizes social events for fellowship during the school
year.
Student Organizations
Two types of student organizations operate at
Midwestern: Official organizations established by the
faculty and administration, and volunteer organizations
which are established around a particular student interest or
geographical area.
Student Volunteer Organizations
All student volunteer organizations should contribute in
a positive and practical way to the intellectual, spiritual, and
professional interests of students. Students interested in
forming a new organization are required to observe the
following guidelines:
Student Handbook 16
1. Forms to be used in proposing a new student organization
are available in the Student Development Office.
2. The completed organization form will include:
a. The name of the proposed group.
b. Signature of a faculty member or administrator who
will assume the role of sponsor.
c. Statement of purpose.
d. Organizational statement.
e. Petition signed by 20 people, 6 of whom will be
active members.
3. The completed form should be returned to the Student
Development Office.
4. The Student Body Association and the faculty committee
on student development must approve new or
reconstituted organizations.
5. Upon approval, the organization will be granted
permission to use seminary facilities and publications.
6. Officers of the newly formed organization should be
elected and recorded in the Student Development Office
prior to the second meeting.
7. A copy of the organization‘s constitution and bylaws must
be submitted and filed in the Student Development Office.
An annual registration is required for all organizations.
Annual registration involves providing the Student
Development Office with names of officers, sponsors, and
any revisions of the statement of purpose or organizational
statement. The annual registration must be completed prior
to scheduling meetings. Meetings on campus are scheduled
through the Student Development Office.
WISDOM Program
Midwestern believes that when God calls a married man
into full-time ministry, He also calls the man‘s wife. The
couple is one in marriage and one in ministry. Their roles are
unique but they are a team. The WISDOM program (Wives
In Seminary Developing Our Ministries) offers courses
designed to equip the wife of a minister to be a more
effective part of this team.
A Diploma for the Ministering Wife is presented to
those completing the prescribed requirements. Many of the
WISDOM courses are taught by wives of Midwestern‘s
professors or administrators. Midwestern professors,
administrators, and others with ministry experience from the
area also assist in teaching. Free childcare is provided by
reservation.
Worship Services
The students, faculty, and staff of Midwestern gather
together regularly for worship and for other special lectures
and events.
Chapel. Chapel services are held twice each week on
Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10:00 a.m. in the Seminary
auditorium during the fall and spring semesters. The services
offer a variety of preaching, teaching, and other worship
opportunities. Attendance is strongly encouraged for all
Seminary students.
Convocation. Convocation is held twice during each
school year—a general convocation at the beginning of the
fall semester and an academic convocation at the beginning
of the spring semester. A ceremonial assembly of all
members of the campus community, convocation serves as a
launching point for each new semester.
C. W. Scudder ―School of the Prophets‖ Memorial
Lectureship in Christian Ethics. In 1991, Mrs. Lyle
Scudder and Kathy Scudder established the C. W. Scudder
―School of the Prophets‖ lectureship as a memorial to the
late Dr. C. W. Scudder, vice president for internal affairs,
senior professor of Christian ethics, and vice president
emeritus at Midwestern Seminary, 1975-1991. This
lectureship focuses on the Biblical basis for dealing with
contemporary social challenges and ethical issues.
Day of Prayer. The Midwestern community participates
in a day of prayer at the beginning of each fall and spring
semester.
H. I. Hester Lectureship on Preaching. In 1958, Dr.
H. I. Hester, first chairman of the Midwestern Seminary
Board of Trustees, together with Mrs. Hester, instituted the
H. I. Hester Lectureship on Preaching. A distinguished
authority in the field of preaching delivers a series of
lectures.
Lewis A. Drummond Lecture Series. The Lewis A.
Drummond Lecture Series on Evangelism was established in
2005 by the widow of Dr. Lewis A. Drummond, Betty
Drummond, of Dothan, AL, as an annual one-week
evangelism lecture series dedicated in memory of her
husband. At the time of his death in 2004, Dr. Drummond
was evangelism professor in residence at the Billy Graham
Training Center at The Cove in Ashville and chancellor of
schools of evangelism for the Billy Graham Evangelistic
Association. He served as the Billy Graham Professor of
Evangelism at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in
Louisville, KY from 1968-73, president of Southeastern
Baptist Theological Seminary in NC from 1988-92, and was
the Billy Graham Professor of Evangelism at Beeson
Divinity School in Birmingham, AL from 1992 until he
retired in 2003.
Sizemore Lectureship in Biblical Studies. In 1976, the
Midwestern family and many of its friends established the
Burlan A. Sizemore, Jr. Lectureship in Biblical Studies as a
memorial to Dr. Sizemore. Sizemore, professor of Old
Testament and Hebrew at Midwestern since 1968, was killed
in an auto accident in March 1976. This lectureship brings
authorities and scholars to the campus to deliver a weeklong
series of lectures on some aspect of Biblical studies.
Spurgeon Pastoral Leadership Workshop. Each
spring Midwestern hosts the Spurgeon Pastoral Leadership
Workshop. This is a one-day workshop which focuses on the
practice of pastoral leadership and personal integrity.
Week of Preaching. The Week of Preaching is
designed to serve as a week of inspiration and spiritual
renewal for both the Midwestern and area communities. A
well-known preacher or denominational leader leads this
week of worship each year.
World Missions Day. Midwestern sponsors World
Missions Days several times each year. These are special
programs which bring people who are directly involved in
17 Student Handbook
some areas of missions work to the campus. The programs
take a variety of forms from multimedia presentations to
panel discussions. Whatever the format of the programs,
however, all have a common threefold purpose for the
Midwestern student: to inform each student about the reality
of the Christian mission around the world and at home, to
help the student begin to develop a personal strategy of
missions, and to encourage the student regarding his own
place in the mission of the church.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
International students are welcome at Midwestern,
which is authorized under Federal law to enroll
nonimmigrant international students. The Seminary‘s
specialized programs are appropriate for persons preparing
for a career in Christian ministry. Midwestern is primarily a
post-baccalaureate graduate school designed to equip God-
called men and women for effective Christian leadership
roles in church-related ministries. International Students may
only attend Midwestern‘s Kansas City campus. New
International Students may only begin in the fall or spring
semesters.
A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or
university is a prerequisite for entrance into all master's
programs. Midwestern's undergraduate programs are
designed for students who have not yet earned an accredited
baccalaureate degree but already have an earned high school
diploma or its equivalent.
International students at Midwestern are expected to be
aware of and in compliance with all federal regulations
applicable to them. Midwestern does not admit students who
are currently out of status with the U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services.
All international students (i.e., students with F-1, J-1, or
R-1 visas) whose native language is not English must take
the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The
TOEFL score submitted to Midwestern must be from a test
taken within two years of the applicant‘s anticipated first
date of attendance. To be official, the applicant‘s TOEFL
score report must be sent directly to Midwestern by the
Educational Testing Service. Only official score reports will
be considered; applicants are not to send copies of their
personal score reports. The minimum TOEFL score for
admission to Midwestern is a total score of: 80 on the
Internet-based test with a minimum of 20 on each of the
Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing sub-sections.
Other forms of the TOEFL exam are not accepted unless
prior approval is obtained from the Admissions Committee.
International students applying to return to Midwestern
to pursue a new degree program after having earned a degree
from Midwestern are required to retake the TOEFL exam if
the TOEFL score on file is more than seven years old. The
minimum TOEFL scores required for admission to
Midwestern must be met.
Information about the TOEFL examination is available
at most colleges and universities or may be obtained by
writing the Educational Testing Service at: TOEFL/TSE
Services, P.O. Box 6151, Princeton, NJ 08541-6151, USA.
To save time, please use Midwestern’s school code,
6441-0, to have the Educational Testing Service forward
your score directly to Midwestern. The TOEFL score must
be received by the Admissions Office before an international
student‘s application will be processed.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service requires
that prospective international students who will be on a F-1
visa provide evidence of adequate financial support for the
duration of their status as a student. Therefore, international
students need to complete an International Student
Certification of Finances form to provide evidence of their
financial support for the duration of the international
applicant‘s study at Midwestern. Family and friends that
pledge support on this form are expected to make their
money available in advance of the applicant‘s entry into the
United States.
International students should also be aware that U.S.
Immigration laws prohibit first year F-1 students from being
employed for wages or working off-campus, and allows only
20 hours of employment for wages per week on-campus.
After the first year, qualified F-1 students may seek
approval/authorization from the U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services to be employed off-campus. The
spouse of an F-1 student holding an F-2 visa cannot work at
all.
International Student Application Process.
International Students should begin the Midwestern
application process by submitting their TOEFL score and a
completed International Student Certification of Finances
form at least one year prior to the anticipated date of entry.
After Midwestern has received the report of an adequate
TOEFL score and has approved the International Student
Certificate of Finances, an application for admission will be
sent to the interested person. Application materials must be
received by the Admissions Office at least ninety days prior
to the anticipated date of entry. There is a TOEFL
exemption for Korean speakers who are in degree programs
taught in Korean and for Spanish doctoral students in
doctoral programs taught in Spanish.
Beyond the TOEFL score and financial information, an
application for admission to Midwestern requires the
following items: (1) a completed application form; (2) a
non-refundable application fee of $25 (U.S. currency only);
(3) a Church Endorsement form completed by the
congregation of which the applicant is a member; (4) three
personal recommendation forms—these forms are to be
returned directly to Midwestern by the recommending
persons; (5) transcripts of all academic work completed at
the college level or higher—transcripts and other educational
records must be official copies certified by the issuing
institutions and should be accompanied by a complete
English translation if the originals are in another language;
(6) marital/spouse information; and (7) Health Information
Form.
If accepted as a student, upon arrival at Midwestern,
each international student is also required to show proof of
Student Handbook 18
having health insurance for themselves and their family, if
applicable. Each international student is also required to be
tested for Tuberculosis at an approved site in the United
States before attending any classes. Tuberculosis test results
from locations outside the United States are not acceptable.
After the prospective international student‘s application for
admission is approved, Midwestern will send the applicant a
Certificate of Eligibility for Non-Immigrant F-1 Student
(Form I-20). Using the information on the I-20 form, the
international applicant must next complete an I-901 form
and pay the $100 fee in U.S. currency. Instructions for
completing the I-901 form and paying the fee are available
at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and
Immigration and Customs Enforcement web site:
https://www.fmjfee.com/i901fee/. Upon completion of the
I-901 form and payment of the $100 fee in U.S. currency,
the international applicant must present the I-20 form along
with a receipt showing that the I-901 fee has been paid to a
U.S. Consulate or Embassy. If approved, the U.S. Consulate
or Embassy will then issue the international applicant a visa
for entrance into the United States.
A copy of Midwestern‘s Academic Catalog and/or
application materials may be obtained by calling
1-800-944-6287, by visiting Midwestern‘s website:
www.mbts.edu, or by writing:
Admissions Office
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
5001 N. Oak Trafficway
Kansas City, MO 64118-4697
19 Finances
Finances
The student should come with sufficient funds to meet
all initial educational expenses such as: tuition, fees,
housing, books, etc. All educational charges are due and
payable no later than the first day of the semester or term for
which the student is enrolling (see the Academic Calendar
for specific dates). Students are not officially enrolled in
classes until their educational charges and any past due
financial obligations to Midwestern have been paid or
approved arrangements for payment made.
Educational fees are subject to change by the Seminary
without prior notice in accordance with established policies
and procedures. Any revisions are communicated to students
prior to each semester.
EDUCATIONAL FEES
Tuition Differential
Through the Cooperative Program, Southern Baptist
churches and state conventions underwrite the theological
education of Southern Baptists enrolled at Midwestern. Each
of the six SBC seminaries receives an amount proportional
to the size of its student body, with more than $30 million
supporting over 10,000 students enrolled at the six schools.
The entire Seminary community is thankful to Southern
Baptists for making this lifeline of support available.
Students from churches not affiliated with the Southern
Baptist Convention are required to pay a tuition rate that is
higher than the Southern Baptist tuition rate. This tuition
differential shall be approximately double the SBC student
rate. Tuition and fees are subject to change at any time at the
discretion of the Seminary in accordance with established
policies and procedures. Changes are communicated to
students prior to the semester they take effect.
General Fees
All educational charges are due and payable no later
than the first day of the semester or term for which the
student is enrolling (see the Academic Calendar for specific
dates) or when the service is requested.
Advanced Standing Examination Fee (per credit
hour) .......................................................................... $ 35
Application Fee (nonrefundable fee submitted with
an application for admission to Midwestern) ................. 30
Audit/Continuing Education Fee (noncredit; per
hour fee plus the per hour registration fee and
course fees, if applicable) .............................................. 60
Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE)/Orientation (CPO)
Transcription Fee (per hour registration fee plus 25% of
the applicable per hour tuition rate for MN5360
Clinical Pastoral Education) ...................................... varies
Course Fees (nonrefundable; per course, if applicable;
amount is listed in course descriptions)..................... varies
Course/Schedule Change Fee (after registration;
per Schedule Change form) ............................................ 15
Credit by Examination Fee (undergraduate; per credit
hour) ............................................................................... 35
Diploma for the Ministering Wife/WISDOM—DW
Courses (per hour)
Wife of a Midwestern student or employee .............. $ 15
Wife of a Non-Midwestern student or employee ........... 25
EXCEL Testing (per course) ............................................. 25
Graduation Fee:
Doctoral Degree recipient ............................................ 150
Master‘s or Undergraduate Degree recipient ................ 125
Certificate or Diploma recipient ..................................... 45
Graduating Student Class Dues (for Master‘s and
undergraduates; optional) .......................................... varies
Late Payment Fee (assessed for paying academic
fees after the published deadline) ................................... 50
Late Pre-enrollment Fee (assessed for pre-enrolling
after the pre-enrollment period) ..................................... 50
Midwestern Journal of Theology Fee (nonrefundable
Journal purchase fee assessed to students enrolled for
credit and/or doctoral enrollment; per semester) ............ 10
Miller Analogies Test Fee ................................................. 40
New Student Orientation Fee…………………………... 25
Profiles of Ministry Fee
Stage 1: Entrance ............................................................ 45
Stage 2: Exit ................................................................... 55
Registration/Activity Fee (nonrefundable, per
semester/term; music ensemble hours are not
included or counted):
If enrolled for audit hours only....................................... 15
1-6 semester credit and audit hours ................................ 70
7+ semester or audit hours ........................................... 120
January or Summer Term credit and audit hours ........... 30
Replacement Degree/Diploma ......................................... 45
Finances 20
Student Child-the tuition rate for the child of a full-
time, degree-seeking student (9 or more credit
hours for master's students and 12 or more credit
hours for undergraduate students) is 75% of the
applicable tuition rate of the full-time student. The
student child tuition rate does not apply to children
of doctoral students. Both pay the per hour
registration and other applicable fees, if any............ varies
Student Spouse-the tuition rate for the spouse of a
full-time, degree-seeking student (9 or more credit
hours for master's students and 12 or more credit
hours for undergraduate students) is one-half the
tuition rate of the full-time student and applies to
the spouse taking the least hours. The student
spouse tuition rate does not apply to children of
doctoral students. Both pay the per hour
registration and other applicable fees, if any........... Varies
Technology Fee (on-campus students only)
(Fall and Spring semester) .............................................. 40
(January or Summer terms)………… ............................ 20
Transcript Fee (per transcript) .............................................5
(plus applicable fees for electronic transcript services)
Master's Programs
Tuition:
On-Campus (in Kansas City)
Qualified Southern Baptist Students (per hour) .. $ 185
Other (non-SBC) Baptist Students (per hour) ....... 235
All Other Students (per hour) ................................ 310
Off-Campus (Extension and Church Sites)
Qualified Southern Baptist Students (per hour) .... 200
Other (non-SBC) Baptist Students (per hour) ....... 255
All Other Students (per hour) ................................ 330
Online/Internet Master‘s Course – all students (per
hour; all fees, including the Registration/
Activity, Journal, Graduation, and other
fees, are included in tuition) ................................. 250
Music Course Fees (nonrefundable; paid in addition to
tuition)
Private or Elective Music Lessons
Music Majors (per course) ................................. 110
Non-Music Major (per course) .......................... 160
Class Music Lessons (per course) ................................ 90
Ensemble Fee (e.g., Midwestern Singers) ........ no charge
Doctoral Programs
Course Drop/Withdrawal Fee for withdrawing from
a seminar prior to the first on-campus class session:
59 to 30 days prior ..................................................... 150
29 or less days prior ................................................... 250
Enrollment Maintenance Fee (per semester
enrollment fee, assessed if D.Min. requirements
are not finished in 6 semesters or D.Ed.Min.
requirements are not finished in 8 semesters) ............... 500
Inactive Status Fee (per semester for a maximum
of three years or six semesters) ..................................... 250
Interrupted Status Fee (per semester for a
maximum of one year or two semesters) ....................... 250
Extended Time Fee (one time, one year with approval) for
D. Min. students in their 11
th
semester or D. Ed. Min. in
students in their 13
th
semester………………………..1000
Nondegree-Seeking Doctoral Student Fees
Audit Fee (noncredit; per audit hour) ............................. 85
Credit Fee (per credit hour)
Qualified Southern Baptist Students .......................... 180
All Other Students ..................................................... 360
Directed Study………………………………………...500
Doctoral Program Fees
Doctoral program fees are assessed and paid for the
entire program independent of the student‘s enrollment in
seminar courses. To maintain active status, Ph.D. students
must successfully complete at least two seminar courses per
semester and professional doctoral students must
successfully complete at least two seminar courses per
academic year.
Monthly payments may be arranged through the
FACTS payment program where automatic monthly
payment are withdrawn from the participant‘s checking or
savings account—details are described later in this section.
Monthly payments may also be arranged directly with the
Doctoral Studies Office. The Late Payment Fee is assessed
for payments not received by 20th of the month due.
Bi-annual or semester payments may also be arranged
through the Doctoral Studies Office. Payments are due by
July 15 for the fall semester and January 15 for the spring
semester. The Late Payment Fee is assessed for payments
not received by 20th of the month due.
Doctor of Philosophy—program fees are paid in 60
monthly or ten bi-annual payments over five years;
continuous enrollment during this period is required.
Qualified Southern Baptist Students
per month ..................................................$ 186.50
per semester .................................................. 1,119.00
Total .............................................................11,990.00
All Other Students
per month ......................................................... 369.84
per semester .................................................. 2,219.00
Total .............................................................21,190.00
21 Finances
Doctor of Ministry—program fees are paid in 36 monthly
or six bi-annual payments over three years; continuous
enrollment during this period is required.
Qualified Southern Baptist Students
per month .................................................... $ 171.95
per semester .................................................... 1031.67
Total ............................................................... 6,190.00
All Other Students
per month .......................................................... 310.84
per semester ................................................... 1,865.00
Total ............................................................. 11,190.00
Doctor of Educational Ministry—program fees are paid
in 48 monthly or eight bi-annual payments over four
years; continuous enrollment during this period is
required.
Qualified Southern Baptist Students
per month .......................................................... 170.63
per semester .................................................... 1023.75
Total ............................................................... 8,190.00
All Other Students
per month .......................................................... 320.63
per semester ................................................... 1,923.75
Total ............................................................. 15,390.00
Textbooks
Textbooks typically average $50 to $60 per course and
may be purchased at the LifeWay Bookstore located on
Midwestern's Kansas City campus, or by calling 816-455-
3925 or emailing mbtste[email protected]m.
Bookstore Vouchers
Bookstore vouchers are available by request to students
who have financial aid awards, are registered for classes, and
have excess funds available after tuition and fees. The
bookstore voucher is valid at Lifeway Campus Store and
used to purchase textbooks only. The bookstore charges will
be placed on the student‘s account. Vouchers may be
obtained in the Business Office.
Eligibility:
Student must be registered in term in which book
voucher is requested.
Students must have completed all required
documents requested of Financial Aid Office.
Student must have no outstanding prior balance.
Students must have anticipated financial aid that
exceeds their institutional charges.
MEAL PLAN/HOUSING FEES
Meal Plan
The meal plan is available for purchase by students or
staff. The student will receive a credit at the Vine‘s Café to
purchase any food items during operating hours. The meal
plan is required only of undergraduate students living in the
Residence Hall and under 21 years of age.
Meal Plan Fee per semester .......................................... $300
Housing
Trash pick-up and water are included in the monthly
rent.
Dormitory/Residence Hall
Deposit (due with application for housing) ................ $100
Double occupancy room (per month) ........................... 245
Apartment
Deposit (due with application for housing). ................ 250
1 Bedroom (per month) ................................................ 380
2 Bedrooms (per month)
Basic Unit ................................................................. 500
Double occupancy (requires approval; each) ............ 265
Renovated ................................................................. 580
All electric with washer/dryer hookup ...................... 555
All electric with washer/dryer hookup & dishwasher ... 660
Rawlings Circle ........................................................ 700
3 Bedrooms (per month)
Basic Unit ................................................................. 555
Multiple occupancy (requires approval; each) .......... 245
All electric with washer/dryer hookup ...................... 630
All electric with washer/dryer hookup & dishwasher ... 720
Rawlings Circle ........................................................ 750
4 Bedrooms (per month)
All electric with washer/dryer hookup ...................... 695
Rawlings Circle ........................................................ 805
Explanation of Housing Fees
Only degree-seeking students in residential programs
may reside in campus housing. As such, applications for
housing are not accepted until after notice of acceptance as a
degree-seeking student has been received. All housing rates
are subject to change without notice; however, housing rates
normally are adjusted on an annual basis. Lease information
is available through the Seminary Housing Office (816-414-
3732).
A deposit of $100 is required with the application for a
room in the Residence Hall. A $250 deposit is required with
the application for an apartment. Students who decide not to
reside in campus housing after making application may have
the deposit refunded provided it is requested in writing at
least 30 days prior to the intended date of occupancy. If
campus housing is not available at the time of the request,
applicants are placed on a chronological waiting list based
on receipt of the application and deposit.
Rent for campus housing is due on the first day of each
month. A late fee of $50 is charged after the 10th of each
month. The Seminary reserves the right to request that
student housing be vacated for nonpayment of rent. A $25
charge is assessed for each key that is lost or not returned.
Exceptions to these policies due to exigent circumstances are
at the discretion of the Vice President for Business. Criteria
that influence exceptions are on file in the Student Housing
Office.
Finances 22
WITHDRAWALS AND REFUNDS
Withdrawal from Seminary
Students may withdraw from school at their discretion.
The student is responsible to secure and process the Exit
Form with the Registrar‘s Office in order that the withdrawal
be made official. The academic record of students
withdrawing during a term is described under ―Course
Drop‖ in the Academic Policies section of this catalog.
Students withdrawing from the Seminary should also
make proper arrangements with the Financial Aid Office,
concerning any remaining loans which a student has, and
with the Housing Office to ensure that proper notification is
given concerning moving from student housing. In addition,
the withdrawing student must communicate with the
Financial Services Office in order to arrange for the
appropriate payment of any unpaid accounts and to avoid the
assessment of late fees, penalties, or additional charges. An
exit interview with the Director of Financial Aid is required
for any student with a U.S. government student loan.
Tuition Refunds for Withdrawals from a
course(s) or from School
Occasionally it is necessary for a student to withdraw
from a course(s) or from school after having registered for
classes. Requests to withdraw from school or from a
course(s) are to be initiated in the Registrar's Office.
Refunds of tuition will be made according to the applicable
refund schedule below:
Refunds for Off-Campus/Extension Students are
listed in the Off-Campus Programs section of this catalog.
Seven to Fifteen Week Courses
100% Withdrawal or drop through the end of the first day
of classes (i.e., the first day of any term when
classes are offered-not necessarily the first day a
student attends a class or the day a student's class
first meets)
90% Withdrawal or drop after the end of the first day of
classes through the end of the first week of classes
50% Withdrawal or drop after the end of the first week
of classes through the first 25 percent of the term or
semester
25% Withdrawal or drop after the first 25 percent
through the first 50 percent of the term or semester
0% Withdrawal or drop after the end of the first 50% of
the term or semester
Online/Internet Courses
100% Withdrawal or drop prior to the course start date
50% Withdrawal or drop through the end of the second
week after the course start date
0% Withdrawal or drop after the end of the second
week after the course start date
Two to Four Week Courses (January or summer terms)
100% Withdrawal or drop through the end of the first day
of the class (i.e., the first day of any term when
classes are offered-not necessarily the first day a
student attends a class or the day a student's class
first meets)
90% Withdrawal or drop after the end of the first day of
the class through the end of the second day after the
first day of the class
50% Withdrawal or drop after the end of the second day
after the first day of the class through the first 25
percent or end of the fourth day after the first day
of the class
25% Withdrawal or drop after the first 25 percent or end
of the fourth day after the first class through the
end of the first 50 percent of the class
0% Withdrawal or drop after the end of the first 50
percent of the class
CCC (computer/campus/computer) Intensive courses
100% Withdrawal or drop through the end of the day four
weeks prior to the first on-campus class session
90% Withdrawal or drop during the four weeks prior to
the first on-campus class session
50% Withdrawal or drop on the day of the first class
session
25% Withdrawal or drop on the second day of the
classes
0% Withdrawal or drop after the end of the second day
of classes
Workshop courses
100% Withdrawal or drop up to the first meeting session
of the workshop
0% Withdrawal or drop after the first meeting session
begins
FINANCIAL SERVICES
Institutions of higher learning, and especially those that
primarily teach Christian principles, are responsible to teach
students not only academics, but also to be responsible
citizens of good character. Financial integrity and
responsibility are character traits of the highest priority.
Enforcing accountability is a primary tool for teaching
students to be responsible citizens. Students are responsible
for the costs of attending or taking classes at Midwestern
and for living within Midwestern‘s financial guidelines.
Enrollment in courses or residence in campus housing
constitutes a contractual financial obligation of the student to
pay tuition and other fees. The student is ultimately
responsible for their account and should monitor it on a
regular basis. Students have access to their account
information, showing tuition amounts billed and paid,
scholarships posted to their accounts, bookstore charges,
housing, and utility costs on the Student Portal.
23 Finances
Business Office Hours
The Business Office is open to serve students Monday
through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Office is closed
for chapel services on Tuesday and Wednesday from 10:00
to 11:00 a.m. Students may pick up refund checks, cash
personal checks up to $50, obtain change, and buy stamps.
Students may also pay enrollment fees, housing costs,
library fines, etc.
If you have questions about the financial payment process
or if assistance with this process is needed, please contact
the Business Office. Should financial problems concerning
payment of bills arise, the student may discuss arrangement
for payments, including extensions, with the Director of
Financial Services.
Payment Options
There are three options available for admitted degree-
seeking students to pay their tuition and fees:
Payment in full
Monthly payment plan
Financial Aid programs, including scholarships and
Federal financial aid.
Admitted non-degree-seeking students may use the
monthly payment plan but not scholarships or federal
student aid programs. An explanation and qualification for
each of these programs is described below.
Payment in Full
Payment of all educational charges is due and payable no
later than the first day of the fall or spring semester or
January or summer term for which the student is enrolling.
Tuition and fees for Computer-Campus-Computer (CCC)
courses are due the first day of the term of the Monday four
weeks prior to the first on-campus class session, whichever
is earlier. Charges for adding courses or enrolling courses
after the first day of the semester or term are due at the time
of enrollment.
Online course payments are due the Monday preceding
the course start date.
A late fee of $50 will be charged on all accounts not paid
by the due date. Payments postmarked by the due dates do
not meet the payment deadlines; they must be received in the
Business Office by these dates. Students should allow at
least 7-10 days for mailing.
Options for full payments:
Mail your check to MBTS, ATTN: Business
Office, 5001 North Oak Trafficway, Kansas City,
MO 64118.
Pay in person at the Business Office located in the
Administration Building. (cash and checks only)
Pay in full by credit card through the Student
Portal. Click the Make Payment button on the My
Ledger page and follow the prompts.
Monthly Payment Plan
Midwestern contracts with Nelnet to provide a monthly
payment plan option to its students. There is a $25
nonrefundable enrollment fee for each payment plan. A
down payment is due upon enrollment in the plan. The
remainder is divided evenly and monthly payments are
automatically withdrawn from the participant's checking or
savings account on the 5th or 20th day of each month
throughout the semester.
Once established by the student, the payment plan is not
automatically modified for changes in enrollment or fees.
Any changes to the amount required or cancellation of
payments must be made through the Business Office ten
days prior to the next required draft.
Please contact the Business Office or refer to the
website for further information about enrollment periods and
plan options. A link to the payment plan is also provided on
the website and student portal.
Financial Aid
Financial aid funds are disbursed according to the
regulations for each award program. Please refer to the
Financial Aid section of the catalog for more information
about available financial aid programs. The Financial Aid
Office awards scholarships and federal student aid and
notifies the Business Office of the award. The funds are
credited to student‘s accounts by the Business Office. For
the Fall and Spring semesters, funds are typically credited on
the Friday of the first week of the semester. Charges posted
on the student‘s account will be paid when the financial aid
is credited.
Timing of disbursements is contingent upon the student
meeting all conditions for receiving aid. Students who have
not received a financial aid award letter before the semester
due date should make other payment arrangements while the
financial aid process is completed. Otherwise, the fees are
considered late and the student may incur late payment fees.
Any excess credit balance after financial aid
disbursements will be processed by the Business Office
within 14 days the credit balance occurred. See the Credit
Balance Refunds section below. If charges remain on the
student‘s account after financial aid disbursements, or if
subsequent charges are made, it is the student‘s
responsibility to make sure the charges are paid timely.
Impact for Non- or Late Payment
Students who have not paid their educational charges by
the due date will be dropped from the courses for which they
had pre-enrolled. To be reinstated, the student may re-enroll
for classes by:
1. Obtaining a new Enrollment Form either online
under Admissions/Helpful Forms/Academic forms,
or from the Registrar‘s Office.
2. Having each course Professor(s) initial the
appropriate course on the re-Enrollment Form to
indicate the professor‘s approval for the student to
be reinstated.
Finances 24
3. Submitting the completed re-Enrollment Form to
the Registrar‘s Office.
4. Payment or making approved arrangements to pay
the educational fees plus a $50 Late Payment Fee in
the Business Office by the close of business on the
day the re-enrollment materials are submitted to the
Registrar‘s Office.
Failure to maintain timely payment of all financial
obligations to Midwestern will result in the student being
suspended from classes until the financial obligations have
been paid. During the suspension period, the student will be
administratively marked absent from classes, and
assignments and exam grades will not be counted. The
student may be reinstated only after all delinquent financial
obligations are paid and clearance is obtained from the
Business Office. Students failing to make timely payment of
rent may also be required to vacate Midwestern housing.
Any appeals should be made according to the Academic
Appeals Process or the Grievance Process. The Academic
Appeals Process is listed in the Academic Information
section of the Catalog. The Grievance Process is listed in
the Student Handbook section of the Catalog.
Past Due Accounts
Students with past due financial obligations will be
placed on financial hold, which may lead to termination of
enrollment, withholding of grades, degrees, transcripts, and
such students will not be permitted to pre-enroll or enroll for
future semesters/terms until their past due financial
obligations have been paid or approved arrangements for
payment have been made. A fee of $50.00 is assessed for all
late payments of tuition. Accounts with outstanding
balances on the 10th day of the month will be charged 1.5%
on outstanding balances ($50 minimum) per month until the
account is paid in full. Overdue balances will be addressed
on a monthly basis by the Business Office and nonpayment
will lead to a financial hold.
Returned Checks
A check received in payment of tuition fees but returned
for any reason invalidates a student‘s enrollment and
jeopardizes a student‘s status. All returned checks must be
redeemed within two weeks. A $20 returned check fee is
assessed for each check returned by the bank. In addition,
appropriate late payment fees may be added. Upon the
receipt of the third returned check from a student or member
of their immediate family, Midwestern will no longer
receive a check in payment of fees and check casing
privileges will be revoked. Future payments of tuition,
rents, utilities, etc., must be made in cash, money order, or
cashier‘s check. Bad checks may be subject to collection or
prosecution.
Credit Balance Refunds
Credit balance resulting from a Course Withdrawal
If you withdraw from a course or withdraw completely,
your registration is subject to the Refund Schedule policy.
You must request a refund in writing to the Business Office
when a refund would create a credit balance on your
account, if the refund schedule allows for a refund.
Credit balance Refund resulting from Federal Title IV
Aid
If receipts of your Federal Title IV aid (grants or loans)
results in a credit balance, a refund check in your name will
automatically be mailed to you. If your account is paid
partly by a Parent Plus Loan and results in a credit balance,
the check is drawn to the borrower to the extent of the PLUS
loan‘s proceeds.
Note: Federal Title IV aid can only be credited towards
institutional charges. Non-institutional charges, such as
finance charges, late payment fees, etc., cannot be paid from
your Title IV aid. This may result in a refund being
generated, leaving an outstanding balance on your account
for which you are responsible. These other charges, as well
as future charges, may be paid from excess funds by
completing an Authorization to Hold Funds form with the
Business Office. The authorization is optional and may be
revoked in writing at any time.
Students receiving Title IV aid who withdraw completely
may be billed for balances resulting from the mandatory
return of funds to the U. S. Government.
FINANCIAL AID
The primary purpose of the financial aid program at
Midwestern is to assist students who demonstrate financial
need. Financial assistance consists of institutional or federal
financial aid. The total amount of financial aid offered a
student will not exceed the amount of the student's need.
It is not possible for the Seminary to provide for the total
budget needs of students. Assistance provided by the
Financial Aid Office is supplemental to other financial
resources available to the student.
The following principles on student financial aid serve as
a guide for Midwestern in administering the financial aid
program:
1) The primary purpose of a financial aid program for
theological students is to assist students in their
educational preparation for ministry by providing
assistance to students who demonstrate financial
need. Financial need is defined as the difference
between the total cost of attending a particular
institution and the amount of the resources
available to the student. It is the responsibility of
the student to locate adequate financial resources.
Some students find family members who can help.
In cases of need, a student's home church will often
provide some assistance. The student is expected to
provide the major share of his expenses through
savings, employment, and other personal resources
(adapted from ATS policy statement).
25 Finances
2) In requesting assistance, all sources of family
income are reported. This includes family or church
assistance, spouse income, and scholarships
provided by other organizations or foundations, if
any.
3) Where the principle of Christian stewardship is
strictly applied, students should make provision in
their financial estimates for tithes and offerings out
of their own earnings.
4) Financial assistance is granted on the basis of need
per semester with review each semester.
5) Midwestern encourages its students to be
financially self-supporting. Each student, upon
entering the Seminary, is expected to have
sufficient financial resources to care for expenses
until employment is secured.
Financial Assistance from State Conventions
Some state conventions and foundations offer
scholarships to students. Students should make inquiry of
their home state convention or foundation.
Financial Counseling
There are many times when students need counseling
regarding specific financial situations or budgeting for future
education expenses. In many cases the Financial Aid Office
may assist in solving the problems or provide referral
information to another office or resource for help.
All applicants for financial aid are required to:
1. Be a fully admitted student to the Seminary;
2. Be a degree-seeking student. Auditors and non-
degree- seeking students are not eligible for financial
aid; and
3. Complete and file a Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA) with the United States
Department of Education. Students must include
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary & College,
SBC school code on the FAFSA. Students should
complete the FAFSA on the web at
http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. The school code for
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is 002485.
4. Complete verification when required. Guidelines will
be provided to the student for completion of the
verification process.
Once the completed FAFSA is received by the United
States Department of Education, information provided by
the student on the FAFSA is used to generate a Student Aid
Report (SAR). The SAR indicates the amount of money the
student is expected to contribute towards the student‘s
education. This is called the Expected Family Contribution
(EFC), and is used to determine the student‘s financial need.
The student‘s financial need is the difference between the
Cost of Attendance and the Expected Family contribution or
EFC. The Cost of Attendance includes the educational
expenses of:
1. Tuition;
2. Room and board (for students living on and off
campus);
3. Required fees;
4. Books and supplies;
5. Transportation; and
6. Miscellaneous expenses.
The amounts for these six educational expenses are the
student‘s estimated Cost of Attendance at Midwestern
Baptist Theological Seminary, and they become the
student‘s budget for financial aid purposes. Only the actual
tuition, fees, and room and board (for resident students) are
charged on the student‘s Seminary bill. Financial aid
recipients are selected on the basis of demonstrated financial
need (as stated above) and/or academic achievement. Most
financial aid awards are based on full-time enrollment,
which is a minimum of 9 credit hours per semester for a
master‘s student. Note: full-time enrollment for the Doctoral
programs is defined as being continuously enrolled in
seminars and courses. Please see section entitled Satisfactory
Academic Progress for Doctoral programs for further
clarification.
Please note that in order to complete a master’s degree
within three years, students must take more than 9 credit
hours per semester. Please consult your Academic advisor
and make certain that you plan your course load
accordingly.
In order for a Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
student to continue to receive financial aid, the student must
maintain satisfactory academic progress. Midwestern
Baptist Theological Seminary‘s policy for determining
satisfactory academic progress is stated below. For more
information on financial aid, visit the Financial Aid Office
located in the Student Development Offices in the Trustees
Building or on the Internet web site at
http://www.mbts.edu/admissions/financial_aid.
Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy
The Financial Aid Office of Midwestern Baptist
Theological Seminary and College, SBC administers the
student financial aid programs from federal, state, and
institutional sources. Institutional sources include
scholarships and grants. The U.S. Department of Education
requires schools to develop and implement policies by which
academic progress is evaluated and monitored for all
students, even for those students who have not received
financial aid in prior terms at Midwestern.
Students must meet the Financial Aid Satisfactory
Academic Progress (SAP) requirements to receive Federal
Title IV aid, such as Federal Direct Education Loans.
Finances 26
Midwestern also applies the SAP requirements to monitor
eligibility for all institutional aid.
This policy describes the FINANCIAL AID Satisfactory
academic Progress and is in addition to and operates
separately from the ACADEMIC Satisfactory Progress
requirements for each academic program.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy / Financial Aid
for Undergraduate Students
Satisfactory Academic Progress is based on four concepts:
1. Minimum hours of enrollment each semester that
are applicable toward the student‘s degree program,
2. Minimum grade point average requirement
3. Minimum number of hours completed in an
academic year,
4. Maximum timeframe to complete the degree.
These regulations are to be used as standards regarding a
student‘s academic standing and progress toward his/her
educational objectives. The academic record of all students
receiving financial aid is reviewed after the end of each
term. The academic record is cumulative and includes all
courses taken at the student‘s current academic level.
After the evaluation, letters will be sent to all students
who have insufficient academic progress and are being
placed on Financial Aid Warning or Suspension. The letter
will also outline the process a student must complete to be
placed on Financial Aid Probation.
For the purpose of determining eligibility for financial
aid, a student will be certified as being in satisfactory
academic standing if that student is making satisfactory
academic progress toward his/her educational objective
described below:
Satisfactory Academic Progress for Master’s Degree
Programs
1. Eligibility for most financial aid requires at least
half-time enrollment, per regular semester. A
student must earn the minimum credit hours for
full-time (9 credit hours), or half-time enrollment (f
credit hours) each semester.
2. To maintain eligibility a student must maintain the
minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.
3. Each academic year a student must satisfactorily
complete the minimum credits as determined by
his/her status. A full-time student will complete a
minimum of 18 credit hours per academic year.
4. The maximum timeframe a student is expected to
finish a program of study and receive financial aid
cannot exceed 150 percent of the total length of the
program, based on credit hours.
A basic M.Div. program of study is 90 credit
hours; the maximum timeframe for this degree
cannot exceed 135 attempted credit hours.
An M.Div. with a concentration is 92 credit
hours; the maximum timeframe for this degree
cannot exceed 138 attempted credit hours.
The MACO program of study is 62 credit
hours; the maximum timeframe for this degree
cannot exceed 93 attempted credit hours.
The MACE program of study is 80 credit
hours; the maximum timeframe for this degree
cannot exceed 120 attempted credit hours.
All other MA programs without concentrations
are 60 credit hours and the maximum
timeframe for these degrees cannot exceed 90
attempted credit hours.
The Graduate certificate is 34 credit hours; the
maximum timeframe for this certificate cannot
exceed 51 attempted credit hours.
Failure to complete a degree or program of study within
150% of the degree or program credit hours automatically
disqualifies the student from receiving further federal
financial aid.
Satisfactory Academic Progress for Doctoral Degree
Programs
1. The minimum GPA component for doctoral
students is measured by the Doctoral Studies
Office. Since the doctoral standards are more
stringent than the federal SAP requirements,
doctoral students permitted to continue enrolling in
doctoral seminars or courses are deemed to be
making satisfactory academic progress. (Doctoral
students must earn a grade of B/3.0 or higher in
each seminar or course. Failure to maintain a
minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is grounds for
termination from a doctoral program.)
2. During the seminar/course phase of the doctoral
program, D.Min. and D.Ed.Min. students must
complete a minimum of two seminars per year or
the equivalent (i.e. eight credit hours); Ph.D.
student must complete four courses per year of the
equivalent (i.e. 16 credit hours). During the
dissertation phase, D.Min. students must complete
the dissertation within five years of the start of their
program; D.Ed.Min. and Ph.D. students must
complete the dissertation within six years of the
start of their program.
3. For doctoral degree programs, eligibility for federal
financial aid ceases after students in the D.Min.
program have been enrolled for four and one-half
years, aid for students in the D.Ed.Min. or Ph.D.
programs ceases after student have been enrolled
for six years.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Review and Warning
Satisfactory academic progress will be reviewed at the
end of each semester (fall, spring and summer) by the
Financial Aid Office. Failure to meet the minimum standard
outlined in this policy statement will place a student on
financial aid SAP Warning status for one semester.
27 Finances
Students on SAP Warning will remain eligible for Federal
financial aid.
Students on SAP Warning have one semester to correct
a progress problem stemming from a low grade point
average or lack of credit hour completion. Students placed
on academic probation by the Registrar or Doctoral Studies
Office (low GPA) are also considered to be on SAP
Warning, for one semester, and are expected to comply with
the requirements of both academic probation and Financial
Aid SAP Warning.
Students who do not reestablish satisfactory academic
progress after one semester on SAP Warning are no longer
eligible to receive Federal financial aid and are placed on
SAP Suspension. The SAP Suspension appeal process is
described below.
SAP Suspension Appeal Process
Students who fail to reestablish SAP after one semester
on SAP Warning are not eligible to receive federal financial
aid.
If failing to meet the SAP Warning requirements was
due to mitigating circumstances, the student may submit an
SAP Appeal to the Financial Aid Office to request an
extension to receive Federal financial aid for one additional
semester. Common situations that may cause a student to fail
to meet satisfactory progress standards include: family
difficulties such as illness/hospitalization, change in
employment, or other catastrophic, unplanned
circumstances. The deadline to submit this appeal is the last
day of business prior to the beginning date of the semester
for which financial aid consideration is requested (if the
semester starts on Monday, the appeal form must be
submitted by the previous Friday).
The appeal must include documentation supporting the
reason(s) the student failed to meet satisfactory academic
progress or complete the SAP Warning requirements, and
provide a written Academic Plan which has been approved
by the student‘s advisor, and the Director of Financial Aid,
outlining how the additional semester will enable the student
to meet the SAP standards. Appeals are reviewed by the
Financial Aid Committee. If the appeal is denied, the student
may continue to attend school, but it is understood that the
student assumes full financial responsibility for all costs of
attendance until SAP standards are met; or the student may
choose to withdraw from Midwestern. Appeals will be
reviewed by the Financial Aid Committee and the student
will be notified by email or by letter of the committee‘s
decision. The decision of the Financial Aid Committee if
final.
If the appeal is approved, the student will be permitted
to enroll under SAP Probation.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Probation
Students whose appeals are approved, are placed on SAP
Probation and are permitted to receive financial aid for one
additional semester. Students are expected to meet SAP
standards by the end of that semester. Financial aid will be
processed only after the student on SAP Probation has
signed a statement that they have read and agree to the terms
of their SAP Probation.
Reestablishing Satisfactory Academic Progress
To reestablish SAP, the student must:
1. Achieve the minimum cumulative grade point
average component of this SAP policy; and
2. Attain the minimum completed/earned credit hours
required.
It is the student‘s responsibility to notify the
Financial Aid Office in writing once all SAP requirements to
regain financial aid eligibility have been satisfied.
Students are reminded that readmission to Midwestern
after an ACADEMIC suspension or approval of an
Academic suspension appeal DOES NOT automatically
reinstate Financial Aid eligibility after a Financial Aid
suspension. Reinstatement of financial aid eligibility is not
retroactive. Reinstatement of financial aid eligibility will
only affect current or future enrollment periods.
Students should monitor their academic progress
Students are responsible to review their grades
(including midterm and end of term grades) and compare
their progress to the standards set forth in the Financial Aid
Satisfactory Academic Policy to ensure that they are aware
of their standing.
Students are encouraged to seek assistance, through
pursuing additional academic advising, arranging for
tutoring or regularly discussing their academic work with
their instructors. It is the student‘s responsibility to monitor
their own academic progress as the review completed by the
Financial Aid Office may immediately affect their financial
aid eligibility for the next term.
Break in Enrollment
When a student has a break in enrollment, the SAP
status for prior terms will apply when the student reenrolls.
For example, if a student is placed on financial aid
suspension at the end of the Spring term, and does not return
for the next Fall term, and is readmitted the next Spring
term, the student will continue in a financial aid suspension
status for the Spring term. The student will still be eligible to
file an SAP Suspension Appeal for reinstatement of financial
aid.
Definition of Traditional Semesters, J-term, & Summer
Sessions
A traditional semester is referred to as a standard term
(e.g. Fall, Spring and Summer). Standard terms are defined
as 15 weeks of instruction. Satisfactory Academic Progress
Finances 28
requirements are calculated based on the satisfactory
completion of credits in at least 15 weeks of instruction.
J-term credits from classes occurring during the first
three weeks in January will be added to the Spring Term.
Any other intensive courses (such as academic workshops,
etc) will be credited within the term in which they are held.
Summer intensive courses, for the purpose of credit hour
loan and measurement of progress, are combined together
into the Summer term. The Summer term is considered a
―trailer‖ by the Midwestern Financial Aid Office. This
means that aid processed for the Summer term will be based
on the FAFSA from the prior academic year.
Course Repetitions and Incompletes
Repeated and dropped courses count as hours attempted
in determining SAP but do not count as hours earned or
completed. Changes in Federal Regulations allow repeated
coursework to count toward enrollment status (full-time,
half-time, and less than half-time) and thereby are eligible to
receive federal student financial aid. Student may repeat a
previously passed course once, for the purpose of raising the
letter grade, and students may repeat a failed course until it
has been passed.
Courses in which an incomplete grade is awarded are also
counted as hours attempted but not earned or completed until
such time as an earned passing grade is issued by the
professor to replace the incomplete grade. Per the
incomplete grade policy, an incomplete grade not replaced
with a passing grade within the time specified on the
Incomplete Form becomes a failing grade in the SAP
computation.
Repeated courses will add to the hours attempted,
but not earned. The grade will be replaced and the
new grade will be considered in the GPA
calculation when progress is checked again.
A course in which a failing grade (F) is recorded
may be repeated in the subsequent semester to
apply toward eligibility for assistance in that
semester.
Online Courses and Financial Aid Eligibility
Online courses for students enrolled in the standard
residential degree programs (M.Div., M.Div. with
concentration, MACE, MACO, and all other MA programs)
are intended to be used as a supplement to their residential
program. To be eligible for financial aid, a full-time student
(minimum of 9 credits per semester) cannot take more than
ONE, 3 credit online course per semester. Example: 3 of the
9 credit hours can be taken online.
Change of Major
The minimum cumulative GPA and minimum
completion rate of the satisfactory academic progress (SAP)
policy are not affected by a change of major within the same
degree level (i.e., master‘s, or doctoral). All periods of the
student‘s enrollment at that level are counted in determining
SAP policy. Once the student reaches the maximum
timeframe allowed, the student will be ineligible to receive
financial aid; students may appeal on the basis of
coursework not applicable to the current degree program.
Seeking an Additional Degree at the Same or a Different
Level
The minimum cumulative GPA and minimum
completion rate of the satisfactory academic progress (SAP)
policy are not affected by seeking an additional degree at the
same level (i.e., master‘s, or doctoral). All periods of the
student‘s enrollment at that level are counted in determining
the quantitative and qualitative components of the SAP
policy. Should an additional degree be sought at a different
degree level, only the courses taken at the new degree level
are counted in determining SAP.
Transfer Credits
All transfer credit(s) listed on the student‘s Midwestern
transcript are included in the students SAP evaluation.
Generally only transfer credit used to satisfy a Midwestern
degree requirement is transferred and, therefore, used in the
SAP calculations.
Evaluating Transfer Credits:
Midwestern only accepts those credits that apply
toward the current program.
Transfer students accepted on academic probation
must meet the condition of their academic
probation to qualify for continuing financial aid and
thereafter make satisfactory academic progress for
financial aid.
Remedial and English as a Second Language Course
(ESL)
Remedial courses at Midwestern are assigned at an
academic level (undergraduate, master‘s, or doctoral) lower
than the student‘s program of study or degree level. As such,
remedial hours are not counted in determining SAP.
Midwestern does not offer ESL courses for credit. If a
student is required to take ESL courses, it would be
necessary for these to be completed at another college or
university. These hours would not be used to satisfy degree
requirements at Midwestern and, therefore, would not be
counted in determining SAP at Midwestern.
FEDERAL TITLE IV FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS
Eligibility for Federal Financial Aid
To receive federal financial aid, a student must:
Not be in default on a Federal Perkins Loan, a
Federal National Direct Student Loan, or a Federal
Stafford Student Loan;
Not owe a refund on a Federal Pell Grant, or a
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity
Grant (FSEOG), or a Federal Academic
Competitiveness Grant (ACG);
Be making satisfactory academic progress toward
the completion of his/her program of study.
29 Finances
To apply for Federal loans, a Free Application for
Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form and Estimated Cost
worksheet must both be completed and submitted to
Midwestern‘s Financial Aid Office. The FAFSA form may
be obtained at the U.S. Department of Education website at
www.FAFSA.ed.gov. Midwestern‘s Department of
Education‘s School Code (OPEID) is 002485. The
Estimated Cost worksheet is available from the Financial
Aid Office or its website. Once both forms have been
submitted then the file will be verified for the amount
requested or to determine how much the student is eligible to
receive.
Loans
Loan Application Process
Any admitted, degree-seeking student enrolled for a
minimum of five (5) credit hours as a master‘s student
qualify to apply for federal student loans.
The six steps of the application process for federal student
loans are as follows:
1. Complete Free Application for Federal Student
Aid (FAFSA)
2. Generate DL Master Promissory Note (MPN)
The Direct Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN) is
the legal agreement between the borrower and the
federal government. To generate an MPN, go to
www.studentloans.gov. Most students apply for
both Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans not
GradPlus Loans. The MPN school code for MBTS
is: G02485
3. Complete DL Entrance Counseling.
As a first-time borrower, students complete the
Direct Loan Entrance Counseling tutorial. Go to
www.studentloans.gov to complete this.
Midwestern‘s Financial Aid Office receives
notification once the online Direct Loan Entrance
Counseling is completed. By Federal law, loan
funds cannot be disbursed until MBTS receives
notification of completion of the Direct Loan
Entrance Counseling process.
4. Fill out the estimated Cost of Attendance (COA)
worksheet
The estimated cost of Attendance (COA)
worksheets are designed to predict, as closely as
possible, what a student‘s education will cost for
one year. The accuracy of the final estimated dollar
amount will depend upon the accuracy of the
information entered. If any of the information
changes during the year, please inform the
Financial Aid Office.
Go to www.mbts.edu/admissions/financial_aid,
under the Cost of Attendance Worksheets heading,
choose the link for the worksheet that corresponds
to your academic program.
5. Save the Cost of Attendance worksheet.
Save the COA worksheet to the computer desk top.
6. Send the Cost of Attendance worksheet to the
MBTS Financial Aid Office.
Email the COA worksheet you just completed as an
attachment to the MBTS Financial Aid Office to
[email protected]. Or, you may mail a printed
copy to:
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Attn: Financial Aid Office
5001 N. Oak Trafficway
Kansas City, MO 64118
Once the steps above have been completed, your file
will be reviewed by the Financial Aid Office for loan
eligibility and loan amounts. The review will be done in
collaboration with the student, either in person, by phone, or
by email to verify the loan type(s) and amount(s) requested.
Every Midwestern student who receives a student loan
is required to attend a one-day Financial Planning Workshop
which is offered each academic year, usually in the fall
semester. Biblical principles of money management are
presented, along with practical guidelines for wise financial
stewardship.
Federal Direct Loans
Federal Direct Loans are low interest loans available to
students who are enrolled at least half-time. Student
demonstrating sufficient need may be eligible for subsidized
loan funds, in which the government pays the interest
accrued while students are in school and during the 6-month
grace period occurring after a student graduates, withdraws,
drops below half-time status or has a break in enrollment.
Students who do not have sufficient demonstrated need
may be eligible for unsubsidized loan funds, in which the
student pays the interest. Students have the option of
allowing the interest to accrue (adding it to the principle)
while they are in school, or paying the interest on a quarterly
or annual basis. Repayment for both the subsidized and
unsubsidized loans begins 6 months after students graduate,
withdraw, break enrollment or drop below half-time status
(the definition of full-time, half-time and part-time status‘
are defined below).
Definition of Student Status
Full-time Status. For federal student aid purposes,
doctoral students are classified as full-time students
for the duration of their enrollment at Midwestern.
Master's students are full-time students when
Finances 30
enrolled for nine or more credit hours during a 15-
week semester.
Half-time Status. Master‘s students are half-time
students when enrolled for five to eight credit hours
during a 15-week semester.
Less than half-time Status. Master's students are
less than half-time students when enrolled for less
than five credit hours during a 15-week semester.
Annual Federal Loan Limits
(effective July 1, 2008)
Student Type
Base
Amount
(maximum
Subsidized
loan)
Additional
Unsubsidized
Loan
Graduate Students
8,500
12,000
Aggregate Loan Limits
(effective July 1, 2008)
Graduate Students: $138,500 (no more than $65,000 of
which can be subsidized). Note: Graduate aggregate loan
limits INCLUDE all unpaid loans taken for undergraduate
degrees.
Federal Graduate Plus Loans
The Federal Graduate Plus loan is available to graduate
students as additional assistance AFTER the Direct Loans
have been utilized. This is a credit-based loan with
adjustable interest rates. Students should contact the
Financial Aid Office regarding this loan option prior to
application. As a reminder, the total amount of financial
assistance (including scholarships and loans) cannot exceed
the student‘s cost of attendance.
Repayment Policy (Return of Title IV Aid):
The federal government mandates that students who
withdraw from all classes may only keep the financial aid
(federal Title IV grant and loan assistance) they have
―earned‖ up to the time of withdrawal. A student who has
federal financial aid and withdraws before 61% of the
semester has elapsed will be evaluated according to the U.S.
Department of Education guidelines and formula. To
determine the percentage of aid earned, divide the calendar
days completed in the semester by the total days in the
semester. Weekends are included, but scheduled breaks that
are at least five (5) days in length are excluded. If the student
completed more than 60% of the semester, 100% of the aid
is earned for the semester. If the student completes 60% or
less of the semester, the portion of federal financial aid
determined to be unearned must be repaid to the federal aid
programs. The formula used to determine the required return
of federal and other student financial aid will be finalized
within 30 days of the student‘s withdrawal date.
For student receiving federal financial aid, the refund
must first be repaid to the Title IV programs, state grants,
and institutional funds in accordance with existing
regulations in effect on the date of withdrawal and with
respect to various types of aid. The Financial Aid Office
should be contacted for a calculation of the actual amount
the student must return.
If a student has not earned all of the federal financial
aid received to date at the point of withdrawal, funds will be
repaid in the following order: Federal unsubsidized Direct
Loan, Federal subsidized Direct Loan, Federal PLUS Loan,
Federal Pell Grant, state grant and scholarship funds,
institutional financial aid, outside scholarships.
In the event a student has received funds for living
expenses and an overpayment of federal loan funds occurs.
Midwestern will notify the student of the overpayment. It is
the student‘s responsibility to return the overpayment to the
proper federal loan program. Students who fail to repay
overpayments will not be eligible for additional financial aid
funds, at any institution, until the overpayment has been
satisfied.
Cancellation of Federal Financial Aid
Students who have been awarded federal financial aid
from Midwestern are subject to the cancellation of their
federal financial aid and the removal of the aid previously
credited to their accounts for the following reasons:
Withdrawal from school
Ceasing to attend classes
For online classes – please refer to the definition of
maintaining active academic participation in a
class.
Drop below half-time status
Cancellation of federal financial aid will be made in
accordance with current federal regulations and will be
processed by the Financial Aid Office. For information
concerning the current federal financial aid cancellation
policies, students should contact the Director of Financial
Aid.
Before dropping a class or withdrawing from school,
students should consult with their academic advisor, and
contact the Financial Aid Office to determine the financial
impact of their decision.
Withdrawing from MBTS
Non-attendance of classes does not constitute official
withdrawal from Midwestern. In order to withdraw from
MBTS, students must complete the official withdrawal
process through the Registrar‘s Office. Applicable refunds
for students receiving federal and/or state financial aid funds
will be calculated in reference to the student‘s last date of
documented attendance. The Financial Aid Office should be
contacted for a calculation of the actual amount the student
must return.
Dropped Classes Warning:
Students who drop classes during the institutional
refund period (as outlined in the Finances section of this
catalog) which causes their enrollment to be less than half-
31 Finances
time status will be considered ineligible for full federal
financial aid. Federal financial aid will be removed from a
student's account in accordance to the lower number of
credit hours and the student will be required to return funds.
Cancellation of MBTS Scholarships and Other Financial
Aid
Scholarship and other institutional awards are subject to
cancellation and the removal of credit from the students
account for the following reasons:
Withdrawal from school
Ceasing to attend classes
Deemed ineligible due to their status of less than
full-time.
1) Dropping Classes - Students who drop a class during
the institutional refund period will lose eligibility for
scholarships, should that dropped class put them below
full time status.
2) Withdrawing from School - Students who withdraw
from school during the institutional refund period will
have scholarships prorated based on the tuition refund
for that semester. Students who withdraw after the
institutional refund period will maintain scholarships
that have been awarded for the semester.
Loan Deferments
Midwestern participates in federal and state funded
student aid programs involving loans and grants.
Midwestern is eligible to certify deferments for federal or
state educational loans obtained through other institutions.
To qualify for a loan deferment, master‘s students must be
enrolled for five or more credit hours each fall and/or spring
semester. Information regarding loans and deferments are
available through the Financial Aid Office. Typically a
deferment form will need to be requested from the student‘s
loan agency or downloaded from the agency‘s website; the
form must then be completed by the student and taken to the
Financial Aid Office for verification.
Student Child Tuition Rate
The tuition rate for the child of a full-time, degree-
seeking student (nine or more credit hours for master‘s
students) is 75 percent of the applicable tuition rate of the
child. Both pay the Registration and other applicable fees, if
any (e.g., course fees). The student child tuition rate does not
apply to children of doctoral students.
Student Spouse Tuition Rate
The tuition rate for the spouse of a full-time, degree-
seeking student (i.e., nine or more credit hours for master's
students) is one-half the tuition rate of the full-time student
and applies to the spouse taking the least hours. Both pay the
Registration and other applicable fees, if any (e.g., course
fees). The student spouse tuition rate does not apply to
spouses of doctoral students.
Veteran's Benefits
Midwestern is approved to provide theological training
for students who are veterans. Veterans who qualify for V.A.
Benefits should contact the regional office of the Veterans
Administration where their records are on file to make
arrangements for receipt of the benefits. These arrangements
are between the veteran and the Veterans Administration and
should be made at least six to eight weeks prior to the start
of the semester for which benefits are sought to allow time
for the V.A. to process the request and for the benefits to
start. Assistance with this may be obtained from the
Financial Aid Office.
Midwestern is certified to participate in other aid
programs for veterans, including Vocational Rehabilitation.
Interested veterans should contact the Financial Aid Office
for more information.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Academic Scholarships
Fusion Experience Presidential Scholarship
To be eligible for the scholarship, a student must have
completed the Fusion Experience during a prior Fall
semester and subsequent Spring semester, and must have
been deployed to a Fusion mission posting during that
Spring semester.
Beginning with the 2011-2012 Fusion Experience class,
this scholarship is the value of 10 credits at the Southern
Baptist rate, undergraduate or graduate. HOWEVER, the
Fusion Experience Presidential Scholarship DOES NOT
apply to on-line courses. A student must have maintained a
cumulative GPA of 2.5 to be eligible for this scholarship,
and must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 during the first
semester of the scholarship in order to qualify for the second
semester of the scholarship.
The scholarship will be disbursed in one half
increments: one-half to be disbursed for the Fall semester
and one-half disbursed for the Spring semester and is applied
toward tuition only. Any tuition exceeding the value of the
scholarship per semester, plus any fees, are the responsibility
of the student.
The student must enroll at MBTS within 12 months of
the completion of his or her overseas experience and must
enroll full-time each semester (minimum 12 credits
undergraduate, or 9 credits graduate) in which the
scholarship is awarded.
Students receiving this scholarship are not eligible to
receive any other MBTS scholarship funds during the
academic year in which this scholarship is awarded.
The scholarship is not renewable.
Midwestern Student Scholar Award (Church Match)
Awarded to an incoming full-time Seminary admit with
a GPA of 3.0 or higher. Midwestern will match $250.00 for
any student whose church donates a minimum of $500.00
toward their education.
Finances 32
This scholarship is available for the initial academic
year of enrollment only and is divided equally, one-half for
the fall semester, one-half for the spring semester. If the
student attends for the fall semester only of the initial
academic year, only one half of the scholarship match will
be awarded. If the student‘s first initial semester is the spring
semester, and the church pays the minimum of $500 toward
their education, the institution will award the entire $250 in
the spring semester.
This scholarship is applicable only once. If a student
completes a master‘s degree and then begins to pursue a
doctoral degree, he/she is not eligible to receive this
scholarship again for the doctoral degree.
Presidential Academic Excellence Scholarship
Awarded to new full-time seminary admits
(Doctoral/Ph.D. students excluded) with a GPA of 3.5 or
higher in college.
This scholarship is available for the initial academic
year of enrollment only and is divided equally, one-half for
the fall semester, one-half for the spring semester. If the
student only attends for one semester, (either the fall or the
spring) of the initial academic year, only one half of the
scholarship will be awarded.
Returning Journeyman/ISC Scholarship
This is a full-tuition scholarship for the first two
semesters at Midwestern‘s main campus, awarded to a
Journeyman or ISC participant returning from service with
the International Mission Board. Recipient must be fully
admitted and enrolled full-time in a M.Div. or M.A. program
or in the 20 hour IMB requirement program within one year
of service completion.
This is a non-renewable scholarship. Applicants may
not transfer from another seminary to Midwestern.
Outside Scholarships
Students are required to provide documentation to the
Financial Aid Office within 15 business days of the receipt
of an outside scholarship award. Scholarships may be
awarded from foundations, churches, retail businesses, etc.
Outside scholarship awards combined with other financial
aid cannot exceed the student‘s established Cost of
Attendance.
Endowed Scholarships
Each year Midwestern‘s students benefit from
scholarships donated by individuals and organizations to
financially assist students with paying their educational
expenses. These scholarships are competitive with recipient
selection being based wholly or in part on: recommendations
from the administration and/or faculty, academic
achievement (GPA), academic major or field of study, future
ministry plans, financial need, and/or other stipulations
established by the scholarship donor (e.g., hometown,
church, etc.).
All applicants for Midwestern‘s endowed scholarships
must complete and file a Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA) with the Department of Education
AND download and complete Midwestern‘s scholarship
application found on our web page at:
www.mbts.edu/downloads/_admissions/scholarship_application.pdf.
Scholarship recipients must be fully admitted, degree-
seeking students who are enrolled fulltime (for graduates,
enrolled in at least 9 credits per semester) and must maintain
a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. To receive a
scholarship, a student‘s business office account must be in
good standing (no financial holds).
The combined total of federal/state grants with
Midwestern institutional aid may not exceed the actual Cost
of Attendance, as calculated by the COA form completed by
the student. If aid exceeds this calculated amount,
Midwestern institutional aid will be reduced to meet the
COA.
For recipients of endowed scholarships who also receive
institutional aid (and discounts or benefits) such as Student
Spouse Tuition Rate, and Student Child Tuition Rate, who
qualify for federal or state grants, the endowed tuition
scholarship may be reduced to remain within the calculated
COA.
Each scholarship is awarded for one academic year and
will be divided in equal one-half increments for the fall and
spring semesters. Scholarships are not available or
applicable for January or summer term courses or for online
courses.
A scholarship recipient must meet the academic standards
of Midwestern as outlined in this catalog. Any scholarship
may be revoked or reduced at any time for dismissal from
Midwestern because of: 1) failure to meet academic
standards; 2) failure to abide by the rules, regulations and
policies of the institution; or 3) misrepresentation of
information on an application or other documents presented
to the institution.
To receive primary consideration, scholarship
applications are due in the Financial Aid Office by July
15th. For students entering Midwestern in the Spring
semester, scholarship applications are due December 15th.
Midwestern‘s scholarship applications are generic, so only
one application needs to be completed in order to be
considered for most scholarships.
Following is a list of current scholarships and a brief
statement of the eligibility requirements.
Rufus Akin Adetona Memorial Scholarship - to an
incoming or current international student.
J. Morris Ashcraft Scholarship - to a current outstanding
theology student.
C. O. Balentine Pastor’s Training Scholarship - to an
incoming or current student.
33 Finances
Emma Bowart Estate Scholarship - to two or more
incoming or current students demonstrating financial need.
The Brandon Scholarship - to two or more incoming or
current students.
F. Raymond Breibeck Memorial Scholarship - to two
current students entering the pastorate.
Broadway Baptist Church - to a student in good academic
standing preparing for ministry and service.
A.L. "Pete" and JoAnn Butler Music Scholarship - to a
current graduate student in the church music program.
Cairo Baptist Church Scholarship - to an incoming or
current student demonstrating financial need with
consideration given to students preparing for foreign or
home missions and/or members of Cairo Baptist Church
and/or from Cairo, Missouri or the surrounding area.
Howard Cameron Memorial Scholarship - to an incoming
or current student with an outstanding academic record with
consideration given to a student interested in missions
service.
Chesterman Family Foundation Scholarship - to assist a
married student majoring in theology or religion.
Arthur L. Dailey Scholarship - to an incoming or current
student.
Gina Dowdy Memorial Scholarship - to a returning female
student demonstrating financial need with consideration
given to a student preparing for home missions.
Bettie and Milton Ferguson Scholarship - to a current
student preparing for the music ministry.
Robert Homer Ferguson Memorial Scholarship - to an
incoming student with significant academic achievement.
Friends Memorial Scholarship - to an incoming or current
student.
J. Truett Gannon Scholarship - to an incoming or current
student who demonstrates significant potential for leadership
in pastoral ministry and financial need.
Robert W. and Doris Gilbert Scholarship - to an incoming
or current student with consideration given to students
supporting families.
Lester R. Grubbs Scholarship - to an incoming or
returning student committed to evangelism and missions.
Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Harland Scholarship - to an
incoming or current student.
Irys Jeanne Harris Scholarship - to two incoming
students.
Arthur and Mary Hartung Scholarship - to an incoming
or current student.
Melvin Hill Sr. Memorial Scholarship - to a senior student
with significant family obligations. Selection is made by the
Hill family upon the recommendation of Midwestern‘s
President.
Thelma Dinsmore Hudson Estate Scholarship - to an
incoming or current student.
Clifford Ingle Memorial Scholarship - to an incoming or
current MACE student preparing for religious education.
Homer and Augusta Jones Memorial Scholarship - to an
incoming student with significant college achievement.
William and Sallie Jordan Memorial Scholarship - to an
incoming or current student.
William W. Jordan Memorial Scholarship - to an
incoming or current student preparing for pastoral ministry.
Lora Lee Kieser Music Memorial Scholarship - to two or
more incoming or current church music students.
Graydon K. Kitchens Sr. Memorial Scholarship - to an
incoming or current student with consideration given to a
student from Louisiana.
Harriet Waters Matheney Scholarship - to an incoming
student with significant academic achievement.
M. Pierce Matheney Sr. Memorial Scholarship - to an
incoming student with significant academic achievement.
Midwestern Pastoral Scholarship - to an incoming or
current student demonstrating financial need and preparing
for pastoral ministry with consideration given to graduates
from a Mississippi College.
Alta and Norman Morrow Scholarship - to an incoming
or current student who demonstrates financial need, has
maintained a 2.5 grade point average in college or seminary,
and has some church staff experience.
Bill and Thula Nobles Memorial Scholarship - to an
incoming or current student.
Roger L. and Glendora S. Oldham Scholarship - to a
current church music student with preference given to a
student committed to music evangelism or music missions.
Ethel G. Olson Scholarship - to an incoming or current
student demonstrating financial need with consideration
given to students preparing for foreign or home missions.
Godwin and Margaret Opara Endowment - to any current
or returning needy student planning to go into full-time
ministry in a SBC church.
Pleasant Valley Baptist Church - to two or more incoming
or current students with consideration given to members of
Pleasant Valley Baptist Church in Liberty, Missouri, and/or
a student with missions service intent.
President’s Scholarship - to a M.Div. or MACE student
with outstanding academic performance during college
(GPA of 3.6 or higher) and who has demonstrated a call to
Finances 34
ministry. The student must complete at least 24 credit hours
each academic year at Midwestern with a GPA of 3.6 or
higher.
Gladys and Hubert H. Raborn Scholarship - to a current
or incoming student with consideration given to students
from Oklahoma.
William E. and Marthajean Radeck Scholarship - to an
incoming or returning missions student with consideration
given to students committed to health-related missions.
William E. Radeck Scholarship - to an incoming or current
student preparing for home or foreign missions.
Sanderson Evangelism Scholarship - to an incoming or
current student with consideration given to a student
demonstrating potential in evangelism.
Dr. George W. Shirley Memorial Scholarship - to two or
more incoming or current students.
Harold W. and Lois C. Silvus Scholarship - to incoming
or current students.
Zilpha Straw Trust Scholarship Fund - to current or
incoming students.
G. H. Surrette Scholarship - to an incoming or current
student demonstrating financial need and an interest in Old
Testament studies.
Trustee Scholarship - to a graduating student with a 3.00 or
higher GPA.
Mary C. and Garland B. Whitsitt Memorial Scholarship-
to an incoming student demonstrating financial need and call
to ministry.
Conrad R. Willard Scholarship - to an incoming or current
student.
J. Yarborough Preaching Scholarship – to a married
student in preaching/pastoral ministry while working in a
secular position.
Ray Zimmerman Endowment – to returning students
committed to medical/dental/health related missions.
35 Academic Information
Academic Information
ADMISSIONS
How to Apply:
1. Complete an application for admission provided by the
Seminary. A nonrefundable $30 application fee must
accompany the application.
2. Submit a completed personal essay and spouse essay, if
applicable. The personal essay requests evidence of the
applicant‘s salvation experience and that the applicant‘s
plan and purpose in life is to serve in vocational Christian
ministry (i.e., the applicant is to have a call to ministry).
3. Obtain three references from persons not related to the
applicant who can address the applicant's personal and
Christian character.
4. Have an official transcript of all academic work sent from
all schools attended. Acceptance as a degree-seeking
student into an associate or bachelor‘s degree program
requires a high school diploma or its equivalent, into a
master‘s program requires an earned bachelor‘s degree
from an accredited institution of higher education, into the
Doctor of Ministry program requires an earned M.Div.
degree or its equivalent from an Association of
Theological Schools (ATS) accredited institution, and into
the Doctor of Education Ministry program requires an
earned M.A.C.E. degree or its equivalent from an ATS
accredited institution.
5. Provide a church endorsement, certified by the applicant's
local congregation.
6. Submit a completed Health/ Emotional/ Social
Information form
For assistance, telephone the Admissions Office at
1-800-944-MBTS (6287). This is a restricted phone number
for student admissions information.
Application
Midwestern Seminary is owned and operated by the
Southern Baptist Convention, which subsidizes the
educational fees of Southern Baptist students. The academic
programs and facilities of Midwestern are open to students
of all Christian denominations who meet the standard
requirements for admission. Non-Southern Baptist students
are required to pay additional fees.
The Seminary does not discriminate on the basis of
race, color, national or ethnic origin, or gender in the
administration of its educational policies, admission policies,
scholarship and loan programs, or any other programs and
activities, and complies with applicable nondiscrimination
laws.
Application forms are available from the Admissions
Office by:
telephone: 1-800-944-MBTS (6287)
1-816-414-3733
email: ad[email protected]
writing: Admissions Office
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
5001 N. Oak Trafficway
Kansas City, MO 64118-4697.
A $30 nonrefundable application fee must accompany
all applications for admission. Application may also be made
online through Midwestern's website at www.mbts.edu.
An application may be submitted at any time, provided
it is received at least four weeks prior to the beginning of the
semester the applicant desires to begin attending
Midwestern. Students may register for classes at the
beginning of any semester on the day classes begin but no
later than the end of the first week of classes or its
equivalent (i.e., the last day to add a class).
Educational Preparation
Students who plan to enter seminary after college
should plan their undergraduate curriculum with future
studies in mind. In order to prepare for advanced theological
study, students should have an understanding and awareness
of themselves and their cultural, political, and social milieu.
They should have a basic knowledge of the Bible and
religious history and be aware of theological thought. It is
also essential that a student develop good English and
communication skills. A student must be able to write and
speak clearly and correctly and be able to think logically and
in an organized manner. A student will also benefit from
being proficient in reading at least one foreign language.
The faculty at Midwestern Seminary in principle
affirms the following statements on pre-seminary studies by
the Association of Theological Schools:
I. General Principles
Schools should require evidence that a student has
developed to a satisfactory degree the ability to think
independently, to communicate effectively, and to do
research.
Students should possess a basic general knowledge of past
and present culture through studies in the humanities and
the natural social sciences.
The Biblical languages are useful tools that may be
acquired in the pre-seminary period. Latin is important,
especially in some traditions. Modern languages such as
German, French, and Spanish are also valuable.
Academic Information 36
II. Religious Studies
The study of religion is appropriate within a liberal arts
education. Students should be discouraged, however, from
anticipating, to any considerable extent at the
undergraduate level, work that will form part of their
seminary program. Such anticipation may narrow the base
on which later theological reflection will rest and may also
create problems in planning an integrated program in the
theological school.
Seminaries, on their part, should attempt to accommodate
students with advanced undergraduate work in the area of
religion. (See Advanced Standing by Examination and
Course Waiver by EXCEL Examination later in this
section.)
III. Special Circumstances
Specific curricular requirements may be required by
member schools.
A demonstrated competence, e.g., in business or a
profession, may be considered a helpful part of pre-
seminary preparation.
Candidates whose formal preparation is deficient may be
required to undertake remedial study at the undergraduate
level, even though they hold an accredited bachelor's
degree.
Accepted measuring tests, such as the Graduate Record
Examination, are appropriate aids to evaluate applicants.
Schools should assess by letters of reference and, if
possible, by interview, their applicant's maturity,
emotional stability, skill in personal relationships, and
commitment to theological study.
English Proficiency
All degree-seeking students entering a master‘s program
at Midwestern for the first time are required to demonstrate
mastery of written communication skills by achieving a
combined grade point average of 2.5 or higher in a minimum
of six semester hours of undergraduate English composition
or its equivalent. Any student below this 2.5 GPA average or
with less than six hours of undergraduate English
composition will be required to take U-GE102 English
Composition II or its equivalent at Midwestern or at a
college or university approved by Midwestern within one
year of the student‘s initial enrollment. Students not
completing this requirement within one year are suspended
form enrolling until it has been satisfied. U-GE102 English
Composition II is a three credit hour undergraduate course
and is not applicable toward any master‘s level degree
requirements. The level of English competency will be
determined by an analysis of undergraduate transcripts.
Those students required to take U-GE102 English
Composition II or its equivalent will receive notification
from the Registrar‘s Office. Doctoral students submit a
ministry essay as part of the application process, which is
used to evaluate their written English skills.
Fees
Students should come with sufficient funds to meet all
initial expenses such as: tuition, fees, housing, books, etc.
Students are not officially enrolled in classes until their
educational fees and any past due financial obligations have
been paid or approved arrangements for payment made. The
amount of specific fees is listed in the Finances section of
this Catalog.
International Mission Board ―2+2‖ or ―2+3‖
Program
Midwestern offers the Master of Divinity Degree,
International Church Planting Concentration in cooperation
with the International Mission Board (IMB) of the Southern
Baptist Convention. The Concentration includes two years
of study at Midwestern and two (or three) years of
international field based service and study in cooperation
with the IMB (i.e., ―2+2‖ or ―2+3‖). Students completing the
program qualify for appointment as career missionaries with
the IMB without additional stateside ministry experience.
Nehemiah Project
The Nehemiah Project is a cooperative intern strategy
that links Southern Baptist churches, associations, state
conventions, training institutions, and the North American
Mission Board to prepare church planters to plant healthy,
reproducing churches.
The Nehemiah Project values are:
The unique calling, gifts, and temperament of each
individual
The combination of quality classroom education and
sound, practical experience
The role of mentoring in developing healthy leaders
The penetration of new mission settings
The planting of churches that reproduce
The partnering of Southern Baptists to reach North
America
To participate in the Nehemiah Project, students are to
meet criteria established by the Nehemiah Center program as
well as the entrance requirements of Midwestern. Students in
this church-planting program will typically pursue the
Master of Divinity Degree, North American Church Planting
Concentration.
37 Academic Information
New Student Orientation
All new students are required to attend New Student
Orientation prior to the student's first semester at
Midwestern. Dates for this are listed in the Academic
Calendar at the beginning of this catalog. Orientation
sessions are offered on the Kansas City campus just prior to
the start of the fall and spring semesters. The orientation
sessions include new students registering for classes.
An identification photograph is taken during New
Student Orientation for the student directory. Appropriate
dress is required (coat and tie for men).
Prerequisites for a Graduate Degree
Students desiring to earn one of Midwestern‘s graduate
degrees are required to have completed an accredited
baccalaureate degree or its equivalent. Midwestern adheres
to the Association of Theological Schools' standards that
limit the number of students who are accepted from non-
accredited schools. Applicants for the Doctor of Ministry
degree are to have an accredited M.Div. degree or its
equivalent. Applicants for the Doctor of Educational
Ministry degree are to have an accredited M.A.C.E. degree
or its equivalent. Specific requirements for admission to
doctoral programs are outlined in the appropriate doctoral
degree guide, which is available from the Doctoral Studies
Office.
Students with degrees from non-accredited schools may
be granted acceptance on the basis of scholastic probation.
Qualified undergraduate students who have not completed
the requirements for a baccalaureate degree may request to
enroll in a master‘s level course by obtaining approval using
the Undergraduate Student Request to Register for a
Master‘s Level Course form (available from the Registrar‘s
Office) – see the Students without a Baccalaureate Degree
Enrolling in Master‘s Level Courses statement later in the
Academic Information, Policies section of the catalog.
Profiles of Ministry-Stage 1: Entrance
Entering master‘s students complete the Association of
Theological Schools (ATS) sponsored Profiles of Ministry-
Stage 1: Entrance survey. The survey assesses the student‘s
readiness for ministry. Following scoring of the survey by
ATS, Midwestern‘s Profiles of Ministry Coordinator meets
with each student to review the results.
Registration
Registration is according to the schedule listed in the
academic calendar. To register, students must have their
course schedule approved by their faculty advisor and have
the Financial Aid Signature and box checked. Full details of
the registration process are available from the Registrar's
Office. Registration and enrollment are not considered final
until all fees and any past due financial obligations have
been paid or approved arrangements for payment made.
Students not completing registration during the scheduled
registration period are assessed a late payment fee of $50.
The total record of each student is subject to review at
the time of each enrollment. Midwestern reserves the right to
discontinue enrollment at any time a student's academic
performance or personal conduct is deemed unsatisfactory
by the faculty or administration.
Students not enrolled at Midwestern for more than 12
consecutive months must submit an application for
readmission and are required to meet degree requirements
from the then current catalog.
Scheduling Plan
Midwestern‘s curriculum is structured around two
fifteen-week semesters. Courses are also offered in January
and summer terms in one- and two-week intensive formats.
A variety of scheduling plans are designed with different
student situations in mind. Classes are planned on-campus
and at several off-campus sites with the goal of making
classes accessible to as many students as possible. Off-
campus classes generally meet on Mondays for ten-weeks.
Testing Services’ School Codes for Midwestern
The Test of English as a Second Language (TOEFL)
school code for Midwestern is 6441. Information about the
TOEFL examination is available at www.ets.org, most
colleges and universities, or may be obtained by writing the
Educational Testing Service at: TOEFL/TSE Services, P.O.
Box 6151, Princeton, NJ 08541-6151, USA. The TOEFL
score must be received by the Admissions Office before an
international student‘s application will be processed.
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) school code
for Midwestern is 6441. Information about the GRE
examination is available at www.ets.org or by writing the
Educational Testing Service at: GRE-ETS, P.O. Box 6000,
Princeton, NJ, USA. A GRE score is optional, i.e., not
required, for admission to Midwestern.
Transcripts
Students receive an unofficial copy of their transcript
with pre-enrollment materials each semester. Additional
unofficial copies may be obtained from the Registrar's
Office. Transcripts are confidential documents and are
issued only when requested in writing. Copies of official
transcripts are issued at a cost of $5 each, plus any fees
incurred when the seminary begins utilizing an electronic
transcript service. Transcripts are only issued for persons
who have accounts in good standing with the Financial
Services Office. Please allow up to two weeks for
processing.
Transfer
Midwestern transfers a limited number of credit hours
for courses taken at other accredited institutions. To transfer,
courses must: (1) be equivalent in content and requirements
to courses in the Midwestern catalog; (2) meet a Midwestern
degree requirement (i.e., only courses meeting a Midwestern
degree requirement will be transferred and recorded on the
student‘s permanent record/transcript), and (3) have a
recorded grade of C- or higher for master‘s and
undergraduate transfers and B or higher for doctoral
transfers.
Academic Information 38
In addition, for graduate level transfer credit, the
Association of Theological Schools stipulates that up to one
half of the credits required for the student's degree program
at Midwestern may be granted on the basis of transfer
credits, and no more than one half of the credits required for
the degree program at the transfer school may be transferred.
Qualified U.S. military chaplains admitted to Midwestern‘s
D.Min. program may request the transfer of up to 15 credit
hours toward the D.Min. degree for military training in such
areas as Chaplaincy Officer Basic Course, Chaplaincy
Officer Advanced Course, and/or ILE/CGSC training. At
least one half (15 hours) of the 30 hours required for the
D.Min. degree must be completed at Midwestern.
Master‘s students transferring from unaccredited
institutions (an institution of higher education that is not
accredited by a regional or institutional accrediting agency
recognized by the Council for Higher Education
Accreditation and/or the U.S. Department of Education) may
validate master‘s level coursework with EXCEL exams
and/or faculty validation of competency. Upon successfully
passing the exam or faculty validation, transfer credit is
awarded.
Undergraduate students transferring coursework from
an institution of higher education that is not accredited by a
regional or institutional accrediting agency recognized by
the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)
and/or the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) is subject
to: (a) the student being accepted to Midwestern as a degree-
seeking student, (b) the academic calendar, grading system,
and the credentials of the transfer institution‘s faculty being
evaluated and approved by the Registrar or the Dean of the
College with the review of the Academic Policies
Committee; (c) the course(s) being transferred meeting all
other Midwestern transfer credit requirements; and (d) the
credit not being immediately transferred and posted to the
students transcript but held ―in escrow‖ until the student
successfully completes 24 credit hours at Midwestern with a
minimum GPA of 2.50, passes a minimum of three upper-
level courses (courses numbered in the three- or four-
hundreds), and passes at least one course from the
Biblical/Theological Studies, General Education, and major
components of the selected undergraduate degree program.
POLICIES
Academic Appeal Process
Students desiring to request exceptions to academic
policies and regulations are to submit a written statement
explaining the request and the reasons for it to the Academic
Dean or Registrar for consideration by the Academic
Policies Committee of the faculty. The Academic or
Registrar's Offices should be contacted about procedures
and/or forms.
Academic Probation
To remain in satisfactory academic standing, master's
degree and undergraduate students must maintain a
cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher for
all coursework taken at Midwestern or transferred from
another institution. The Registrar will notify each degree-
seeking student whose cumulative GPA falls below 2.0 that
the student is being placed on academic probation, that the
student may enroll for no more than 9 graduate credit hours
or 12 undergraduate credit hours per semester while on
academic probation, and that the student is required to enroll
in an approved study skills course (e.g., GS90 Study Skills,
2 hours). Credit for this course, however, does not count
toward meeting degree requirements. Being placed on
academic probation will affect a student‘s eligibility to
receive financial aid.
A student may enroll for a maximum of two semesters
while on academic probation. The student who fails to attain
a 2.0 or above cumulative GPA by the conclusion of the two
semester probationary period must withdraw from
Midwestern for at least one semester. After the withdrawal
period, the student may apply for readmission and, if
permitted to reenroll, must achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.0
or above within the next two semesters the student is
enrolled. Otherwise the student is ineligible to continue
studies at Midwestern without permission from the
Academic Policies Committee.
Doctoral students should consult the appropriate
doctoral program guide for the policy regarding satisfactory
academic standing that applies to them.
Students receiving financial aid should also see the
Satisfactory Academic Progress policy under Financial
Aid in the Finance section of this catalog.
Advanced Standing by Examination—Master’s
The Master‘s Advanced Standing Program offers
qualified, degree-seeking Master of Divinity, Master of Arts
in Christian Education, Master of Arts in Church Music, and
Master of Arts in Counseling students the opportunity to test
out of up to 14 hours of foundational course degree
requirements. Credit is not awarded for advanced standing
courses rather the courses are no longer considered as
requirements for graduation. Also advanced standing courses
generally are not transferable to other institutions.
To test out of a foundational course in a Master of
Divinity, Master of Arts in Christian Education, Master of
Arts in Church Music, and Master of Arts in Counseling
degree program, the student is to have met all three of the
following criteria as certified by Midwestern‘s Registrar:
1. Have taken a comparable course of the same general
content at the undergraduate level.
2. Have earned a B grade or higher in the comparable
course.
3. Have earned an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or
higher on a 4.0 scale.
39 Academic Information
Degree-seeking students who wish to test out of a
course will be charged a $35 per credit hour testing fee and
given a study guide for that course one week before taking
the qualifying examination. If the student does not take the
examination within eight days of receiving the study guide,
the option of testing out of that course is forfeited. The study
guide (and copies made of any parts thereof) is to be
surrendered at the time of the scheduled examination. The
Academic Office will notify the student and the Registrar‘s
Office of the result. If the student passes the examination, a
‗P‘ (passing grade) for that course is noted on the student‘s
transcript. If the examination is failed, the student will be
required to take that course and will not be given the
opportunity to retake the qualifying examination. Because
courses are offered on a rotating basis, the student is
responsible to ensure that the qualifying examination is
taken early in the student‘s degree program; leaving ample
time to take the required course if needed.
Students desiring to take an advanced standing
examination are to obtain an Application for Advanced
Standing from the Academic Office. A separate form is to be
completed for each course for which an application for
advanced standing is made. Certification of the student
having met the requirements to take an advanced standing
examination is to be obtained from the Registrar and the
completed form submitted to the Academic Office for the
examination to be scheduled.
Qualified students may earn advanced standing for
up to 14 credit hours from the following courses:
BS2200 Elementary Hebrew I 3 hrs
BS2201 Elementary Hebrew II 3 hrs
BS2210 Old Testament Survey I 3 hrs
BS2211 Old Testament Survey II 3 hrs
BS2300 Elementary Greek I 3 hrs
BS2301 Elementary Greek II 3 hrs
BS2310 New Testament Survey I 3 hrs
BS2311 New Testament Survey II 3 hrs
BS2400 Introduction to Hermeneutics 2 hrs
HT3100 History of Christianity I 3 hrs
HT3101 History of Christianity II 3 hrs
HT3110 Baptist History 3 hrs
HT3200 Theology I 3 hrs
HT3201 Theology II 3 hrs
HT3300 Introduction to Apologetics 2 hrs
HT3400 Christian Ethics 3 hrs
Attendance
Midwestern expects regular attendance in all classes and
students to inform professors of anticipated absences. A
student must attend at least 75 percent of class sessions to
receive credit. Failure to attend 75 percent or more class
sessions will result in the student receiving a failing grade
for that course. Appeals for exceptions are to be made in
writing, supported with appropriate documentation, and, for
master‘s students, submitted to the Academic Dean or
Registrar for presentation to the Academic Policies
Committee; for professional doctoral students, submitted to
the Director of Doctoral studies for presentation to the
Doctoral Studies Committee; and for research doctoral
students, submitted to the Ph.D. Director for presentation to
the Doctoral Studies Committee.
Professors will record student attendance for every
course. The professor will notify the Registrar‘s Office of
the student‘s last date of attendance whenever an enrolled
student has never attended a course, has ceased to attend a
course, or has missed more than 25 percent of class sessions
for a course.
Auditing
Those who desire to audit classes (non credit) may do so
by indicating this on the course enrollment form submitted
to the Registrar's Office and paying the audit tuition rate. In
cases of limited space, priority is given to students enrolled
for credit.
Auditing students do not receive academic credit for the
audited course, and the hours taken are not computed in the
student‘s grade point average. A class being audited may not
be changed to being taken for credit after the last day to add
a class (i.e., the end of the first week of classes). Only
regularly scheduled classroom courses may be audited and
then only for the scheduled hours.
Auditors attend class under the regular class attendance
policy. Auditors do not take examinations or quizzes and do
not submit assignments for grading by the professor.
Participation in class discussions or activities is at the
discretion of the professor and requires advance preparation
or knowledge of the subject or topic by the auditor.
Catalog Requirements
Students are required to satisfy degree requirements
from the Academic Catalog in effect the term they first
enroll at Midwestern. Students not attending Midwestern for
more than one year (12 consecutive months) are required to
meet requirements from the catalog in effect at the time they
reenroll unless prior arrangements have been approved by
the Academic Policies Committee. Students may petition the
Registrar in writing to meet degree requirements from a
more recent catalog provided they have been enrolled when
that catalog is in effect.
Closure or Delayed Opening for Inclement
Weather
Closure or delayed opening of the Kansas City campus
for inclement weather is at the discretion of the President or
designated administrator. Unless notified otherwise, the
cancellation of Kansas City classes will be announced on
local Kansas City television stations and such information
will be displayed on the seminary‘s website. When classes
are not cancelled during inclement weather conditions,
students should use discretion to prevent endangering
themselves or others by attempting to travel to class during
dangerous or intimidating conditions or situations.
Consideration will be extended to students who cannot make
it to class due to safety concerns, children at home, etc.
Academic Information 40
Computer-Campus-Computer (CCC) courses
Computer-Campus-Computer (CCC) courses begin
with preparation by the student at home via the computer
and/or email for four weeks, followed by one-week of
intensive lectures on-campus in Kansas City. The student
then returns home to finish course assignments and/or tests
via the computer and/or email for up to the next four weeks.
Students are to provide an email address at the time they
enroll for a CCC course. Students without email capability
may not enroll in CCC courses.
Course Appeals/Complaints
A student who has a complaint about a course should
first talk with the professor or professors involved. If the
issue cannot be resolved, then the student should go to the
Academic Dean for further review.
Course Changes (Add/Drop or Withdrawal)
Students are given the opportunity to enroll at times
designated on the Academic Calendar. A $15 per occasion
charge is incurred for course changes made after the first day
of classes each semester or term.
Course Add. Students may add a course through the
end of the first week of classes each semester or its
equivalent. The appropriate tuition is assessed for the added
course.
Course Drop/Withdrawal. Courses dropped before
the end of the first week of classes each semester, or its
equivalent, will not appear on the student's transcript.
Dropping or withdrawing from a course after the end of the
first week of classes or its equivalent but prior to the end of
the first half or 50 percent of a course will result in a "WP"
(withdraw passing) or "WF" (withdraw failing) grade being
recorded. Students may not drop or withdraw from a course
during the second half or 50 percent of a course except for
medical reasons or other emergencies. Approvals for
exceptions are made by the Academic Policies Committee.
In the case of an approved exception, a "W" (withdrawn)
grade is assigned.
Ceasing to attend a class without processing a drop
form does not constitute an official drop and will result in a
failing grade being issued. When dropping classes, the $15
Schedule Change fee is assessed.
Dropping below nine credit hours of coursework will
affect the amount of financial aid a master‘s student is
qualified to receive and will result in the need to vacate on-
campus student housing, if applicable, unless prior approval
was obtained.
Course Offering Cancellations
Course offerings for which enrollment minimums have
not been met may be cancelled.
Course Repetition
Students must repeat any course(s) once in order to
raise their grades. Students may repeat failed courses as
often as necessary to pass. The ―F‖ grade is not removed
from the transcript, but is not figured in the grade point
average along with the new passing grade.
Course Substitution
The faculty has prescribed required courses according
to the purposes of the various degree programs; therefore,
permission to substitute other courses for the required
courses is an exception requiring special approval. A Course
Substitution/Waiver Request form, obtained from the
Registrar‘s Office, is to be completed and approval
signatures obtained for each course for which a substitution
or waiver is requested.
Approval is required from a professor who normally
teaches the course and the student‘s academic advisor. If the
course substitution or waiver is for a degree program
Foundational Core course, approval is also to be obtained
from the Academic Policies Committee. If it is for a degree
program Emphasis course, approval of the Academic Deans
is also required.
Coursework Requirements
Course requirements such as readings, reviews,
research, and term papers assume that students will invest a
minimum of two hours out of class for every one hour in
class. Students are advised to adjust their academic workload
and employment to provide thorough preparation for each
course.
Course Waiver by EXCEL Examination
Degree-seeking master‘s students who believe they are
competent in a required seminary course may apply to take
an EXCEL exam to have the required course waived and
receive entry into upper level course work. To be eligible to
take an EXCEL exam, a student is to have earned an overall
undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale and have
earned a grade of B (3.0) or higher in the course under
consideration.
Application for an EXCEL exam is made through the
Academic Office and is to be made at least two weeks prior
to the examination date. A nonrefundable fee of $25 is
charged for each exam taken. Payment is due in advance or
at the time of the examination. Examinations will be graded
on a pass/fail basis.
41 Academic Information
Credit Hour
One semester hour of credit is awarded for the learning
outcomes typically achieved in one hour of classroom (i.e., a
50 minute class period) or direct faculty instruction and a
minimum of two hours of out of class student work each
week for fourteen weeks, plus a two hour final exam taken
during the fifteenth week, or the equivalent. In
nontraditional or specialized courses (e.g., online, hybrid,
internships, practica, etc.) where a course may not meet for
the equivalent instructional time, alternate instructional
processes are used so the equivalent learning objectives are
achieved. Alternate instructional processes include but are
not limited to: posted online modules or lessons written or
procured by the instructor, online chat room discussions with
the instructor and/or other students, online bulletin board
discussions with the instructor and/or other students, email
discussions with the instructor and/or other students, and
other activities that include instructor interaction and
involvement. Out of class student activities that do not
involve direct instructor interaction and involvement include
but are not limited to: writing papers, reading articles or text,
group projects/work, research, presentations, and completing
assignments from a textbook.
Credit Hour Load
D.Min. and D.Ed.Min. students are continuously
enrolled throughout their programs and are classified as full-
time students. Students are enrolled in a minimum of one
four-hour seminar each semester until all requirements are
met. The D.Min. program typically takes three or more years
to complete and the D.Ed.Min. program typically takes four
or more years to complete.
Master‘s students are classifies as full-time when
enrolled for nine credit hours or more during the fall or
spring semesters or five or more hours during a January or
summer term. To complete a M.Div. degree in three years or
six semesters, students must take 15 or 16 hours each
semester. To complete a MACE, MACM, MACO, or M.A.
degree in two years or four semesters, students must take
15 hours each semester. Some programs may require more
than this or taking hours during the January or summer
terms. Students may not exceed the 18 hour maximum load
limit without obtaining approval from the Academic Dean.
Students placed on academic probation or making less than
satisfactory academic progress may be limited in the number
of credit hours they may take and, therefore, require
additional semesters to complete graduation requirements.
Cross-Enrollment through the Kansas City
Association of Theological Seminaries
Regular enrollment in another ATS accredited
theological seminary in the Kansas City area (Central
Baptist Theological Seminary, Midwestern Baptist
Theological Seminary, Nazarene Theological Seminary, and
Saint. Paul School of Theology) qualifies a student for cross-
enrollment at Midwestern. Credit on work taken at
Midwestern is transferable to the institution in which the
student is enrolled.
Subject to prior approval of the Academic Dean, a
degree-seeking student currently enrolled at Midwestern
may request to enroll in a course at one of the other Kansas
City Association of Theological Seminaries and have the
course credited toward a degree from Midwestern.
Normally, a student will take no more than four hours per
semester in cross-enrollment. Courses taken must be
electives. A student may not take more than eight hours in
cross-enrollment toward a degree at Midwestern.
Degree Progress
Students in all degree programs are monitored to assure
they are making satisfactory academic progress toward the
degree for which they are enrolled (see Probation later in
this section regarding unsatisfactory progress). Normally, a
Master of Divinity degree will be completed in three or four
years, a Master of Arts in two or three years.
Distance Education
The Association of Theological Schools accreditation
standards and the Council of Southern Baptist Seminaries
currently permit a maximum of 30 credit hours to be earned
toward a degree at Midwestern using distance education
courses. A distance education course is one in which
enrolled students and the course professor are not in the
same location (e.g., Internet and correspondence courses).
Earning Two Degrees
The Association of Theological Schools accreditation
standards permit a maximum of one-half of the hours earned
in one degree to be transferred into a second degree. In
addition, at least one-half of the hours required for the
second degree must be completed in addition to the courses
completed for the first degree.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy
Act (FERPA)
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
(FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their
education records. These rights include:
1. The right to inspect and review the student's education
records within 45 days of the day Midwestern receives
a request for access. The student should submit to the
registrar, dean, head of the academic department, or other
appropriate official, a written request that identifies the
record(s) the student wishes to inspect. The Midwestern
official will make arrangements for access and notify the
student of the time and place where the records may be
inspected. If the records are not maintained by the
Midwestern official to whom the request was submitted,
that official shall advise the student of the correct official
to whom the request should be addressed.
Academic Information 42
2. The right to request the amendment of the student's
education records that the student believes are
inaccurate or misleading. The student may ask
Midwestern to amend a record the student believes is
inaccurate or misleading. The student should write the
Midwestern official responsible for the record, clearly
identify the part of the record the student wants changed,
and specify why the record is inaccurate or misleading. If
Midwestern decides not to amend the record as requested
by the student, Midwestern will notify the student of the
decision and advise the student of his or her right to a
hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional
information regarding the hearing procedures will be
provided to the student when notified of the right to a
hearing.
3. The right to consent to disclosures of personally
identifiable information contained in the student's
education records, except to the extent that FERPA
authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception
that permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to
school officials with legitimate educational interests. A
school official is a person employed by Midwestern in an
administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or
support staff position (including law enforcement unit
personnel and health staff); a person or company with
whom Midwestern has contracted (such as an attorney,
auditor, or collection agent); a person serving on the
Board of Trustees; or a student serving on an official
committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee,
or assisting another school official in performing his or her
tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational
interest if the official needs to review an education record
in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.
Upon request, Midwestern discloses education records
without consent to officials of another school in which a
student seeks or intends to enroll.
Directory information (listed below) is generally
considered not harmful or an invasion of privacy if
released. Unless the Registrar‘s Office is informed
otherwise by the student in writing, directory information
may be released by Midwestern without the student's
permission.
Directory Information. The following information is
considered to be directory information by Midwestern
and, therefore, information that is generally not considered
harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed:
Name, address, & telephone listing
Email addresses
Participation in officially recognized activities
Date and place of birth
Photographs
Dates of attendance, degrees, and awards
Most recent previous school attended
Class schedule/roster
Field of study (program/major)
Full-or part-time status
Students wishing any or all of the above items to not
be released to anyone who does not have an authorized
and/or legitimate need to know the above information,
please notify the Registrar's Office in writing of this desire
and the noted information will not be released. Note that
specifying that your address and phone number not be
released will prohibit even friends and relatives from
being able to obtain that information from Midwestern.
4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department
of Education concerning alleged failures by
Midwestern to comply with the requirements of
FERPA. The name and address of the office that
administers FERPA is:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-4605
Final Examinations
Students are required to take final examinations at the
times scheduled. Seminary policy prohibits the taking of a
final exam early. A student who is unable to take a
scheduled final examination because of confining illness or
some other serious circumstances must present to the
Registrar a written request to take a make-up examination; in
turn, the student must submit written permission to the
professor before arranging a make-up examination.
Students who are scheduled for three or more final
exams on the same day may, prior to the exam day, request
permission from the Registrar and course professor to
postpone one exam.
Full-time/Half-time/Part-time Classifications
Full-time. Doctoral students are classified as full-time
students for the duration of their enrollment at Midwestern.
Master's students are full-time students when enrolled for
nine or more credit hours during a 15-week semester or five
or more credit hours during a January or summer term.
Undergraduate students are full-time when enrolled for 12 or
more credit hours during a 15-week semester or six or more
credit hours during a January or summer term.
Half-time. Master‘s students are half-time students
when enrolled for five to eight credit hours during a 15-week
semester or three to five credit hours during a January or
summer term. Undergraduate students are half-time when
enrolled for six to 11 credit hours during a 15-week semester
or three to five credit hours during a January or summer
term.
Part-time. Master's students are part-time students
when enrolled for less than nine credit hours during a 15-
week semester or less than five credit hours during a January
or summer term. Undergraduate students are part-time when
enrolled for less than 12 credit hours during a 15-week
semester or less than six credit hours during a January or
summer term.
43 Academic Information
Grades/Grade Reports
Final course grades are available to registered students
through the Internet student portal once they have been
received and processed by the Registrar‘s Office. Students
desiring to know their course grades prior to this distribution
should contact the course professor(s), not the Registrar's
Office. Students must have financial accounts with
Midwestern in good standing before grades may be accessed
at the end of each semester through the student portal.
The Seminary follows a 4.0 grade-point system to
encourage academic achievement. Under this system grades
are given certain numerical value per credit hour (please see
the grading system chart below). A failing grade in a course
is permanently recorded on the student's transcript, but it is
not included in grade point average computation if a student
repeats and passes the course.
Grading System
Master’s grading and grade point value system:
A ........ 4.0 AU ...... Audit
A- ....... 3.7 CR ....... Credit
B+ ...... 3.3 I ........... Incomplete
B ......... 3.0 NC ...... No credit
B- ....... 2.7 NG ...... No Grade Assigned
C+ ...... 2.3 P .......... Passing
C ......... 2.0 W ........ Withdrawn from course
C- ....... 1.7 WP ...... Withdraw passing
D+ ...... 1.3 WF ...... Withdraw failing (not
D ........ 1.0 computed in GPA)
D- ....... 0.7
F ......... 0.0
Doctoral grading, scoring, and grade point value system:
A .. 98-100 .... 4.0 AU ...... Audit
A- ... 96-97 .... 3.7 I ........... Incomplete
B+ .. 92-95 .... 3.3 NG ...... No Grade Assigned
B ..... 88-91 .... 3.0 P .......... Passing
B- ... 85-87 .... 2.7 W ........ Withdrawn from course
C+ .. 82-84 .... 2.3 WP ...... Withdraw passing
C ..... 75-81 .... 2.0 WF ...... Withdraw failing (not
computed in GPA)
Incomplete Grade
An incomplete grade may only be reported for a student
who has a passing grade in a course but who is unable to
complete the final examination and/or final coursework due
to serious illness of the student, serious illness or death in
the student's immediate family, or other unusual and
substantial cause beyond the student's control. Failure to
appear for a final examination or complete coursework as
assigned and when due is not evidence for giving an
Incomplete grade (i.e., the opportunity to complete work
past the end of the semester should not give the student an
advantage others in the course in similar circumstances did
not have). Students are to submit the incomplete
coursework/exam to the professor no later than ten (10)
weeks after the last day of the semester or course. All
Incomplete grades must be removed within twelve (12)
weeks after the semester or course in which the Incomplete
grade was given. At the end of twelve (12) weeks, the grade
defaults to the grade earned-to-date indicated by the
professor on the Incomplete form.
The student's record shall bear the grade of "I" on any
incomplete course until all work is completed. If the student
does not submit the assigned work, the ―I‖ grade will
automatically be changed to the grade reported as being
earned-to-date. A student whose circumstances are so
extreme that they do not permit the submission of the work
within the stated period may petition the Registrar for a
further extension.
Independent Studies
The purpose of Independent Studies is to provide a
degree-seeking student the opportunity for advanced
research in specialized areas of academic pursuit.
Independent Studies are not an alternative approach for
completing courses that are available in regular curriculum
offerings. A student who wishes to enroll for an Independent
Study is to meet the following qualifications:
1. The student has completed at least one-half of the hours
required for the student‘s degree program.
2. The student shall not take more than 6 hours of the
degree program as independent study courses without
pre-approval from the Academic Policies Committee.
3. The student has a cumulative grade point average of 3.0
or higher or approval of the Academic Policies
Committee.
4. The application for taking an independent study course
is made.
A student interested in taking an independent study
course must first complete an application, available in the
Academic Dean's Office and acquire the Registrar's
signature verifying that the student meets the required
qualifications. The student then enlists a professor willing to
direct the Independent Study course. If a professor agrees to
do so, a learning contract is drafted and attached to the
application. The completed application and learning contract
is submitted to the Academic Dean for final approval no
later than 14 days after the first day of classes of the
semester for which the independent study is requested. If
approved, the application and learning contract are sent to
the Registrar's Office to enroll the student for the
independent study. Students is to complete the independent
study course within the semester in which the student is
enrolled in the independent study. In addition to normal
matriculation fees (registration and tuition), the student pays
a course fee of $100 for the first credit hour and $50 for each
additional credit hour for each Independent Study course.
Normally, a required course is not available as an
Independent Study course. In cases in which the seminary is
responsible for scheduling deficiencies respecting required
courses, a student may request permission to take a required
course as an Independent Study.
Academic Information 44
Integrity in Seminary Studies
The fundamental purpose of Midwestern Baptist
Theological Seminary is to assist the development of
Christian ministers who are equipped to make responsible
and relevant witness to the redeeming gospel of Jesus Christ
in the context of the vastly complex and rapidly changing
modern culture in which God has granted us the grace of
life. In accordance with this purpose, therefore, the Seminary
dearly cherishes and earnestly seeks to foster among all its
students the qualities of spiritual dedication, creative
imagination, and personal integrity.
Consequently, the administration and faculty of the
Seminary expect, as a minimum requirement, that each
student shall do his or her own work. That is to say, the
student is to let every test and examination reflect only the
best results of his or her own disciplined study. Likewise,
every written assignment must represent the student‘s own
original approach to the task assigned; and it should not
contain either direct quotations or paraphrases of any part of
any other writer‘s book or paper, published or unpublished,
for which due credit is not given to the original author. Such
credit should be acknowledged by proper citation (in text,
footnotes, and bibliography) of the sources employed.
Unless otherwise instructed by the professor under
whose direction the paper is prepared, Turabian‘s Manual
for Writers (with such supplements as may be prepared by
the faculty) will serve as a guide to correct form in citing all
sources.
It cannot be exaggerated how strongly the Seminary
deplores plagiarism in all its forms. Dishonesty is
incompatible with the very purpose for which a student
avails himself of its ministries. It is to be desired that one
remain without a degree rather than to obtain it by dishonest
means, for Christianity cannot countenance conduct that
contradicts its basic tenets. It is further to be hoped that each
individual will recognize a responsibility for his brother as
well as for himself in all such matters.
This statement was first adopted by the faculty of
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary on October 5,
1961 and continues to be affirmed by the current faculty.
Library Use
As a normal part of seminary education, students are
expected to use the learning resources available in
Midwestern‘s Library for completing course assignments,
research, etc. The Library collection consists of over
130,000 cataloged volumes in addition to a large body of
general and denominational periodicals (625 current
subscriptions) and other serial materials. The Library
participates in the Missouri Library Network, a
computerized system of shared cataloging, and the Missouri
Bibliographic Information Users System (MOBIUS), a
consortium of academic libraries in Missouri.
All students are required to have a Midwestern
Identification Card that serves as the student‘s library card.
Access to print resources, computer use, as well as online
databases is permitted only with a valid ID card.
Limiting Credit Hours and/or Employment
Hours
To exceed the normal maximum class load of 18 credit
hours per semester a student is to obtain approval of the
Academic Dean. A student working in excess of 20 hours
per week in secular and/or religious employment is advised
to enroll for a reduced academic load. The faculty advisor
will work with the student in assessing the student's
workload. A student working in excess of 35 hours per week
in secular and/or religious employment is not to enroll for
more than 14 credit hours per semester unless given
permission by the Academic Dean.
Nondegree-Seeking Students
Students who have not completed the application for
admission process may enroll for classes at Midwestern as
nondegree-seeking students. Permission to enroll as a
nondegree-seeking student, though, does not mean or
guarantee that the student will later be accepted or permitted
to enroll as a degree-seeking student. If a nondegree-
seeking student anticipates becoming a degree-seeking
student, it is highly recommended that one do so with at
least one year left in one’s intended degree program so
that one can complete both semesters of the required
Profiles of Ministry program in time to graduate at the
desired time.
To enroll, nondegree-seeking students must submit a
completed Nondegree-Seeking Student Registration form;
all items must be completed the first time the nondegree-
seeking student enrolls, thereafter, only the personal and
enrollment information need be completed unless the other
information has changed. Nondegree-seeking students must
also provide documentation of receipt of an earned and
accredited baccalaureate degree or equivalent to enroll in a
master‘s level course or a high school diploma or equivalent
to enroll in an undergraduate course.
The first time a nondegree-seeking student enrolls at
Midwestern, in addition to the registration, tuition, and
course fees, if any, a one-time, nonrefundable $30
application fee must be submitted with the Nondegree-
Seeking Student Registration form; thereafter, the
nondegree-seeking student only pays the registration, tuition,
and course fees, if any.
Data on the Nondegree-Seeking Student Registration
form documents the nondegree-seeking student‘s eligibility
to enroll. It also provides information needed to establish
electronic records for these students and to complete
required government, accreditation, and/or agency reports.
45 Academic Information
On-Campus Requirement for Completion of a
Degree
The Association of Theological Schools has established
that a comprehensive community of learning is required
(unless granted a rare exception) to achieve the complex
goal of the personal, vocational, spiritual, and academic
formation of students. To achieve this, at least one year of
full-time study or its equivalent (i.e., 30 credit hours) is to be
completed at Midwestern's main campus in Kansas City.
These credit hours may be earned through attendance at
Computer-Campus-Computer (CCC) courses, inter-term
(i.e., January or summer) courses, special courses offered
during the week of fall or spring break, on-campus master‘s
workshops, and/or by relocating to the Kansas City campus.
On-campus work may be completed at any time the student
is enrolled.
Online/Internet Courses
Through Midwestern Baptist College, SBC, Midwestern
offers fifteen courses via the Internet as part of the Master of
Arts, Theological Studies program. All of these courses
satisfy M.Div. and MACE program requirements; however,
based on the Association of Theological Schools (ATS)
standards, only a maximum of 30 or these hours or ten
courses may be applied toward the M.Div. or MACE degree
programs at the present time. All of the online courses are
offered for three credit hours; a few of these are offered on-
campus for only two hours. Students should, therefore, take
care in selecting online courses (questions or advise about
this should be directed to the Registrar‘s Office at 816-414-
3713 or registrar@mbts.edu).
Pre-enrollment and Registration
In preparation for pre-enrollment each semester, the
Registrar's Office provides each student with an updated
transcript. Students who are currently enrolled are required
to pre-enroll for the next semester. This helps Midwestern
and the Bookstore better plan and prepare for classes.
Students who fail to pre-enroll by the deadline listed in the
Academic Calendar are assessed the $50 Late
Pre-enrollment Fee. Students with an unpaid balance due
Midwestern will not be permitted to pre-enroll or enroll for
future semesters until the balance due has been paid.
Pre-enrolled students complete registration by paying
the registration, tuition, and course fees, if any, by the due
date. The Registrar's Office provides each pre-enrolled
student with a statement listing the student's classes for that
semester and the fees due. Students not paying the semester
fees by the end of the scheduled registration period are
assessed a late payment fee of $50. Registration and
enrollment are not considered completed until the
registration, tuition, and course fees, if any, are paid.
The record of each student is subject to review at the
time of each registration. Midwestern reserves the right to
discontinue enrollment at any time a student's academic
performance or personal conduct is deemed unsatisfactory
by the faculty or administration.
Students not enrolled at Midwestern for a period of one
or more years must submit an application for readmission
and are required to meet degree requirements from the
catalog that is current at the time the student reenrolls.
Reenrollment after a Withdrawal
Former students who have not attended Midwestern
within the past calendar year (i.e., 12 consecutive months)
are to complete an Application for Readmission and return
under the requirements of the then current academic catalog
unless approved by the Academic Policies Committee to be
under a different academic catalog.
An Application for Readmission may be requested by:
telephone: 1-800-944-MBTS (6287)
1-816-414-3733
email: [email protected]
writing: Admissions Office
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
5001 N. Oak Trafficway
Kansas City, MO 64118-4697.
Midwestern complies with the federal requirements for
Readmission of Service Members/Veterans as specified in
Title 34 CFR § 668.18 and listed in the Federal Register/
Vol. 74, No. 208/ Thursday, October 29, 2009. With some
exceptions, this provides that a reenrolling veteran may not
be denied readmission on the basis of his or her military
service, that the eligible veteran may enroll during the next
term after he or she has indicated intent to reenroll, that the
eligible veteran be admitted with the same academic status
(i.e., to the same degree program, with the same enrollment
status, with the same number of credits, and with the same
satisfactory academic progress status), and that during the
first academic year of reenrollment, the veteran is assessed
the same tuition and fee charges as were in effect during the
academic year he or she left Midwestern to report for
military service unless the difference in cost will be paid by
the veteran‘s education benefits with no loss of benefits to
the veteran.
In most cases, the veteran must apply for readmission
within five years of completion of military service. In cases
where the veteran may no longer be prepared to be
readmitted with the same academic status (e.g., to continue
in the next level of a language course), Midwestern will
make a reasonable effort to help the veteran to become
prepared (this might include provision of a refresher courses
at no extra cost to the veteran or some other appropriate
provision).
To reenroll, the veteran is to notify the Registrar‘s
Office of his or her intent to reenroll, to submit a completed
reapplication form to provide current information to update
the student data system, and to provide proof of his or her
having been called into or discharged from active military
service. The veteran should also contact the Financial Aid
Office to complete any necessary paperwork for receipt of
eligible benefits and/or financial aid, if any.
Academic Information 46
Satisfactory Academic Progress
Federal guidelines require recipients of federal Title IV
financial aid to maintain SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC
PROGRESS (SAP). SAP is a measure of the quality (grade
point average) and quantity (number of credit hours
completed) of students‘ progress toward completion of a
degree or program of study. All Midwestern students are
subject to this SAP policy and must meet the SAP standards
to receive federal (Title IV) financial aid.
The Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy is
different for undergraduate, master‘s, and doctoral students
and is listed in the Finance, Financial Aid section earlier in
this catalog.
Students without a Baccalaureate Degree
Enrolling in Master’s Level Courses
Undergraduate students requesting to enroll in a
master‘s level course must obtain approval using the
Undergraduate Student Request to Register for a Master‘s
Level Course form (available from the Registrar‘s Office)
for each master‘s level course requested and meet the
following qualifications:
1. have approval of the Professor of the master‘s course,
the Director of Undergraduate Studies or Academic
Advisor, the Academic Dean, and the Registrar.
2. have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00.
3. registration may be completed only if space is available
in the master‘s course (i.e., in the event of a space
shortage, undergraduate students may be replaced by
master‘s level students) and 80 percent or more of the
registered students are master‘s level students.
4. master‘s level credit is awarded, however, master‘s
courses used to meet undergraduate degree requirements
may not be used later to meet master‘s degree
requirements.
5. grades awarded are based on the grade and syllabus
requirements for the master‘s level course (i.e., course
requirements are not reduced for undergraduate
students).
Student’s Responsibility and Academic
Advising
Students are responsible to see that all courses are taken
according to the program requirements specified for the
student‘s degree program and that all degree requirements
are met. An academic advisor is available to provide
guidance concerning academic programs and to verify the
accuracy of course selections, but the ultimate responsibility
for knowing program requirements and proceeding to satisfy
those requirements in an orderly and timely manner is the
student‘s.
Style Guide for Written Papers/Assignments
All papers submitted by students are to include a cover
page and conform to the current edition of A Manual for
Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations by
Kate L. Turabian, unless noted otherwise by the professor.
Supervised Ministry
Supervised ministry is a program designed to prepare
students for the regular, practical responsibilities of ministry.
Whether it is performing a wedding, conducting a business
meeting, interviewing with a personnel committee, or a
myriad of other duties, supervised ministry is intended to
acquaint students with the expectations that accompany
these tasks before they enter into full-time ministry.
Withdrawal from School
Students may withdraw from the Seminary at their
discretion. It is the student‘s responsibility to secure and
process the Exit form with the Registrar‘s Office in order
that the withdrawal be made official. The academic record of
students withdrawing during a term is affected in the manner
described under ―Course Drop‖ in the Academic Policies
section of this catalog.
Any student withdrawing from the Seminary should
also make proper arrangements with the Financial Aid
Office, concerning any remaining loans which a student has,
and to the Housing Office to ensure that proper notification
is given concerning moving from student housing. In
addition, the withdrawing student must communicate with
the Business Office in order to arrange for the appropriate
payment of any unpaid accounts and to avoid the assessment
of late fees, penalties, or additional charges. An exit
interview with the Financial Aid Coordinator is required for
any person with a Title IV government loan.
Leave of Absence
Emergencies that require a student to withdraw from
classes for a time are dealt with on a case-by-case basis, with
a customized response being offered to students, based upon
their actual need. Some students can resume classes in far
less time than any formal Leave of Absence policy would
recognize, while others may need more time than any formal
Leave of Absence policy would recognize, depending upon
the nature of the emergency. Midwestern seeks to respond
to students according to their individual need in these cases.
GRADUATION
Application for Graduation
To participate in Commencement and graduate from
Midwestern, students are to complete an Application for
Graduation form. Forms may be obtained from the
Registrar‘s Office. Completed forms are to be submitted to
the Registrar‘s Office for processing no later than the
scheduled date for those desiring to participate in December
Commencement and no later than the last day of the fall
semester for participation in the following May
Commencement (applications submitted after the due date
may receive consideration if accompanied by a written
appeal for consideration by the Academic Policies
Committee).
47 Academic Information
The graduation fee is charged to the candidate‘s student
account at the beginning of the semester immediately
preceding Commencement. The fee is non-refundable and is
paid even if the candidate is granted the privilege of
graduating in absentia. The fee pays the costs of
Commencement, such as the printing of degrees/diplomas,
purchase/rental of academic regalia (except for certificate
and diploma recipients, who do not wear regalia and pay a
reduced fee), speaker, and facility rental.
Graduation Honors
Graduation honors are awarded to qualified graduates of
master‘s and undergraduate degree programs. Graduates of
doctoral, the graduate certificate, or the WISDOM programs
are not recognized with honors. Master‘s and undergraduate
students who complete degree requirements with an overall
cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.60 to 3.799 will
receive the notation "With Honors" upon graduation.
Master‘s and undergraduate students with an overall
cumulative GPA of 3.80 or above will receive the notation
"With Highest Honors" upon graduation. The cumulative
GPA includes courses taken at Midwestern and those
transferred from other institutions to meet degree
requirements, if applicable.
Participation in May Commencement
Upon satisfactory completion of the prescribed course
of study and all other requirements for graduation, the
student is entitled to graduate. The requirements for the
degree earned by the student will be determined by the
catalog in use when the candidate first enrolls at
Midwestern. If a student desires to graduate under the
requirements from a subsequent catalog issued while
pursuing a degree, the student may petition the Registrar for
permission to do so. Midwestern may require a student
whose enrollment has continued beyond five years to
graduate according to the requirements of a more recent
catalog.
GPA Requirement. To qualify for graduation, master's
degree and undergraduate students must attain a 2.0 or above
cumulative GPA in all graded work taken at Midwestern or
transferred from another institution to meet Midwestern‘s
degree requirements. All Doctoral students must maintain a
3.0 or higher cumulative GPA on all work taken during their
tenure in the program.
Residency Requirement. Master‘s and doctoral
students must complete 50 percent or more of the credits
required for the student's degree program at Midwestern.
Undergraduate students must complete a total of 126
semester credit hours (as specified by the major) for a
bachelor‘s degree and 64 hours for an associate‘s degree. A
minimum of 50 percent of these credit hours must be
completed at Midwestern as well as 50 percent of the
requirements for the major component of the degree.
Application for Graduation. Midwestern's
commencement exercises are held once a year on the
Saturday following spring semester final examinations.
Students desiring to participate in commencement must
submit an Application for Graduation to the Registrar's
Office no later than the last day of final examinations in the
preceding fall semester. Applications submitted after the
deadline must be approved by the Academic Policies
Committee and are assessed a $50 late fee. The candidate for
graduation is responsible to confer with the Registrar to
ensure that all degree program and graduation requirements
are met by the student, including the minimum GPA
required for graduation. Prior to graduation, a student must
settle all current accounts at the Library, Business Office,
and the LifeWay Bookstore located on campus. The faculty
reserves the right to determine that a student whose conduct
has proved to be unworthy of the standards of Christian
character is unworthy of graduation, even though all
academic requirements have been met.
Attendance at Commencement. Candidates are
expected to be present for Commencement. Under unusual
circumstances, a candidate may petition to graduate in
absentia. A written petition requesting permission to
graduate in absentia must be submitted to the Registrar for
faculty approval no later than the April 1
st
preceding
Commencement. Students graduating in absentia may not be
eligible to receive any of the graduation scholastic awards.
Participating in Commencement Lacking
Hours
Participating in Commencement lacking hours will
cease being permitted beginning in the Fall of 2011 due to
the fact that Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and
College will have its first ever December graduation on
December 16, 2011.
Profiles of Ministry-Stage 2: Exit
Graduating master‘s students are required to complete
the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) sponsored
Profiles of Ministry-Stage 2: Exit survey. The Survey
assesses graduates readiness for ministry by exploring
characteristics, traits, and sensitivities that clergy and laity
across North America judge to be important for the
beginning minister. Following scoring of the survey by ATS,
Midwestern‘s Profiles of Ministry Coordinator meets with
each graduate to review the results with the graduates.
Scholastic Awards
Each year the faculty at Midwestern honor selected
members of the graduating class attending the
Commencement ceremony who have completed all
graduation requirements prior to the Commencement
ceremony with the following awards:
The Association of Youth Ministry Educators Award - to
a graduate who has achieved excellence in youth ministry
studies.
Baker Book House Award in Theology - to a graduate who
has demonstrated excellence in the study of theology.
Academic Information 48
Broadman and Holman Seminarian Award - to the
graduate who has achieved the highest grade point average
for seminary studies.
William H. Collier Evangelism Award - to a graduate who
has demonstrated excellence in both the study and practice
of evangelism.
Doctoral Studies Award - to a Doctor of Ministry or
Doctor of Educational Ministry graduate who has
demonstrated excellence in seminar studies and the design
and implementation of the ministry project.
Wanda J. Keatley Award - to an outstanding graduate; the
award provides an opportunity for further growth in
understanding Biblical backgrounds by providing support
for Holy Land travel and study for the recipient (and spouse,
if applicable).
Lora Lee Kieser Church Music Award - to a graduate
who has demonstrated excellence in the church music field.
LifeWay Preaching Award - to a graduate who has
excelled in the study and practice of preaching.
North American Professors of Christian Education
Award - to a graduate who has demonstrated excellence in
religious education studies.
J. J. Owens Hebrew Award - to a graduate who has shown
superior progress in the study of Hebrew.
G. Hugh Wamble Award in Church History Studies - to a
graduate who has demonstrated outstanding interest and
achievement in the field of church history, focusing on
issues related to religious liberty.
Wornall Road Baptist Church Award in Theological
Field Education - to a graduate who has excelled in the
performance of ministry under supervision.
Zondervan Greek Award - to a graduate who has
demonstrated excellence in the study of Greek.
49 Programs of Study
Programs of Study
RESEARCH DOCTORAL
PROGRAM
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
(Ph.D.)
Purpose
Midwestern offers a research doctorate (Ph.D.) with
concentrations in Old Testament and New Testament. The
Ph.D. is intended primarily to equip persons for vocations of
teaching and research in theological schools, colleges, and
universities, or for the scholarly enhancement of ministerial
practice.
The Ph.D. degree program is under the direction of the
Doctoral Studies Office. For more information call
877-414-3755 or e-mail [email protected].
Admission
In addition to the general criteria for admission to
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, applicants to the
Ph.D. degree program must have:
1. An earned, 60+ hour master‘s degree or equivalent from
an Association of Theological Schools accredited
institution;
2. A 3.0 grade point average or above on a 4.0 scale for all
graduate level studies;
3. Satisfied the language requirement listed below.
Along with submitting a completed application form,
health/emotional/social information form, and the
application fee, the applicant must also:
1. Request that original transcripts from each academic
institution previously attended be sent to the Doctoral
Studies Office;
2. Request that official score reports for the Graduate
Record Exam or Miller Analogies Test be sent to the
Doctoral Studies Office;
3. Submit a copy of a 15-20 page academic research paper
as an example of the applicant‘s research and writing
skills (see application for required style guide
requirements);
4. Provide two academic and one personal or professional
references;
5. Provide a completed Church Endorsement Form;
6. Arrange for a personal interview with the Ph.D. Director.
International applicants must submit the results of the
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
examination. For the Internet-based test, a minimum total
score of 80 is required with a minimum of 20 on each of the
Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing sub-sections.
Other forms of the TOEFL exam are not accepted unless
prior approval is obtained from the Doctoral Studies
Committee.
Applicants not meeting all admission requirements may
petition to enter the program under provisionary status.
Information about this may be requested from the Doctoral
Studies Office (877-414-3755 or [email protected]).
Language Requirement
Applicants to the Ph.D. program must demonstrate a
working knowledge of Greek, Hebrew, and German, plus
either French or Latin. In some cases a third Biblical
language may be required if the Committee determines that
the chosen program of study requires it. In all cases, the
Doctoral Studies Committee must approve the languages
chosen in consultation with the Ph.D. Director. A working
knowledge of one modern language must be demonstrated
prior to taking doctoral seminars. If a student does not do so,
that student will be required to take a reduced load during
the first semester of study. Competence in the second
modern language must be demonstrated prior to the
beginning of the Tutorial and Comprehensive Examinations
stage. A working knowledge of a language is demonstrated
by earning a passing grade in a non-credit course offered
under faculty supervision or on a doctoral language
proficiency examination. Modifications or exceptions to
these language requirements may be made upon
recommendation of the Ph.D. Director and the approval of
the Doctoral Studies Committee and Academic Dean.
Program Objectives
Students graduating from the Doctor of Philosophy
program will be able:
1. To master a discernible field of study within their
chosen theological discipline.
2. To understand and demonstrate research methodologies
and procedures appropriate to their chosen field of
study.
3. To demonstrate theological inquiry and hermeneutical
expertise through writing and teaching within their
chosen field of study.
4. To exercise the liberty to develop and defend a research
dissertation.
Location
All Ph.D. seminars are offered on Midwestern‘s main
campus in Kansas City, Missouri.
Duration
The Ph.D. degree is a 60 hour program requiring four
years of academic study or its equivalent. All work for the
degree must be completed within eight years.
Programs of Study 50
Distinctive Resources
Ph.D. students have access to community life that
provides formal and informal educational experiences,
religious fellowship, and opportunity for reflection upon the
meaning of faith in its relation to education and research.
Access to faculty advisors/mentors, opportunity for teaching
college courses, and preferred access to library resources and
reserved study carrels is also provided.
CURRICULUM
Ph.D. Core (all are required) 16 hours
40020 Ph.D. Colloquium I 4 hrs
40030 Ph.D. Colloquium II 4 hrs
40060 Advanced Biblical Hermeneutics 4 hrs
40070 Teaching Principles and Methods in Higher
Education 4 hrs
Ph.D. Concentrations (select OT or NT) 20 hours
Old Testament
40210 Pentateuch 4 hrs
40220 Historical Books of the Old Testament 4 hrs
40230 Latter Prophets 4 hrs
40240 The Writings of the Old Testament 4 hrs
40250 Historical Hebrew Grammar 4 hrs
New Testament
40310 Synoptic Gospels and Acts 4 hrs
40320 Johannine Literature 4 hrs
40330 Pauline Epistles 4 hrs
40340 General Epistles 4 hrs
40350 Advanced Greek Grammar 4 hrs
Tutorials and Comprehensive Examinations 16 hours
Old Testament
40800 Old Testament Textual Criticism 4 hrs
40802 Old Testament Backgrounds 4 hrs
40804 History of Old Testament Research and
Interpretation 4 hrs
40806 Old Testament Theology 4 hrs
New Testament
40810 New Testament Textual Criticism 4 hrs
40812 New Testament Backgrounds 4 hrs
40814 History of New Testament Research and
Interpretation 4 hrs
40816 New Testament Theology 4 hrs
Dissertation 8 hours
40990 Ph.D. Research Dissertation I 4 hrs
40991 Ph.D. Research Dissertation II 4 hrs
TOTAL 60 hours
PROFESSIONAL DOCTORAL
PROGRAMS
The Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) and Doctor of
Educational Ministry (D.Ed.Min.) degrees offered through
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary are designed for
persons seeking a high level of competence in the practice of
ministry. The D.Min. and D.Ed.Min. are recognized by the
Association of Theological Schools (ATS) as professional
theological degrees. Although the degrees are considered
equivalent in quality to the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), it
differs significantly in that the latter seeks primarily to
understand the way things are, with practical payoffs being a
secondary concern (Charles Conniry, Jr. ―Reducing the
Identity Crisis in Doctor of Ministry Education.‖
Theological Education, 40, no. 1 (2004): 138).
Midwestern has a research doctorate (Ph.D.) with
concentrations in Old Testament and New Testament. The
Ph.D. is intended primarily to equip persons for vocations of
teaching and research in theological schools, colleges, and
universities, or for the scholarly enhancement of ministerial
practice.
These degree programs are under the direction of the
Doctoral Studies Office. For more information call
816-414-3755 or email [email protected].
Admission
In addition to the general criteria for admission to
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary listed earlier in
this catalog, applicants to the D.Min. or D.Ed.Min. programs
must have:
1. An earned Master of Divinity degree or equivalent from
an ATS accredited institution for entrance into the D.Min.
program or an earned Master of Arts in Christian
Education degree or equivalent (e.g., MDiv, CE
Concentration) from an ATS accredited institution for
entrance into the D.Ed.Min. program;
2. A 3.0 grade point average or above on a 4.0 scale for all
graduate level studies;
3. Three years of ministry experience since the completion of
the first theological master‘s degree.
Upon receiving an application packet, the prospective
student must:
1. Submit a completed Doctoral Studies application form,
health form, and application fee;
2. Submit a personal essay of 8-12 pages providing the
applicant‘s understanding of Christian ministry and
describing the applicant‘s calling, ministerial service to-
date, and ministerial goals with an explanation of how the
doctoral program will help the applicant reach those goals;
3. Provide a letter of endorsement/recommendation from the
applicant‘s current ministry;
4. Provide academic, personal, and professional references.
5. Request that original transcripts from each academic
institution previously attended be sent to the Doctoral
Studies Office.
51 Programs of Study
International applicants must score a minimum of 550
on the written version or 213 on the computer version of the
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
examination. There is a TOEFL exemption for Korean
speakers who are in degree programs taught in Korean and
for Spanish doctoral students in doctoral programs taught in
Spanish.
Applicants not meeting all admission requirements may
petition to enter the program under probationary status.
Information about probationary admission may be requested
from the Doctoral Studies Office (1-877-414-3755 or
[email protected]).
Professional Doctoral Studies Objectives
Students graduating from a Professional Doctoral Studies
program will be able to:
1. Draw on the resources of the classical area of theological
study.
2. Do original field research and needs analysis.
3. Organize and motivate others to carry out such program
plans with a high level of competence.
4. Move beyond routinely accepted techniques of ministry
toward new dimensions, methods, and outreach.
Seminars
Required seminars (doctoral courses) are offered three
times per year. All new students must complete the
Orientation to Professional Doctoral Studies Seminar prior
to enrolling in any other seminars. Elective seminars are also
offered at various times throughout the year.
Each seminar is offered as a week-long intensive course
with pre- and post-coursework. The Project Methodology
seminar should be completed as the last seminar, as it
transitions the student into the ministry project phase of the
program.
Location
All foundational doctoral seminars are offered on
Midwestern‘s main campus in Kansas City, Missouri.
Status
The D.Min. and D.Ed.Min. are continuous enrollment
programs. Students enroll in a minimum of two seminars
each year until all requirements are met. During the project
dissertation phase of the program, students continuously
enroll each fall and spring semester in 30999 Ministry
Project Dissertation-Research (0 hours) until the project
dissertation is ready to defend, then students register for
30990 Ministry Project Dissertation-D.Min. or 30995
Ministry Project Dissertation-D.Ed.Min.
Students who are unable to maintain continuous
enrollment status may request to be placed on a one-year
interrupted status for a medical or ministry-related hardship.
A fee of $250 is assessed for each semester on interrupted
status. Students requiring a longer suspension of continuous
enrollment may request to be placed on inactive status for a
period not to exceed three years. An inactive status fee of
$500 per year is charged. Updated information and
admission requirements must be met before reentering the
program. No academic work may be done while on
interrupted or inactive status.
Ministry Project Dissertation
After the completion of all seminars, the student is
required to design, implement, and evaluate a ministry
project. The ministry project will demonstrate the student's
integration of theological education and ministry practice.
From idea conception to oral defense, the ministry project
usually takes 10 to 16 months and results in a dissertation of
at least 100 pages.
DOCTOR OF MINISTRY (D.Min.)
Purpose
The purpose of the Doctor of Ministry degree program
is to develop Christian leaders through doctoral level
instruction, research, and practice. The program is divided
into three major components: Foundational Seminars,
Elective Seminars, and the Ministry Project Dissertation.
Specializations
Students may specialize by choosing elective seminars
from one or more emphases. Qualified students selecting the
Church Planting Specialization are eligible for appointment
as church planting missionaries through the North American
Mission Board‘s Nehemiah Project. Directed (independent)
studies are available for students seeking advanced training
in a particular ministry field. Contact the Doctoral Studies
Office (877-414-3755 or [email protected]) for
information about these and other available emphases.
Students selecting the Counseling Specialization are
required to complete a total of thirty-six hours for the
degree. DR30020 Orientation to Doctoral Studies (4 hrs) is
to be completed prior to taking any of the elective
counseling seminars; DR30060 Integrating Christian Faith &
Practice (4 hrs) is to be taken before DR30090 Project
Methodology (4 hrs); and DR30090 Project Methodology
(4 hrs) is to be taken after the counseling seminars and prior
to beginning DR30990 Ministry Project Dissertation –
D.Min. (6 hrs).
Duration
The D.Min. degree is a 30 hour program designed to be
completed in no less than three years. All work for the
degree must be completed within five years.
Programs of Study 52
Military Chaplaincy Program
Qualified U.S. army chaplains admitted to Midwestern‘s
D.Min. program may request the transfer of up to 15 credit
hours toward the D.Min. degree for military training in such
areas as Chaplaincy Officer Basic Course, Chaplaincy
Officer Advanced Course, and/or ILE/CGSC training. At
least one half (15 hours) of the 30 hours required for the
D.Min. degree must be completed at Midwestern. All of the
D.Min. program fees (i.e., $4,950 for a qualified Southern
Baptist student and $9,900 for all other students) must be
paid regardless of the number of transfer hours. Contact the
Doctoral Studies Office (877-414-3755 or
[email protected]) for information about the D.Min
Military Chaplaincy Program.
Professional Doctoral Studies Objectives
Students graduating from a Professional Doctoral
Studies program will be able to:
1. Draw on the resources of the classical area of theological
study.
2. Do original field research and needs analysis.
3. Organize and motivate others to carry out such program
plans with a high level of competence.
4. Move beyond routinely accepted techniques of ministry
toward new dimensions, methods and outreach.
D.Min. Degree Objectives
Students graduating from the Doctor of Ministry degree
program will be able to:
5. Demonstrate competence in applying theological
convictions to any ministry context to which they are
called;
6. Interpret and apply Biblical texts to life situations by
demonstrating accurate, classically defined discipline in
the handling of sacred Scriptures;
7. Lead the church of God ethically and effectively in
pursuing Christ's commission and commandments; and
8. Demonstrate exceptional skills in the Biblically assigned
tasks of proclamation, care, leadership, and/or church
planting.
CURRICULUM
Foundational Seminars (all are required) 12 hours
30020 Orientation to Doctoral Studies 4 hrs
30060 Integrating Christian Faith & Practice 4 hrs
30090 Project Methodology 4 hrs
Elective Seminars (choose three) 12 hours
Expository Preaching
30140 Advanced Expository Preaching 4 hrs
30143 Style & Application in Expository Preaching 4 hrs
30146 Doctrinal & Topical Exposition 4 hrs
30150 Preaching & Ministry Practice 4 hrs
Care and Counseling
30240 Pastoral Care & Counseling 4 hrs
30250 Counseling Issues (topic varies) 4 hrs
30260 Advanced Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment 2 hrs
30262 Advanced Biological Basis of Behavior 2 hrs
30264 Psychopharmacological Issues in Clinical
Practice 2 hrs
30266 Counselor Supervision and Health 2 hrs
30268 Practice Building 2 hrs
30270 Advanced Diagnosis & Treatment Planning 2 hrs
30272 Advanced Psychotherapy & Treatment 2 hrs
30274 Advanced Marriage & Family Therapy 2 hrs
30276 Advanced Diagnosis & Treatment of
Addiction Disorders 2 hrs
Leadership
30070 Christian Leadership 4 hrs
30330 Developing Christian Leaders 4 hrs
30340 Leadership Issues (topic varies) 4 hrs
30370 Worship Leadership 4 hrs
30380 Spiritual Formation 4 hrs
Church Planting and Revitalization
30420 Church Planting Evangelism 4 hrs
30430 Sponsoring New Churches 4 hrs
30440 Church Revitalization I 4 hrs
30445 Church Revitalization II 4 hrs
Ministry Project Dissertation 6 hours
30990 Ministry Project Dissertation – D.Min. 6 hrs
TOTAL 30 hours
53 Programs of Study
DOCTOR OF EDUCATIONAL
MINISTRY (D.Ed.Min.)
Purpose
The Doctor of Educational Ministry is designed to
provide qualified students a high level of professional
excellence in the practice of educational ministry. The
program is divided into four major components:
Foundational Seminars, Educational Leadership Seminars,
Educational Emphasis Seminars, and the Ministry Project
Dissertation.
The theory, relationships, and organization elements in
Christian Education are integrated into each Educational
Leadership and Educational Emphasis seminar. These then
flow into the ministry project.
Specializations
Students may choose from a number of specializations
by adapting the Educational Seminars to personal interests or
ministry settings. Directed studies are available for students
seeking advanced training in a particular ministry field.
Duration
The D.Ed.Min. degree is a 42 hour program designed to be
completed in no less than four years. All work for the degree
must be completed within six years.
Professional Doctoral Studies Objectives
Students graduating from a Professional Doctoral
Studies program will be able to:
1. Draw on the resources of the classical area of theological
study.
2. Do original field research and needs analysis.
3. Organize and motivate others to carry out such program
plans with a high level of competence.
4. Move beyond routinely accepted techniques of ministry
toward new dimensions, methods and outreach.
D.Ed.Min. Degree Objectives
Students graduating from the Doctor of Educational
Ministry program will be able to:
5. Integrate and articulate educational philosophy,
educational theory and a biblical worldview.
6. Train other teachers and leaders in educational theory and
practice.
CURRICULUM
Foundational Seminars 12 hours
30020 Orientation to Doctoral Studies 4 hrs
30060 Integrating Christian Faith & Practice 4 hrs
30090 Project Methodology 4 hrs
Advanced Educational Foundations 12 hours
30505 Integrating Educational Theory &
Ministry Practice 4 hrs
30565 Life Span Development & Educational
Practice 4 hrs
30575 Educational Leadership 4 hrs
Advanced Educational Focus (choose three) 12 hours
30555 Educational Organization & Administration 4 hrs
30680 Evangelism and Mission Education 4 hrs
30685 Disciple Making Through the Family 4 hrs
30695 Disciple Making Through the Age Group
Ministries 4 hrs
30920 Leadership Directed Study 4 hrs
30925 Education Directed Study 4 hrs
30921 Special Topic 4 hrs
30945 Conference, Research & Report 4 hrs
30955 Advanced Research, Reading & Report 4 hrs
40070 Teaching Principles & Methods for
Higher Education 4 hrs
Ministry Project Dissertation 6 hours
30995 Ministry Project Dissertation – D.Ed.Min. 6 hrs
TOTAL 42 hours
Programs of Study 54
PROFESSIONAL MASTER’S
PROGRAMS
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary offers two
types of master's degrees: a professional Master of Divinity
degree, Master of Arts in: (i.e., Christian Education, Church
Music, or Counseling) degree, and an academic or research
Master of Arts degree. Several areas of concentration or
majors are offered under each. A Graduate Certificate in
Christian Foundations is also offered.
Through these degree programs, Midwestern prepares
students to be 21st century ministers who demonstrate
commitment to ministerial calling, cultural sensitivity, and
doctrinal integrity from a Southern Baptist perspective. As
such, Midwestern believes that while both men and women
are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is
limited to men as qualified by Scripture. A ministry mindset
is instilled in students with an Acts 1:8 foundation. Students
are prepared to worship God, evangelize the lost, edify
believers, and establish healthy New Testament churches for
the purpose of glorifying God.
MASTER OF DIVINITY (M.Div.)
Purpose
The Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree is the basic
seminary degree for college graduates. It is the appropriate
first professional degree for individuals who anticipate
ordination. The basic M.Div. degree program requires 89
semester hours. It is designed for individuals who anticipate
serving as pastors, evangelists, associate pastors,
missionaries, or in other ministries that emphasize
expository preaching or teaching of the Word of God. In
most cases, the M.Div. degree is also the appropriate degree
for students who anticipate doctoral training and a ministry
of college or seminary level teaching.
To meet the needs of students preparing for ministries
with specific concentrations, Midwestern offers seven
concentration tracks within the M.Div. degree. M.Div.
degree concentrations require 92 semester hours.
Concentrations are offered in Christian Education, Church
Music, Collegiate Ministries, International Church Planting,
North American Church Planting, Urban Evangelism, and
Youth Ministry.
M.Div. Degree Objectives
Students graduating from the M.Div. degree program
will be able to:
1. Develop increased Bible and theological knowledge.
2. Facilitate interpretation of scripture using appropriate
hermeneutical principles.
3. Encourage formulation of theological beliefs based on
Biblical and historical perspectives.
4. Progress in the practice of classical spiritual disciplines.
5. Develop a Great Commission perspective that is
demonstrated by skills in evangelism, equipping disciples,
preaching and teaching, corporate worship, and
leadership.
Program Content
The M.Div. degree program provides a breadth of
exposure to the theological disciplines as well as a depth of
understanding within those disciplines. It provides students
opportunities for the appropriation of theological
disciplines, for deepening understanding of the life of the
church, for ongoing intellectual and ministerial formation,
and for exercising the arts of ministry.
In order to receive the M.Div. degree a student must
complete at least eighty-nine credit hours from courses
divided into three categories: Foundational Core courses,
M.Div. Emphasis courses, and Elective courses. Both
Foundational and Emphasis courses, or their equivalents, are
required of all M.Div. candidates. The Foundational Core
courses provide a knowledge base for further study and
application. The Emphasis courses focus on the skills
necessary for Christian leadership. The Elective courses are
chosen in accordance with a student's interests and
vocational goals.
Understanding of the Christian and Baptist religious
heritage is fostered through courses in Old Testament and
New Testament, Christian History, Baptist History,
Theology, and Missions. The cultural context of ministry is
dealt with in Apologetics, Ethics, Evangelism, Pastoral Care,
and Missions. Supervised Ministry, Personal Spiritual
Disciplines, Evangelism, Pastoral Care, Pastoral Ministry,
and Leadership courses deal with candidates' personal and
spiritual formation. Enhancement of students' capacity for
ministerial and public leadership is the focus of Supervised
Ministry, Hermeneutics, Preaching, Pastoral Ministry,
Leadership, Educational Administration, and Music or
Worship Leadership.
55 Programs of Study
Location
Midwestern offers M.Div. courses on the main campus
in Kansas City and at extension centers located in St. Louis,
Missouri, Wichita, Kansas, and Tulsa, Oklahoma. All
M.Div. students are required to complete at least one year of
full-time study or its equivalent (i.e., thirty credit hours) at
Midwestern‘s main campus (see On-Campus Requirements
for Completion of a Degree).
Duration
The M.Div. degree typically requires three years of full-
time academic study or its equivalent.
Admission
The M.Div. degree is a post-baccalaureate degree.
Admission requirements to enter this program include a
baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution, evidence
of the commitment to and qualities desired for pastoral
leadership, and the academic ability to engage in graduate
education.
Distinctive Resources
M.Div. students have access to community life that
provides informal educational experiences, religious
fellowship, and opportunity for reflection upon the meaning
of faith in its relation to education for ministry.
MASTER OF DIVINITY DEGREE
(M.Div.), basic program
CURRICULUM
Foundational Core 43 hours
2210-2211 Old Testament Survey I & II 6 hrs
2310-2311 New Testament Survey I & II 6 hrs
2400 Introduction to Hermeneutics 2 hrs
3100-3101 History of Christianity I & II 6 hrs
3110 Baptist History 3 hrs
3200-3201 Theology I & II 6 hrs
3400 Christian Ethics 3 hrs
5000 Personal Spiritual Disciplines 2 hrs
5201 Basic Evangelism 3 hrs
5312 Intro to Pastoral Care & Counseling 3 hrs
7001 Theology & Philosophy of Missions 3 hrs
M.Div. Emphasis 29 hours
2200-2201 Elementary Hebrew I & II 6 hrs
2300-2301 Elementary Greek I & II 6 hrs
3300 Introduction to Apologetics 2 hrs
Men take:
5110 Principles of Preaching 3 hrs
5111 Expository Preaching
3 hrs
5401 Introduction to Pastoral Leadership 2 hrs
5430 Introduction to Pastoral Ministry 2 hrs
Women take:
8110-8111 Principles of Teaching I & II 6 hrs
8306 Principles of Leadership 2 hrs
8406 Introduction to Adult Ministry 2 hrs
Select: 5402 Worship Leadership OR 9410
Fundamentals of Music for Worship
Leadership 2 hrs
5445 Supervised Ministry 1 hr
8301 Church Administration 2 hrs
Electives 18 hours
TOTAL 90 hours
Programs of Study 56
MASTER OF DIVINITY DEGREE,
BIBLICAL LANGUAGES
CONCENTRATION (M.Div.-BL)
Purpose
The Master of Divinity degree, Biblical Languages
Concentration cultivates a Christian lifestyle, offers
instruction in classical theological disciplines, and develops
ministry skills in Biblical languages.
M.Div. Degree Objectives
Students graduating from the M.Div. degree program
will be able to:
1. Develop increased Bible and theological knowledge.
2. Facilitate interpretation of scripture using appropriate
hermeneutical principles.
3. Encourage formulation of theological beliefs based on
Biblical and historical perspectives.
4. Progress in the practice of classical spiritual disciplines.
5. Develop a Great Commission perspective that is
demonstrated by skills in evangelism, equipping disciples,
preaching and teaching, corporate worship, and
leadership.
Biblical Languages Major Objectives
M.Div. students also completing the Biblical Languages
Concentration will be able to:
6. Demonstrate a focused knowledge of Biblical languages.
7. Demonstrate the acquisition and refinement of basic
academic research skills related to Biblical exegesis.
8. Demonstrate a basic capacity to reflect theologically on
core issues related to Biblical exegesis.
CURRICULUM
Foundational Core 43 hours
2210-2211 Old Testament Survey I & II 6 hrs
2310-2311 New Testament Survey I & II 6 hrs
2400 Introduction to Hermeneutics 2 hrs
3100-3101 History of Christianity I & II 6 hrs
3110 Baptist History 3 hrs
3200-3201 Theology I & II 6 hrs
3400 Christian Ethics 3 hrs
5000 Personal Spiritual Disciplines 2 hrs
5201 Basic Evangelism 3 hrs
5312 Intro to Pastoral Care & Counseling 3 hrs
7001 Theology & Philosophy of Missions 3 hrs
M.Div. Emphasis 17 hours
3300 Introduction to Apologetics 2 hrs
Men take:
5110 Principles of Preaching 3 hrs
5111 Expository Preaching
3 hrs
5401 Introduction to Pastoral Leadership 2 hrs
5430 Introduction to Pastoral Ministry 2 hrs
Women take:
8110-8111 Principles of Teaching I & II 6 hrs
8306 Principles of Leadership 2 hrs
8406 Introduction to Adult Ministry 2 hrs
Select: 5402 Worship Leadership OR 9410
Fundamentals of Music for Worship
Leadership 2 hrs
5445 Supervised Ministry 1 hr
8301 Church Administration 2 hrs
BL EMPHASIS 30 Hours
2200-2201 Elementary Hebrew I & II 6 hrs
2203-2204 Intermediate Hebrew I & II 6 hrs
2300-2301 Elementary Greek I & II 6 hrs
2303-2304 Intermediate Greek I & II 6 hrs
Biblical Language Elective 6 hrs
Concluding Evaluation—a comprehensive
written and/or oral exam 0 hrs
Electives 6 hours
TOTAL 96 hours
57 Programs of Study
MASTER OF DIVINITY DEGREE,
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
CONCENTRATION (M.Div.-CE)
Purpose
The Master of Divinity degree, Christian Education
Concentration cultivates a Christian lifestyle, offers
instruction in classical theological disciplines, and develops
ministry skills in Christian Education.
M.Div. Degree Objectives
Students graduating from the M.Div. degree program
will be able to:
1. Develop increased Bible and theological knowledge.
2. Facilitate interpretation of scripture using appropriate
hermeneutical principles.
3. Encourage formulation of theological beliefs based on
Biblical and historical perspectives.
4. Progress in the practice of classical spiritual disciplines.
5. Develop a Great Commission perspective that is
demonstrated by skills in evangelism, equipping disciples,
preaching and teaching, corporate worship, and
leadership.
CE Concentration Objectives
M.Div. students also completing the Christian
Education Concentration will be able to:
6. Demonstrate an understanding of Biblical, theological,
historical, philosophical, and psychological foundations of
Christian education.
7. Demonstrate a basic understanding of the developmental
theories of Christian education.
8. Demonstrate a basic understanding of the operative
principles and administrative approaches for the
educational ministry of the church.
9. Demonstrate professional skills of Christian Education
supporting the tasks of evangelism, teaching, leadership
training, and age group ministry.
CURRICULUM
Foundational Core 43 hours
2210-2211 Old Testament Survey I & II 6 hrs
2310-2311 New Testament Survey I & II 6 hrs
2400 Introduction to Hermeneutics 2 hrs
3100-3101 History of Christianity I & II 6 hrs
3110 Baptist History 3 hrs
3200-3201 Theology I & II 6 hrs
3400 Christian Ethics 3 hrs
5000 Personal Spiritual Disciplines 2 hrs
5201 Basic Evangelism 3 hrs
5312 Intro to Pastoral Care & Counseling 3 hrs
7001 Theology & Philosophy of Missions 3 hrs
M.Div. Emphasis 11 hours
Select: 2200-2201 Elementary Hebrew I & II OR
2300-2301 Elementary Greek I & II 6 hrs
Men take:
5430 Introduction to Pastoral Ministry 2 hrs
Women take:
8406 Introduction to Adult Ministry 2 hrs
5445 Supervised Ministry 1 hr
8301 Church Administration 2 hrs
CE Concentration 22 hours
8102 Foundations of Education 3 hrs
8110-8111 Principles of Teaching I & II
1
6 hrs
8200 Life Span Development 3 hrs
Select: 8228 Learning Styles OR 8304 Educational
Administration 2 hrs
8306 Principles of Leadership
2
2 hrs
8330 Technology for Christian Ministry 2 hrs
8340 Missions Education 2 hrs
8420 The Minister of Education 2 hrs
Electives 16 hours
TOTAL 92 hours
1. Men students who anticipate a preaching ministry may
take MN5110 Principles of Preaching in lieu of CE8110
Principles of Teaching I and MN5111 Expository
Preaching in lieu of CE8111 Principles of Teaching II.
2. Men students who anticipate a pastoral ministry may take
MN5401 Introduction to Pastoral Leadership in lieu of
CE8306 Principles of Leadership.
Programs of Study 58
MASTER OF DIVINITY DEGREE,
COLLEGIATE MINISTRIES
CONCENTRATION (M.Div.-COL)
Purpose
The Master of Divinity degree, Collegiate Ministries
Concentration cultivates a Christian lifestyle, offers
instruction in classical theological disciplines, and develops
ministry skills appropriate to collegiate ministry.
M.Div. Degree Objectives
Students graduating from the M.Div. degree program
will be able to:
1. Develop increased Bible and theological knowledge.
2. Facilitate interpretation of scripture using appropriate
hermeneutical principles.
3. Encourage formulation of theological beliefs based on
Biblical and historical perspectives.
4. Progress in the practice of classical spiritual disciplines.
5. Develop a Great Commission perspective that is
demonstrated by skills in evangelism, equipping disciples,
preaching and teaching, corporate worship, and leadership.
COL Concentration Objectives
M.Div. students also completing the Collegiate
Ministries Concentration will be able to:
6. Demonstrate discipleship skills applicable to ministry in
higher educational settings.
7. Apply a Christian worldview to the challenges of
discipling students in a higher educational setting.
CURRICULUM
Foundational Core 43 hours
2210-2211 Old Testament Survey I & II 6 hrs
2310-2311 New Testament Survey I & II 6 hrs
2400 Introduction to Hermeneutics 2 hrs
3100-3101 History of Christianity I & II 6 hrs
3110 Baptist History 3 hrs
3200-3201 Theology I & II 6 hrs
3400 Christian Ethics 3 hrs
5000 Personal Spiritual Disciplines 2 hrs
5201 Basic Evangelism 3 hrs
5312 Intro to Pastoral Care & Counseling 3 hrs
7001 Theology & Philosophy of Missions 3 hrs
M.Div. Emphasis 19 hours
Select: 2200-2201 Elementary Hebrew I & II OR
2300-2301 Elementary Greek I & II 6 hrs
3300 Introduction to Apologetics 2 hrs
Men take:
5110 Principles of Preaching 3 hrs
5111 Expository Preaching 3 hrs
5401 Introduction to Pastoral Leadership 2 hrs
5430 Introduction to Pastoral Ministry 2 hrs
Women take:
8110-8111 Principles of Teaching I & II 6 hrs
8306 Principles of Leadership 2 hrs
8406 Introduction to Adult Ministry 2 hrs
5445 Supervised Ministry 1 hr
COL Concentration 24 hours
5214 World Religions, Cults, & Their Evangelization 3 hrs
5605 Raising Finances for Salary and Ministry 3 hrs
5611 Making Disciples 3 hrs
5613 Developing Disciple Makers 3 hrs
5620 The Collegiate Minister 3 hrs
Select: 5615 Advanced Disciple Making OR
5657 FOCUS-Training for Overseas Service 3 hrs
5661 Overseas Ministry Experience 3 hrs
5663 Collegiate Ministry Internship 3 hrs
Electives 6 hours
TOTAL 92 hours
59 Programs of Study
MASTER OF DIVINITY DEGREE,
COUNSELING CONCENTRATION
(M.Div.-CO)
Purpose
The Master of Divinity degree, Counseling Concentration
cultivates a Christian lifestyle, offers instruction in classical
theological disciplines, and develops ministry skills appropriate for
a counseling ministry.
The Master of Divinity degree, Counseling Concentration is
designed to help students meet the educational requirements for
licensure in Missouri. The goal is to provide the student with the
skills required to deliver appropriate professional counseling
services to individuals in either a ministry or private setting.
Graduation does not guarantee licensure eligibility since other
factors may disqualify the student from eligibility for a license.
Students seeking a license are encouraged to read the licensure
requirements on the internet at http://www.sos.mo.gov/
adrules/csr/current/20csr/20c2095-2.pdf.
The seminary reserves the right to require the student to obtain
professional counseling for him or herself, if necessary, or to
require the student to move to another degree program if that is
deemed necessary. The student would be notified of these actions
privately with due time to allow for the changes.
M.Div. Degree Objectives
Students graduating from the M.Div. degree program will be
able to:
1. Develop increased Bible and theological knowledge.
2. Facilitate interpretation of scripture using appropriate
hermeneutical principles.
3. Encourage formulation of theological beliefs based on Biblical
and historical perspectives.
4. Progress in the practice of classical spiritual disciplines.
5. Develop a Great Commission perspective that is demonstrated by
skills in evangelism, equipping disciples, preaching and teaching,
corporate worship, and leadership.
CO Concentration Objectives
M.Div. students also completing the Counseling Concentration
will be able to:
6. Demonstrate an understanding of the Biblical, theological,
historical, and psychological foundations of Christian
counseling.
7. Demonstrate an understanding of how developmental issues and
trauma experiences impacts the counseling process.
8. Demonstrate an understanding of how to select, train, supervise,
and evaluate a lay care-giving ministry that supports the work of
the local church, association, and denomination.
9. Identify the causes and treatments of the most common
counseling problems encountered in a ministry or private setting
and apply appropriate counseling principles and techniques to
correct the problems.
10. Demonstrate professional skills in the areas of diagnosis,
treatment, preventive care, remedial care, referral, self-care, and
support group ministry.
Recommended Electives (not required): if desired, these electives
may be taken in addition to the 92 hours required for the MDiv-CO
degree program toward satisfying licensure requirements.
5522 Marriage and Family Counseling 3 hrs
5524 Diagnosis & Treatment of Childhood & Adolescent
Disorders 3 hrs
CURRICULUM
Foundational Core 43 hours
2210-2211 Old Testament Survey I & II 6 hrs
2310-2311 New Testament Survey I & II 6 hrs
2400 Introduction to Hermeneutics 2 hrs
3100-3101 History of Christianity I & II 6 hrs
3110 Baptist History 3 hrs
3200-3201 Theology I & II 6 hrs
3400 Christian Ethics 3 hrs
5000 Personal Spiritual Disciplines 2 hrs
5201 Basic Evangelism 3 hrs
5312 Intro to Pastoral Care & Counseling 3 hrs
7001 Theology & Philosophy of Missions 3 hrs
M.Div. Emphasis 13 hours
Select: 2200-2201 Elementary Hebrew I & II OR
2300-2301 Elementary Greek I & II 6 hrs
Select One, Group A or B:
Group A Preaching/Teaching Emphasis (7 hrs):
Open Elective 1 hr
Men take:
5110 Principles of Preaching 3 hrs
5111 Expository Preaching 3 hrs
Women take:
8110-8111 Principles of Teaching I & II 6 hrs
Group B Ministry Emphasis (7 hrs):
5445 Supervised Ministry 1 hr
8306 Church Administration 2 hrs
Men take:
5401 Introduction to Pastoral Leadership 2 hrs
5430 Introduction to Pastoral Ministry 2 hrs
Women take:
8306 Principles of Leadership 2 hrs
8406 Introduction to Adult Ministry 2 hrs
CO Concentration 36 hours
5501 Counseling Theories 3 hrs
5505 Professional Orientation and Ethics 3 hrs
5530 Theory & Methods of Group Counseling
1
3 hrs
5532 The Helping Relationship
1
3 hrs
5534 Abnormal Psychology: Theory, Diagnosis,
& Treatment 3 hrs
5535 Psychological Tests & Measurements
1
3 hrs
5537 Career Development and Counseling
1
3 hrs
5539 Multicultural Counseling
1
3 hrs
5554 Supervised Counseling Practicum 3 hrs
5555 Supervised Counseling Internship 3 hrs
5557 Research Methods
1
3 hrs
8200 Life Span Development 3 hrs
Electives 3 hrs
TOTAL 92 hours
1. If state licensure is NOT desired, the student may petition to
substitute one of the following recommended electives for this
required course.
5526 Diagnosis & Treatment of Addiction Disorders 3 hrs
5528 Biological Basis of Behavior 3 hrs
5540 Special Topics in Counseling 2-3 hrs
5542 Integration of Christian Theology & Counseling 3 hrs
Programs of Study 60
MASTER OF DIVINITY DEGREE,
INTERNATIONAL CHURCH PLANTING
CONCENTRATION (M.Div.-ICP)
Purpose
The Master of Divinity degree, International Church Planting
Concentration is offered in cooperation with the International
Mission Board (IMB) of the Southern Baptist Convention. The
degree program includes two years of study at Midwestern and two
(or three) years of international field based service and study in
cooperation with the IMB (i.e., ―2+2‖ or ―2+3‖). Students
completing the program qualify for appointment as career
missionaries with the IMB without additional stateside ministry
experience. The Concentration cultivates a Christian lifestyle,
offers instruction in classical theological disciplines, and develops
ministry skills focused on establishing healthy New Testament
churches in international settings.
MDiv-ICP Reverse 2+2 or 2+3 Option
The MDiv-ICP reverse 2+2 or 2+3 option provides current or
former missionary personnel who have served overseas who desire
to receive credit for their practical experience on the ―back end‖.
To qualify to receive credit under the MDiv-ICP reverse 2+2 or
2+3 option, the applicant must:
1. Complete an accredited baccalaureate degree in Biblical or
Christian studies and qualify in all other ways for admissions to
Midwestern as a degree-seeking master‘s student.
2. Complete a minimum of two years of uninterrupted overseas
missionary service with a known or recognized mission
organization (preferably the IMB).
3. Complete their assignment overseas in a primarily ministry
assignment (church planting, collegiate evangelism, or general
evangelism) and have a field supervisor who can provide a
written evaluation of the applicants ministry work experience.
4. Complete a telephone or personal interview with Midwestern‘s
international missions‘ professor or other designated official.
5. Complete a proficiency test in their ministry language if credit is
desired for MS7210 Language Learning Practicum (3 hrs).
6. Read the required texts for each course for which credit is sought
(if the texts have not already been read).
To receive credit for missionary field learning experiences, the
student must submit a ―Petition for Credit for Prior ICP Field
Learning‖ form to obtain approval to compile a portfolio that
provides evidence that the student has met the established learning
objectives for each MDiv-ICP course for which credit is sought.
M.Div. Degree Objectives
Students graduating from the M.Div. degree program will be
able to:
1. Develop increased Bible and theological knowledge.
2. Facilitate interpretation of scripture using appropriate
hermeneutical principles.
3. Encourage formulation of theological beliefs based on Biblical
and historical perspectives.
4. Progress in the practice of classical spiritual disciplines.
5. Develop a Great Commission perspective that is demonstrated by
skills in evangelism, equipping disciples, preaching and teaching,
corporate worship, and leadership.
ICP Concentration Objective
M.Div. students also completing the International Church
Planting Concentration will be able to:
6. Demonstrate skills necessary to start Baptist churches in
international settings.
CURRICULUM
Foundational Core 43 hours
2210-2211 Old Testament Survey I & II 6 hrs
2310-2311 New Testament Survey I & II 6 hrs
2400 Introduction to Hermeneutics 2 hrs
3100-3101 History of Christianity I & II 6 hrs
3110 Baptist History 3 hrs
3200-3201 Theology I & II 6 hrs
3400 Christian Ethics 3 hrs
5000 Personal Spiritual Disciplines 2 hrs
5201 Basic Evangelism 3 hrs
5312 Intro to Pastoral Care & Counseling 3 hrs
7001 Theology & Philosophy of Missions 3 hrs
M.Div. Emphasis 12 hours
Select: 2200-2201 Elementary Hebrew I & II OR
2300-2301 Elementary Greek I & II 6 hrs
Men take:
5110 Principles of Preaching 3 hrs
5111 Expository Preaching 3 hrs
Women Take:
8110-8111 Principles of Teaching I & II 6 hrs
ICP Concentration 25 hours
5424 Interpersonal Communication & Conflict
Management 2 hrs
7021 Intro to Church Planting & Revitalization 3 hrs
7206 Missionary Anthropology
1
2 hrs
7209 Cross-Cultural Communication & Language
Learning 2 hrs
7210 Language Learning Practicum
2
3 hrs
7216 Cross-Cultural Church Planting
1
2 hrs
7217 International Church Planting Practicum I
2
3 hrs
7218 International Church Planting Practicum II
2
3 hrs
7219 International Church Planting Practicum III
2
3 hrs
MS World Religions (Select One): 2 hrs
7302 Studies in Islam
7304 Studies in the Religions of Asia
7306 Studies in Buddhism
7308 Studies in the Religions of Africa
Electives 12 hours
TOTAL 92 hours
1. 7206 Missionary Anthropology or 7216 Cross-Cultural Church
Planting may be completed at Midwestern or on the mission
field as part of the IMB‘s 2+2 or 2+3 program.
2. 7210 Language Learning Practicum and 7217, 7218, and 7219
International Church Planting Practicum I, II, and III must be
completed on the mission field as part of the IMB‘s 2+2 or 2+3
program.
61 Programs of Study
MASTER OF DIVINITY DEGREE,
NORTH AMERICAN CHURCH
PLANTING CONCENTRATION
(M.Div.-NACP)
The Master of Divinity degree, North American Church
Planting (NACP) Concentration is offered through
participation in the Nehemiah Project of the Southern Baptist
Convention‘s North American Mission Board (NAMB). The
NACP concentration cultivates a Christian lifestyle, offers
instruction in classical theological disciplines, and develops
ministry skills focused on establishing healthy New
Testament churches in North America.
The Nehemiah Project is a cooperative intern strategy
that links Southern Baptist churches, associations, state
conventions, training institutions, and the NAMB to prepare
church planters to plant healthy, reproducing churches. To
participate in the Nehemiah Project, students are to meet
criteria established by the Nehemiah Project as well as
Midwestern‘s admission requirements.
Nehemiah Project Two-plus-Two Option: qualified
M.Div.-NACP students who complete 74 credit hours of
core courses may finish the final 18 credit hours while
deployed as a Nehemiah Project church planting missionary.
This option requires two years of full-time study, or its
equivalent, prior to appointment as a Nehemiah Project
church planter. Qualified students then serve as full-time
church planters for two years while completing the
remaining 18 credit hours of the M.Div.-NACP program.
M.Div. Degree Objectives
Students graduating from the M.Div. degree program
will be able to:
1. Develop increased Bible and theological knowledge.
2. Facilitate interpretation of scripture using appropriate
hermeneutical principles.
3. Encourage formulation of theological beliefs based on
Biblical and historical perspectives.
4. Progress in the practice of classical spiritual disciplines.
5. Develop a Great Commission perspective that is
demonstrated by skills in evangelism, equipping
disciples, preaching and teaching, corporate worship, and
leadership.
NACP Concentration Objectives
M.Div. students also completing the North American
Church Planting Concentration will be able to:
6. Demonstrate a basic understanding of operative
principles and administrative approaches for church
planting through practical experiences.
7. Utilize church planting skills in ministry.
8. Demonstrate the commitment necessary to start healthy,
reproducing congregations in a North American context.
9. Use church planting resources through SBC conventions
and associations.
CURRICULUM
Foundational Core 43 hours
2210-2211 Old Testament Survey I & II 6 hrs
2310-2311 New Testament Survey I & II 6 hrs
2400 Introduction to Hermeneutics 2 hrs
3100-3101 History of Christianity I & II 6 hrs
3110 Baptist History 3 hrs
3200-3201 Theology I & II 6 hrs
3400 Christian Ethics
3
3 hrs
5000 Personal Spiritual Disciplines 2 hrs
5201 Basic Evangelism 3 hrs
5312 Intro to Pastoral Care & Counseling 3 hrs
7001 Theology & Philosophy of Missions 3 hrs
M.Div. Emphasis 21 hours
Select: 2200-2201 Elementary Hebrew I & II OR
2300-2301 Elementary Greek I & II 6 hrs
3300 Introduction to Apologetics
3
2 hrs
Men take:
5110 Principles of Preaching
1
3 hrs
5111 Expository Preaching
2
3 hrs
5401 Introduction to Pastoral Leadership 2 hrs
5430 Introduction to Pastoral Ministry 2 hrs
Women take:
8110-8111 Principles of Teaching I & II 6 hrs
8306 Principles of Leadership 2 hrs
8406 Introduction to Adult Ministry 2 hrs
5445 Supervised Ministry 1 hr
8301 Church Administration 2 hrs
NACP Concentration 22 hours
5224 Church Evangelism 2 hrs
7021 Introduction to Church Planting & Revitalization 3 hrs
7101 Cultural Setting for Ministry 2 hrs
7105 Introduction to Church Growth 2 hrs
7108 Strategies & Methodologies for Church Planting 2 hrs
7111 North American Church Planting Seminar
3
2 hrs
7113 North American Church Planting Practicum
3
3 hrs
7116 Researching and Resourcing the Church Start
3
2 hrs
7214 Contextualization 2 hrs
8340 Missions Education 2 hrs
Electives
4
6 hours
TOTAL 92 hours
1. Men students required by the Nehemiah Program to take a
non-preaching track take 8110 Principles of Teaching I in
lieu of 5110 Principles of Preaching.
2. Men students required by the Nehemiah Program to take a
non-preaching track take 8111 Principles of Teaching II in
lieu of 5111 Expository Preaching.
3. Under the Two-plus-Two option, these 18 credit hours are
completed while deployed as a Nehemiah Project church
planting missionary.
Programs of Study 62
MASTER OF DIVINITY DEGREE,
URBAN MINISTRY
CONCENTRATION (M.Div.-UM)
Purpose
The Master of Divinity degree, Urban Ministry
Concentration cultivates a Christian lifestyle, offers
instruction in classical theological disciplines, and develops
ministry skills focused on effective urban ministry.
M.Div. Degree Objectives
Students graduating from the M.Div. degree program
will be able to:
1. Develop increased Bible and theological knowledge.
2. Facilitate interpretation of scripture using appropriate
hermeneutical principles.
3. Encourage formulation of theological beliefs based on
Biblical and historical perspectives.
4. Progress in the practice of classical spiritual disciplines.
5. Develop a Great Commission perspective that is
demonstrated by skills in evangelism, equipping disciples,
preaching and teaching, corporate worship, and leadership.
UM Concentration Objectives
M.Div. students also completing the Urban Ministry
Concentration will be able to:
6. Explain the diversity of the global urban setting, including
religion, ethnicity, and culture, in order to identify its
issues, opportunities, and threats.
7. Describe historical examples and theological issues related
to urban evangelism.
8. List a variety of effective methodologies for urban
evangelism.
9. Apply appropriate ministry skills in the urban setting.
CURRICULUM
Foundational Core 43 hours
2210-2211 Old Testament Survey I & II 6 hrs
2310-2311 New Testament Survey I & II 6 hrs
2400 Introduction to Hermeneutics 2 hrs
3100-3101 History of Christianity I & II 6 hrs
3110 Baptist History 3 hrs
3200-3201 Theology I & II 6 hrs
3400 Christian Ethics 3 hrs
5000 Personal Spiritual Disciplines 2 hrs
5201 Basic Evangelism 3 hrs
5312 Intro to Pastoral Care & Counseling 3 hrs
7001 Theology & Philosophy of Missions 3 hrs
M.Div. Emphasis 17 hours
Select: 2200-2201 Elementary Hebrew I & II OR
2300-2301 Elementary Greek I & II 6 hrs
Men take:
5110 Principles of Preaching 3 hrs
5111 Expository Preaching 3 hrs
5430 Introduction to Pastoral Ministry 2 hrs
Women take:
8110-8111 Principles of Teaching I & II 6 hrs
8406 Introduction to Adult Ministry 2hrs
5445 Supervised Ministry 1 hr
8301 Church Administration 2 hrs
UE Concentration 24 hours
5214 World Religions, Cults, and Their Evangelization 3 hrs
5223 Urban World Evangelism 2 hrs
5224 Church Evangelism 2 hrs
7021 Introduction to Church Planting & Revitalization 3 hrs
7206 Missionary Anthropology 2 hrs
7209 Cross-Cultural Communication & Language
Learning 2 hrs
7510 Introduction to Urban Ministry 3 hrs
7520 Revitalizing the Urban Church 2 hrs
7550 Urban Ministry Practicum 3 hrs
Select: 7108 Strategies and Methodologies for Church
Planting OR 7216 Cross-Cultural Church
Planting 2 hrs
Electives
1
8 hours
TOTAL 92 hours
1. Recommended electives are: 5236 The Pastor as
Evangelist and 5232 The Work of an Evangelist.
63 Programs of Study
MASTER OF DIVINITY DEGREE,
WORSHIP LEADERSHIP
CONCENTRATION (M.Div.-WL)
The Master of Divinity degree, Worship Leadership
(WL) Concentration cultivates a Christian lifestyle, offers
instruction in classical theological disciplines, and develops
ministry skills with an emphasis on foundational musical
knowledge and abilities. An undergraduate music degree is
not required as a prerequisite for the WL concentration.
M.Div. Degree Objectives
Students graduating from the M.Div. degree program
will be able to:
1. Develop increased Bible and theological knowledge.
2. Facilitate interpretation of scripture using appropriate
hermeneutical principles.
3. Encourage formulation of theological beliefs based on
Biblical and historical perspectives.
4. Progress in the practice of classical spiritual disciplines.
5. Develop a Great Commission perspective that is
demonstrated by skills in evangelism, equipping disciples,
preaching and teaching, corporate worship, and leadership.
WL Concentration Objectives
M.Div. students also completing the Worship
Leadership Concentration will be able to:
6. Demonstrate increased knowledge of music and worship
issues.
7. Develop basic musical skills for worship leadership.
8. Demonstrate ministry and leadership skills for the music
and worship ministry of a local church.
An undergraduate music degree is not required as a
prerequisite for the WL concentration. Before taking WL
courses, however, students are required to satisfy pre-
master‘s qualifications in music theory and conducting
through placement exams or additional course work.
Placement exams are given prior to each fall and spring
semester. WL concentration students choose a major
performance area – voice, piano, organ, or guitar (other
instruments may also be considered depending on
availability of applied faculty). A secondary performance
area is also selected. If the major area of performance is
voice or a non-keyboard instrument, the secondary area will
be piano. If the major area of performance is piano or organ,
the secondary area will normally be voice. A limited level of
proficiency in both piano and voice is required for all WL
concentration students. Details on proficiencies, placement
exams, and recital requirements are contained in the Church
Music Program Handbook.
CURRICULUM
Foundational Core 43 hours
2210-2211 Old Testament Survey I & II 6 hrs
2310-2311 New Testament Survey I & II 6 hrs
2400 Introduction to Hermeneutics 2 hrs
3100-3101 History of Christianity I & II 6 hrs
3110 Baptist History 3 hrs
3200-3201 Theology I & II 6 hrs
3400 Christian Ethics 3 hrs
5000 Personal Spiritual Disciplines 2 hrs
5201 Basic Evangelism 3 hrs
5312 Intro to Pastoral Care & Counseling 3 hrs
7001 Theology & Philosophy of Missions 3 hrs
M.Div. Emphasis 23 hours
Select: 2200-2201 Elementary Hebrew I & II OR
2300-2301 Elementary Greek I & II 6 hrs
3300 Introduction to Apologetics 2 hrs
Men take:
5110 Principles of Preaching 3 hrs
5111 Expository Preaching 3 hrs
5401 Introduction to Pastoral Leadership 2 hrs
5430 Introduction to Pastoral Ministry 2 hrs
Women take:
8110-8111 Principles of Teaching I & II 6 hrs
8306 Principles of Leadership 2 hrs
8406 Introduction to Adult Ministry 2hrs
5402 Worship Leadership 2 hrs
5445 Supervised Ministry 1 hr
8301 Church Administration 2 hrs
WL Concentration 23 hours
9200 Hymnology 2 hrs
9400 Music and Worship in the Church 2 hrs
9402 Music and Worship with Children 2 hrs
9410 Fundamentals of Music for Worship Leadership 2 hrs
9414 Music and Worship with Youth and Adults 2 hrs
CM Music Ministry Elective (select from
9416 through 9422) 2 hrs
CM Applied Voice 2 hrs
CM Applied Study (voice or keyboard instrument) 2 hrs
9551 Performance Lab (concurrent w/ Applied Study) 0 hrs
CM Choral Ensemble
1
6 hrs
9550 Applied Recital 1 hr
Electives 3 hours
TOTAL 92 hours
1. One hour each semester; M.Div.-WL students must be
enrolled in a choral ensemble each semester they are
enrolled full-time.
Programs of Study 64
MASTER OF DIVINITY DEGREE,
YOUTH MINISTRY
CONCENTRATION (M.Div.-YM)
Purpose
The Master of Divinity degree, Youth Ministry
Concentration cultivates a Christian lifestyle, offers
instruction in classical theological disciplines and develops
ministry skills in youth ministry.
M.Div. Degree Objectives
Students graduating from the M.Div. degree program
will be able to:
1. Develop increased Bible and theological knowledge.
2. Facilitate interpretation of scripture using appropriate
hermeneutical principles.
3. Encourage formulation of theological beliefs based on
Biblical and historical perspectives.
4. Progress in the practice of classical spiritual disciplines.
5. Develop a Great Commission perspective that is
demonstrated by skills in evangelism, equipping disciples,
preaching and teaching, corporate worship, and leadership.
YM Concentration Objectives
M.Div. students also completing the Youth Ministry
Concentration will be able to:
6. Demonstrate the ability to focus a Great Commission
perspective as stated above on the unique ministry needs,
relationships, and skills associated with youth and youth
ministry.
7. Demonstrate an understanding of contemporary youth
culture.
8. Demonstrate leadership and administration of youth
programs.
CURRICULUM
Foundational Core 43 hours
2210-2211 Old Testament Survey I & II 6 hrs
2310-2311 New Testament Survey I & II 6 hrs
2400 Introduction to Hermeneutics 2 hrs
3100-3101 History of Christianity I & II 6 hrs
3110 Baptist History 3 hrs
3200-3201 Theology I and II 6 hrs
3400 Christian Ethics 3 hrs
5000 Personal Spiritual Disciplines 2 hrs
5201 Basic Evangelism 3 hrs
5312 Intro to Pastoral Care & Counseling 3 hrs
7001 Theology & Philosophy of Missions 3 hrs
M.Div. Emphasis 17 hours
Select: 2200-2201 Elementary Hebrew I & II OR
2300-2301 Elementary Greek I & II 6 hrs
Men take:
5110 Principles of Preaching
1
3 hrs
5111 Expository Preaching
2
3 hrs
5430 Introduction to Pastoral Ministry
3
2 hrs
Women take:
8110-8111 Principles of Teaching I & II 6 hrs
8406 Introduction to Adult Ministry 2 hrs
5445 Supervised Ministry 1 hr
8301 Church Administration 2 hrs
YM Concentration 19 hours
8102 Foundations of Education 3 hrs
8214 Adolescent Development 2 hrs
Select: 8228 Learning Styles OR 8304 Educational
Administration 2 hrs
8306 Principles of Leadership
1
2 hrs
8330 Technology for Christian Ministry 2 hrs
8340 Missions Education 2 hrs
8404 Introduction to Youth Ministry 2 hrs
8424 The Minister of Youth 2 hrs
8434 Youth Ministry Issues 2 hrs
Electives 13 hours
TOTAL 92 hours
1. Men students who anticipate a pastoral ministry may take
MN5401 Introduction to Pastoral Leadership in lieu of
CE8306 Principles of Leadership.
65 Programs of Study
MASTER OF ARTS DEGREES
Purpose
The Professional Master of Arts is an academic track
that unites the core elements of a divinity degree and that of
a graduate school. There is, at once, a deep and fundamental
commitment to Biblical fidelity, theological truth, and
ministerial training that hearkens from the divinity school
approach. Then there is the broad scope of education offered
in a liberal arts-type of track which draws intellectual
resources from the social sciences and humanities in order to
inform the ministerial side of formal training with
leadership, managerial, organizational, psychological,
sociological, and interpersonal prowess.
These two are viewed as harmonious by Christian
Educational professionals because they honor the intellectual
products of God‘s General Revelation which come from
studies in science and technology, while integrating those
understandings which are consistent with Biblical truth by
rigorous inquiry into the various areas of Special Revelation.
Through a non-compartmentalized approach on inquiry that
is subject to the boundaries and instruction of Holy Writ, and
while utilizing the breadth of revealed truth found in extra-
Biblical resources, the Master of Arts concept and
subsequent degrees have been born.
MASTER OF ARTS IN CHRISTIAN
EDUCATION DEGREE (MACE)
Purpose
The Master of Arts in Christian Education (MACE) is a
professional degree directed toward preparing the student for
the various educational ministries in the church. Electives
may be configured with emphasis in the student's vocational
objective with the general areas of study including children,
youth, adults, church administration, or leadership. This
degree is also designed for students serving in missions,
denominational work, and other related ministries. In
addition, the degree is foundational for entrance into
advanced degree programs in education.
MACE Degree Objectives
Students graduating from the MACE degree program
will be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of Biblical, theological,
historical, philosophical, and psychological foundations of
Christian Education.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of developmental theories
and their application to Christian education.
3. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the
operative principles and administrative approaches for the
educational ministry of the church.
4. Demonstrate professional skills of Christian Education
supporting the tasks of evangelism, teaching, leadership
training, and age group ministry.
Location
Midwestern offers courses for the MACE degree on the
main campus in Kansas City and in extension centers located
in St. Louis and Bolivar, Missouri, Wichita, Kansas, and
Tulsa, Oklahoma. All MACE students are required to
complete at least one year of full-time study or its equivalent
(i.e., thirty credit hours) at Midwestern‘s main campus in
Kansas City (see On-Campus Requirements for Completion
of a Degree).
Duration
This degree typically requires two years of full-time
academic study or its equivalent.
Admission
The MACE degree is a post-baccalaureate degree.
Admission requirements include a baccalaureate degree
from an accredited institution, evidence of the commitment
and qualities desired for Christian leadership, and the
academic ability to engage in graduate education.
Distinctive Resources
MACE students have access to community life that
provides informal educational experiences, religious
fellowship, and opportunity for reflection upon the meaning
of faith in its relation to education for ministry.
CURRICULUM
Foundational Core 31 hours
2210-2211 Old Testament Survey I & II 6 hrs
2310-2311 New Testament Survey I & II 6 hrs
2400 Introduction to Hermeneutics 2 hrs
3110 Baptist History 3 hrs
3200-3201 Theology I & II 6 hrs
5000 Personal Spiritual Disciplines 2 hrs
Select: 5201 Basic Evangelism OR 8328 Educational
Evangelism 3 hrs
7001 Theology & Philosophy of Missions 3 hrs
MACE Emphasis 23 hours
8102 Foundations of Education 3 hrs
8110-8111 Principles of Teaching I & II 6 hrs
8200 Life Span Development 3 hrs
Select: 8228 Learning Styles OR 8304 Educational
Administration 2 hrs
8306 Principles of Leadership 2 hrs
8330 Technology for Christian Ministry 2 hrs
8420 The Minister of Education 2 hrs
8463 Education Ministry Internship 3 hrs
Electives 6 hours
TOTAL 60 hours
Programs of Study 66
MASTER OF ARTS IN CHRISTIAN
EDUCATION DEGREE (MACE), plus a
WORSHIP LEADERSHIP
CONCENTRATION
Purpose
In addition to studying for the Master of Arts in Christian
Education degree (MACE), students may also choose to earn a
concentration in Worship Leadership (WL). This
concentration cultivates a Christian lifestyle, offers instruction
in classical theological disciplines, and develops sills in
church educational ministries with an emphasis on
foundational musical knowledge and abilities. An
undergraduate music degree is not required as a prerequisite
for the WL concentration.
MACE Degree Objectives
Students graduating from the MACE degree program
will be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of Biblical, theological,
historical, philosophical, and psychological foundations of
Christian education
2. Demonstrate an understanding of developmental theories
and their application to Christian education
3. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the
operative principles and administrative approaches for the
educational ministry of the church
4. Demonstrate professional skills of Christian Education
supporting the tasks of evangelism, teaching, leadership
training, and age group ministry.
WL Concentration Objectives
MACE students also completing the Worship
Leadership Concentration will be able to:
5. Demonstrate increased knowledge of music and worship
issues.
6. Develop basic musical skills for worship leadership.
7. Demonstrate ministry and leadership skills for the music
and worship ministry of a local church.
An undergraduate music degree is not required as a
prerequisite for the WL concentration. Before taking WL
courses, however, students are required to satisfy pre-master‘s
qualifications in music theory and conducting through
placement exams or additional course work. Placement exams
are given prior to each fall and spring semester. WL
concentration students choose a major performance area –
voice, piano, organ, or guitar (other instruments may also be
considered depending on availability of applied faculty). A
secondary performance area is also selected. If the major area
of performance is voice or a non-keyboard instrument, the
secondary area will be piano. If the major area of performance
is piano or organ, the secondary area will normally be voice.
A limited level of proficiency in both piano and voice is
required for all WL concentration students. Details on
proficiencies, placement exams, and recital requirements are
contained in the Church Music Program Handbook.
CURRICULUM
Foundational Core 31 hours
2210-2211 Old Testament Survey I & II 6 hrs
2310-2311 New Testament Survey I & II 6 hrs
2400 Introduction to Hermeneutics 2 hrs
3110 Baptist History 3 hrs
3200-3201 Theology I & II 6 hrs
5000 Personal Spiritual Disciplines 2 hrs
Select: 5201 Basic Evangelism OR 8328 Educational
Evangelism 3 hrs
7001 Theology & the Philosophy of Missions 3 hrs
MACE Emphasis 23 hours
8102 Foundations of Education 3 hrs
8110-8111 Principles of Teaching I & II 6 hrs
8200 Life Span Development 3 hrs
Select: 8228 Learning Styles OR 8304 Educational
Administration 2 hrs
8306 Principles of Leadership 2 hrs
8330 Technology for Christian Ministry 2 hrs
8420 The Minister of Education 2 hrs
8463 Education Ministry Internship 3 hrs
WL Concentration 25 hours
5402 Worship Leadership 2 hrs
9200 Hymnology 2 hrs
9400 Music and Worship in the Church 2 hrs
9402 Music and Worship with Children 2 hrs
9410 Fundamentals of Music for Worship Leadership 2 hrs
9414 Music and Worship with Youth and Adults 2 hrs
CM Music Ministry Elective (select from
9416 through 9422) 2 hrs
CM Applied Voice 2 hrs
CM Applied Study (voice or keyboard instrument) 2 hrs
9551 Performance Lab (concurrent w/ Applied Study) 0 hrs
CM Choral Ensemble
1
6 hrs
9550 Applied Recital 1 hr
Electives 1 hour
TOTAL 80 hours
1. One hour each semester; MACE +WL students must be
enrolled in a choral ensemble each semester they are
enrolled full-time. If fewer than six hours of Choral
Ensemble are completed to satisfy this requirement,
elective hours are increased until a total of 80 hours are
earned for the MACE +WL program.
67 Programs of Study
MASTER OF ARTS IN CHURCH
MUSIC DEGREE (MACM)
Purpose
Midwestern offers the Master of Arts in Church Music
(MACM) degree with a primary focus on the preparation of
the minister of music for service in local church settings.
The MACM enables the student to gain proficiency in the
development of music skills within the context of an
understanding of the total mission and ministry of the
church.
This degree is designed to be a two-year program for
full time students who meet the appropriate entrance
requirements. A bachelor's degree in music is a prerequisite.
However, students with non-music bachelor's degrees may
also enter the program by completing a series of
pre-master‘s music courses, or by successfully completing a
series of placement examinations.
MACM Degree Objectives
Students graduating from the MACM degree program
will be able to:
1. Demonstrate appropriate competencies in music theory,
history, and literature.
2. Demonstrate a high level of applied musical skills and
performance discipline.
3. Demonstrate organizational and leadership skills in church
music ministry.
4. Integrate a Christian lifestyle and professional musical
development, demonstrating a balanced approach to
church music.
Placement Exams and Pre-Master’s Courses
All students desiring to enter the MACM degree
program are required to take a series of examinations to
determine the level of undergraduate music proficiency. If
the student does not have a bachelor‘s degree in music, or
has never taken undergraduate classes in music theory, ear
training, music history, or conducting, then the pre-
master‘s/undergraduate classes must be taken. Placement
exams are given just prior to new student orientation each
semester and are offered in conjunction with the
undergraduate course rotation schedule. The result of the
examinations and auditions will assist the faculty in
determining courses that may be required to remove any
undergraduate level deficiencies. The Church Music
Program Handbook contains greater detail regarding the
placement exams. These exams are given the day before
New Student Orientation each fall and spring.
Placement exams test for skills and knowledge in the
following undergraduate courses:
U-MU101 Fundamentals of Music Theory (2 hrs)
1
U-MU103 Harmony (2 hrs)
1
U-MU102 Aural Skills and Sight-Singing (2 hrs)
1
U-MU201 Advanced Harmony I (2 hrs)
U-MU231 Music History I (2 hrs)
U-MU232 Music History II (2 hrs)
U-MU340 Basic Conducting (2 hrs)
1. U-MU101 Fundamentals of Music Theory or its
equivalent must be completed prior to taking either
U-MU103 Harmony or U-MU102 Aural Skills and Sight-
Singing.
Performance Areas and Piano Proficiencies
Students choose a major performance area - voice,
piano, or another instrument. They also choose a secondary
performance area. If the major area of performance is voice
or an instrument other than piano or organ, the secondary
area will normally be piano. If the major applied area is in a
keyboard instrument (piano or organ), then voice or another
instrument will be the secondary area. Applied studies in
other instruments will depend on the availability of qualified
applied faculty. Students present a culminating performance
project or recital in their major area of performance. This
must be a presentation of appropriate music literature from
major style periods.
All students are required to pass a piano proficiency
examination to complete requirements for the MACM. In
addition, all students whose primary area of applied study is
not voice are required to pass a voice proficiency
examination. These examinations are to be completed one
semester before graduation. Requirements are included in
the Church Music Program Handbook, which is available in
the Music Office.
Programs of Study 68
Location
Midwestern offers or has offered courses common to the
M.Div. and MACM degree programs at extension centers.
Courses unique to the MACM degree program are only
offered on campus in Kansas City. All students are required
to complete at least one year of full-time study or its
equivalent (i.e., thirty credit hours) at Midwestern‘s main
campus in Kansas City (see On-Campus Requirements for
Completion of a Degree).
Duration
The MACM degree typically requires two years of full-
time academic study or its equivalent. Although this degree
is designed in terms of the rotation of full-time courses
within the church music area to be a two-year degree, this
assumes the student has tested out of all pre-master‘s
requirements and needs no remedial work requiring the
taking of additional courses. It is rare for a church music
student to have no remedial work. Most will need to take
some pre-master‘s work in either music theory or history,
thus prolonging the time spent pursuing the degree. In
addition, church music students must pass piano
proficiencies and adequately prepare for a recital in their
primary area of applied study. These activities can also
prolong the time spent earning the church music degree.
Admission
The MACM degree is a post-baccalaureate degree.
Admission requirements include a baccalaureate degree
from an accredited institution, evidence of the commitment
and qualities desired for Christian leadership, and the
academic ability to engage in graduate education.
Distinctive Resources
MACM students have access to community life that
provides informal educational experiences, religious
fellowship, and opportunity for reflection upon the meaning
of faith in its relation to education for ministry.
For music students in particular, there are significant
vocational ministry opportunities in the Kansas City metro
area as worship leaders or accompanists.
CURRICULUM
Foundational Core 22 hours
Select: 2210 Old Testament Survey I OR
2211 Old Testament Survey II 3 hrs
Select: 2310 New Testament Survey I OR
2311 New Testament Survey II 3 hrs
3110 Baptist History 3 hrs
Select: 3200 Theology I OR 3201 Theology II 3 hrs
5000 Personal Spiritual Disciplines 2 hrs
5201 Basic Evangelism 3 hrs
7001 Theology & Philosophy of Missions 3 hrs
8301 Church Administration 2 hrs
CM Emphasis 33 hours
Church Music Studies 19 hours
Select One: 9102 Choral Arranging
1
OR 9132
Composition
1
OR 9134 Analysis of Music
1
2 hrs
9200 Hymnology 2 hrs
9302 Choral Conducting
1
2 hrs
9310 Choral Literature and Rehearsal Techniques 2 hrs
9330 Advanced Conducting 2 hrs
9400 Music and Worship in the Church 2 hrs
9402 Music and Worship with Children 2 hrs
9414 Music and Worship with Youth and Adults 2 hrs
CM Music Ministry Elective (Select from
9416 through 9422) 2 hrs
9450 Supervised Ministry - Music 1 hr
9470 Comprehensive Exit Exam 0 hrs
Performance and Applied Music 14 hours
CM Applied Voice 4 hrs
CM Applied Study (major instrument area) 4 hrs
CM Applied Piano
2
1 hr
9505 Piano Proficiency 0 hrs
9525 Vocal Proficiency 0 hrs
9550 Applied Music Recital
3
1 hr
9551 Performance Lab (concurrent w/ Applied Study) 0 hrs
CM Choral Ensemble
4
4 hrs
Electives 5 hours
TOTAL 60 hours
1. Before taking these courses, students are required to
satisfy any pre-master‘s qualifications in music theory and
conducting through placement exams or by additional
course work.
2. If the applied study major instrument area is piano, then
Applied Study Piano may be waived with approval of the
department chair.
3. MACM students perform a full recital. See the current
Church Music Program Handbook for details.
4. One hour each semester; MACM students must be
enrolled in a choral ensemble each semester they are
enrolled full-time.
69 Programs of Study
MASTER OF ARTS IN COUNSELING
DEGREE (MACO)
Midwestern offers a 62-hour Master of Arts in
Counseling degree program designed to help students meet
the educational requirements for licensure in Missouri as a
licensed professional counselor (as of this printing, state
licensure now requires a minimum of 48 hours of counseling
courses). The goal is to provide the student with the skills
required to deliver appropriate professional mental health
counseling services to individuals in either a ministry or
private setting. Graduation does not guarantee licensure
eligibility since other factors such as poor licensure test
scores, criminal behavior, and other restrictions may
disqualify the student eligibility for a license. Students
seeking a license are encouraged to read the licensure
requirements on the internet at http://www.sos.mo.gov/
adrules/csr/current/20csr/20c2095-2.pdf.
The seminary reserves the right to require the student to
obtain professional counseling for him or herself, if
necessary, or to require the student to move to another
degree program if that is deemed necessary. The student
would be notified of these actions privately with due time to
allow for the changes.
MACO Degree Objectives
Students graduating from the M.A. in Counseling degree
program will be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the Biblical,
theological, historical, and psychological foundations of
Christian counseling.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of how developmental
issues and trauma experiences impact the counseling
process.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of how to select, train,
supervise, and evaluate a lay care-giving ministry that
supports the work of the local church, association, and
denomination.
4. Identify the causes and treatments of the most common
counseling problems encountered in a ministry or private
setting and apply appropriate counseling principles and
techniques to correct the problems.
5. Demonstrate professional skills in the areas of diagnosis,
treatment, preventive care, remedial care, referral, self-
care, and support group ministry.
Location
Midwestern offers or has offered courses common to the
M.Div. and MACO degree programs at extension centers.
Courses unique to the MACO degree program are only
offered on campus in Kansas City. All students are required
to complete at least one year of full-time study or its
equivalent (i.e., thirty credit hours) at Midwestern‘s main
campus in Kansas City (see On-Campus Requirements for
Completion of a Degree).
Duration
This degree typically requires two years of full-time
academic study or its equivalent.
Admission
The MACO degree is a post-baccalaureate degree.
Admission requirements include a baccalaureate degree
from an accredited institution, evidence of the commitment
and qualities desired for Christian leadership, and the
academic ability to engage in graduate education.
Distinctive Resources
MACO students have access to community life that
provides informal educational experiences, religious
fellowship, and opportunity for reflection upon the meaning
of faith in its relation to education for ministry.
CURRICULUM
Foundational Core 26 hours
2210-2211 Old Testament Survey I and II 6 hrs
2310-2311 New Testament Survey I and II 6 hrs
3110 Baptist History 3 hrs
3200-3201 Theology I and II 6 hrs
5000 Personal Spiritual Disciplines 2 hrs
5201 Basic Evangelism 3 hrs
CO Emphasis 36 hours
5501 Counseling Theories 3 hrs
5505 Professional Orientation and Ethics 3 hrs
5530 Theory & Methods of Group Counseling
1
3 hrs
5532 The Helping Relationship
1
3 hrs
5534 Abnormal Psychology: Theory, Diagnosis,
& Treatment 3 hrs
5535 Psychological Tests & Measurements
1
3 hrs
5537 Career Development and Counseling
1
3 hrs
5539 Multicultural Counseling
1
3 hrs
5554 Supervised Counseling Practicum 3 hrs
5555 Supervised Counseling Internship 3 hrs
5557 Research Methods
1
3 hrs
8200 Life Span Development 3 hrs
TOTAL 62 hours
1. If state licensure is NOT desired, the student may petition
to substitute one of the following recommended electives
for this required course.
Recommended Electives (not required): if desired, these
electives may be taken in addition to the 62 hours required
for the MACO degree program toward satisfying licensure
requirements.
5522 Marriage and Family Counseling 3 hrs
5524 Diagnosis & Treatment of Childhood &
Adolescent Disorders 3 hrs
5526 Diagnosis & Treatment of Addiction Disorders 3 hrs
5528 Biological Basis of Behavior 3 hrs
5540 Special Topics in Counseling 2-3 hrs
5542 Integration of Christian Theology & Counseling 3 hrs
Programs of Study 70
RESEARCH MASTER’S
PROGRAMS
MASTER’S OF ARTS DEGREE
Purpose
The research Master of Arts degree programs are
designed to give students advanced training and research in
two areas of study: Biblical archaeology and Biblical
languages, they do not prepare students for ministry in the
local church. These programs are designed for students who
desire to go on for advanced graduate degrees or
professional employment in these areas.
M.A. Degree Objectives
Students graduating with a research Master of Arts
degree will be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of Biblical and theological
foundations.
2. Integrate a Christian lifestyle with the practice of
academic research.
3. Demonstrate a focused knowledge of Biblical languages.
4. Demonstrate the acquisition and refinement of basic
academic research skills.
Concluding Evaluation
The research Master of Arts degree programs, Biblical
Archaeology and Biblical Languages, require the successful
completion of a concluding comprehensive written and/or
oral examination. This comprehensive assessment must be
successfully completed prior to participation in
commencement and graduation.
At the beginning of the student‘s final semester, the
candidate‘s academic advisor notifies the Academic Dean
that a two-person committee from the candidate‘s area of
emphasis should be established to prepare and administer the
M.A. Comprehensive Examination. The exam is to be
administered no later than one month prior to
Commencement. A passing grade must be earned on the
Examination for the M.A. degree to be granted.
Location
Midwestern offers or has offered courses common to the
M.Div. and M.A. degree programs at extension centers.
Courses unique to the M.A. degree programs are only
offered on campus in Kansas City. All students are required
to complete at least one year of full-time study or its
equivalent (i.e., thirty credit hours) at Midwestern‘s main
campus in Kansas City (see On-Campus Requirements for
Completion of a Degree).
Duration
This degree typically requires two years of full-time
academic study or its equivalent.
Admission
The M.A. degree is a post-baccalaureate degree.
Admission requirements include a baccalaureate degree
from an accredited institution, evidence of the commitment
and qualities desired for Christian leadership, and the
academic ability to engage in graduate education.
Distinctive Resources
MA degree students have access to community life that
provides informal educational experiences, religious
fellowship, and opportunity for reflection upon the meaning
of faith in its relation to education for ministry.
71 Programs of Study
MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE,
BIBLICAL ARCHAEOLOGY MAJOR
(MA-BA)
Purpose
The purpose of the Master of Arts degree, Biblical
Archeology major is to provide a basis for further graduate
study in Near Eastern and Classical Archaeology and related
areas.
M.A. Degree Objectives
Students graduating with a research Master of Arts
degree will be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of Biblical and theological
foundations.
2. Integrate a Christian lifestyle with the practice of
academic research.
3. Demonstrate a focused knowledge of Biblical languages.
4. Demonstrate the acquisition and refinement of basic
academic research skills.
Biblical Archaeology Major Objectives
Students graduating from the M.A., Biblical
Archaeology major will be able to:
5. Demonstrate a focused knowledge of Near Eastern
Archaeology as it relates to the study of the Bible.
6. Demonstrate basic skills in archaeological method and
fieldwork.
7. Demonstrate the acquisition and refinement of basic
academic research skills related to archaeology.
8. Demonstrate a basic capacity to reflect theologically on
core issues related to archaeology.
CURRICULUM
Foundational Core 23 hours
2210-2211 Old Testament Survey I and II 6 hrs
2310-2311 New Testament Survey I and II 6 hrs
2400 Introduction to Hermeneutics 2 hrs
3200-3201 Theology I and II 6 hrs
5201 Basic Evangelism 3 hrs
BA Emphasis 30 hours
2200-2201 Elementary Hebrew I and II 6 hrs
2300-2301 Elementary Greek I and II 6 hrs
2101 Historical Geography of the Bible 2 hrs
Select: 2110 Old Testament Backgrounds OR
2120 New Testament Backgrounds 2 hrs
Select: 2112 Old Testament Archaeology OR
2122 New Testament Archaeology 2 hrs
2140 Introduction to Archaeological Methods 3 hrs
2142 Current Issues in Archaeological Research 2 hrs
3100 History of Christianity I 3 hrs
Archaeological Practicum (select one) 4 hrs
2160 Bible Lands Study Tour
2170 Archaeological Field Practicum
2172 Museum Internship
Electives
1
7 hours
Concluding Evaluation
2
0 hours
TOTAL 60 hours
1. It is recommended that MA-BA students take 3300
Introduction to Apologetics (2 hours) as one of these
electives.
2. A comprehensive written and/or oral examination
Programs of Study 72
MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE,
BIBLICAL LANGUAGES MAJOR
(MA-BL)
Purpose
The purpose of the Master of Arts degree, Biblical
Languages major is to provide a basis for further graduate
study in Biblical Languages and related areas.
M.A. Degree Objectives
Students graduating with a research Master of Arts
degree will be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of Biblical and theological
foundations.
2. Integrate a Christian lifestyle with the practice of
academic research.
3. Demonstrate a focused knowledge of Biblical languages.
4. Demonstrate the acquisition and refinement of basic
academic research skills.
Biblical Languages Major Objectives
Students graduating from the M.A., Biblical Languages
major will be able to:
5. Demonstrate a focused knowledge of Biblical languages.
6. Demonstrate the acquisition and refinement of basic
academic research skills related to Biblical exegesis.
7. Demonstrate a basic capacity to reflect theologically on
core issues related to Biblical exegesis.
CURRICULUM
Foundational Core 23 hours
2210-2211 Old Testament Survey I and II 6 hrs
2310-2311 New Testament Survey I and II 6 hrs
2400 Introduction to Hermeneutics 2 hrs
3200-3201 Theology I and II 6 hrs
5201 Basic Evangelism 3 hrs
BL Emphasis 33 hours
2200-2201 Elementary Hebrew I and II 6 hrs
2203-2204 Intermediate Hebrew I and II 6 hrs
2300-2301 Elementary Greek I and II 6 hrs
2303-2304 Intermediate Greek I and II 6 hrs
Select: 3100 History of Christianity I OR
3101 History of Christianity II 3 hrs
Biblical Language Electives 6 hrs
Electives 4 hours
Concluding Evaluation
1
0 hours
TOTAL 60 hours
1. A comprehensive written and/or oral examination
73 Programs of Study
NON-TRADITIONAL/ONLINE
MASTER’S PROGRAM
MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE,
THEOLOGICAL STUDIES MAJOR
(MATS)
A full and detailed explanation of the MATS program and
its concentrations is contained in the Midwestern Baptist
College, SBC Academic Catalog. All fees, excluding the
cost of textbooks, are included in the $250 per hour tuition
fee. There are no extra charges for Registration/Activity,
Journal, Graduation or other fees
Purpose
The Master of Arts degree, Theological Studies major is
offered entirely online to provide Biblical, theological and
ministry training to people who feel called to continue
serving Christ in their current locale. The degree provides a
solid foundation of theological studies designed to equip a
person for effective and growing ministry. It is designed for
pastors, associate pastors, youth pastors, children‘s
ministers, worship pastors, church planters, missionaries,
Directors of Missions, and lay men and women active in
ministries of various kinds.
Accreditation
The MA-TS program is accredited as a graduate
program of Midwestern Baptist College, SBC by the Higher
Learning Commission of the North Central Association of
Colleges and Schools (HLC). Midwestern‘s other graduate
degree programs have dual accreditation with HLC and the
Association of Theological Schools (ATS).
Program Content
While not as long as the Master of Divinity (M.Div.),
the MATS degree provides training in the same foundational
areas of ministry. Understanding of the Christian and Baptist
religious heritage is fostered through survey courses in Old
Testament and New Testament, Christian History, Theology,
and Missions. The cultural context of ministry is dealt with
in Apologetics, Ethics, Evangelism and Missions. The
Personal Spiritual Disciplines and Evangelism courses deal
with candidates' personal and spiritual formation.
Enhancement of students' capacity for ministerial and public
leadership is the focus of Hermeneutics and Church
Administration.
There are no prerequisite courses in the program, and
courses may be taken in any order as they are offered. There
are no elective courses offered in the MA-TS program.
Admission
The MATS degree is a graduate level degree.
Admission requirements to enter this program include a
baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution, evidence
of the commitment to and qualities desired for Christian
leadership, and the academic ability to engage in graduate
education. Application materials are available online at
Midwestern‘s Web site: www.mbts.edu.
Location
The MATS degree is offered right in your own home or
office. The courses are delivered entirely online using the
Blackboard Learn course management system. Midwestern‘s
online library resources support these courses.
Duration
The MATS degree is 45 hours in length. The fifteen,
3-hour courses could be completed in less than two years.
Courses are offered in seven-week terms, with two terms
offered each semester and summer. A total of six terms are
offered each year.
MATS Degree Objectives
Students graduating from the MATS degree program
will be able to:
1. Demonstrate increased biblical and theological
knowledge.
2. Interpret and apply Scripture more effectively using
appropriate hermeneutical principles.
3. Formulate maturing theological convictions based on
Scripture, with due notice of their prior historical
development.
4. Initiate and maintain a practice of classical spiritual
disciplines.
5. Develop a Great Commission perspective that finds
expression in evangelism, missions and commitment to
local church ministry.
CURRICULUM
M-BS2210-2211 Old Testament Survey I & II 6 hrs
M-BS2310-2311 New Testament Survey I & II 6 hrs
M-BS2400 Introduction to Hermeneutics 3 hrs
M-CE8301 Church Administration 3 hrs
M-HT3100-3101 History of Christianity I & II 6 hrs
M-HT3200-3201 Theology I & II 6 hrs
M-HT3300 Introduction to Apologetics 3 hrs
M-HT3400 Christian Ethics 3 hrs
M-MN5000 Personal Spiritual Disciplines 3 hrs
M-MN5201 Basic Evangelism 3 hrs
M-MS7001 Theology & Philosophy of Missions 3 hrs
TOTAL 45 hours
Programs of Study 74
ONLINE COURSE POLICIES FOR STUDENTS
"So How Many Online Hours Can I Take?"
GRADUATE STUDENTS
ON-CAMPUS HOURS/SEMESTER
ONLINE HOURS/
SEMESTER
MINIMUM HOURS TO BE TAKEN
ON CAMPUS DURING ENTIRE
DEGREE
RESIDENTIAL* GRADUATE STUDENTS RECEIVING
FINANCIAL AID
9 Minimum
3 Maximum
30
RESIDENTIAL* GRADUATE STUDENTS NOT RECEIVING
FINANCIAL AID
9 Minimum
No Maximum
30
FULLTIME (9+ hrs) COMMUTER** GRADUATE
STUDENTS RECEIVING FINANCIAL AID
6 Minimum
3 Maximum
30
HALFTIME (5-8 hrs) COMMUTER** GRADUATE
STUDENTS RECEIVING FINANCIAL AID
3-5 Minimum
3 Maximum
30
LESS-THAN-HALFTIME (4 hrs or less) COMMUTER**
GRADUATE STUDENTS [not eligible for financial aid]
No Min. or Max.
No Min. or Max.
30
COMMUTER** GRADUATE STUDENTS NOT RECEIVING
FINANCIAL AID
No Min. or Max.
No Min. or Max.
30
ONLINE*** GRADUATE STUDENTS RECEIVING
FINANCIAL AID
See Financial Aid Director re: how on-
campus hours might affect the
disbursement of your financial aid.
Continuous enrollment:
At least 1 online course
per 8-wk online term.
0
ONLINE*** GRADUATE STUDENTS NOT RECEIVING
FINANCIAL AID
No Min. or Max.
No Min. or Max.
0
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
All
0 Maximum
All
*A Residential Student is one who lives in campus housing.
**A Commuter Student takes classes on campus but does not live on campus.
***An Online Student takes almost all of his/her classes online. The MATS degree is the only online degree available through Midwestern at this
time.
75 Programs of Study
ONLINE COURSE POLICIES FOR STUDENTS
"So How Many Online Hours Can I Take?"
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS***
ON-CAMPUS HOURS/SEMESTER
ONLINE HOURS/
SEMESTER
MINIMUM HOURS TO BE TAKEN
ON CAMPUS DURING ENTIRE
DEGREE
RESIDENTIAL* UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS RECEIVING
FINANCIAL AID
12 Minimum
3 Maximum
HALF OF ALL HOURS
RESIDENTIAL* UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS NOT
RECEIVING FINANCIAL AID
12 Minimum
No Maximum
HALF OF ALL HOURS
FULLTIME (12 or more hrs) COMMUTER**
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT RECEIVING FINANCIAL AID
9 Minimum
3 Maximum
HALF OF ALL HOURS
3/4 TIME (9-11 hrs) COMMUTER** UNDERGRADUATE
STUDENT RECEIVING FINANCIAL AID
6-8 Minimum
3 Maximum
HALF OF ALL HOURS
HALFTIME (6-8 hrs) COMMUTER** UNDERGRADUATE
STUDENT RECEIVING FINANCIAL AID
3-5 Minimum
3 Maximum
HALF OF ALL HOURS
LESS THAN HALFTIME (5 & below hrs) COMMUTER**
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT RECEIVING FINANCIAL AID
1-5 Minimum
0 Maximum
HALF OF ALL HOURS
COMMUTER** UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT NOT
RECEIVING FINANCIAL AID
No Min. or Max.
No Min. or Max.
HALF OF ALL HOURS
MACCEL STUDENTS RECEIVING FINANCIAL AID
Continuous enrollment in MACCEL classes:
At least 1 MACCEL class per 5-wk term.
Check with Financial Aid Director re: taking
any non-MACCEL, on-campus courses.
See Financial Aid
Director re: how online
hours might affect the
disbursement of your
financial aid.
HALF OF ALL HOURS
MACCEL STUDENTS NOT RECEIVING FINANCIAL AID
No Min. or Max.
No Min. or Max.
HALF OF ALL HOURS
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
All
0 Maximum
ALL HOURS
*A Residential Student is one who lives in campus housing.
**A Commuter Student takes classes on campus but does not live on campus.
***An Undergraduate Student is one seeking a bachelors or associates degree.
For more information concerning online eligibility, please consult the Financial Aid Office in the Student Development Suite.
Programs of Study 76
GRADUATE CERTIFICATE,
CHRISTIAN FOUNDATIONS
(GC-CF)
Purpose
The Graduate Certificate, Christian Foundations is
designed to offer Biblical, theological, historical, and
personal training for lay ministry in the local church. It is not
an alternative to professional preparation for vocational
ministry, as offered through the Master of Divinity, Master
of Arts in Christian Education, Master of Arts in Church
Music, and Master of Arts in Counseling Degree programs.
Graduate Certificate, Christian Foundations
Program Objectives
Students graduating with the Graduate Certificate,
Christian Foundations will be able to:
1. Demonstrate an adequate knowledge of the Bible and
theology.
2. Interpret the English text of scripture using appropriate
hermeneutical principles.
3. Articulate and defend their own theological beliefs on the
basis of scripture and within the larger setting of church
history.
4. Understand and practice the classical spiritual disciplines.
5. Be engaged faithfully in the Great Commission, having
the skills and understanding needed for lay evangelism
and/or missions involvement.
Duration
A full-time student could complete this certificate
program in one year. Part-time students may complete the
program at their own pace.
Location
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary offers
courses for the Graduate Certificate, Christian Foundations
on the main campus in Kansas City and at extension sites
where course offerings overlap with those offered for the
M.Div. degree. All students are required to complete fifty
percent or more of the credit hours required for the Graduate
Certificate through Midwestern.
Admission
The Graduate Certificate, Christian Foundations is a
post-baccalaureate program. Admission requirements to
enter this program include a baccalaureate degree from an
accredited institution, evidence of the commitment and
qualities desired for Christian lay leadership, and the
academic ability to engage in graduate education.
Distinctive Resources
Students have access to community life that provides
informal educational experiences, religious fellowship, and
opportunity for reflection upon the meaning of faith in its
relation to educational training for lay ministry.
Concluding Evaluation
The Graduate Certificate, Christian Foundations
requires the successful completion of a concluding
comprehensive assessment. This comprehensive assessment
must be successfully completed prior to participation in
Commencement and graduation.
CURRICULUM
Christian Foundations Emphasis 34 hours
2210-2211 Old Testament Survey I & II 6 hrs
2310-2311 New Testament Survey I & II 6 hrs
Select: 2400 Introduction to Hermeneutics OR
3300 Introduction to Apologetics 2 hrs
3100 History of Christianity I 3 hrs
Select: 3101 History of Christianity II OR
3110 Baptist History 3 hrs
3200-3201 Theology I & II 6 hrs
3400 Christian Ethics 3 hrs
5000 Personal Spiritual Disciplines 2 hrs
Select: 5201 Basic Evangelism OR 7001 Theology
and Philosophy of Missions 3 hrs
Concluding Evaluation
1
0 hours
TOTAL 34 hours
1. A comprehensive assessment.
77 Programs of Study
PRE-BACCALAUREATE
PROGRAM
DIPLOMA FOR THE MINISTERING
WIFE (DIP-DW)
Purpose
The Diploma for the Ministering Wife (DW) provides a
course of study for the wives of Midwestern Seminary
students. Classes provide instruction designed to enable and
enhance spiritual and practical skills necessary for effective
service as a ministering wife. Students must have a high
school diploma or a General Educational Development
(GED) diploma.
Midwestern believes that when God calls a married man
into full-time ministry, He also calls the man‘s wife. The
couple is one in marriage and one in ministry. Their roles are
unique but they are a team. WISDOM (Women In Seminary
Developing Our Ministries) offers courses designed to equip
the wife of a minister to be a more effective part of this team
as well as equipping them for ministry in their home, church,
and community.
A Diploma for the Ministering Wife is presented to
those completing the prescribed requirements. Many of the
WISDOM courses are taught by wives of Midwestern‘s
professors or administrators. Midwestern professors,
administrators, and others with ministry experience from the
area also assist in teaching. Free childcare is provided by
reservation.
Courses with a DW designator are not equivalent to
undergraduate level courses. As such, DW courses may not
be used to satisfy undergraduate degree program
requirements.
Diploma for the Ministering Wife Objectives
Students graduating with the Diploma for the
Ministering Wife will be able to:
1. Demonstrate a basic knowledge of the Bible and personal
discipleship.
2. Develop an appreciation for Baptist heritage, mission and
ministries.
3. Demonstrate a basic knowledge of the biblical foundation
for marriage and the family.
4. Develop an understanding of ministry opportunities in
view of their personal talents and gifts.
Location
Courses for the Diploma for the Ministering Wife are
only offered on campus in Kansas City.
Duration
Students attend part-time in the evening and complete
the requirements in two to three years.
Admission
The Diploma for the Ministering Wife requires students
to have a high school diploma or its equivalent and to be the
wife of a Seminary degree–seeking student.
Distinctive Resources
WISDOM students have access to community life that
provides informal educational experiences, religious
fellowship, and opportunity for reflection upon the meaning
of faith in its relation to preparation for ministry.
CURRICULUM
Foundational Core 12 hours
DW10 Carolyne Hester Student Wives Retreat 1 hr
DW12 Ministering Wife 2 hrs
DW14 Baptist Heritage and Beliefs 1 hr
DW16 Old Testament 2 hrs
DW17 New Testament 2 hrs
DW21 Spiritual Disciplines 2 hrs
DW26 Evangelism and Missions 2 hrs
Electives 3 hours
TOTAL 15 hours
Elective Courses
Diploma for the Ministering Wife (DW) electives are
selected from the following courses:
DW15 Marriage Enrichment Seminar for Seminary
Couples 2 hrs
DW31 Issues in Ministry 2 hrs
DW32 Basic Beliefs I 1 hr
DW33 Basic Beliefs II 1 hr
DW36 Practicum 1 hr
DW37 WISDOM Workshop 1 hr
DW38 Missionary Wife 1 hr
DW39 Ministry in the Church 1 hr
DW40 Special Topic 1-2 hrs
DW45 Independent Study 1-2 hrs
Curriculum – Course Descriptions 78
Curriculum–Course
Descriptions
COURSE NUMBERING GUIDE
Seminary Graduate Course Numbers
(First digit = field of study; second digit = discipline)
DOCTORAL COURSES
40-Research Doctorate-Ph.D. (DR)
0 Ph.D. Core
2 Old Testament Concentration
3 New Testament Concentration
8 Tutorials and Comprehensive Examinations
9 Research and Dissertation
30-Professional Doctorate (DR)
0 Foundational Core
1-4 Doctor of Ministry Courses
5-8 Doctor of Educational Ministry Courses
9 Doctoral Supervised Ministry, Research, and Final
Product
MASTER‘S COURSES
1-General Studies (GS)
0 Workshops
1 Examination
5 Special topic
8 Assessment
9 Independent Study
2-Biblical Studies (BS)
1 Biblical Backgrounds and Archaeology
2 Old Testament Interpretation and Hebrew
3 New Testament Interpretation and Greek
4 Hermeneutics
3-Historical-Theological Studies (HT)
1 Church History
2 Theology
3 Christian Philosophy
4 Ethics
5 Theological Languages
5-Ministry (MN)
0 Spiritual Formation
1 Preaching
2 Evangelism
3 Pastoral Care
4 Pastoral Leadership
5 Counseling
6 Collegiate Ministry
7 Church and Law
7-Missions (MS)
0 General Missions
1 North American Missions
2 International Missions
3 World Religions
4 Regional Studies
5 Urban Evangelism
8-Christian Education (CE)
1 Foundations
2 Development
3 Administration
4 Ministry
9-Church Music (CM)
1 Theory
2 History
3 Choral
4 Administration and Programs
5 Performance and Applied
College Course Numbers
(Below 100‘s – pre-baccalaureate level; 100‘s – first-year,
freshman level; 200‘s – second-year, sophomore level;
300‘s – third-year, junior level; 400‘s – fourth-year, senior
level; M – online, master‘s level)
COLLEGE COURSES
Master‘s (M-) – online master‘s courses
Music (MU) – undergraduate prerequisites for graduate
level Church Music program courses
PRE-BACCALAUREATE COURSES
General Studies (GS)
Diploma Wives (DW)
79 Course Descriptions – Curriculum
DOCTORAL COURSES
RESEARCH DOCTORATE-PH.D.
Ph.D. CORE
40020 Ph.D. Colloquium I 4 hrs
An inter-disciplinary seminar conducted by the graduate
faculty for Ph.D. students. The seminar includes an
introduction to the academic, professional, and personal
disciplines essential to the successful completion of the
Doctor of Philosophy degree, including practical matters
such as the impact of doctoral research upon family life and
personal finances. The colloquium will also focus on critical
thinking skills, theological foundations, methods, and
integrative principles for understanding the relationship
between advanced biblical/theological studies and
contemporary culture.
40030 Ph.D. Colloquium II 4 hrs
An introduction to academic research and writing.
Participants will develop skill in asking questions that
uncover new lines of research. They will also develop
advanced facility in the library‘s doctoral-level research
tools, including its reference materials, specialized holdings,
and software databases, and in bibliographical development
and retrieval, the use of evidence, and the latter‘s
presentation in written form. As a continuation of Ph.D.
Colloquium I, this seminar will also focus on integrative
principles for understanding the relationship between
biblical/theological studies and contemporary culture.
40060 Advanced Biblical Hermeneutics 4 hrs
An advanced seminar in Biblical hermeneutics designed to
prepare students to develop skills and expertise in analyzing
interpretive problems, bringing biblical and doctrinal
resources to bear on such problems, investigating and
developing solutions, and communicating solutions through
writing, teaching, preaching, and other informational venues
in Christian ministry and higher education.
40070 Teaching Principles and Methods in
Higher Education 4 hrs
An introduction to the skills and resources necessary for
effective teaching in institutions of higher education.
Consideration will be given to the teaching environment, the
learning process, instructional methodology and media, and
curriculum design. Participants will be trained to develop
measurable course objectives and instructional methods
corresponding to the latter. Assistance is also given in the
design and use of various assessment tools.
OLD TESTAMENT CONCENTRATION
40210 Pentateuch 4 hrs
An advanced study of the Pentateuch, including its history,
composition, language, cultural background, and theology.
Attention will be given to the history of Pentateuchal
criticism, as well as current research in the area. (Enrollment
requires approval of the Ph.D. Director)
40220 Historical Books of the Old Testament 4 hrs
An advanced study of the Historical Books of the Old
Testament, including their history, language, cultural
background, and theology. Attention will be given to the
history of interpretation of these works, as well as current
research in the area. (Enrollment requires approval of the
Ph.D. Director)
40230 Latter Prophets 4 hrs
A study of the nature of prophetic literature and of the
methods appropriate for its interpretation with attention
given to the origin and history of prophetism as it relates to
the development and transmission of the prophetic literature.
The seminar reviews the canonical prophetic writings Isaiah-
Malachi. (Enrollment requires approval of the Ph.D.
Director)
40240 The Poetic and Wisdom Books of the
Old Testament 4 hrs
A study of the poetic and wisdom books of the Old
Testament (Job-Song of Solomon). The seminar will focus
on the historical, literary, and theological aspects of the each
book. Special attention will be paid to Israel‘s wisdom
movement and literature as well as the nature of Hebrew
poetic literature. (Enrollment requires approval of the Ph.D.
Director)
40250 Historical Hebrew Grammar 4 hrs
An introduction to the historical development of biblical
Hebrew using the tools of comparative and historical
linguistics. The linguistic context in which biblical Hebrew
developed is surveyed, as well as the extra-biblical materials
which shed light on this historical development. (Enrollment
requires approval of the Ph.D. Director)
NEW TESTAMENT CONCENTRATION
40310 Synoptic Gospels 4 hrs
An advanced study on the Synoptic Gospels, including their
history, composition, language, cultural background, and
theology. Attention will be given to the history of
interpretation of these works, as well as current research in
the area. (Enrollment requires approval of the Ph.D.
Director)
Curriculum – Course Descriptions 80
40320 Johannine Literature 4 hrs
An advanced study of the Johannine literature in the New
Testament (the Gospel of John, 1, 2, and 3 John, and the
book of Revelation) including its history, language, cultural
background, and theology. Attention will be given to the
history of interpretation of these works, as well as current
research in the area. (Enrollment requires approval of the
Ph.D. Director)
40330 Pauline Epistles 4 hrs
A study of the Books of Romans through Philemon in the
original language, with emphasis on the historical
backgrounds, the role of culture in interpretation, the
controlling structural mechanisms identifying the purpose,
main themes, and organization of each letter, as well as a
critical reading of recent literature on these writings to
discover the nature and distinctives of their theology and
interpretive problems. (Enrollment requires approval of the
Ph.D. Director)
40340 General Epistles 4 hrs
An advanced study of the NT general epistles (excl.
Johannine), including isagogic matters, various forms of
criticism (textual, literary, socio-rhetorical and canonical)
and their theology. Attention will be given to their historical
context, literary structure, use of the Old Testament, distinct
theological contribution, as well as current research in the
area. (Enrollment requires approval of the Ph.D. Director)
40350 Advanced Greek Grammar 4 hrs
An advanced study of New Testament Greek grammar
examining current research and publications in the field.
This seminar will also survey the standard and advanced
grammars examining their presuppositions and methods
concerning aspect, theory, syntax, and other pertinent
lexicographical issues. (Enrollment requires approval of the
Ph.D. Director)
TUTORIALS AND COMPREHENSIVE
EXAMINATIONS
40800 Old Testament Textual Criticism 4 hrs
Preparation for the Old Testament comprehensive exam in
Old Testament Textual Criticism (Enrollment requires
approval of the Ph.D. Director)
40802 Old Testament Backgrounds 4 hrs
Preparation for the Old Testament comprehensive exam in
Old Testament Backgrounds (Enrollment requires approval
of the Ph.D. Director)
40804 History of Old Testament Research
and Interpretation 4 hrs
Preparation for the Old Testament comprehensive exam in
History of Old Testament Research and Interpretation
(Enrollment requires approval of the Ph.D. Director)
40806 Old Testament Theology 4 hrs
Preparation for the Old Testament comprehensive exam in
Old Testament Theology (Enrollment requires approval of
the Ph.D. Director)
40810 New Testament Textual Criticism 4 hrs
Preparation for the New Testament comprehensive exam in
New Testament Textual Criticism (Enrollment requires
approval of the Ph.D. Director)
40812 New Testament Backgrounds 4 hrs
Preparation for the New Testament comprehensive exam in
New Testament Backgrounds (Enrollment requires approval
of the Ph.D. Director)
40814 History of New Testament Research
and Interpretation 4 hrs
Preparation for the New Testament comprehensive exam in
History of New Testament Research and Interpretation
(Enrollment requires approval of the Ph.D. Director)
40816 New Testament Theology 4 hrs
Preparation for the New Testament comprehensive exam in
New Testament Theology (Enrollment requires approval of
the Ph.D. Director)
RESEARCH AND DISSERTATION
40910 Directed Study I 1-4 hrs
Advanced research and study related to a specialized issue or
area in the professional or research doctoral programs.
Students will be expected to focus on research as well as
application/implementation of the results of the study to
Christian ministry and higher education. The student will
submit a proposal for a directed study for approval by the
Doctoral Studies Committee sixty days in advance of the
anticipated beginning of the directed study. (Enrollment
requires approval of the Doctoral Studies Committee)
40915 Directed Study II 1-4 hrs
Advanced research and study related to a specialized issue or
area in the professional or research doctoral programs.
Students will be expected to focus on research as well as
application/implementation of the results of the study to
Christian ministry and higher education. The student will
submit a proposal for a directed study for approval by the
Doctoral Studies Committee sixty days in advance of the
anticipated beginning of the directed study. (Enrollment
requires approval of the Doctoral Studies Committee)
81 Course Descriptions – Curriculum
40990 Ph.D. Research Dissertation I 4 hrs
Under faculty supervision, the development of an approved
dissertation prospectus and the initial research and writing
for a Ph.D. dissertation related to the specific area of the
student‘s concentration. The student will demonstrate the
personal ability to investigate and effectively communicate
original research or new insight as a substantial and
significant contribution to the chosen field of study.
(Enrollment requires approval of the Ph.D. Director.
Repeated for credit until the prospectus is successfully
approved) Graded: Pass/No Credit
40991 Ph.D. Research Dissertation II 4 hrs
Under faculty supervision, the research, writing, and defense
of a Ph.D. dissertation related to the specific area of the
student‘s concentration. The student will demonstrate the
personal ability to investigate and effectively communicate
original research or new insight as a substantial and
significant contribution to the chosen field of study.
(Enrollment requires approval of the Ph.D. Director.
Repeated for credit until the dissertation is successfully
defended) Graded: Pass/No Credit
PROFESSIONAL DOCTORATE
FOUNDATIONAL CORE
30020 Orientation to Doctoral Studies 4 hrs
An introduction to the academic, professional, research, and
personal disciplines essential to the successful completion of
a doctoral degree. Students are equipped to utilize library
resources for study and research; develop critical thinking
techniques; analyze ministry skills; recognize the differences
between professional and research doctorates; and assess
one‘s spiritual vitality, personality, and community
dynamics. Subsequent to the seminar students develop a
strategic plan to maximize the benefits of doctoral studies.
30060 Integrating Christian Faith and Practice 4 hrs
A seminar designed to prepare students to develop skills and
expertise in analyzing problems; bringing Biblical and
doctrinal resources to bear on those problems, and
developing and communicating solutions through preaching,
teaching, counseling, and organizational and administrative
change.
30090 Project Methodology 4 hrs
A seminar designed to prepare the student to research and to
write a ministry project proposal and project dissertation.
The student will focus on defining the ministry need, task, or
problem; preparing a Biblical rationale and strategy for
dealing with the need, task, or problem; and writing a project
overview and analysis.
DOCTOR OF MINISTRY
EXPOSITORY PREACHING
30120 Evangelism and Ministry Practice 4 hrs
A seminar designed to investigate the practice of
evangelism. After a study of Biblical, theological, historical,
and contemporary models of evangelism, each student will
compose and justify a strategy for evangelism in the
student‘s ministry setting.
30130 Global Missions through the Church 4 hrs
A seminar exploring the practice of international missions.
After a study of Biblical, theological, historical, and
contemporary issues in international missions, students will
develop a strategy for implementing or enhancing
involvement in and support of international missions.
30140 Expository Preaching 4 hrs
A seminar designed to assist the student in acquiring an
understanding of, appreciation for, and skill in the distinct
task of expository preaching. Students will become aware of
the essential elements vital for the renewal of expository
preaching. Students will examine the homiletic elements
involved and demonstrate expository preaching in preaching
opportunities.
30143 Style and Application in Expository
Preaching 4 hrs
A seminar designed to assist students in understanding and
implementing enhanced style and application in expository
preaching. All three style levels are examined regarding
content components which are crucial for instruction,
interest, and persuasion in expository preaching.
Additionally, the vital functional element of application is
examined and students trained to develop enhanced
relevance in their preaching through various approaches
introduced in the seminar. Prerequisite: 30140 Expository
Preaching.
30146 Doctrinal and Topical Exposition 4 hrs
A seminar designed to assist students to expound doctrines
and topics gleaned from the various genres from Scripture.
In post seminar preaching, students will preach a doctrinal or
topical series of sermons demonstrating hermeneutical
precision and homiletical skill in the exposition of selected
passages of Scripture. Prerequisite: 30140 Expository
Preaching and 30143 Style and Application in Expository
Preaching.
30150 Preaching and Ministry Practice 4 hrs
A seminar designed to study preaching skills needed to
minister in various ministry settings such as funerals,
weddings, conferences, and assemblies.
Curriculum – Course Descriptions 82
CARE AND COUNSELING
30240 Pastoral Care and Counseling 4 hrs
A seminar designed to investigate the practice of pastoral
care and counseling. After a study of Biblical, historical, and
contemporary issues related to pastoral care and counseling,
each student will present and defend a strategy for
improving pastoral care and counseling in the student‘s
ministry setting.
30250 Counseling Issues (topic varies) 4 hrs
A seminar focusing on issues in Christian counseling. Topics
include but are not limited to: premarital and marriage
counseling, counseling and addictive behaviors, crises
counseling, developing counseling ministries, etc.
30260 Advanced Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment 2 hrs
An examination of advanced cognitive-behavioral treatment
strategies with an emphasis on case studies and practical
skills.
30262 Advanced Biological Basis of Behavior 2 hrs
An advanced examination of the anatomical and
physiological processes that influence behavior and
underpins mental disorder. It also emphasizes diagnosis and
treatment of disorders most commonly attributed to
physiological disturbances.
30264 Psychopharmacological Issues in Clinical
Practice 2 hrs
An examination of the most common medications used to
treat mental disorders, their physiology and proper use.
30266 Counselor Supervision and Health 2 hrs
The focus of this course is issues in counselor supervision
and maintaining the positive mental and physical health of
the counselor.
30268 Practice Building 2 hrs
This course educates counselors in the process of developing
and maintaining a private counseling practice and/or
maintaining a practice within an existing organization.
30270 Advanced Diagnosis and Treatment Planning 2 hrs
An advanced study of the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment
of behavioral and mental disorders and dysfunctions. This
includes the application of the DSM-IV diagnostic system
and treatment modalities considered most effective in the
treatment of each disorder. Also reviewed and emphasized
are the less common and more complicated disorders.
30272 Advanced Psychotherapy and Treatment 2hrs
An in-depth study of selected research-based, targeted
treatments for mental disorders with the purpose of the
student developing his or her own preferred approach to
treatment.
30274 Advanced Marriage and Family Therapy 2 hrs
An advanced examination of various family systems
counseling models focusing on the application of these
theories and models in the context of the Christian family.
30276 Advanced Diagnosis and Treatment of
Addiction Disorders 2 hrs
An advanced study of the causes of addictive behavior to
enable the counselor to understand and diagnose the client‘s
problems more fully and provide appropriate treatment.
LEADERSHIP
30070 Christian Leadership 4 hrs
A study of the practice of Christian leadership. After an
investigation of Biblical, theological, historical, and
contemporary models of leadership, students will write and
justify a strategy for leading Christian ministries.
30330 Developing Christian Leaders 4 hrs
An examination of Biblical and contemporary models of
identifying, enlisting, and equipping Christian leaders.
Following a study of selected Biblical texts and Christian
and secular literature, each student will write and defend a
strategy for developing Christian leaders in the student‘s
ministry setting.
30340 Leadership Issues (topic varies) 4 hrs
A seminar focusing on issues Christian leaders may face.
Topics include but are not limited to: organizational change,
conflict management, the transitional pastor, church
planting, etc.
30370 Worship Leadership 4 hrs
A seminar designed to use Biblical, theological, historical,
and contemporary resources to enhance the minister's ability
to plan, lead, enrich, and reform congregational Christian
worship.
30380 Spiritual Formation 4 hrs
A seminar designed to stimulate intellectual and devotional
growth and to equip the student with resources for the
encouragement of the personal spiritual maturity of those in
the student‘s ministry setting.
CHURCH PLANTING AND
REVITALIZATION
30420 Church Planting Evangelism 4 hrs
A seminar designed to explore how church planters can
reduce the unchurched population through evangelism and
reconnecting with those who have opted out of church. The
student will gain skills and experience designed to assist
them to exegete their culture, prioritize available resources
and follow-up new believers. Additionally, the student will
be introduced to current trends in church planting.
83 Course Descriptions – Curriculum
30430 Sponsoring New Churches 4 hrs
This seminar focuses on issues related to sponsoring and
parenting new congregations. The student will focus on
developing a contextual model to use with sponsoring and
parenting churches as well as the developmental phases of
the new work. Special attention will be given to the
supervision and mentoring of church planters and available
sponsoring church resources.
30440 Church Revitalization I 4 hrs
This seminar focuses on issues related to five areas of
Church Revitalization: Revitalization, Refocusing,
Renewing, Restoring and Restarting. The student will focus
on developing a contextual model to use with church
revitalization as well as the developmental phases of
growing a healthy growing work.
30445 Church Revitalization II 4 hrs
This seminar is designed to take Christian leaders through a
process that promotes personal spiritual health and
revitalization.
DOCTOR OF EDUCATIONAL
MINISTRY
ADVANCED EDUCATIONAL
FOUNDATIONS
30505 Integrating Educational Theory and
Ministry Practice 4 hrs
A seminar designed to explore and integrate educational
theory and its implication for the educational ministry of the
church with a focus on current psychological and
motivational approaches to learning.
30555 Educational Organization and
Administration 4 hrs
A seminar designed to aid the student in the study and
implementation of educational organization and
administration. The student will examine Biblical and
contemporary models in developing organization and
administrative skills for use in ministry settings.
30565 Life Span Development and Educational
Practice 4 hrs
A seminar designed to survey traditional and contemporary
research in human development. The student will apply a
gain in understanding human development to educational
practice in the student‘s ministry setting.
30575 Educational Leadership 4 hrs
A study of the practice of Christian leadership in a Christian
educator‘s context. After an investigation of Biblical,
theological, historical, and contemporary models of
leadership, students will write and justify a strategy for
leading educational ministries.
ADVANCED EDUCATIONAL FOCUS
30615 Educational Evangelism 4 hrs
A seminar designed to study the practical role of educational
organizations in implementing the evangelistic ministry of
the local church. Biblical evangelistic principles will be
studied and examined in light of current evangelistic
methods.
30625 Curriculum Design and Educational
Practice 4 hrs
A seminar designed to examine and evaluate curriculum
design and its effectiveness on the educational ministry.
Various curriculum objectives and design approaches will be
studied. Students will develop curriculum models based on
their ministry needs.
30655 Issues in Christian Education (topic varies) 4 hrs
A seminar designed to address current educational issues
facing the contemporary church. Students will consider
problems related to the issue under consideration, reflect on
the related Biblical and doctrinal resources, and develop
strategies for addressing the issue in the student‘s ministry
setting.
30680 Evangelism and Mission Education 4 hrs
A study of the practice of evangelism and missions
education from an educator‘s viewpoint. Based on their
study, students will write and justify a strategy for an
educational approach to evangelism and missions education.
30685 Disciple Making Through the Family 4 hrs
A seminar designed to guide the student to explore and
understand family development implications for ministry
and the impact of disciple making through family systems.
30695 Disciple Making Through the Age Group
Ministries 4 hrs
A seminar designed to guide students to explore and
understand principles of and approaches to disciple making
through age group educational ministries. Students will
make practical application of age-group ministry principles
to the age group of their choice.
Curriculum – Course Descriptions 84
30665 Educational Ministry in Multicultural
Settings 4 hrs
A seminar designed to explore the implementation of
educational ministry in diverse multicultural settings. The
student will become aware of and sensitive to the cultural
differences one may experience in reaching and assimilating
persons of various cultural backgrounds. The student will
also develop skills in engaging persons of other cultural
backgrounds in educational ministry.
RESEARCH AND FINAL PRODUCT
309## Special Topic: [Title] 2-4 hrs
An elective course approved by the Doctoral Studies
Committee designed to address topics or areas of
concentration not covered in catalog/curricular course
offering. May be repeated for credit when the content is
different. (The fourth digit of the assigned course number
varies by the field of study and the fifth digit varies by the
discipline.)
30910 Directed Study I 1-5 hrs
A specialized study related to some issue in the practice of
ministry. Focus will be on research and implementation for
ministry. The student will submit a proposal for a directed
study for approval by the Doctoral Studies Committee sixty
days in advance of the anticipated beginning of the directed
study. Course fee: $150.
30911 Leadership Directed Study 4 hrs
A directed study seminar designed to address current
educational leadership issues facing the student‘s church
family or related to one‘s project plans. The student will
consider problems related to the issue under consideration,
reflect on the related Biblical and doctrinal resources, and
develop strategies for addressing the issue in the student‘s
ministry setting.
30915 Directed Study II 1-5 hrs
A specialized study related to some issue in the practice of
ministry. Focus will be on research and implementation for
ministry. The student will submit a proposal for a directed
study for approval by the Doctoral Studies Committee sixty
days in advance of the anticipated beginning of the directed
study. Course fee: $150.
30916 Education Directed Study 4 hrs
A directed study seminar designed to address current
educational leadership issues facing the student‘s church
family or related to one‘s project plans. The student will
consider problems related to the issue under consideration,
reflect on the related Biblical and doctrinal resources, and
develop strategies for addressing the issue in the student‘s
ministry setting.
30921 Special Topic 4 hrs
A seminar designed to address current educational issues
facing the contemporary church. Students will consider
problems related to the issue under consideration, reflect on
the related Biblical and doctrinal resources, and develop
strategies for addressing the issue in the student‘s ministry
setting.
30945 Conference, Research, and Report 4 hrs
A conference experience designed for students to focus on
one aspect of Christian education with other Christian
educators. Students will prepare for the conference by
reading related texts, participate in the conference, then write
a report or reports on the topic(s) of the conference.
30955 Advanced Research, Reading, and Report 4 hrs
A research and reading experience designed for a student to
focus on one aspect of Christian education. The student will
submit a reading list for approval, read the texts, research
secondary titles used by the authors, then write a report on
each text. By writing a reflection paper, the student will be
able to organize, synthesize, and adapt the reading and
research findings to enhance the student‘s ministry in
specific ways.
30990 Ministry Project Dissertation - D.Min. 6 hrs
A self-supervised ministry project in which the student
selects, plans, executes, and evaluates a doctoral-level
project. The student will prepare a project dissertation that
reflects the student's professional competence in ministry
and ability to integrate and utilize theological understanding
in ministry. Graded: Pass/Fail.
30995 Ministry Project Dissertation – D.Ed.Min. 6 hrs
A self-supervised ministry project in which the student
selects, plans, executes, and evaluates a doctoral-level
project. The student will prepare a project dissertation that
reflects the student's professional competence in ministry
and ability to integrate and utilize Christian educational
understanding in ministry. Graded: Pass/Fail.
30999 Ministry Project Dissertation – Research 0 hrs
Independent research and data gathering for the Ministry
Project Dissertation. Prerequisite: DR30090 Project
Methodology. Repeated until the Ministry Project
Dissertation is successfully defended (Registration maintains
full-time enrollment status with approval needed for
enrollment to continue beyond four semesters). Not graded.
85 Course Descriptions – Curriculum
MASTER'S COURSES
GENERAL STUDIES (GS)
090 Study Skills 2 hrs
A course designed to aid students in establishing and
enhancing study skills necessary to maximize learning.
Credit does not count toward meeting graduation or degree
requirements.
1001 Master's Workshop: [Title] 1-2 hrs
A course offering credit for participation in an approved
conference or workshop relevant to a student‘s degree
program. For off-campus workshops, students must obtain
permission from the Academic Dean before attending the
conference or workshop and be enrolled under the
supervision of a Midwestern faculty member, who may
require assignments in addition to conference requirements.
Students may enroll for credit in no more than one off-
campus or two on-campus workshops per semester without
approval of the Academic Dean. Credit may be repeated if
the conference or workshop subject is different.
11## By Exam: [Foundational Course Title (# hrs)] 0 hrs
Advanced Standing by examination offers qualified students
the opportunity to test out of selected foundational courses in
Midwestern‘s first professional degree programs (i.e.,
M.Div., MACE, MACM, or MACO). May be repeated for
up to 14 hours of different foundational courses. (The third
digit of the assigned course number varies by the field of
study and the fourth digit varies by the discipline.)
15## Special Topic: [Title] 2-3 hrs
An elective course designed to study topics or areas of
academic interest not covered in catalog/curricular course
offerings. May be repeated for credit when the content is
different. (The third digit of the assigned course number
varies by the field of study and the fourth digit varies by the
discipline.)
1890 Portfolio of Student Learning 1 hr
This course will provide: (a) students a means to monitor
and assess their progress toward ministry readiness, (b)
students with a record of improvement of knowledge and
skills, (c) an ongoing source of information for research, and
(d) resources for academic review. Graded pass/fail.
19## Independent Study: [Title] 2-3 hrs
Advanced research in a specialized topic or area of academic
interest not covered in catalog/curricular course offerings.
Admission is by application as described in the academic
policies section of this catalog. (The third digit of the
assigned course number varies by the field of study and the
fourth digit varies by the discipline.) May be repeated for
credit when the content is different. Course fee: $100 for the
first Credit hour plus $50 for each additional credit hour.
BIBLICAL STUDIES (BS)
BIBLICAL BACKGROUNDS AND
ARCHAEOLOGY
2101 Historical Geography of the Bible 2 hrs
A study of the geography, geology, and climate of the
ancient Near East and their influence on Biblical history.
2110 Old Testament Backgrounds 2 hrs
A study, using written and unwritten sources, of the cultural,
political, socio-economic, and religious developments in the
ancient Near East as they relate to an understanding of the
Old Testament.
2112 Old Testament Archaeology 2 hrs
A study of the significance of archaeological discoveries for
understanding the Old Testament.
2118 An Introduction to the Dead Sea Scrolls 2 hrs
An introduction to the archaeological excavations at Qumran
and other sites in the Dead Sea region and the Biblical and
extra-Biblical manuscripts and documents discovered there.
2120 New Testament Backgrounds 2 hrs
A study, using written and unwritten sources, of the cultural,
political, socio-economic, and religious developments in the
Greco-Roman world as they relate to an understanding of the
New Testament.
2122 New Testament Archaeology 2 hrs
A study of the significance of archaeological discoveries for
understanding the New Testament.
2124 Introduction to Greek Epigraphy 2 hrs
An introduction to Greek epigraphy focusing on an
anthology of texts, a methodology for employment in New
Testament studies, and an introductory bibliography.
2126 Introduction to Greek Papyrology 2 hrs
An introduction to Greek papyri focusing on an anthology of
texts, a methodology for employment in New Testament
studies, and an introductory bibliography.
Curriculum – Course Descriptions 86
2128 Introduction to Greek and Roman Coinage 2 hrs
An introduction to Greco-Roman numismatics focusing on
Roman provincial coinage and Roman imperial coinage with
an emphasis on selected coins in the Morton Collection.
2140 Introduction to Archaeological Methods 3 hrs
An introductory study of the objectives and methods of
archaeological discovery and interpretation.
2142 Current Issues in Archaeological Research 2 hrs
An intensive study of a given topic related to the field of
archaeology.
2160 Bible Lands Study Tour 4 hrs
A guided study tour of Biblical history, geography, and
archaeology in the Bible lands.
2170 Field Archaeology 4 hrs
Field experience in the scientific techniques of modern
archaeological methods. Sites in the Middle East and
contiguous areas of the Biblical world will constitute the
laboratory for the field work. May be repeated for credit.
2172 Museum Internship 4 hrs
An internship in a museum setting, giving the student
opportunity to learn and practice artifact preservation and
presentation under the supervision of field and seminary
personnel.
OLD TESTAMENT INTERPRETATION
AND HEBREW
2200 Elementary Hebrew I 3 hrs
A study of the fundamentals of Biblical Hebrew grammar
and syntax with emphasis on the strong verb.
2201 Elementary Hebrew II 3 hrs
A study of the fundamentals of Biblical Hebrew grammar
and syntax with emphasis on the weak verbs and translation.
Prerequisite: 2200 Elementary Hebrew I.
2202 Biblical Aramaic 2 hrs
A study of the fundamentals of Biblical Aramaic grammar
and syntax with readings from Aramaic portions of Ezra and
Daniel. Prerequisite: 2201 Elementary Hebrew II.
2203 Intermediate Hebrew I 3 hrs
An introduction to Hebrew exegesis, including lexical and
syntactical analysis of the Hebrew text. Prerequisite: 2201
Elementary Hebrew II or its equivalent.
2204 Intermediate Hebrew II 3 hrs
An introduction to Hebrew exegesis, including an
introduction to the Masorah and the basic tools and methods
of textual criticism of the Hebrew text. May be repeated for
credit when a different Old Testament book is studied.
Prerequisite: 2201 Elementary Hebrew II or its equivalent.
2207 Hebrew Reading 2 hrs
Studies in selected portions of the Old Testament to improve
the student's ability to read Hebrew, emphasizing
morphology, vocabulary, and syntactical recognition.
Prerequisite: 2201 Elementary Hebrew II.
2208 Old Testament Textual Criticism 2 hrs
A study of the history of the Hebrew text and versions of the
Old Testament with a view to developing ability in doing
textual criticism. Prerequisite: 2201 Elementary Hebrew II.
2209 Hebrew Inscriptions 2 hrs
A study of inscriptions from various periods within Hebrew
history with an emphasis on understanding the development
of grammar and orthography. Prerequisite: 2201 Elementary
Hebrew II.
2210 Old Testament Survey I: Pentateuch and
Historical Books 3 hrs
An expositional survey of the Pentateuch and the Historical
Books.
2211 Old Testament Survey II: Wisdom, Poetry
and Prophets 3 hrs
An expositional survey of Wisdom, Poetry, and the
Prophets.
2215 Pentateuchal Studies 2 hrs
An exposition of one of the books of the Pentateuch based
on the English text. (Genesis 2215A; Exodus 2215B;
Deuteronomy 2215E)
2216 Historical Studies 2 hrs
An exposition of one of the historical books. (Joshua-Judges
2216A; Samuel 2216B; Kings 2216C; Chronicles 2216D;
Ezra-Nehemiah 2216G)
2217 Wisdom and Psalms Studies 2 hrs
An exposition of one of the books of Hebrew poetry based
on the English text. (Job 2217A; Psalms 2217B; Ecclesiastes
2217D)
2218 Major Prophetic Studies 3 hrs
An exposition of one of the Major Prophets based on the
English text. (Isaiah 2218A; Jeremiah 2218B; Ezekiel
2218C; Daniel 2218D)
2219 Minor Prophetic Studies 2 hrs
An exposition of one of the Minor Prophets based on the
English text. (Hosea 2219A; Amos 2219C; Micah 2219F;
Pre-exilic Prophets 2219G; Post-exilic Prophets 2219H)
2222 Hebrew Exegesis of the Pentateuch 2 hrs
An exegetical study of one of the books of the law.
Prerequisite: 2201 Elementary Hebrew II (Genesis 2222A;
Exodus 2222B; Deuteronomy 2222E)
87 Course Descriptions – Curriculum
2224 Hebrew Exegesis of Wisdom and Psalms 2 hrs
An exegetical study of one of the poetical books.
Prerequisite: 2201 Elementary Hebrew II (Psalms 2224B;
Ecclesiastes 2224D)
2226 Hebrew Exegesis of the Prophets 2 hrs
An exegetical study of one of the prophetic books.
Prerequisite: 2201 Elementary Hebrew II (Isaiah 2226A;
Jeremiah 2226B; Ezekiel 2226C)
2250 Old Testament Theology 3 hrs
A study of the development of Old Testament theology.
2252 Current Issues in Old Testament Studies 2 hrs
An intensive study of a given topic related to the field of Old
Testament studies.
2254 Worship in the Old Testament 2 hrs
A study of the worship of God with special attention to the
personnel of worship; the words, the symbols, and the acts of
worship; and the theology underlying the literature of
worship in the Old Testament.
2256 Introduction to the Septuagint 2 hrs
An introduction to the Greek translation of the Old
Testament with emphasis on its origin, versions, text-critical
and lexical value. A variety of passages will be translated
and New Testament quotations from the Greek Old
Testament will be examined. Prerequisites: 2301
Elementary Greek II and 2201 Elementary Hebrew II.
NEW TESTAMENT INTERPRETATION
AND GREEK
2300 Elementary Greek I 3 hrs
A study of the basic principles of Biblical Greek, for
students who have not had Greek or who need an extensive
review in the elements of the language.
2301 Elementary Greek II 3 hrs
A study of the basic principles of Biblical Greek, for
students who have not had Greek or who need an extensive
review in the elements of the language. Prerequisite: 2300
Elementary Greek I.
2302 Elementary Greek Review 3 hrs
A review of Elementary Greek designed for those who have
had Greek prior to their seminary studies. This course will
not fulfill the seminary's Greek requirement. Prerequisite:
2301 Elementary Greek II.
2303 Intermediate Greek I 3 hrs
A study of the grammar and syntax of the Greek New
Testament. Prerequisite: 2301 Elementary Greek II, a
satisfactory score on the advanced standing exam, or
permission of the department.
2304 Intermediate Greek II 3 hrs
A study of the grammar and syntax of the Greek New
Testament. Prerequisite: 2301 Elementary Greek II, a
satisfactory score on the advanced standing exam, or
permission of the department.
2305 Advanced Greek I 2 hrs
An advanced study of the Greek of the New Testament with
major emphasis upon the study of the syntax. Prerequisite:
2304 Intermediate Greek II.
2306 Advanced Greek II 2 hrs
An advanced study of the Greek of the New Testament with
major emphasis upon the study of the syntax. Prerequisite:
2304 Intermediate Greek II.
2307 Greek Reading 2 hrs
Studies in selected portions of the New Testament to
improve the student's ability to read Greek, emphasizing
morphology, vocabulary, and syntactical recognition.
Prerequisite: 2301 Elementary Greek II.
2308 New Testament Textual Criticism 2 hrs
An introduction to the manuscripts and versions of the New
Testament, the methods of textual criticism, and its practice.
Prerequisite: 2301 Elementary Greek II.
2310 New Testament Survey I: Gospels and Acts 3 hrs
An expositional survey of the Gospels and the book of Acts.
2311 New Testament Survey II: Romans to
Revelation 3 hrs
An expositional survey of Romans through Revelation.
2314 Exposition of the Gospels 2 hrs
An expositional study of one of the Gospels based on the
English text. (Matthew 2314A; Mark 2314B; Luke 2314C;
John 2314D)
2315 Exposition of Acts 2 hrs
An expositional study of the book of Acts based on the
English text.
2316 Exposition of the Pauline Epistles 2 hrs
An expositional study of selected Pauline epistles based on
the English text. (Romans 2316A; 1 Corinthians 2316B;
2 Corinthians 2316C; Galatians 2316D; Ephesians 2316E;
Philippians 2316F; Colossians, Philemon 2316G;
1 & 2 Thessalonians 2316H; 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus 2316I)
2317 Exposition of the General Epistles 2 hrs
An expositional study of selected general epistles based on
the English text. (Hebrews 2317A; James 2317B;
1 & 2 Peter, Jude 2317C)
2318 Exposition of the Johannine Epistles 2 hrs
An expositional study of the epistles of 1, 2, & 3 John based
on the English text.
Curriculum – Course Descriptions 88
2319 Exposition of Revelation 2 hrs
An expositional study of the book of Revelation based on the
English text.
2322 Greek Exegesis of the Gospels 2 hrs
An exegetical study of one of the Gospels based on the
Greek text. Prerequisite: 2304 Intermediate Greek II or
permission of the professor. (Matthew 2322A; Mark 2322B;
Luke 2322C; John 2322D)
2323 Greek Exegesis of Acts 2 hrs
An exegetical study of the book of Acts based on the Greek
text. Prerequisite: 2304 Intermediate Greek II or permission
of the professor.
2324 Greek Exegesis of the Pauline Epistles 2 hrs
An exegetical study of selected Pauline epistles based on the
Greek text. Prerequisite: 2304 Intermediate Greek II or
permission of the professor. (Romans 2324A; 1 Corinthians
2324B; 2 Corinthians 2324C; Galatians 2324D; Ephesians
2324E; Philippians 2324F; Colossians, Philemon 2324G; 1
& 2 Thessalonians 2324H; 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus 2324I)
2325 Greek Exegesis of the General Epistles 2 hrs
An exegetical study of selected general epistles based on the
Greek text. Prerequisite: 2304 Intermediate Greek II or
permission of the professor. (Hebrews 2325A; James 2325B;
1 & 2 Peter, Jude 2325C)
2326 Greek Exegesis of the Johannine Epistles 2 hrs
An exegetical study of the epistles of 1, 2 & 3 John based on
the Greek text. Prerequisite: 2304 Intermediate Greek II or
permission of the professor.
2327 Greek Exegesis of Revelation 2 hrs
An exegetical study of the book of Revelation based on the
Greek text. Prerequisite: 2304 Intermediate Greek II or
permission of the professor.
2360 New Testament Theology 2 hrs
A study of New Testament theology with emphasis on
developing a Biblical theology for a particular genre.
Prerequisite: 2301 Elementary Greek II and 2310-2311 NT
Survey I & II.
2362 Current Issues in New Testament Studies 2 hrs
An intensive study of a given topic related to the field of
New Testament studies. This elective may be repeated up to
three times on a different topic (2362A, B, C). Prerequisite:
2301 Elementary Greek II and 2310-2311 NT Survey I & II.
HERMENEUTICS
2400 Introduction to Hermeneutics 2 hrs
A study of the principles of interpretation focusing on the
application of principles and methods.
2406 History of Biblical Interpretation 2 hrs
A study of how Biblical scholars have interpreted the
Scriptures throughout church history.
2408 New Testament Exegetical Methodology 2 hrs
Applying the syntactical, contextual, and lexical principles
of exegesis to the various types of genre found in the New
Testament.
HISTORICAL-THEOLOGICAL
STUDIES (HT)
CHURCH HISTORY
3100 History of Christianity I 3 hrs
A study of the history of Christianity from its beginnings to
the Renaissance.
3101 History of Christianity II 3 hrs
A study of the history of Christianity from the Reformation
to the present.
3110 Baptist History 3 hrs
A study of Baptist history from its sixteenth-century roots to
the present, including the Southern Baptist Convention
Cooperative Program.
3111 Southern Baptist Convention 2 hrs
A study of the history and operation of the Southern Baptist
Convention.
3112 State Baptist Conventions: History and Polity 2 hrs
A study of the history, structure, operation, and ministries of
the state Baptist conventions. This course requires
classroom study and attendance at an annual meeting of
either the Missouri or Kansas-Nebraska Baptist Convention
as either a messenger or observer.
3114 Worship, Baptism, Ordination, and Lord's
Supper Among Baptists 2 hrs
An historical examination of the development of Baptist
thought and practice regarding baptism, ordination, Lord's
Supper and the variety of practices and forms of worship
among Baptists.
3116 Baptist Theologians 2 hrs
An intensive study of the major Baptist theologians.
3120 The Early Church 2 hrs
A careful study of the history of Christianity during its first
five centuries.
89 Course Descriptions – Curriculum
3122 Christianity 500-1500 2 hrs
A study of the Latin and Orthodox churches from the late
classical to the early modern periods.
3123 The Reformation Era 2 hrs
A study of the Reformation Era from the time of John Huss
and John Wycliffe through the Thirty Years War and the
Peace of Westphalia.
3124 Luther and the German Reformation 2 hrs
A study of the life, thought, and influence of Martin Luther
and the German Reformation.
3126 The Swiss Reformation and Calvin 2 hrs
A study of the Swiss reformed movement with special
attention given to the life and work of John Calvin.
3128 The Radical Reformation 2 hrs
A study of the so-called radical reform movements with
special attention given to the Anabaptists.
3130 American Christianity 2 hrs
A study of Christianity in the United States from the Spanish
and Colonial periods to the present.
3131 Early American Church History 2 hrs
A study of the church in British North America during the
17th and 18th centuries, including consideration of the
impact of this period on subsequent American life and
thought.
3132 Recent American Church History 2 hrs
A study of recent developments in American religion
including evangelicalism, fundamentalism, liberation
theologies, neo-Pentecostalism, contemporary cults, and
mysticism.
3136 Modern Christianity 2 hrs
A study of Christianity since the Enlightenment.
3138 History of the Great Awakenings 2 hrs
A study of the history and theology of the major revival
movements in the modern period throughout the Christian
world.
3140 Special Topics in Church History 2 hrs
An intensive study of a topic in church history.
3148 Church History Study Tour 2 hrs
A study tour of the countries of church history. Graded:
Pass/Fail.
3150 Church History Seminar 3 hrs
A study of select figures, movements, and periods within the
history of the Church.
THEOLOGY
3200 Theology I 3 hrs
An introduction to the foundations of Christian theology.
The nature of theology, its methods, and its sources are
discussed and assessed. Special attention is given to the
doctrines of revelation, Scripture, and God.
3201 Theology II 3 hrs
A continuation of 3200. Special attention is given to the
doctrines of the person and work of Christ and salvation.
Included are the doctrines of reconciliation, redemption, the
church, and eschatology.
3210 Contemporary Theology 2 hrs
A study of the roots of modern theology and select
contemporary theologies.
3220 The Doctrine of Christ 2 hrs
A study of the Biblical teaching about the person of Jesus
Christ. The historical development of Christology is
discussed. Attention is given to contemporary issues in the
doctrine of Christ.
3221 The Atonement 2 hrs
A study of the Biblical teaching about the doctrine of the
atonement. The historical development of the understanding
of the atonement of Jesus Christ is discussed. Attention is
given to the saving significance of the death of Jesus Christ.
3222 The Holy Spirit 2 hrs
A study of the doctrine of the person and work of the Holy
Spirit.
3223 The Doctrine of Revelation 2 hrs
A study of the Biblical, historical, and contemporary
teachings about the doctrine of revelation. Careful
consideration is given to the relationship of revelation to the
inspiration and authority of Scriptures.
3224 The Theology of the Reformers 2 hrs
An introduction to the major themes and figures of the
Protestant Reformation.
3225 The Doctrine of God 2 hrs
A study of theology proper. Attention is given to Biblical,
historical, and contemporary thought about the nature and
attributes of God.
3226 Eschatology 2 hrs
A Biblical, historical, and systematic study of the doctrine of
Christian eschatology.
3228 Biblical Faith and Contemporary
Theological Issues 2 hrs
A seminar focused on theological issues currently
confronting the church.
Curriculum – Course Descriptions 90
3230 Biblical Theology 2 hrs
A study of Old and New Testament theology.
3232 Survey of Historical Theology 2 hrs
A study of the development of the central Christian
doctrines. Attention is given to the literature, controversies,
and major movements in the development of Christian
theology.
3234 Roman Catholic and Lutheran Theology 2 hrs
A study of select dimensions of the history, teaching, and
continuing influence of Roman Catholicism and
Lutheranism.
3236 The Christian Doctrine of the Church 2 hrs
A Biblical, historical, and systematic study of the Christian
doctrine of the church.
3238 The Doctrine of Humanity 2 hrs
A study of the Biblical teachings concerning humanity.
Human nature, the human predicament, and the relationships
of humans to God, others, and self will be discussed.
Attention is given to contemporary issues in anthropology.
3240 The Doctrine of Salvation 2 hrs
A study of the Christian doctrine of salvation. The various
approaches to understanding salvation, such as the
Reformed, Armenian, and dispensational systems, will be
discussed.
3242 Studies in Baptist Theology 2 hrs
Selected Baptist theologians and their doctrinal emphases
are examined. Special attention is given to the historical
influences that helped shape their theologies.
3244 Studies in Anabaptist Theology 2 hrs
A study of those within the "radical" reformation known
collectively as Anabaptists. Special attention is given to the
distinctive theological characteristics of the movement.
3250 Theological Seminar 3 hrs
A focused study of the life and thought of a select theologian
or of a select doctrine.
CHRISTIAN PHILOSOPHY
3300 Introduction to Apologetics 2 hrs
A survey of the representative approaches to Christian
apologetics. Classical methodologies are studied along with
an evaluation of contemporary approaches.
3310 Christ and Culture 2 hrs
A study of the Christian's stance toward and within society,
touching matters such as church and state, holiday
observance, leisure and entertainment, political involvement,
and engagement with secular entities.
3320 Theodicy 2 hrs
A special study of the problems of evil and suffering in light
of God's sovereignty and righteousness.
3322 Christianity and the Sciences 2 hrs
A study of the relationship between Christianity and the
natural, social, and mathematical sciences.
3324 Christianity and the Arts 2 hrs
A discussion of the relationship between Christian faith and
painting, sculpture, architecture, film, video, literature,
theater, graphics, and music.
3326 Logic and Critical Thinking 2 hrs
An introduction to the tools, techniques, and fallacies of
reasoning.
3330 Christianity and Issues in Contemporary
Philosophy 3 hrs
A course designed to interact with trends in professional and
popular philosophy.
3350 Christian Philosophy Seminar 3 hrs
A select treatment of a key figure, period, or movement in
the history of philosophy.
ETHICS
3400 Christian Ethics 3 hrs
An introduction to matters of right and wrong from a
Biblical perspective.
3420 Ethics and Public Policy 2 hrs
A study of the connection between Christian norms and the
law, as expressed in court decisions, legislation, and agency
regulations.
3422 The Virtuous Life and Ministry 2 hrs
A study of issues touching lifestyle, pastoral policy, and
interaction with the culture. Includes a discussion of virtues.
3424 Bioethics 2 hrs
A special study of those ethical issues which draw on the
biological and medical sciences.
3426 Biblical Manhood and Womanhood 2 hrs
A Biblical study of the nature and role of gender, with
application to contemporary culture and the church.
3428 The Decalogue and the Sermon on the Mount 2 hrs
An in-depth study of these two key passages in Christian
ethics.
3430 Minorities and Christian Ethics 2 hrs
A study of Biblical teachings which inform a Christian
perspective on racial issues.
91 Course Descriptions – Curriculum
3432 Southern Baptist Ethical Engagement 1 hr
A study of the Southern Baptist Convention's response and
initiatives regarding ethical concerns.
3450 Ethics Seminar 2 hrs
Selected treatment of key issues, schools, or thinkers in
Christian Ethics.
THEOLOGICAL LANGUAGES
3510 Theological German 4 hrs
A study of the basic grammatical forms and syntax of the
German language, with emphasis on reading proficiency
using pertinent theological texts. Graded: Pass/Fail.
3520 Theological French 4 hrs
A study of the basic grammatical forms and syntax of the
French language, with emphasis on reading proficiency
using pertinent theological texts. Graded: Pass/Fail.
MINISTRY (MN)
SPIRITUAL FORMATION
5000 Personal Spiritual Disciplines 2 hrs
Through a study of Biblical, classical, and contemporary
materials, this course will assist the student in disciplining
himself "for the purpose of godliness," as commanded in
1 Timothy 4:7.
5010 Congregational Spiritual Disciplines 2 hrs
This course is designed to promote the student's
understanding, practice, and teaching of spirituality in the
life of the church. Through readings, discussion, research
projects, and lectures, the student will learn to nurture
interdependent spirituality within the context of our
contemporary culture.
5032 Great Christian Lives 2 hrs
Through reading and discussing the biographies of great
saints, as well as through lectures and related assignments,
the student will learn Christlikeness from the heroes of
church history.
5050 Spiritual Formation Seminar 1 hr
A focused study on a significant issue, book, movement,
spiritual discipline, or person related to the discipline of
Spiritual Formation.
5080 Understanding Church Revitalization 2 hrs
An introductory course for those wishing to understand the
principles associated with the revitalization of churches.
5090 Church Revitalization Practicum 4 hrs
A course taken under the direction of a recognized expert in
church revitalization. Students are encouraged to take this
course concurrently with 5080.
PREACHING
5110 Principles of Preaching 3 hrs
A basic course in homiletical theory that introduces the
student to the nature, the distinction, the elements, the
process, and the rigors of expository preaching Female
students take 8110 Principles of Teaching I in lieu of this
course.
5111 Expository Preaching 3 hrs
A basic course in preaching for the development and
delivery of expository sermons. Female students take 8111
Principles of Teaching II in lieu of this course. Prerequisite:
5110 Principles of Preaching.
5120 Personal Refinement in Expository Preaching 3 hrs
An elective course in preaching designed for the
enhancement and refinement of one's skills in preaching
expository sermons. Prerequisite: 5111 Expository
Preaching; requires professor’s approval and concurrent
enrollment in any 5111 Expository Preaching lab.
5130 Advanced Expository Preaching 3 hrs
An elective course in preaching in which advanced
preaching students preach expository sermons from difficult
texts of Scripture. Prerequisite: 5111 Expository Preaching;
requires professor’s approval and concurrent enrollment in
any 5111 Expository Preaching lab.
5132 Application in Expository Preaching 3 hrs
An elective course in preaching which focuses upon the
contemporary relevance of a Biblical text in expository
preaching. Prerequisite: 5111 Expository Preaching.
5134 Style and Delivery in Expository Preaching 3 hrs
An elective course in preaching for the enhancement of
sermon delivery by incorporating content pertinent to each
of the three style levels. Prerequisite: 5111 Expository
Preaching.
5136 Doctrinal and Topical Exposition 3 hrs
An elective course in preaching in which expository sermons
are delivered by expounding selected passages of Scripture
germane to Biblical doctrines and contemporary topics.
Prerequisite: 5132 Application in Expository Preaching and
5134 Style and Delivery in Expository Preaching; requires
professor’s approval and concurrent enrollment in any 5111
Expository Preaching lab.
5144 Preaching for Special Occasions 2 hrs
An elective course in preaching in which students will
incorporate the principles of preaching into the unique
Curriculum – Course Descriptions 92
messages appropriate for weddings, funerals, installation
services, ordination services, and revival services.
Prerequisite: 5132 Application in Expository Preaching and
5134 Style and Delivery in Expository Preaching; requires
professor’s approval and concurrent enrollment in any 5111
Expository Preaching lab.
5152 Instructional Training in Preaching 2 hrs
A course for advanced preaching students in which they can
strengthen their homiletical training by assisting the
professor as a tutor and Expository Preaching lab instructor.
Prerequisite: 5111 Expository Preaching; requires
professor’s approval and concurrent enrollment in any 5111
Expository Preaching lab.
EVANGELISM
5201 Basic Evangelism 3 hrs
A study of the philosophy, nature, and practice of
evangelism, both in the personal life of the minister and the
corporate life of the church. The student will participate in
evangelism events planned and supervised by seminary
personnel. Evangelism events will include such activities as
servant evangelism, block parties, crossover evangelism, and
personal evangelism.
5214 World Religions, Cults, and Their
Evangelization 3 hrs
A study of major world religions (Islam, Hinduism,
Buddhism, Animism, Judaism, etc.) and of sects and cults in
America (Christian Science, Mormonism, Jehovah's
Witnesses, Unity, etc.), and how Christians may evangelize
their adherents with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
5220 Biblical Principles for Evangelism 2 hrs
A study of practical principles of evangelism as they relate
to the evangelist and evangelism. Prerequisite: 5200 Basic
Evangelism.
5223 Urban World Evangelism 2 hrs
A survey of strategies for fulfilling the Great Commission in
the great urban centers of the world.
5224 Church Evangelism 2 hrs
A study of Biblical methods and principles which lead to a
thriving evangelistic church. This course considers various
programs, as well as the leadership and organization of the
local church.
5226 History of Evangelism 2 hrs
A survey of evangelism methods and principles from the
early church to the present church.
5228 Theology of Evangelism 2 hrs
A study of historical and contemporary trends in the
theology of evangelism, as they relate to Biblical authority, a
definition of evangelism, the gospel message, and
cooperation. Prerequisite: 5200 Basic Evangelism.
5230 Evangelism Practicum 1-2 hrs
A course in which students put into practice principles and
methods of evangelism. This practicum includes, but is not
limited to, the weekly leading of a Midwestern Evangelistic
Team. Professor’s approval required.
5232 The Work of an Evangelist 2 hrs
A study of the ministry of the vocational evangelist,
including the Biblical basis, history, methods, and
organization.
5236 The Pastor as Evangelist 2 hrs
A study of the unique roles, responsibilities, and programs
related to a pastor as an evangelist, including a study and
application of contemporary evangelistic methodologies.
PASTORAL CARE
5310 The Christian Family 2 hrs
A study of American marriage and family relationships with
attention to the role of the church in the Biblical
conservation and nurture of the family.
5312 Introduction to Pastoral Care and Counseling 3 hrs
An introduction to pastoral care-giving for the church that
includes a Biblical basis for care, a model of care, and
problem areas that require pastoral care-giving.
5320 Personal Life and Work of the Pastor 3 hrs
A study to learn how to optimize the personal life and
ministry of the pastor. Topics include time management,
leadership style, stress management, and conflict resolution
skills.
5350 Marriage Enrichment Seminar for
Seminary Couples 2 hrs
A learning experience for married students that will examine
a Biblical model of marriage and the effects of ministry on
the ministerial couple. The student's spouse must attend.
(Enrollment is limited to 15 couples; spouses attending the
course as not-for-credit or audit must enroll for audit or
WISDOM hours.) Graded: Pass/Fail.
5360 Clinical Pastoral Education 4-8 hrs
An intensive clinical approach to special problems in
pastoral care in institutional settings. Students who plan to
enroll for Clinical Pastoral Education must arrange for this
course with the Academic Dean well in advance of the
course enrollment date. No student may receive more than
eight hours credit without prior approval of the Academic
Dean. Cost: registration fee plus 25% of the applicable per
hour tuition rate.
93 Course Descriptions – Curriculum
PASTORAL LEADERSHIP
5401 Introduction to Pastoral Leadership 2 hrs
A Biblical and historical overview of effective leadership for
pastoral ministry. Female students take CE8306 Principles
of Leadership in lieu of this course.
5402 Worship Leadership 2 hrs
A study of the theology and practice of worship. This course
is designed to provide a Biblical and practical framework for
planning and leading worship.
5412 Pastoral Leadership in the Single Staff Church 2 hrs
A study of pastoral leadership in the single staff church.
Students demonstrate a comprehension of the characteristics
of the single staff church and design models of pastoral
leadership best suited for selected situations and effective
leadership.
5422 Leadership in Church and Organizational
Change 2 hrs
A study of the pastoral role in facilitating change. Students
will learn to identify and employ the necessary steps in the
process of accomplishing positive and necessary changes
whereby churches and other Christian organizations may
maximize ministries.
5424 Interpersonal Communication and Conflict
Management 2 hrs
A study of the process of interpersonal communication and
conflict management in churches and Christian
organizations. Student will develop competence in
communication models, conflict management, conflict
resolution, the productive use of conflict, and interpersonal
communication skills.
5430 Introduction to Pastoral Ministry 2 hrs
A study of the fundamentals of pastoral ministry. Female
students take 8406 Introduction to Adult Ministry in lieu of
this course.
5445 Supervised Ministry 1 hr
A supervised lab in which students demonstrate acquired
skills essential to the proper execution of selected ministerial
duties such as: baptisms, the Lord‘s Supper, weddings,
funerals, business meetings, etc. Prerequisite: 5430
Introduction to Pastoral Ministry.
5460 Concurrent Church Internship 3 hrs
An internship extending through the regular school year
giving a student the opportunity to learn and practice
ministry under the supervision of field and seminary
personnel.
5465 Ministry Internship 3-4 hrs
A ministry internship designed to provide the student with a
structured experience in the application and practice of
ministry. Requires completion of the Application for
Ministry Internship/CPE form with necessary approval
signatures. May be repeated for credit for up to four
semesters.
5470 Summer Church Internship 3 hrs
A summer internship in a ministry setting giving a student
the opportunity to learn and practice ministry under the
supervision of field and seminary personnel.
COUNSELING
5501 Counseling Theories 3 hrs
A study of counseling theories and models with the purpose
of developing a personal model of counseling.
5505 Professional Orientation and Ethics 3 hrs
This course addresses the major ethical and professional
issues relevant to the practice of mental health counseling.
The focus is to develop an understanding of the standards
that define ethical behavior with clients, professional
colleagues, consultees, churches, and the communities in
which they work. Included in the course of study are such
areas as professionalism, legal issues and responsibilities,
ethics, fields of training, and practice specialization.
5522 Marriage and Family Counseling 3 hrs
A study that prepares the student to assess marriage and
family problems and plan specific Biblical interventions.
Prerequisite: 5501 Counseling Theories.
5524 Diagnosis and Treatment of Childhood
and Adolescent Disorders 3 hrs
This course is a study of the DSM diagnostic criteria for
childhood/adolescent clinical disorders as well as research-
based treatment strategies for each.
5526 Diagnosis and Treatment of Addiction
Disorders 3 hrs
This course addresses the causes of addictive behavior to
enable the counselor to understand and diagnose the client‘s
problems more fully and provide appropriate treatment.
5528 Biological Basis of Behavior 3 hrs
This course examines the physiological processes that
influence behavior and underpins mental disorder. It also
emphasizes diagnosis and treatment of disorders most
commonly attributed to physiological disturbances.
5530 Theory and Methods of Group Counseling 3 hrs
An introduction to group counseling models and skills.
Special emphasis will be given to the use of small groups in
the church. Prerequisite: 5501 Counseling Theories.
5532 The Helping Relationship 3 hrs
This course addresses the basic relational and interviewing
skills that enable the counselor to understand the client‘s
problems more fully and accurately and to interview
Curriculum – Course Descriptions 94
effectively. This course also introduces multi-axial diagnosis
and treatment planning.
5534 Abnormal Psychology: Theory, Diagnosis,
and Treatment 3 hrs
This course focuses on the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment
of behavioral and mental disorders and dysfunctions. This
includes the application of the DSM-IV diagnostic system
and treatment modalities considered most effective in the
treatment of each disorder. Prerequisite: MN5501
Counseling Theories recommended but not required.
5535 Psychological Tests and Measurements 3 hrs
This course provides and understanding of the assessment
process and assessment techniques in counseling. Students
will develop skills in selection, administration, and
interpretation of major counseling, testing, and assessment
instruments.
5537 Career Development and Counseling 3 hrs
This course explores major career development theories and
their applications in a counseling setting. Topics include
vocational choice theory, how career development unfolds,
the lifelong process, the influences upon clients that lead to
work values, creation of a career pattern, career decision-
making processes, career development exploration
techniques, and assessment instruments.
5539 Multicultural Counseling 3 hrs
The focus of this course is on diverse, multicultural
populations served by counselors. Emphasis is given to
counseling issues associated with age, race, gender,
socioeconomic class, ethnic, disability and other issues that
emerge in a pluralistic society. Reviewed and evaluated are
intervention methods appropriate for working with these
populations.
5540 Special Topics in Counseling 2-3 hrs
A study of selected topics in counseling and care not covered
within the regular curriculum.
5542 Integration of Christian Theology and
Counseling 3 hrs
The theory and practice of integrating Christian faith
principles into professional counseling is discussed and
evaluated. Students learn different paradigms of integration
and gain experience in developing Christian integrative
counseling techniques. This course focuses especially on
anger, anxiety, addiction, and integrative treatment
strategies. Prerequisite: MN5501 Counseling Theories.
5554 Supervised Counseling Practicum 3 hrs
An introduction to counseling techniques and skill
development via role-play. Enrollment is limited to a
maximum of 15 students. Graded: Pass/Fail; Prerequisite:
MN5501 Counseling Theories.
5555 Supervised Counseling Internship 3 hrs
The student is assigned to an off-campus counseling
practicum where the student is supervised by a Midwestern
counseling professor. The supervision will be done on a
weekly basis. The student is to receive two hours of
supervision per week and accumulate 400 hours of
counseling experience. Graded: Pass/Fail; Prerequisite:
MN5554 Supervised Counseling Practicum.
5557 Research Methods 3 hrs
This course addresses the basic principles, methods,
techniques, and tools used in performing counseling and
psychological research.
COLLEGIATE MINISTRIES
5605 Raising Finances for Salary and Ministry 3 hrs
This course assists students in building their faith in God as
provider and to equip them to effectively raise funds to
enable them to locate wherever God leads them regardless of
local financial provision. Students will be taught how to
develop ministry partners to enable a lifetime of service in
needy areas.
5611 Making Disciples 3 hrs
A comprehensive study of the Biblical teaching concerning
disciplemaking and an understanding of the collegiate
opportunities to do so.
5613 Developing Disciple Makers 3 hrs
This course focuses on instilling in students the conviction
of the absolute necessity of training believers to become
disciplemakers. Knowledge and skills will be stressed and
resources made available to help the student develop
disciplemakers.
5615 Advanced Disciple Making 3 hrs
An intensive week of meeting with experienced
disciplemakers at the West Texas Ranch for Christ south of
Sweetwater, TX, where there is no cost for room, board, or
materials.
5620 The Collegiate Minister 2 hrs
This course focuses on the significant aspects of a collegiate
minister‘s life. It examines the student‘s personal walk with
God, family, goals, priorities and use of time. Principles of
and effective collegiate ministry and how to develop a
multiplying ministry among students will be covered.
95 Course Descriptions – Curriculum
5657 FOCUS-Training for Overseas Service 3 hrs
FOCUS (Friends of College and University Students)
provides one week of intensive training in May at the
Webster Retreat Center in Salina, Kansas to prepare students
to serve in overseas student ministries. Students receive
training in how to deal with the difficult situations that may
be encountered in cross-cultural situations. The week at
FOCUS costs $275 which covers housing, food, and
materials.
5661 Overseas Ministry Experience 3 hrs
The student will spend a period of time out of the United
States on a mission assignment to help gain a world vision.
The focus is on serving on a university campus. The place
and specific amount of time are determined in consultation
with the Collegiate Ministries Program Director.
5663 Collegiate Ministry Internship 3 hrs
The course is designed to give the student practical
experience under a mentor .so the student will be equipped
to lead a collegiate ministry.
CHURCH AND LAW
5700 Minister and the Law 3 hrs
An introductory study of how American laws impact
individuals in ministry in such matters as religious liberty,
employment law, tax laws, counseling malpractice,
confidentiality, and child protection.
5710 Church and Law 2 hrs
An introductory study of how American laws impact
churches and other ministry organizations, focusing on not-
for-profit corporations, church constitution, bylaws,
parliamentary procedure, hiring and firing, negligence
liability and risk management, daycare and children's
ministries, financial management, tax exemption, political
activity, church discipline, copyrights, and construction.
5720 Workplace Ministry and the Law 2 hrs
A survey of legal issues commonly encountered in corporate
chaplaincy or other programs in ministering to employees in
the workplace, including: crisis counseling involving debt,
death, divorce, or the criminal law system; chaplain's
agreement with employers, duties of confidentiality,
clergy/counseling malpractice, employment discrimination
laws involving race, gender, age, disability or religion,
including religious harassment; and workplace Bible studies
or prayer meetings.
5730 Religious Liberty 2 hrs
A survey of church-state relations in western society from
ancient times to the present with emphasis upon the
development of separation of church and state in America.
5740 Church and State in the United States 2 hrs
A study of the relationship between government and religion
in American history. Emphasis is given to United States
Supreme Court decisions dealing with matters such as free
exercise, equal access, prayer in the public schools,
government aid to parochial schools, and the liberty rights of
individuals and churches.
5750 Parliamentary Procedure in the Local Church 1 hr
This course will include a thorough study of Robert's Rules
of Order and the knowledge, skills, and methodology
necessary to properly lead congregational business meetings,
committee meetings, and other deliberative meetings within
the local church context. It will also consider the role of
parliamentary procedure in the annual meetings of Baptist
associations, state conventions, the Southern Baptist
Convention and other denominational bodies.
MISSIONS (MS)
GENERAL MISSIONS
7001 Theology and Philosophy of Missions 3 hrs
A study of the theology and philosophy of the Christian
world mission, with an emphasis on the Biblical basis of
missions, the doctrinal foundations of missions, the issues
that are impacting missions today, and an overview of
Southern Baptist missions.
7002 Southern Baptist Missions 2 hrs
A study of the North American Mission and International
Mission Boards of the Southern Baptist Convention, with
emphasis on the history, structure, purpose, and work of
these two mission agencies of the SBC. Some emphasis will
also be given to SBC missions at the associational and state
convention levels.
7008 Mission and Ministry Support Development 2 hrs
A practical course to teach self-funded Christian workers the
principles that will enable them to raise personal and/or
ministry support for long-term, sustainable ministry. This
course teaches how the Mission Service Corps process fits
with the framework of the Southern Baptist missions and is
complementary to the SBC Cooperative Program and the
special mission offerings. This course is for those who
expect to be raising all or part of their support for ministry.
7010 History of Christian Missions 3 hrs
A survey of the missionary expansion of the Christian faith
from Pentecost to the present.
7012 History of Southern Baptist Missions 2 hrs
A survey of the history of Southern Baptist involvement in
the missionary endeavor in North America and around the
world.
Curriculum – Course Descriptions 96
7014 Issues in Missions 1-2 hrs
A study of critical issues in missions, including crucial
issues in missiology and cutting-edge developments and
trends in the global missionary endeavor.
7016 World Religions 2 hrs
An introduction to the various major religions of the world:
Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Shinto,
Animism, and Judaism. Some emphasis will also be given to
religions of the modern world that stand outside the major
religious traditions of civilization. This course will help the
student understand these religions, with a view to leading
their followers to saving faith in Jesus Christ.
7018 Spiritual Warfare 2 hrs
A survey of Biblical principles involved in spiritual warfare
and of current trends in the field. Emphasis will be given to
developing a Biblical model for doing spiritual warfare.
7021 Introduction to Church Planting and
Revitalization 3 hrs
An introduction to church planting with primary emphasis
given to the theological and practical foundations for starting
new churches. The course will also address the theological
and practical concerns relating to declining churches and
their revitalization.
7025 Chronological Storying Workshop 1 hr
A workshop designed to introduce the student to the ministry
of chronological storying as a means of teaching the Bible to
illiterate and/or functionally illiterate peoples.
7028 Missions Practicum 2-4 hrs
The opportunity to learn and practice mission service under
the supervision of field and seminary personnel in a North
American or international setting.
NORTH AMERICAN MISSIONS
7101 Cultural Setting for Ministry 2 hrs
A study of and exposure to the sociological, psychological,
and community factors that affect the church's ministry in
North American Society.
7104 Sects and Cults in America 2 hrs
A survey of minority religious communities in America that
stand outside the mainstream of the Christian and Jewish
tradition, including Baha'i, Christian Science, Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Jehovah's Witnesses, and
Unity. Emphasis will be given to helping the student
understand these sects, with a view to leading their followers
to saving faith in Jesus Christ.
7105 Introduction to Church Growth 2 hrs
An introduction to church growth, with emphasis on its
terminology, principles, and methods.
7108 Strategies and Methodologies for Church
Planting 2 hrs
An advanced study of various strategies for planting
churches in North America, with emphasis on those
strategies that have proven most effective. Prerequisite:
7021 Introduction to Church Planting and Revitalization.
7111 North American Church Planting Seminar 2 hrs
A seminar in church planting led by the Director of the
Nehemiah Project Center or other missions professors, with
selected representatives of churches, associations, state
conventions, and the North American Mission Board.
7113 North American Church Planting Practicum 3 hrs
A field experience in a selected church field with assigned
reading material and supervision by an assigned
pastor/church starter, or an associational or state leader who
has been trained by the North American Mission Board, with
the Director of the Nehemiah Project Center in line
supervision.
7116 Researching and Resourcing the Church Start 2 hrs
A study of how demographics and other types of market
research may be used in developing strategy for effective
church starts. The study is also designed to assist the church
planter in gathering a core group and teaching him how to
raise financial resources to carry out the ministry of the
church start.
7121 North American Missions Internship 2-3 hrs
A one semester internship in a North American Missions
setting.
7126 Midwest Missions Practicum 1 hr
A Missions trip in the United States designed to provide
students opportunities to give church growth assistance to a
local church or association and/or to assist in planting a
church.
7128 United Nations Internship 3 hrs
A semester internship providing a student opportunity to
learn and practice evangelistic and discipleship skills in the
unique setting of the United Nations under the supervision of
seminary and North American Mission Board personnel.
INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS
7202 International Missionary Principles and
Methods 2 hrs
A study of missionary principles and methods in
international fields, designed primarily for international
missions volunteers.
7206 Missionary Anthropology 2 hrs
An introduction to the study of cultural anthropology as it
relates to ministry in a cross-cultural setting.
97 Course Descriptions – Curriculum
7209 Cross-Cultural Communication & Language
Learning 2 hrs
An introduction to ministering in a cross-cultural setting
intended to help prepare the student to be an effective
communicator of the Gospel in a culture other than his own.
Emphasis is given to the theological, cultural, and linguistic
factors involved in cross-cultural communication. Included
is an introduction to the principles and methods of language
acquisition, geared to providing the student the basic tools
for learning a language.
7210 Language Learning Practicum 3 hrs
A course in which the student will participate in the process
of language acquisition on the field. This course involves
supervised language study, and is designed for the student
who is pursuing the M.Div. with International Church
Planting degree.
7212 Christian Theology in the Third World 2 hrs
A survey and analysis of the theologies of the Third World.
7214 Contextualization 2 hrs
A study emphasizing the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus
Christ in the cultural, linguistic, and social context of a
people without compromising the gospel itself. Attention is
given to meaning, methods, and models of contextualizing
the gospel.
7216 Cross-Cultural Church Planting 2 hrs
A study of church planting in cross-cultural contexts.
Attention is given to those anthropological, sociological, and
missiological factors that affect church planting in cross-
cultural contexts.
7217 International Church Planting Practicum I 3 hrs
A course in which the student will participate in church
planting in a selected international field under the
supervision of missionary personnel. This course is designed
for the student who is pursuing the M.Div. with International
Church Planting degree, and will be a combination of
academic study and field experience.
7218 International Church Planting Practicum II 3 hrs
A course in which the student will continue his participation
in church planting in a selected international field under the
supervision of missionary personnel. This course is designed
for the student who is pursuing the M.Div. with International
Church Planting degree, and will be a combination of
academic study and field experience. Prerequisite: 7217
International Church Planting Practicum I.
7219 International Church Planting Practicum III 3 hrs
A course in which the student will continue his participation
in church planting in a selected international field under the
supervision of missionary personnel. This course is designed
for the student who is pursuing the M.Div. with International
Church Planting degree, and will be a combination of
academic study and field experience. Prerequisite: 7218
International Church Planting Practicum II.
WORLD RELIGIONS
7302 Studies in Islam 2 hrs
A study of Islam, giving attention to the history,
development, doctrines, and practices of the Islamic faith.
Emphasis is given to strategies for evangelizing Muslims.
7304 Studies in the Religions of Asia 2 hrs
This course surveys the religions of Asia with their origin in
that continent. Emphasis will be given to the history,
development, doctrines and practices of the Hindu and
Buddhist religions. In addition, evangelism and church
planting among Hindus and Buddhists will be addressed.
Other religions with their origins in Asia will also be
covered (Taoism, Sikhism, and Confucianism).
7306 Studies in Buddhism 2 hrs
Study of Buddhism, giving attention to the history,
development, doctrines, and practices of the Buddhist
religion. Emphasis is given to strategies for evangelizing
Buddhists.
7308 Studies in the Religions of Africa 2 hrs
A study of the indigenous religious traditions of Africa.
Emphasis is given to strategies for evangelizing followers of
these traditions. Animism and African Folk Islam will be
emphasized.
REGIONAL STUDIES
7400 Southern Baptist Missions Regional Studies:
Selected Region 2 hrs
A brief historical and cultural study of a specific region of
the world, including the development of Christian missions,
the present situation, the prospect for Christian missions in
the future, and a brief introduction to the dominant religions
of the region. Due to the region studied being rotated, this
course may be repeated for credit providing a different
region is studied each time the course is repeated.
URBAN EVANGELISM
7510 Introduction to Urban Ministry 3 hrs
An introduction to the historical, theological, and practical
study of urban culture, issues, churches, and ministries, with
a focus on all urban dwellers.
Curriculum – Course Descriptions 98
7520 Revitalizing the Urban Church 2 hrs
A study of effective methods of revitalizing dysfunctional
urban churches.
7550 Urban Ministry Practicum 3 hrs
A supervised ministry or field experience in an urban setting.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION (CE)
FOUNDATIONS
8102 Foundations of Education 3 hrs
An analysis of the Biblical, historical, philosophical, and
psychological foundations of Christian education.
8110 Principles of Teaching I 3 hrs
A study of the theory and practice of teaching. Special
attention will be given to writing and teaching basic lesson
plans for the various learning domains. Prerequisite: 2400
Introduction to Hermeneutics.
8111 Principles of Teaching II 3 hrs
A continuation of the study of the theory and practice of
teaching. Special attention will be given to writing and
teaching lesson plans addressing learning styles, learning
modalities, and other advanced teaching elements.
Prerequisite: 8110 Principles of Teaching I.
8120 Theory and Practice of Biblical Education 2 hrs
A study of the history of Biblical Education in Judaism and
the first century church as it relates to theories in use in
contemporary Christian education.
8130 Educational Psychology 2 hrs
A study of the major educational theories and practices
which have influenced Christian education.
8134 Issues in Christian Education 2 hrs
An analysis of the major issues confronting the educational
ministry in churches today.
8136 Curriculum Design 2 hrs
A study of the principles and processes involved in the
design of curriculum material for use in Southern Baptist
churches.
8138 Writing for Publication 2 hrs
A study of the basic concepts of writing, editing, and
submitting curriculum material for publication.
8150 Supervised Ministry II - Education 2 hrs
A supervised ministry experience for the Christian
Education student involving peer groups and an internship
under the guidance of an approved supervisor according to
the requirements set forth in the Supervised Ministry Guide.
Prerequisite: 5440 Supervised Ministry I.
DEVELOPMENT
8200 Life Span Development 3 hrs
An analysis of developmental theories from birth through
adulthood with application to Christian education.
8210 Preschool Development 2 hrs
A general study of the growth and development from birth
through five years with application to Christian education.
8212 Child Development 2 hrs
A general study of the growth and development from six
years to adolescence with application to Christian education.
8214 Adolescent Development 2 hrs
A general study of the growth and development of
adolescents with application to Christian education.
8216 Adult Development 2 hrs
A general study of the growth and development of adults
with application to Christian education.
8220 Advanced Preschool/Child Development 2 hrs
An advanced study of developmental theories of childhood
development and a research project based on selected
theoretical approaches.
8224 Advanced Adolescence Development 2 hrs
An advanced study of developmental theories of adolescence
development and a research project based on selected
theoretical approaches.
8226 Advanced Adult Development 2 hrs
An advanced study of developmental theories of adult
development and a research project based on selected
theoretical approaches.
8228 Learning Styles 2 hrs
A comprehensive study of teaching and learning style theory
and its application to Christian education.
8230 Special Needs Development 2 hrs
A specialized study of the development theories and needs
of the learning disabled and a research project based on
selected theoretical approaches.
8240 Research in Education 2 hrs
A research project based on a specialized field in the study
of educational ministries. May only be completed as an
independent study course, see GS19##.
99 Course Descriptions – Curriculum
ADMINISTRATION
8301 Church Administration 2 hrs
A functional study of administrative approaches and
principles with an emphasis on planning, organizing, and
evaluating the work of the local church. Attention will be
given to office, financial, and facilities management.
8304 Educational Administration 2 hrs
A survey study of the principles and administrative
approaches of the educational ministry of the church.
8306 Principles of Leadership 2 hrs
A study of leadership theories, styles, and development; with
an emphasis on leading and equipping staff and volunteers
for ministry within the local church and denomination.
8328 Educational Evangelism 3 hrs
A study of basic growth principles for reaching people with
emphasis on utilizing the educational organization for
enlistment and personal witnessing activities. The course
includes student practice of evangelism individually and/or
as part of a local church‘s evangelistic efforts.
8330 Technology for Christian Ministry 2 hrs
Understanding and using technology to aid in the
organization and implementation of church ministries (e.g.
podcasting, web page creation, and church management
software). Prerequisite: Knowledge of an Office Suite (e.g.
U-GE 201 Introduction to Computers, 3 hrs).
8334 Church Libraries/Media Centers 2 hrs
An introduction to the use of church media centers (libraries)
for education, church ministries, and outreach. Only offered
online through the Church and Synagogue Library
Association (CSLA).
8340 Missions Education 2 hrs
A study of missions education and mission programs for all
ages within the church and denomination.
MINISTRY
8400 Introduction to Preschool Ministry 2 hrs
A study of the programs, activities, and materials necessary
in meeting the needs of preschoolers through the
organizations of the church.
8402 Introduction to Children's Ministry 2 hrs
A study of the programs, activities, and materials necessary
in meeting the needs of children through the organizations of
the church.
8404 Introduction to Youth Ministry 2 hrs
A study of the programs, activities, and materials necessary
in meeting the needs of youth through the organizations of
the church.
8406 Introduction to Adult Ministry 2 hrs
A study of the programs, activities, and materials necessary
in meeting the needs of adults through the organizations of
the church.
8410 Family Ministries 2 hrs
An introduction to the development of a theology of
marriage and family living and the church's ministry in
strengthening family life.
8420 The Minister of Education 2 hrs
A study of the roles and tasks of directing a comprehensive
educational ministry through the church. Special emphasis
will be given to qualifications, staff relationships, and
organizational methods.
8424 The Minister of Youth 2 hrs
A study of the roles and tasks of directing a comprehensive
youth ministry through the church. Special emphasis will be
given to qualifications, staff relationships, organizational
methods, and youth/parent relationships.
8432 Preschool/Children's Ministry Issues 2 hrs
A study of contemporary children's issues of parenting,
learning, and family relationships.
8434 Youth Ministry Issues 2 hrs
A study of contemporary youth issues of family, identity,
school, moral values, and peer pressure.
8436 Adult Ministry Issues 2 hrs
A study of contemporary adult issues of family relationships,
occupational choices, communication, and social and
political involvement.
8438 Weekday Ministries 2 hrs
A study of educational programs in public, private, and
church weekday ministries.
8440 Single Adult Ministries 2 hrs
A study of the methods, programs, and issues in
implementing a ministry with single persons.
8442 Senior Adult Ministries 2 hrs
A study of the methods, programs, and issues in
implementing a ministry with senior adults.
8448 Recreation Ministry 2 hrs
An introductive study of the scope and concepts of
comprehensive church recreation ministry and how to
implement recreational programs and activities in the local
church.
8452 Campus Ministries 2 hrs
A study of the scope and concept of on-campus ministries to
students and the work of the campus minister, with special
focus on denominational programs.
Curriculum – Course Descriptions 100
8456 Church Drama Ministry 2 hrs
A study of the scope and concept of a church drama ministry
including set design, skits, productions, and facility usage.
8460 Midwestern Troupers 1 hr
A practicum in dramatic methods with special emphasis on
interpretation and techniques for presenting dramatic
material.
8463 Education Ministry Internship 3 hrs
An internship experience in the study and practice of
education ministry in an area emphasis of choice under the
supervision of field and seminary personnel. Prerequisite:
completion of two-thirds or more of degree requirements.
8480 Christian Education Practicum 2 hrs
A supervised practicum to enhance the skills for Christian
Education ministers.
CHURCH MUSIC (CM)
THEORY
9102 Choral Arranging 2 hrs
A study for the church musician in arranging for various
choral groups. Prerequisites: MU110 Fundamentals of
Music Theory and MU120 Harmony, or their equivalent.
9132 Composition 2 hrs
A study of the structural aspects of music and the practical
problems involved in composition. The course will include
writing in the small forms of church music. Prerequisites:
MU110 Fundamentals of Music Theory and MU120
Harmony, or their equivalent.
9134 Analysis of Music 2 hrs
A comprehensive analysis of Western music forms from the
Renaissance to the modern period. Content will also include
Eastern and avant-garde examples. Prerequisites: MU110
Fundamentals of Music Theory and MU120 Harmony, or
their equivalent.
HISTORY
9200 Hymnology 2 hrs
A survey of the development of Christian hymnody from
Biblical times to the present. The course includes an
examination of the structure of hymns, their origins,
classifications, and use in worship.
9224 Advanced Hymnology 2 hrs
An advanced investigation of selected topics in Christian
hymnody. Prerequisite: 9200 Hymnology.
CHORAL
9302 Choral Conducting 2 hrs
A study of conducting and rehearsal techniques for choral
music. Attention will be given to score study, solving
conducting problems, learning to negotiate full orchestral
scores, baton technique, and overall conducting leadership
skills. Prerequisite: MU340 Basic Conducting.
9310 Choral Literature and Rehearsal Techniques 2 hrs
A survey of varied anthem literature currently available for
churches, stressing an application of rehearsal techniques to
the local church music ministry context.
9320 Choral Literature for Children's Choirs 2 hrs
A study of anthem material, songs, and larger works which
may be utilized in a children's choir setting.
9330 Advanced Conducting 2 hrs
An intensive study of choral and instrumental conducting,
including score preparation, baton technique, rehearsal
techniques, and conducting philosophy. Prerequisite: 9302
Choral Conducting.
ADMINISTRATION AND PROGRAMS
9400 Music and Worship in the Church 2 hrs
A study of leadership and administration of a full music
ministry in a local church with an emphasis on worship
leadership and worship issues.
9402 Music and Worship with Children 2 hrs
A study of the organization, methods, and materials for
teaching children about music and worship through a graded
choir program, children‘s church, or other special programs.
Part of the semester will include a children‘s choir lab
scheduled one afternoon during the week after public school
hours.
9410 Fundamentals of Music for Worship
Leadership 2 hrs
A study of basic musical skills and techniques for planning
and leading music for worship. In addition, students will
develop basic skills for working with a worship leadership
team.
9414 Music and Worship with Youth and Adults 2 hrs
A study of the methods and resources for leading youth and
adults in music and worship as well as training them to be
worship leaders through choirs, ensembles, praise teams, and
other creative musical opportunities.
9416 Music and Missions 2 hrs
An examination of the expanding role of music in the
Southern Baptist missions program. The course emphasizes
cultural contexts, indigenous music, and appropriate
methods and materials.
101 Course Descriptions – Curriculum
9418 Instrumental Music in the Church 2 hrs
A study of the Biblical, historical, and practical use of
instrumental music in the church. The course will include
rehearsal and performance considerations.
9420 Contemporary Trends in Church Music
Philosophy and Administration 2 hrs
An in-depth study of the theories and philosophies of the
contemporary church music scene, including current trends
and practices.
9422 Technology in Music Ministry 2 hrs
A study of how technology, including the Internet, electronic
instruments, and MIDI, can enhance music ministry.
9430 Church Music Workshop 1 hr
Workshops to enhance the skills of ministers of music.
9450 Supervised Ministry - Music 1 hr
A supervised ministry experience designed to hone ministry
skills for the church music student involving a qualified field
mentor and departmental supervision.
9470 Comprehensive Exit Exam 0 hrs
A comprehensive examination covering all required
graduate-level music courses for the MACM that have been
taken by the student. The exam may include both written and
oral formats. Students must enroll for the course during their
final semester. Graded: Pass/Fail.
PERFORMANCE AND APPLIED
9501 Private Piano 1 hr
Private instruction in piano. Repertoire is selected according
to the background and ability of the student. Degree
requirements emphasized. Concurrent enrollment in 9551
Performance Laboratory is required. Course fee: $110.
9502 Elective Private Piano 1 hr
Private instruction in piano. Repertoire is selected according
to the background and ability of the student. Admission
requires the approval of the music professor. Course fee:
$160.
9503 Class Piano 2 hrs
Group instruction in piano. A preparation for the piano
proficiency examination, including scales, hymns,
accompanying, and playing by ear. Admission requires the
approval of the music instructor. Course fee: $90.
9504 Hymn Playing 2 hrs
A study of hymn playing structure for beginning pianists
who aspire to accompany hymn singing in small group
settings or for experienced pianists who desire to develop a
hymn playing style and a variety of service playing skills.
9505 Piano Proficiency 0 hrs
A performance-based examination designed to show mastery
of basic piano playing skills. Detailed information is
available in the Music Student Handbook.
9506 Keyboard Accompanying 2 hrs
A course designed to acquaint the student with various skills
and techniques in the art of accompanying.
9507 Electronic Keyboard/MIDI 2 hrs
A study of how the church music ministry may be enhanced
by the use of electronic keyboards and other MIDI
applications. Course material will include both the
technological capabilities of various instruments and
techniques for playing them.
9511 Private Organ 1 hr
Private instruction in organ. Repertoire is selected according
to the background and ability of the student. Degree
requirements emphasized. Concurrent enrollment in 9551
Performance Laboratory is required. Course fee: $110.
9512 Elective Private Organ 1 hr
Private instruction in organ. Repertoire is selected according
to the background and ability of the student. Admission
requires the approval of the music professor. Course fee:
$160.
9513 Service Playing for Organists 2 hrs
A course designed to improve the student's knowledge and
skills in the art of playing the organ for worship services.
9521 Private Voice 1 hr
An individualized sixteen-week course in vocal techniques,
with repertoire dependent on the background and ability of
the student. Admission requires the approval of the music
professor. Concurrent enrollment in 9551 Performance
Laboratory is required. Course fee: $110.
9522 Elective Private Voice 1 hr
An individualized sixteen-week course in vocal techniques,
with repertoire dependent on the background and ability of
the student. Musical skill preferred. Admission requires the
approval of the music professor. Course fee: $160.
9523 Class Voice 1 hr
Group instruction in the fundamentals of vocal techniques
and basic solo repertoire. Admission requires the approval
of the music professor. Course fee: $90.
9524 Vocal Pedagogy 2 hrs
A study of the singing voice and the techniques of teaching
private or class voice.
9525 Vocal Proficiency 0 hrs
A performance-based examination designed to show mastery
of basic singing skills. Detailed information is available in
the Music Student Handbook.
Curriculum – Course Descriptions 102
9531 Beginning Guitar 1 hr
Group instruction in the basics of guitar playing, such as
how to tune a guitar, terminology, chords, and strumming
patterns. No previous experience necessary. Students must
supply their own instruments.
9532 Intermediate Guitar 1 hr
Group instruction in guitar that builds on the foundation
established in the beginning class. Intermediate level
instruction will further develop and add to the skills and
chord knowledge necessary for effective rhythm playing.
Prerequisite: 9531 Beginning Guitar, its equivalent, or
approval of the music professor.
9533 Leading Worship with the Guitar 2 hrs
Group instruction in using the guitar to lead worship. In
addition to studying chord repertoire, exploring various
rhythm styles, and discovering the techniques of working
with a praise band, students will also engage in rudimentary
development of their singing voices. A beginning knowledge
of guitar is required. Prerequisite: 9531 Beginning Guitar,
its equivalent, or approval of the music professor.
9535 Private Guitar 1 hr
Private instruction in guitar. Repertoire is selected
according to the background and ability of the student.
Designed for music majors. Concurrent enrollment in 9551
Performance Laboratory is required. Course fee: $110.
9537 Elective Private Guitar 1 hr
Private instruction in guitar. Designed for non-music majors.
Repertoire is selected according to the background and
ability of the student. Admission requires the approval of the
music professor. Course fee: $160.
9541 Private Conducting 1 hr
Private instruction in conducting. Assignments in the course
are determined according to the background and ability of
the student. Admission requires the approval of the music
professor. Course fee: $110.
9545 Private Instrumental Instruction 1 hr
An individualized semester course in instrumental study.
Instrument to be determined by student need. Repertoire will
be dependent on the background and ability of the student.
Admission requires the approval of the music professor.
Concurrent enrollment in 9551 Performance Laboratory is
required. Course fee: $110.
9550 Applied Music Recital 1 hr
The preparation and presentation of an acceptable recital
consisting of appropriate literature from major style-periods.
The recital is the culminating project for vocal, instrumental,
or worship leadership students.
9551 Performance Laboratory 0 hrs
A laboratory where students apply technical and musical
skills gained in applied studies to a dynamic performance
situation. Includes musical events both on and off campus
and student performance during the lab time. Students must
attend 80 percent of on-campus events plus meet any other
course requirements to receive credit. Graded: Credit/
Noncredit.
9561 Private Composition 1 hr
Private instruction in composition. Assignments during the
course are determined according to the background and
ability of the student. Admission requires the approval of the
music professor.
9570 Midwestern Singers 2 hrs per semester
A practicum in choral methods with special emphasis on
interpretation and techniques of presenting representative
church music literature. The choir, which regularly sings for
chapel, is open to all students with previous choral
experience. May be repeated for credit.
9571 Instrumental Ensemble 1 hr per semester
An ensemble practicum in instrumental music open to all
students. This group may perform occasionally in chapel and
other concert settings. May be repeated for credit.
9572 Midwestern Ringers 1 hr per semester
A handbell ensemble practicum which is open by audition to
qualified students. This group performs occasionally at
chapel and in concert settings. May be repeated for credit.
9573 Midwestern Praise Team 1 hr per semester
An auditioned ensemble, popularly called Two or More,
which serves as a worship leadership team. The ensemble
consists of singers and instrumentalists. May be repeated for
credit.
9575 Choral Union 1 hr per semester
A practicum in choral methods with emphasis on
interpretation and techniques of presenting sacred music
literature. The goal of the choir is to sing larger and more
difficult choral works for chorus and instrumentation.
Admission requires the approval of the music professor.
103 Course Descriptions – Curriculum
COLLEGE COURSES
MASTER’S COURSES
BIBLICAL STUDIES (BS)
M-BS2210 Old Testament Survey I: Pentateuch and
Historical Books 3 hrs
An expositional survey of the Pentateuch and the Historical
Books.
M-BS2211 Old Testament Survey II: Wisdom, Poetry
and Prophets 3 hrs
An expositional survey of Wisdom, Poetry, and the
Prophets.
M-BS2310 New Testament Survey I: Gospels and Acts3 hrs
An expositional survey of the Gospels and the book of Acts.
M-BS2311 New Testament Survey II: Romans to
Revelation 3 hrs
An expositional survey of Romans through Revelation.
M-BS2400 Introduction to Hermeneutics 2 hrs
A study of the principles of interpretation focusing on the
application of principles and methods.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION (CE)
M-CE8301 Church Administration 2 hrs
A functional study of administrative approaches and
principles with an emphasis on planning, organizing, and
evaluating the work of the local church. Attention will be
given to office, financial, and facilities management.
HISTORICAL-THEOLOGICAL STUDIES (HT)
M-HT3100 History of Christianity I 3 hrs
A study of the history of Christianity from its beginnings to
the Renaissance.
M-HT3101 History of Christianity II 3 hrs
A study of the history of Christianity from the Reformation
to the present.
M-HT3200 Theology I 3 hrs
An introduction to the foundations of Christian theology.
The nature of theology, its methods, and its sources are
discussed and assessed. Special attention is given to the
doctrines of revelation, Scripture, and God.
M-HT3201 Theology II 3 hrs
A continuation of 3200. Special attention is given to the
doctrines of the person and work of Christ and salvation.
Included are the doctrines of reconciliation, redemption, the
church, and eschatology.
M-HT3300 Introduction to Apologetics 2 hrs
A survey of the representative approaches to Christian
apologetics. Classical methodologies are studied along with
an evaluation of contemporary approaches.
M-HT3400 Christian Ethics 3 hrs
An introduction to matters of right and wrong from a
Biblical perspective.
MINISTRY (MN)
M-MN5000 Personal Spiritual Disciplines 2 hrs
Through a study of Biblical, classical, and contemporary
materials, this course will assist the student in disciplining
himself "for the purpose of godliness," as commanded in
1 Timothy 4:7.
M-MN5201 Basic Evangelism 3 hrs
A study of the philosophy, nature, and practice of
evangelism, both in the personal life of the minister and the
corporate life of the church. The student will participate in
evangelism events planned and supervised by seminary
personnel. Evangelism events will include such activities as
servant evangelism, block parties, crossover evangelism, and
personal evangelism.
MISSIONS (MS)
M-MS7001 Theology and Philosophy of Missions 3 hrs
A study of the theology and philosophy of the Christian
world mission, with an emphasis on the Biblical basis of
missions, the doctrinal foundations of missions, the issues
that are impacting missions today, and an overview of
Southern Baptist missions.
Curriculum – Course Descriptions 104
PRE-BACCALAUREATE
COURSES
Diploma Wives (DW)
DW10 Carolyne Hester Student Wives Retreat 1 hr
Retreat for student wives. Offered each spring, these
conferences focus on specific needs of wives preparing for
ministry.
DW12 Ministering Wife 2 hrs
An introductory course on God's plan for marriage, with
further attention to a call to ministry, finding God's will, and
preparing for service.
DW14 Baptist Heritage and Beliefs 1 hr
Overview of Baptist history and the doctrinal beliefs of
Southern Baptists. Included is a study of The Baptist Faith
and Message.
DW15 Marriage Enrichment Seminar for
Seminary Couples 2 hrs
A learning experience for married students that will examine
a Biblical model of marriage and the effects of ministry on
the ministerial couple. The student's spouse must attend.
(Enrollment is limited to 15 couples; spouses attending the
course as not-for-credit or audit must enroll for audit or
WISDOM hours.) Graded: Pass/Fail.
DW16 Old Testament 2 hr
An expository survey of the Old Testament.
DW17 New Testament 2 hr
An expository survey of the New Testament.
DW21 Spiritual Disciplines 2 hrs
The course will guide the student through an array of
important spiritual disciplines necessary to grow in godliness
and will offer practical suggestions for cultivating these
disciplines on a long-term basis.
DW26 Evangelism and Missions 2 hrs
A study of the Biblical and theological basis for evangelism
and missions, including a study of the mission work of
Southern Baptists. Practical ideas for evangelism are
covered giving consideration to specific opportunities and
the needs of women.
DW31 Issues in Ministry 2 hrs
A course designed to delve into a variety of issues that
include but are not limited to depression, anxiety, and
forgiveness. This course offers an intensive look at dealing
with these specific issues as they arise in the home,
community, or church. Prerequisite: DW12 Ministering
Wife.
DW32 Basic Beliefs I 1 hr
A course designed to better understand the nature of
theology and the beliefs of Southern Baptists. Students will
be aided in adopting one‘s own theological concepts as well
as the ability to discuss theological matters in a group
setting.
DW33 Basic Beliefs II 1 hr
A continuation of the study of the nature of theology and the
beliefs of Southern Baptists. Students will be aided in
adopting one‘s own theological concepts as well as the
ability to discuss theological matters in a group setting.
DW36 Practicum 1 hr
Practical experience in evangelism, missions, and women‘s
ministries. The student receives credit for participation in
mission projects, organized witnessing programs, and/or
leadership roles in organized women‘s ministries.
DW37 WISDOM Workshop: [Title] 1-2 hrs
Various courses will be offered in particular studies such as
prayer, spiritual formation and spiritual gifts.
DW38 Missionary Wife 1 hr
A class designed to help the student become familiar with
the unique aspects of ministering as a missionary wife. The
course will emphasize their unique role as parent, teacher,
minister, and companion, and the challenges they will face
while living in a foreign culture.
DW39 Ministry in the Church 1 hr
Overview of ways a wife ministers in the church. A practical
course about leading missions organizations, leading
ministries for children and women, as well as planning and
evaluating ministry.
DW40 Special Topic: [Title] 1-2 hrs
A course designed to study special areas of interest which
are not available in the regular pre-baccalaureate/WISDOM
course offerings. Credit may be repeated in another semester
if the topic is different.
DW45 Independent Study: [Title] 1-2 hrs
An independent or research study of specialized topics or
areas of interest which are not available in the regular pre-
baccalaureate/WISDOM course offerings.
105 Off-Campus Programs
Off-Campus Programs
PURPOSE
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is committed
to serving the church by Biblically educating God called
men and women to be and make disciples of Jesus Christ. In
an effort to maximize learning opportunities, Midwestern
offers master‘s courses in St. Louis, Missouri; Wichita,
Kansas; and Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Admissions Office
should be contacted for information about additional or other
possible sites. Courses offered at these off-campus/extension
sites are taught by Midwestern faculty or qualified adjuncts.
Midwestern's off-campus programs provide a unique
opportunity for ministers to continue serving while obtaining
a formal theological education. This program is equivalent to
that offered at the Kansas City campus. Unless noted
otherwise, all policies in this catalog pertain to both on- and
off-campus students.
Midwestern's off-campus sites may be separated into
two types: (a) master's level for degree-seeking students
where one-third of the courses from the Master of Divinity
degree program are offered on a three-year rotation; and (b)
and church sites where selected master's level courses are
offered for church members. A church may petition
Midwestern to be changed to a master's level extension site
for degree-seeking students, providing it is able to meet
Association of Theological Schools (ATS) accreditation
standards as a master's level extension site and is willing for
students from outside the church to attend courses.
Application and Admission
Application for admission is made through the
Admissions Office. Application procedures are the same as
the procedures for on-campus students. Information is
available earlier in this catalog or by contacting the
Admissions Office at 800-944-6287. The deadline for
submitting an application as a degree-seeking student is four
weeks prior to the beginning of the semester the applicant
intends to enroll. Students missing the deadline and students
not planning to pursue a degree may enroll for extension site
courses as nondegree-seeking students prior to the second
class meeting/session.
Course Offerings at Master's Level Extension
Sites
The courses offered at extension sites are selected from
the requirements for Midwestern's basic Master of Divinity
(M.Div.) degree program and, where they overlap, from the
Master of Arts in Christian Education (M.A.C.E.) degree
program. Courses are offered in a three-year rotation in three
formats: one-third of the M.Div. program requirements are
offered at each extension site, usually on Monday; one-third
are offered via the Internet; and one-third are offered in
Kansas City as Computer-Campus-Computer (CCC)
courses. CCC courses are offered in the January and
Summer terms and provide off-campus students an
opportunity to satisfy the Association of Theological
Schools (ATS) accrediting standard that requires one-year of
study or its equivalent to be completed at Midwestern's main
campus (for additional information, see On-Campus
Requirements for Completion of a Degree later in this
section).
Locations
Inquiries about extension site locations and course
offerings should be directed to Midwestern‘s Extensions
Office at 816-414-3755.
Master's Sites
St. Louis, Missouri
Classes meet at the St. Louis Baptist Association
Building, 3859 Fee Fee Road, Bridgeton, Missouri. Classes
meet on Mondays for ten weeks.
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Classes meet at the First Baptist Church, 100 W.
Albany, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Classes meet on
Mondays for ten weeks.
Church Sites
Cornerstone Church, Ames, Iowa
Classes meet at Cornerstone Church, 56829 U.S.
Highway 30, Ames, Iowa.
POLICIES
Attendance
Midwestern expects regular attendance in all classes and
students to inform professors of anticipated absences. A
student must attend at least 75 percent of class sessions to
receive credit. Failure to attend 75 percent or more class
sessions will result in the student receiving a failing grade
for that course. Appeals for exceptions are to be made in
writing, supported with appropriate documentation, and, for
master‘s students, submitted to the Academic Dean or
Registrar for presentation to the Academic Policies
Committee.
Professors will record student attendance for every
course. The professor will notify the Registrar‘s Office of
the student‘s last date of attendance whenever an enrolled
student has never attended a course, has ceased to attend a
course, or has missed more than 25 percent of class sessions
for a course.
Final Examinations
Final exams are administered on the last day of class.
No final exam may be given early. Requests to alter the
Off-Campus Programs 106
exam schedule must be made directly to the Academic
Office.
On-Campus Requirement for Completion of a
Degree
The Association of Theological Schools has established
that a comprehensive community of learning is required to
achieve the complex goal of the personal, vocational,
spiritual, and academic formation of students. To achieve
this, at least one year of full-time study or its equivalent (i.e.,
30 credit hours) is to be completed at Midwestern's main
campus in Kansas City.
These credit hours may be earned through attendance at
Computer-Campus-Computer (CCC) courses, inter-term
(i.e., January or summer) courses, special courses offered
during the week of fall or spring break, on-campus master‘s
workshops, and/or by relocating to the Kansas City campus.
On-campus work may be completed at any time the student
is enrolled.
Refunds for Withdrawals from Off-Campus
Courses
Occasionally it is necessary for a student to withdraw
from school or from a course(s) after having registered. Off-
campus students requesting to withdraw from a course(s) or
from school must contact the Registrar's Office
[816-414-3713 or [email protected]]. Refunds of tuition
for withdrawal from an off-campus/extension site course(s)
will be made according to the following schedule:
100% Withdrawal or drop through the end of the first
day of classes (i.e., the first day of any term when
classes are offered-not necessarily the first day a
student attends a class or the day a student's class
first meets).
90% Withdrawal or drop after the end of the first day
of classes through the end of the second class
session.
50% Withdrawal or drop after the end of the second
class session through the third class session of an
eight week course or through the fourth class
session of a sixteen week course.
25% Withdrawal or drop after the 50 percent refund
period through the fourth class session of an
eight week course or through the eighth class
session of a sixteen week course.
0% After the end of the 25 percent refund period.
Registration and Fees
Extension students may pre-register for courses each
term by initially communicating their desired course
schedule to the Registrar's Office via mail, phone at 816-
414-3713, or email at registrar@mbts.edu. Formal pre-
registration and registration require that a signed Enrollment
Form be on file in the Registrar's Office.
All educational charges/fees are due and payable no
later than the first day of the semester or term for which the
student is enrolling (see the Academic Calendar for specific
dates). Students are not officially enrolled in classes until
their educational charges and any past due financial
obligations to Midwestern have been paid or approved
arrangements for payment made (for additional information
about fees, see Finances earlier in this catalog).
Educational fees are subject to change by the Seminary
without prior notice in accordance with established policies
and procedures. Any revisions are communicated to students
prior to each semester.
Textbooks
Textbooks and textbook information may be obtained
from the LifeWay Bookstore located on Midwestern's
campus. The Bookstore may be contacted by phone at
816-455-3925 or email at mbtstextbooks@lifeway.com.
Weather Closing
Inclement weather will occasionally prevent professors
and/or students from reaching the off-campus centers. A
decision regarding canceling classes will be made as early in
the day as possible, and students and faculty will be
informed. In case of questionable weather, contact the off-
campus center or the Academic Dean's Office at
Midwestern.
NONTRADITIONAL COURSE
FORMATS
Online/Internet Courses
Through Midwestern Baptist College, SBC, Midwestern
offers fifteen courses via the Internet as part of the Master of
Arts, Theological Studies program. All of these courses
satisfy M.Div. program requirements and some MACE
program requirements; however, based on the Association of
Theological Schools (ATS) standards, only a maximum of
30 or these hours or ten courses may be applied toward the
M.Div. or MACE degree programs. All of the online courses
are offered for three credit hours; a few of these are offered
on-campus for only two hours. Students should, therefore,
take care in selecting online courses (questions or advise
about this should be directed to the Registrar‘s Office at
816-414-3713 or [email protected]).
107 Off-Campus Programs
Computer-Campus-Computer (CCC) Classes
Computer-Campus-Computer (CCC) courses begin
with preparation by the student at home via the computer
and/or email for four weeks, followed by one-week of
intensive lectures on-campus in Kansas City. The student
then returns home to finish course assignments and/or tests
via the computer and/or email for up to the next four weeks.
Students are to provide an email address at the time they
enroll for a CCC course. Students without email capability
may not enroll in CCC courses.
Since students may take only a limited number of online
courses, it is important to take advantage of some CCC
courses in the January and Summer terms as soon as a
program of study is started. Otherwise, the 30 hours of
online courses will soon be completed and the student will
be eligible only for CCC courses.
Library Access
Resources available through Midwestern‘s library may
be obtained by contacting Judie Howie, the reference
librarian, via email at [email protected] or by calling
877-414-3725 or 816-414-3728. Since library access is
essential for research and writing papers, students should
also establish a working relationship with a local public
library and should know the library's policies regarding
Inter-Library loans. Nearby college or university libraries
are also ideal resources, particularly if they teach Religious
Studies or offer Bible courses.
Administration and Faculty 108
Administration and
Faculty
Midwestern's dedicated faculty members hold
outstanding academic credentials and have years of
professional experience in their various fields of expertise.
These qualities are combined in the classroom as they
Biblically educate God-called men and women to be and to
make disciples of Jesus Christ throughout the world.
Each individual is an active member of a Southern
Baptist church. Faculty members frequently serve in local
congregations as interim and supply pastors, Sunday School
teachers, deacons, music directors and more.
In addition to Midwestern's elected and appointed
faculty, a number of visiting teachers join the Seminary
faculty each semester. They are credentialed specialists,
practitioners, and academicians who make significant
contributions to the lives of many Midwestern students.
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS
R. Philip (Phil) Roberts, President
B.A., Georgetown College, 1972; M.Div., Southern
Baptist Theological Seminary, 1976; Post-Graduate
Research, Oxford University, 1978; Ph.D., Free University
of Amsterdam, 1989.
Anthony W. Allen, Senior Vice President of Institutional
Advancement
B.A., Duke University, 1990; M.Div., Southeastern
Baptist Theological Seminary, 1993; M.Th., Southeastern
Baptist Theological Seminary, 2001. Ed.D., North Carolina
State University, ABD, spring 2011.
Dennis Erickson, Vice President for Business Services
and Administration
B.B.A., Dakota State University, 1969.
Rodney A. Harrison, Vice President for Institutional
Effectiveness, Director of Doctoral Studies, Dean of
Online Studies, and Associate Professor of Christian
Education
R.N., Arrowhead College School of Nursing, 1983;
B.A., Dallas Baptist University, 1987; M.A.C.E. and M.Div.
eq., Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, 1995;
D.Min., Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, 1999.
David McAlpin, Vice President for Student Development
and Associate Professor of Hermeneutics
B.A., Berry College, 1977; M.Div., New Orleans
Baptist Theological Seminary, 1980; Ph.D. Mid-America
Baptist Theological Seminary, 1990.
Jerry Sutton, Interim Vice President for Academic
Development
B.A., University of South Alabama, 1975; M. Div.,
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1978; Ph. D.,
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1982.
FACULTY
James L. Anderson, Professor of Biblical Studies,
Chancellor Pro-Tem of Midwestern Baptist College, SBC
B.A., Ottawa University, 1966; M.Div., Southwestern
Baptist Theological Seminary, 1970; Th.D. Southwestern
Baptist Theological Seminary, 1976, Certified Field
Instructor, Airplanes & Instruments, FAA, 1972 to Present.
Stephen J. Andrews, Professor of Old Testament,
Hebrew and Archaeology, Director of the Morton-Seats
Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology and Director
of the PhD Program
B.A., Carson-Newman College, 1976; M.Div., Eastern
Baptist Theological Seminary, 1979; Th.M., Southeastern
Baptist Theological Seminary, 1983; M.Phil., Hebrew Union
College-Jewish Institute of Religion, 1988; Ph.D., Hebrew
Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, 1995.
Matthew B. Arbo, Assistant Professor of Ethics and
Philosophy
B.A., Liberty University, 2004; M.A., Liberty
University, 2007; M.Th., University of Edinburgh, 2008;
Ph.D. Candidate, University of Edinburgh.
Ben E. Awbrey, Associate Professor of Preaching
B.S., Central State University, 1980; graduate studies,
Talbot Theological Seminary, 1980-82; M.Div.,
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1983; Th.D.,
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 1990.
J. Alan Branch, Assistant Professor of Christian Ethics
B.B.A., Kennesaw State College, 1991; M.Div.,
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1993; Ph.D.,
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2000.
Christopher Cornine, Appointed Assistant Professor of
Counseling (part-time)
B.A., University of Missouri, 1996; M.S., Avila
University, 1999; Ph.D., Harold Abel School of Psychology,
2003.
Timothy T. Chong, Associate Professor of Theology,
Director of Korean Studies
B.A., Liberty University, 1987; M.Div., Liberty Baptist
Theological Seminary, 1991; S.T.M., Dallas Theological
Seminary, 1993; Ph.D., Dallas Theological Seminary, 2004.
Larry L. Cornine, Associate Professor of Pastoral Care
and Counseling
B.S., Central Missouri State University, 1966; M.A.CO.,
Liberty Baptist University, 1994; M.S.E., Central Missouri
State University, 1976; Ed.D., University of Kansas, 1980;
Ph.D., Golden State University, 1982.
109 Administration and Faculty
Theodore Davis, Director of MATS Program and
Appointed Associate Professor of Christian Education
B.A., Hannibal LaGrange Baptist College, 1981;
M.Div,, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1984;
D.Min., Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2000.
Eric A. Foley, Assistant Professor of Church Music
B.S., University of Missouri-Columbia, 1984; M.M.,
University of Missouri-Columbia, 1986; D.M.A., University
of Kansas, 2006.
Radu Gheorghita, Associate Professor of Biblical Studies
B.S., University of Cluj, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, 1984;
M. Div., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, 1991; Ph.D.,
University of Cambridge, 1999.
Ronald Habermas, Professor of Discipleship and
Christian Education (part-time)
B.R.E., William Tyndale College, 1973; M.Div., Sioux
Falls Seminary, 1976; M.A., Wheaton Graduate School,
1981; Ph.D., Michigan State University, 1985.
Robin D. Hadaway, Associate Professor of Missions
B.A., Memphis State University, 1971; M.Div.,
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1978; D.Min.,
Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, 1986.
Michael Hawkins, Appointed Associate Director of the
Doctor of Ministry Program, Profiles of Ministry
Director.
B.A., Southwest Baptist University, 1983; M.Div.,
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1986; D.Min.,
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1988.
N. Blake Hearson, Assistant Professor of Old Testament
and Hebrew
B.A., Wheaton College, 1993; M.A., Wheaton College
Graduate School, 1994; M.Div., Gordon-Conwell
Theological Seminary, 1997; M.Phil, Hebrew Union
College, 2002; Ph.D., Hebrew Union College, 2005.
Ronald Huggins, Associate Professor of New Testament
and Greek
B.F.A., University of Idaho, 1977; M.C.S., Regent
College, 1987; Th.D., Wycliffe College, 1997.
Thomas P. Johnston, Associate Professor of Evangelism
B.A., Wheaton College, 1982; M.Div., Trinity
Evangelical Divinity School, 1986; Ph.D., Southern Baptist
Theological Seminary, 2001.
J. Craig Kubic, Librarian
B.A., Northwestern State University, 1977; M.L.S.,
Louisiana State University, 1979; M.Div., Golden Gate
Baptist Theological Seminary, 1982; D.Ed.Min.,
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2006.
John Lee, Appointed Assistant Professor of New
Testament and Greek
B.A., Seoul National University, 1999; M.Div.,
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2004; Ph.D.,
University of Edinburgh, 2010.
Thorvald B. Madsen II, Academic Dean of Midwestern
Baptist College, SBC and Associate Professor of New
Testament, Ethics and Philosophy
B.A., Wheaton College, 1985; M.A., Western Kentucky
University, 1987; M.Div., Trinity Evangelical Divinity
School, 1992; Ph.D., University of Aberdeen, 1998.
Robert Joseph Matz, Assistant Professor of Theology
B.E., Vanderbilt University, 2005; M.Div.,
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2009; Ph. D.
studies at Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
Morlee Maynard, Appointed Assistant Professor of
Christian Education, and Director of D.Ed.Min.
Program (part-time)
B.S., Oklahoma State University, 1974; M.R.E.,
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1976;
D.Ed.Min., New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary,
2002.
Michael D. McMullen, Professor of Church History and
Director of the Collegiate Program
B.D. (with honors), University of Aberdeen, 1988;
M.Th., University of Aberdeen, 1990; Ph.D., University of
Aberdeen, 1993; PGCE, Northern College, 1996.
Tony L. Preston, Associate Professor of Pastoral
Leadership and Director of Supervised Ministry
B.S., William Carey College, 1977; M.Div.,
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1980; D.Min.,
Reformed Theological Seminary, 1990.
Gustavo V. Suárez, Director of the Nehemiah Center and
Professor of Church Planting
B.S., University of Maryland, 1978; M.Div., Mid-
America Baptist Theological Seminary, 1982; D.Min.,
Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, 1997.
Steven H. Thompson, Appointed Registrar and Assistant
Professor of Pastoral Ministry
B.S.E., Southern State College, 1975; B.A., Southern
Arkansas University, 1978; M.Div., Midwestern Baptist
Theological Seminary, 1981; D.Min., Midwestern Baptist
Theological Seminary, 1994.
F. Alan Tomlinson, Professor of New Testament and
Greek
B.S., University of Tennessee, 1972; Th.M., Dallas
Theological Seminary, 1979; Ph.D., Southern Baptist
Theological Seminary, 1997.
Administration and Faculty 110
Rustin Umstattd, Associate Academic Dean and
Assistant Professor of Theology
B.B.A., Georgia Southwestern College, 1993; M.B.A.,
Georgia Southern University, 1995; M.Div., Southwestern
Baptist Theological Seminary, 2001; Ph.D., Southwestern
Baptist Theological Seminary, 2007.
Charles E. Warren, Associate Professor of Theology
B.S.E.E., Auburn University, 1961; M.Div.,
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1997; Ph.D.,
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2001.
Daniel R. Watson, Associate Professor of Old Testament
B.A., Liberty University, 1989; Th.M., Grace
Theological Seminary, 1993; M.Phil., Hebrew Union
College, 1998; Ph.D., Hebrew Union College, 2004.
111 Biblical Foundation
Biblical Foundation
THE SEMINARY'S IDENTITY
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is an entity of
the Southern Baptist Convention, serving as a community of
learning for persons called to ministry. The Seminary's
primary source of support is the Southern Baptist
Cooperative Program. The Seminary is governed by a board
of 35 trustees elected by the Southern Baptist Convention
with 7 trustees elected on a rotating basis each year. In
accordance with the Program Statement for seminaries
adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention in 1979,
Midwestern is primarily a graduate professional school. It is
accredited by the Association of Theological Schools and
the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central
Association of Colleges and Schools. It provides academic
programs leading to the Master of Divinity, Master of Arts
in Christian Education, Master of Arts in Church Music,
Master of Arts in Counseling, Master of Arts with various
specialties, Doctor of Ministry, and Doctor of Educational
Ministry, as well as undergraduate studies.
THE SEMINARY'S RELATIONSHIP WITH
THE CHURCHES
One Faith, One Task, One Sacred Trust: A Covenant
Between Our Seminaries and Our Churches
"You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in
Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me
among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who
will be able to teach others also." II Timothy 2:1-2
For over 135 years, the churches of the Southern Baptist
Convention have looked to their seminaries for the training
and education of their ministers. These six schools were
established and undergirded by Southern Baptists in order
that our churches may be served by a more faithful ministry.
This is a critical moment in the history of the Southern
Baptist Convention---and for our seminaries. The six
seminaries serving this denomination bear a precious and
perishable responsibility on behalf of our churches, for we
are entrusted with those who will be their ministers, pastors,
preachers, and servants.
Looking to the dawn of the twenty-first century, we
hereby restate and reaffirm our commitment to the churches
we serve, to the convictions those churches hold and honor,
and to charge we have received on their behalf.
One Faith
The church of Jesus Christ is charged to contend for the
faith once for all delivered to the saints. Our seminaries,
charged with the theological formation of ministers, must
take this charge as central and essential to our mission. In an
age of rampant theological compromise, our seminaries must
send no uncertain sound.
Let the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention
know that our seminaries are committed to theological
integrity and Biblical fidelity. Our pledge is to maintain the
confessional character of our seminaries by upholding those
doctrines so clearly articulated in our confessions of faith; by
teaching the authority, inspiration, inerrancy, and infallibility
of the Bible; by maintaining the purity of the Gospel and
affirming the identity of Jesus Christ, by whose blood we
have been redeemed and in whose name alone salvation is to
be found; and by proclaiming with boldness the precious and
eternal truths of God's Word.
In this we stand together, and we stand with our
churches. We understand that those who teach take on an
awesome responsibility, and will receive from our Lord a
stricter judgment. We stand before this convention and our
churches to declare that we stand together in one faith,
serving our Lord Jesus Christ.
One Task
Our mission is to prepare ministers for service. We
cannot call ministers, nor appoint them to service. Ministers,
called by God and commissioned by our churches come to
us in order that they may through our seminaries receive
learning, training, and inspiration for service. Preachers,
evangelists, missionaries, and those who minister throughout
the life of the churches come to our seminaries with the hope
that they will leave their programs of study better equipped,
armed, and matured for the faithful exercise of their calling.
Our mission is to remain ever true to this task. We
declare our unflinching resolve to provide the very finest
programs of theological education for ministry. We will
match theological fidelity to practical ministry, passion to
practice, vision to calling, and honor to service. This is our
task.
One Sacred Trust
Our schools are not generic institutions for religious
studies. We are the six theological seminaries serving the
Southern Baptist Convention. We belong to you--we belong
to the churches of this Convention. We are proud to carry
your charge, and we declare our fidelity to you as a sacred
trust. In this trust we stand before the Southern Baptist
Convention, and we stand together.
Through the trustees elected by this Convention, our
churches must hold our seminaries accountable to the faith
once for all delivered to the saints, to the essential task of
training and educating ministers, and to the sacred trust that
unites our seminaries and our churches.
As the presidents of your seminaries, we declare our
unbending and fervent resolve to uphold all of these
commitments. We will lead our institutions so that no harm
shall come to your students and ministers; so that they will
be rooted and grounded in the truth; so that they will be
trained as faithful and effective preachers and teachers; so
that they will bring honor to the church and not dishonor;
Biblical Foundation 112
and so that we shall be able to give a good answer and
receive a good report when we shall face that stricter
judgment which is to come.
This is our pledge, our resolve, our declaration. One
Faith, One Task, One Sacred Trust.
Signed by the Presidents of the six Southern Baptist
seminaries in the presence of the Messengers to the 140th
Session of the Southern Baptist Convention, meeting in
Dallas, Texas, June 17, 1997.
MIDWESTERN’S INSTITUTIONAL
MISSION, VALUES AND OBJECTIVES
Purpose Statement of the Southern Baptist Seminaries
Southern Baptist theological seminaries exist to prepare
God-called men and women for vocational service in Baptist
churches and in other Christian ministries throughout the
world through programs of spiritual development,
theological studies, and practical preparation in ministry.
Mission Statement of Midwestern Baptist Theological
Seminary
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary serves the
church by Biblically educating God-called men and women
to be and make disciples of Jesus Christ.
Core Values
Ministry is Biblical: We believe that the Bible is the
authoritative inerrant word of God and thus, it instructs,
motivates, and guides us in all areas of ministry. We are
committed to helping students know, communicate, apply,
and practice Biblical truth.
Ministry is Leadership: We seek to develop leaders who
exemplify and communicate God's vision in their ministry
settings.
Ministry is Relational: We believe Christ-like
relationships with God, family, church, community, and
world are essential and should be cultivated.
Ministry is Personal and Spiritual: We seek to provide an
atmosphere for students that cultivates consistent,
disciplined, and balanced spiritual growth and that validates
their call to ministry. We strive to accomplish this through
Biblically based teaching and providing opportunities to
develop a lifestyle of Christian love and integrity.
Ministry is Focused: From our Midwest context: We
prepare students to be 21st century ministers who
demonstrate commitment to ministerial calling, cultural
sensitivity, and doctrinal integrity from a Southern Baptist
perspective. As such, we believe that while both men and
women are gifted for service in the church, the office of
pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture. We instill
in students a ministry mindset with an Acts 1:8 foundation.
We prepare students to worship God, evangelize the lost,
edify believers, and establish healthy New Testament
churches for the purpose of glorifying God.
Teaching and Learning Values
We seek to train students to integrate Biblical teaching
within Midwestern's theological context in the construction
of a Christian worldview. We strive to accomplish this by
developing analytical, constructive, and interpretative
competencies with an emphasis on integrative theological
study as a base for the development of professional skills.
Institutional Objectives
Teaching Objective: MBTS seeks to integrate Biblical
teaching within Midwestern's theological context to equip
students to mature in their Christian worldview and
professional ministry skills.
Learning Objectives: Through its exegetical,
theological, and practical educational processes, MBTS
seeks to produce students who will: Believe that the Bible is
authoritative and inerrant (2 Tim 3:15-16; 2 Pet 1:19; Mt
5:17-18). Understand and apply Biblical and theological
truth (Rom 15:3-5; Jn 17:17). Exemplify Biblical leadership
and doctrinal integrity in ministry (1 Pet 5:2-4). Demonstrate
Christ-likeness in seeking and cultivating all relationships
(Eph 4:30-32; Col 3:12-13). Manifest a developing and
disciplined Christian life (Gal 5:22-23; 2 Pet 1:5-7; 1 Tim
4:7). Be equipped to minister in culturally relevant ways
(1 Cor 9:19-23). Commit themselves to fulfilling the Great
Commission in worshipping God, in evangelizing the lost, in
edifying believers, and in establishing healthy New
Testament Churches (Mt 28:18-20; Eph 4:11-14).
Approved by the Faculty of Midwestern Baptist
Theological Seminary on April 11, 2001 and adopted by the
Board of Trustees of Midwestern Baptist Theological
Seminary on April 23, 2001.
THE SEMINARY'S
CONFESSION OF FAITH
The Trustees of Midwestern Baptist Theological
Seminary, upon the founding of the seminary in 1957,
adopted as the Seminary‘s confession The Baptist Faith and
Message, which was adopted by the Southern Baptist
Convention in 1925. The revisions to The Baptist Faith and
Message made by the Southern Baptist Convention in 1963,
1998 and 2000 have been subsequently adopted by the
Trustees. The Seminary's current confession of faith, The
Baptist Faith and Message, 2000, along with the report of
the convention's latest study committee, is as follows:
Report of the Baptist Faith and Message Study
Committee to the Southern Baptist Convention.
Adopted, June 14th, 2000.
The 1999 session of the Southern Baptist Convention,
meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, adopted the following motion
addressed to the President of the Convention:
113 Biblical Foundation
"I move that in your capacity as Southern Baptist
Convention chairman, you appoint a blue ribbon committee
to review the Baptist Faith and Message statement with the
responsibility to report and bring any recommendations to
this meeting next June in Orlando."
President Paige Patterson appointed the committee as
follows: Max Barnett (OK), Steve Gaines (AL), Susie
Hawkins (TX), Rudy A. Hernandez (TX), Charles S. Kelley,
Jr. (LA), Heather King (IN), Richard D. Land (TN), Fred
Luter (LA), R. Albert Mohler, Jr. (KY), T. C. Pinckney
(VA), Nelson Price (GA), Adrian Rogers (TN), Roger
Spradlin (CA), Simon Tsoi (AZ), Jerry Vines (FL). Adrian
Rogers (TN) was appointed chairman.
Your committee thus constituted begs leave to present
its report as follows:
Baptists are a people of deep beliefs and cherished
doctrines. Throughout our history we have been a
confessional people, adopting statements of faith as a
witness to our beliefs and a pledge of our faithfulness to the
doctrines revealed in Holy Scripture.
Our confessions of faith are rooted in historical
precedent, as the church in every age has been called upon to
define and defend its beliefs. Each generation of Christians
bears the responsibility of guarding the treasury of truth that
has been entrusted to us [2 Timothy 1:14]. Facing a new
century, Southern Baptists must meet the demands and
duties of the present hour.
New challenges to faith appear in every age. A
pervasive anti-supernaturalism in the culture was answered
by Southern Baptists in 1925, when the Baptist Faith and
Message was first adopted by this Convention. In 1963,
Southern Baptists responded to assaults upon the authority
and truthfulness of the Bible by adopting revisions to the
Baptist Faith and Message. The Convention added an article
on "The Family" in 1998, thus answering cultural confusion
with the clear teachings of Scripture. Now, faced with a
culture hostile to the very notion of truth, this generation of
Baptists must claim anew the eternal truths of the Christian
faith.
Your committee respects and celebrates the heritage of
the Baptist Faith and Message, and affirms the decision of
the Convention in 1925 to adopt the New Hampshire
Confession of Faith, "revised at certain points and with some
additional articles growing out of certain needs…" We also
respect the important contributions of the 1925 and 1963
editions of the Baptist Faith and Message.
With the 1963 committee, we have been guided in our
work by the 1925 "statement of the historic Baptist
conception of the nature and function of confessions of faith
in our religious and denominational life…" It is, therefore,
quoted in full as a part of this report to the Convention:
(1) That they constitute a consensus of opinion of some
Baptist body, large or small, for the general instruction and
guidance of our own people and others concerning those
articles of the Christian faith which are most surely held
among us. They are not intended to add anything to the
simple conditions of salvation revealed in the New
Testament, viz., repentance toward God and faith in Jesus
Christ as Savior and Lord.
(2) That we do not regard them as complete statements
of our faith, having any quality of finality or infallibility. As
in the past so in the future, Baptists should hold themselves
free to revise their statements of faith as may seem to them
wise and expedient at any time.
(3) That any group of Baptists, large or small, have the
inherent right to draw up for themselves and publish to the
world a confession of their faith whenever they may think it
advisable to do so.
(4) That the sole authority for faith and practice among
Baptists is the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments.
Confessions are only guides in interpretation, having no
authority over the conscience.
(5) That they are statements of religious convictions,
drawn from the Scriptures, and are not to be used to hamper
freedom of thought or investigation in other realms of life.
Baptists cherish and defend religious liberty, and deny
the right of any secular or religious authority to impose a
confession of faith upon a church or body of churches. We
honor the principles of soul competency and the priesthood
of believers, affirming together both our liberty in Christ and
our accountability to each other under the Word of God.
Baptist churches, associations, and general bodies have
adopted confessions of faith as a witness to the world, and as
instruments of doctrinal accountability. We are not
embarrassed to state before the world that these are doctrines
we hold precious and as essential to the Baptist tradition of
faith and practice.
As a committee, we have been charged to address the
"certain needs" of our own generation. In an age increasingly
hostile to Christian truth, our challenge is to express the truth
as revealed in Scripture, and to bear witness to Jesus Christ,
who is "the Way, the Truth, and the Life."
The 1963 committee rightly sought to identify and
affirm "certain definite doctrines that Baptists believe,
cherish, and with which they have been and are now closely
identified." Our living faith is established upon eternal
truths. "Thus this generation of Southern Baptists is in
historic succession of intent and purpose as it endeavors to
state for its time and theological climate those articles of the
Christian faith which are most surely held among us."
It is the purpose of this statement of faith and message
to set forth certain teachings which we believe.
Respectfully Submitted,
The Baptist Faith and Message Study Committee
Adrian Rogers, Chairman
Biblical Foundation 114
THE BAPTIST FAITH AND
MESSAGE, 2000
I. The Scriptures
The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired
and is God's revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect
treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author,
salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error,
for its matter. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and
trustworthy. It reveals the principles by which God judges
us, and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world,
the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard
by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions
should be tried. All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is
Himself the focus of divine revelation.
Exodus 24:4; Deuteronomy 4:1-2; 17:19; Joshua 8:34;
Psalms 19:7-10; 119:11,89,105,140; Isaiah 34:16; 40:8;
Jeremiah 15:16; 36:1-32; Matthew 5:17-18; 22:29; Luke
21:33; 24:44-46; John 5:39; 16:13-15; 17:17; Acts 2:16ff.;
17:11; Romans 15:4; 16:25-26; 2 Timothy 3:15-17;
Hebrews 1:1-2; 4:12; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 1:19-21.
II. God
There is one and only one living and true God. He is an
intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being, the Creator,
Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. God is
infinite in holiness and all other perfections. God is all
powerful and all knowing; and His perfect knowledge
extends to all things, past, present, and future, including the
future decisions of His free creatures. To Him we owe the
highest love, reverence, and obedience. The eternal triune
God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
with distinct personal attributes, but without division of
nature, essence, or being.
A. God the Father
God as Father reigns with providential care over His
universe, His creatures, and the flow of the stream of human
history according to the purposes of His grace. He is all
powerful, all knowing, all loving, and all wise. God is Father
in truth to those who become children of God through faith
in Jesus Christ. He is fatherly in His attitude toward all men.
Genesis 1:1; 2:7; Exodus 3:14; 6:2-3; 15:11ff.; 20:1ff.;
Leviticus 22:2; Deuteronomy 6:4; 32:6; 1 Chronicles 29:10;
Psalm 19:1-3; Isaiah 43:3,15; 64:8; Jeremiah 10:10; 17:13;
Matthew 6:9ff.; 7:11; 23:9; 28:19; Mark 1:9-11; John 4:24;
5:26; 14:6-13; 17:1-8; Acts 1:7; Romans 8:14-15;
1 Corinthians 8:6; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 4:6; Colossians
1:15; 1 Timothy 1:17; Hebrews 11:6; 12:9; 1 Peter 1:17;
1 John 5:7.
B. God the Son
Christ is the eternal Son of God. In His incarnation as
Jesus Christ He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of
the virgin Mary. Jesus perfectly revealed and did the will of
God, taking upon Himself human nature with its demands
and necessities and identifying Himself completely with
mankind yet without sin. He honored the divine law by His
personal obedience, and in His substitutionary death on the
cross He made provision for the redemption of men from
sin. He was raised from the dead with a glorified body and
appeared to His disciples as the person who was with them
before His crucifixion. He ascended into heaven and is now
exalted at the right hand of God where He is the One
Mediator, fully God, fully man, in whose Person is effected
the reconciliation between God and man. He will return in
power and glory to judge the world and to consummate His
redemptive mission. He now dwells in all believers as the
living and ever present Lord.
Genesis 18:1ff.; Psalms 2:7ff.; 110:1ff.; Isaiah 7:14; 53;
Matthew 1:18-23; 3:17; 8:29; 11:27; 14:33; 16:16,27;
17:5; 27; 28:1-6,19; Mark 1:1; 3:11; Luke 1:35; 4:41;
22:70; 24:46; John 1:1-18,29; 10:30,38; 11:25-27; 12:44-
50; 14:7-11; 16:15-16,28; 17:1-5, 21-22; 20:1-20,28; Acts
1:9; 2:22-24; 7:55-56; 9:4-5,20; Romans 1:3-4; 3:23-26;
5:6-21; 8:1-3,34; 10:4; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2:2; 8:6;
15:1-8 ,24-28; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21; 8:9; Galatians 4:4-5;
Ephesians 1:20; 3:11; 4:7-10; Philippians 2:5-11;
Colossians 1:13-22; 2:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18;
1 Timothy 2:5-6; 3:16; Titus 2:13-14; Hebrews 1:1-3;
4:14-15; 7:14-28; 9:12-15,24-28; 12:2; 13:8; 1 Peter
2:21-25; 3:22; 1 John 1:7-9; 3:2; 4:14-15; 5:9; 2 John 7-9;
Revelation 1:13-16; 5:9-14; 12:10-11; 13:8; 19:16.
C. God the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, fully divine. He
inspired holy men of old to write the Scriptures. Through
illumination He enables men to understand truth. He exalts
Christ. He convicts men of sin, of righteousness, and of
judgment. He calls men to the Saviour, and effects
regeneration. At the moment of regeneration He baptizes
every believer into the Body of Christ. He cultivates
Christian character, comforts believers, and bestows the
spiritual gifts by which they serve God through His church.
He seals the believer unto the day of final redemption. His
presence in the Christian is the guarantee that God will bring
the believer into the fullness of the stature of Christ. He
enlightens and empowers the believer and the church in
worship, evangelism, and service.
Genesis 1:2; Judges 14:6; Job 26:13; Psalms 51:11;
139:7ff.; Isaiah 61:1-3; Joel 2:28-32; Matthew 1:18; 3:16;
4:1; 12:28-32; 28:19; Mark 1:10,12; Luke 1:35; 4:1,18-19;
11:13; 12:12; 24:49; John 4:24; 14:16-17,26; 15:26;
16:7-14; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4,38; 4:31; 5:3; 6:3; 7:55; 8:17,39;
10:44; 13:2; 15:28; 16:6; 19:1-6; Romans 8:9-11,14-16,
26-27; 1 Corinthians 2:10-14; 3:16; 12:3-11,13; Galatians
4:6; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30; 5:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:19;
1 Timothy 3:16; 4:1; 2 Timothy 1:14; 3:16; Hebrews 9:8,14;
2 Peter 1:21; 1 John 4:13; 5:6-7; Revelation 1:10; 22:17.
III. Man
Man is the special creation of God, made in His own
image. He created them male and female as the crowning
work of His creation. The gift of gender is thus part of the
goodness of God's creation. In the beginning man was
115 Biblical Foundation
innocent of sin and was endowed by his Creator with
freedom of choice. By his free choice man sinned against
God and brought sin into the human race. Through the
temptation of Satan man transgressed the command of God,
and fell from his original innocence whereby his posterity
inherit a nature and an environment inclined toward sin.
Therefore, as soon as they are capable of moral action, they
become transgressors and are under condemnation. Only the
grace of God can bring man into His holy fellowship and
enable man to fulfill the creative purpose of God. The
sacredness of human personality is evident in that God
created man in His own image, and in that Christ died for
man; therefore, every person of every race possesses full
dignity and is worthy of respect and Christian love.
Genesis 1:26-30; 2:5,7,18-22; 3; 9:6; Psalms 1; 8:3-6;
32:1-5; 51:5; Isaiah 6:5; Jeremiah 17:5; Matthew 16:26;
Acts 17:26-31; Romans 1:19-32; 3:10-18,23; 5:6,12,19;
6:6; 7:14-25; 8:14-18,29; 1 Corinthians 1:21-31; 15:19,
21-22; Ephesians 2:1-22; Colossians 1:21-22; 3:9-11.
IV. Salvation
Salvation involves the redemption of the whole man,
and is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord
and Saviour, who by His own blood obtained eternal
redemption for the believer. In its broadest sense salvation
includes regeneration, justification, sanctification, and
glorification. There is no salvation apart from personal faith
in Jesus Christ as Lord.
A. Regeneration, or the new birth, is a work of God's
grace whereby believers become new creatures in Christ
Jesus. It is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit
through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in
repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Repentance and faith are inseparable experiences of grace.
Repentance is a genuine turning from sin toward God.
Faith is the acceptance of Jesus Christ and commitment of
the entire personality to Him as Lord and Saviour.
B. Justification is God's gracious and full acquittal
upon principles of His righteousness of all sinners who
repent and believe in Christ. Justification brings the believer
unto a relationship of peace and favor with God.
C. Sanctification is the experience, beginning in
regeneration, by which the believer is set apart to God's
purposes, and is enabled to progress toward moral and
spiritual maturity through the presence and power of the
Holy Spirit dwelling in him. Growth in grace should
continue throughout the regenerate person's life.
D. Glorification is the culmination of salvation and is
the final blessed and abiding state of the redeemed.
Genesis 3:15; Exodus 3:14-17; 6:2-8; Matthew 1:21;
4:17; 16:21-26; 27:22-28:6; Luke 1:68-69; 2:28-32; John
1:11-14,29; 3:3-21,36; 5:24; 10:9,28-29; 15:1-16; 17:17;
Acts 2:21; 4:12; 15:11; 16:30-31; 17:30-31; 20:32; Romans
1:16-18; 2:4; 3:23-25; 4:3ff.; 5:8-10; 6:1-23; 8:1-18,29-39;
10:9-10,13; 13:11-14; 1 Corinthians 1:18,30; 6:19-20;
15:10; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20; Galatians 2:20; 3:13; 5:22-
25; 6:15; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-22; 4:11-16; Philippians 2:12-
13; Colossians 1:9-22; 3:1ff.; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24;
2 Timothy 1:12; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 2:1-3; 5:8-9;
9:24-28; 11:1-12:8,14; James 2:14-26; 1 Peter 1:2-23;
1 John 1:6-2:11; Revelation 3:20; 21:1-22:5.
V. God's Purpose of Grace
Election is the gracious purpose of God, according to
which He regenerates, justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies
sinners. It is consistent with the free agency of man, and
comprehends all the means in connection with the end. It is
the glorious display of God's sovereign goodness, and is
infinitely wise, holy, and unchangeable. It excludes boasting
and promotes humility.
All true believers endure to the end. Those whom God
has accepted in Christ, and sanctified by His Spirit, will
never fall away from the state of grace, but shall persevere to
the end. Believers may fall into sin through neglect and
temptation, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their
graces and comforts, and bring reproach on the cause of
Christ and temporal judgments on themselves; yet they shall
be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.
Genesis 12:1-3; Exodus 19:5-8; 1 Samuel 8:4-7,19-22;
Isaiah 5:1-7; Jeremiah 31:31ff.; Matthew 16:18-19; 21:28-
45; 24:22,31; 25:34; Luke 1:68-79; 2:29-32; 19:41-44;
24:44-48; John 1:12-14; 3:16; 5:24; 6:44-45,65; 10:27-29;
15:16; 17:6,12,17-18; Acts 20:32; Romans 5:9-10; 8:28-39;
10:12-15; 11:5-7,26-36; 1 Corinthians 1:1-2; 15:24-28;
Ephesians 1:4-23; 2:1-10; 3:1-11; Colossians 1:12-14;
2 Thessalonians 2:13-14; 2 Timothy 1:12; 2:10,19; Hebrews
11:39-12:2; James 1:12; 1 Peter 1:2-5,13; 2:4-10; 1 John
1:7-9; 2:19; 3:2.
VI. The Church
A New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is an
autonomous local congregation of baptized believers,
associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the
gospel; observing the two ordinances of Christ, governed by
His laws, exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested
in them by His Word, and seeking to extend the gospel to the
ends of the earth. Each congregation operates under the
Lordship of Christ through democratic processes. In such a
congregation each member is responsible and accountable to
Christ as Lord. Its scriptural officers are pastors and
deacons. While both men and women are gifted for service
in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as
qualified by Scripture.
The New Testament speaks also of the church as the
Body of Christ which includes all of the redeemed of all the
ages, believers from every tribe, and tongue, and people, and
nation.
Matthew 16:15-19; 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-42,47; 5:11-14;
6:3-6; 13:1-3; 14:23,27; 15:1-30; 16:5; 20:28; Romans 1:7;
1 Corinthians 1:2; 3:16; 5:4-5; 7:17; 9:13-14; 12;
Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:8-11,21; 5:22-32;
Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:18; 1 Timothy 2:9-14; 3:1-15;
4:14; Hebrews 11:39-40; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Revelation 2-3;
21:2-3.
Biblical Foundation 116
VII. Baptism and the Lord's Supper
Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water
in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is
an act of obedience symbolizing the believer's faith in a
crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, the believer's death to
sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in
newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to his faith
in the final resurrection of the dead. Being a church
ordinance, it is prerequisite to the privileges of church
membership and to the Lord's Supper.
The Lord's Supper is a symbolic act of obedience
whereby members of the church, through partaking of the
bread and the fruit of the vine, memorialize the death of the
Redeemer and anticipate His second coming.
Matthew 3:13-17; 26:26-30; 28:19-20; Mark 1:9-11;
14:22-26; Luke 3:21-22; 22:19-20; John 3:23; Acts
2:41-42; 8:35-39; 16:30-33; 20:7; Romans 6:3-5;
1 Corinthians 10:16,21; 11:23-29; Colossians 2:12.
VIII. The Lord's Day
The first day of the week is the Lord's Day. It is a
Christian institution for regular observance. It
commemorates the resurrection of Christ from the dead and
should include exercises of worship and spiritual devotion,
both public and private. Activities on the Lord's Day should
be commensurate with the Christian's conscience under the
Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Exodus 20:8-11; Matthew 12:1-12; 28:1ff.; Mark
2:27-28; 16:1-7; Luke 24:1-3,33-36; John 4:21-24; 20:1,
19-28; Acts 20:7; Romans 14:5-10; I Corinthians 16:1-2;
Colossians 2:16; 3:16; Revelation 1:10.
IX. The Kingdom
The Kingdom of God includes both His general
sovereignty over the universe and His particular kingship
over men who willfully acknowledge Him as King.
Particularly the Kingdom is the realm of salvation into
which men enter by trustful, childlike commitment to Jesus
Christ. Christians ought to pray and to labor that the
Kingdom may come and God's will be done on earth. The
full consummation of the Kingdom awaits the return of Jesus
Christ and the end of this age.
Genesis 1:1; Isaiah 9:6-7; Jeremiah 23:5-6; Matthew
3:2; 4:8-10,23; 12:25-28; 13:1-52; 25:31-46; 26:29; Mark
1:14-15; 9:1; Luke 4:43; 8:1; 9:2; 12:31-32; 17:20-21;
23:42; John 3:3; 18:36; Acts 1:6-7; 17:22-31; Romans
5:17; 8:19; 1 Corinthians 15:24-28; Colossians 1:13;
Hebrews 11:10,16; 12:28; 1 Peter 2:4-10; 4:13; Revelation
1:6,9; 5:10; 11:15; 21-22.
X. Last Things
God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring
the world to its appropriate end. According to His promise,
Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the
earth; the dead will be raised; and Christ will judge all men
in righteousness. The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell,
the place of everlasting punishment. The righteous in their
resurrected and glorified bodies will receive their reward and
will dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord.
Isaiah 2:4; 11:9; Matthew 16:27; 18:8-9; 19:28;
24:27,30,36,44; 25:31-46; 26:64; Mark 8:38; 9:43-48; Luke
12:40,48; 16:19-26; 17:22-37; 21:27-28; John 14:1-3; Acts
1:11; 17:31; Romans 14:10; 1 Corinthians 4:5;
15:24-28,35-58; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Philippians 3:20-21;
Colossians 1:5; 3:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 5:1ff.;
2 Thessalonians 1:7ff.; 2; 1 Timothy 6:14; 2 Timothy 4:1,8;
Titus 2:13; Hebrews 9:27-28; James 5:8; 2 Peter 3:7ff.;
1 John 2:28; 3:2; Jude 14; Revelation 1:18; 3:11; 20:1-
22:13.
XI. Evangelism and Missions
It is the duty and privilege of every follower of Christ
and of every church of the Lord Jesus Christ to endeavor to
make disciples of all nations. The new birth of man's spirit
by God's Holy Spirit means the birth of love for others.
Missionary effort on the part of all rests thus upon a spiritual
necessity of the regenerate life, and is expressly and
repeatedly commanded in the teachings of Christ. The Lord
Jesus Christ has commanded the preaching of the gospel to
all nations. It is the duty of every child of God to seek
constantly to win the lost to Christ by verbal witness
undergirded by a Christian lifestyle, and by other methods in
harmony with the gospel of Christ.
Genesis 12:1-3; Exodus 19:5-6; Isaiah 6:1-8; Matthew
9:37-38; 10:5-15; 13:18-30, 37-43; 16:19; 22:9-10; 24:14;
28:18-20; Luke 10:1-18; 24:46-53; John 14:11-12;
15:7-8,16; 17:15; 20:21; Acts 1:8; 2; 8:26-40; 10:42-48;
13:2-3; Romans 10:13-15; Ephesians 3:1-11;
1 Thessalonians 1:8; 2 Timothy 4:5; Hebrews 2:1-3;
11:39-12:2; 1 Peter 2:4-10; Revelation 22:17.
XII. Education
Christianity is the faith of enlightenment and
intelligence. In Jesus Christ abide all the treasures of
wisdom and knowledge. All sound learning is, therefore, a
part of our Christian heritage. The new birth opens all
human faculties and creates a thirst for knowledge.
Moreover, the cause of education in the Kingdom of Christ
is co-ordinate with the causes of missions and general
benevolence, and should receive along with these the liberal
support of the churches. An adequate system of Christian
education is necessary to a complete spiritual program for
Christ's people.
In Christian education there should be a proper balance
between academic freedom and academic responsibility.
Freedom in any orderly relationship of human life is always
limited and never absolute. The freedom of a teacher in a
Christian school, college, or seminary is limited by the pre-
eminence of Jesus Christ, by the authoritative nature of the
Scriptures, and by the distinct purpose for which the school
exists.
117 Biblical Foundation
Deuteronomy 4:1,5,9,14; 6:1-10; 31:12-13; Nehemiah
8:1-8; Job 28:28; Psalms 19:7ff.; 119:11; Proverbs 3:13ff.;
4:1-10; 8:1-7,11; 15:14; Ecclesiastes 7:19; Matthew 5:2;
7:24ff.; 28:19-20; Luke 2:40; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31;
Ephesians 4:11-16; Philippians 4:8; Colossians 2:3,8-9;
1 Timothy 1:3-7; 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:14-17; Hebrews
5:12-6:3; James 1:5; 3:17.
XIII. Stewardship
God is the source of all blessings, temporal and
spiritual; all that we have and are we owe to Him. Christians
have a spiritual debtorship to the whole world, a holy
trusteeship in the gospel, and a binding stewardship in their
possessions. They are therefore under obligation to serve
Him with their time, talents, and material possessions; and
should recognize all these as entrusted to them to use for the
glory of God and for helping others. According to the
Scriptures, Christians should contribute of their means
cheerfully, regularly, systematically, proportionately, and
liberally for the advancement of the Redeemer's cause on
earth.
Genesis 14:20; Leviticus 27:30-32; Deuteronomy 8:18;
Malachi 3:8-12; Matthew 6:1-4,19-21; 19:21; 23:23;
25:14-29; Luke 12:16-21,42; 16:1-13; Acts 2:44-47;
5:1-11; 17:24-25; 20:35; Romans 6:6-22; 12:1-2;
1 Corinthians 4:1-2; 6:19-20; 12; 16:1-4; 2 Corinthians
8-9; 12:15; Philippians 4:10-19; 1 Peter 1:18-19.
XIV. Cooperation
Christ's people should, as occasion requires, organize
such associations and conventions as may best secure
cooperation for the great objects of the Kingdom of God.
Such organizations have no authority over one another or
over the churches. They are voluntary and advisory bodies
designed to elicit, combine, and direct the energies of our
people in the most effective manner. Members of New
Testament churches should cooperate with one another in
carrying forward the missionary, educational, and
benevolent ministries for the extension of Christ's Kingdom.
Christian unity in the New Testament sense is spiritual
harmony and voluntary cooperation for common ends by
various groups of Christ's people. Cooperation is desirable
between the various Christian denominations, when the end
to be attained is itself justified, and when such cooperation
involves no violation of conscience or compromise of
loyalty to Christ and His Word as revealed in the New
Testament.
Exodus 17:12; 18:17ff.; Judges 7:21; Ezra 1:3-4; 2:68-
69; 5:14-15; Nehemiah 4; 8:1-5; Matthew 10:5-15; 20:1-16;
22:1-10; 28:19-20; Mark 2:3; Luke 10:1ff.; Acts 1:13-14;
2:1ff.; 4:31-37; 13:2-3; 15:1-35; 1 Corinthians 1:10-17;
3:5-15; 12; 2 Corinthians 8-9; Galatians 1:6-10; Ephesians
4:1-16; Philippians 1:15-18.
XV. The Christian and the Social Order
All Christians are under obligation to seek to make the
will of Christ supreme in our own lives and in human
society. Means and methods used for the improvement of
society and the establishment of righteousness among men
can be truly and permanently helpful only when they are
rooted in the regeneration of the individual by the saving
grace of God in Jesus Christ. In the spirit of Christ,
Christians should oppose racism, every form of greed,
selfishness, and vice, and all forms of sexual immorality,
including adultery, homosexuality, and pornography. We
should work to provide for the orphaned, the needy, the
abused, the aged, the helpless, and the sick. We should speak
on behalf of the unborn and contend for the sanctity of all
human life from conception to natural death. Every Christian
should seek to bring industry, government, and society as a
whole under the sway of the principles of righteousness,
truth, and brotherly love. In order to promote these ends
Christians should be ready to work with all men of good will
in any good cause, always being careful to act in the spirit of
love without compromising their loyalty to Christ and His
truth.
Exodus 20:3-17; Leviticus 6:2-5; Deuteronomy 10:12;
27:17; Psalm 101:5; Micah 6:8; Zechariah 8:16; Matthew
5:13-16,43-48; 22:36-40; 25:35; Mark 1:29-34; 2:3ff.;
10:21; Luke 4:18-21; 10:27-37; 20:25; John 15:12; 17:15;
Romans 12-14; 1Corinthians 5:9-10; 6:1-7; 7:20-24;
10:23-11:1; Galatians 3:26-28; Ephesians 6:5-9;
Colossians 3:12-17; 1 Thessalonians 3:12; Philemon; James
1:27; 2:8.
XVI. Peace and War
It is the duty of Christians to seek peace with all men on
principles of righteousness. In accordance with the spirit and
teachings of Christ they should do all in their power to put
an end to war.
The true remedy for the war spirit is the gospel of our
Lord. The supreme need of the world is the acceptance of
His teachings in all the affairs of men and nations, and the
practical application of His law of love. Christian people
throughout the world should pray for the reign of the Prince
of Peace.
Isaiah 2:4; Matthew 5:9,38-48; 6:33; 26:52; Luke
22:36,38; Romans 12:18-19; 13:1-7; 14:19; Hebrews
12:14; James 4:1-2.
XVII. Religious Liberty
God alone is Lord of the conscience, and He has left it
free from the doctrines and commandments of men which
are contrary to His Word or not contained in it. Church and
state should be separate. The state owes to every church
protection and full freedom in the pursuit of its spiritual
ends. In providing for such freedom no ecclesiastical group
or denomination should be favored by the state more than
others. Civil government being ordained of God, it is the
duty of Christians to render loyal obedience thereto in all
things not contrary to the revealed will of God. The church
should not resort to the civil power to carry on its work. The
gospel of Christ contemplates spiritual means alone for the
pursuit of its ends. The state has no right to impose penalties
for religious opinions of any kind. The state has no right to
impose taxes for the support of any form of religion. A free
Biblical Foundation 118
church in a free state is the Christian ideal, and this implies
the right of free and unhindered access to God on the part of
all men, and the right to form and propagate opinions in the
sphere of religion without interference by the civil power.
Genesis 1:27; 2:7; Matthew 6:6-7,24; 16:26; 22:21;
John 8:36; Acts 4:19-20; Romans 6:1-2; 13:1-7; Galatians
5:1,13; Philippians 3:20; 1 Timothy 2:1-2; James 4:12;
1 Peter 2:12-17; 3:11-17; 4:12-19.
XVIII. The Family
God has ordained the family as the foundational
institution of human society. It is composed of persons
related to one another by marriage, blood, or adoption.
Marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in
covenant commitment for a lifetime. It is God's unique gift
to reveal the union between Christ and His church and to
provide for the man and the woman in marriage the
framework for intimate companionship, the channel of
sexual expression according to Biblical standards, and the
means for procreation of the human race.
The husband and wife are of equal worth before God,
since both are created in God's image. The marriage
relationship models the way God relates to His people. A
husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church. He
has the God-given responsibility to provide for, to protect,
and to lead his family. A wife is to submit herself graciously
to the servant leadership of her husband even as the church
willingly submits to the headship of Christ. She, being in the
image of God as is her husband and thus equal to him, has
the God-given responsibility to respect her husband and to
serve as his helper in managing the household and nurturing
the next generation.
Children, from the moment of conception, are a blessing
and heritage from the Lord. Parents are to demonstrate to
their children God's pattern for marriage. Parents are to teach
their children spiritual and moral values and to lead them,
through consistent lifestyle example and loving discipline, to
make choices based on Biblical truth. Children are to honor
and obey their parents.
Genesis 1:26-28; 2:15-25; 3:1-20; Exodus 20:12;
Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Joshua 24:15; 1 Samuel 1:26-28;
Psalms 51:5; 78:1-8; 127; 128; 139:13-16; Proverbs 1:8;
5:15-20; 6:20-22; 12:4; 13:24; 14:1; 17:6; 18:22; 22:6,15;
23:13-14; 24:3; 29:15,17; 31:10-31; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12;
9:9; Malachi 2:14-16; Matthew 5:31-32; 18:2-5; 19:3-9;
Mark 10:6-12; Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 7:1-16;
Ephesians 5:21-33; 6:1-4; Colossians 3:18-21; 1 Timothy
5:8,14; 2 Timothy 1:3-5; Titus 2:3-5; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Peter
3:1-7.
Index 120
Index
―2+2‖ or ―2+3‖ Program .............................................. 31, 55
A
Academic Appeals Process ................................................. 33
Academic Information ................................................... 30-43
Academic Policies ......................................................... 33-41
Academic Probation ........................................................... 33
Accreditation .....................................................................1-2
Activities, Scheduling......................................................... 15
Add, Course ........................................................................ 35
Administration .................................................................. 108
Admissions .................................................................... 30-33
Advanced Standing by Examination ............................. 33-34
American Schools of Oriental Research (ASOR) ................. 2
Appeals Process, Academic ................................................ 33
Applying ............................................................................. 30
Attendance .................................................................. 34, 105
Auditing .............................................................................. 34
Awards, Scholastic at Graduation ...................................... 43
B
Baptist Faith and Message, 2000 ............................... 114-118
Biblical Archaeology Major, M.A. Degree ........................ 66
Biblical Foundation, Seminary .................................. 111-118
Biblical Languages Major, M.A. Degree ............................ 67
Bookstore: LifeWay Campus Store .................................... 12
C
Calendar, Academic ............................................................ ii
Calendar, Midwestern......................................................... 12
Campus Safety and Security Report ..................................... 7
Campus Wide Learning Opportunities ............................... 11
Catalog Requirements ........................................................ 34
CCC Courses .............................................................. 35, 107
Certificate, Graduate........................................................... 69
Chapel Attendance.............................................................. 12
Child Endangerment and Abandonment ............................... 9
Christian Education Concentration, M.Div. Degree ........... 52
Christian Education, Master of Arts in ............................... 60
Christian Foundations, Graduate Certificate ...................... 69
Church Music, Master of Arts in ................................... 62-63
Closure, Weather ................................................................ 34
College Courses ................................................................ 107
Collegiate Ministries Concentration, M.Div. Degree ......... 53
Commencement, Participating in ....................................... 42
Compliance with Federal Laws and Regulations ..............6-8
Computer-Campus-Computer, CCC Courses ............. 35, 107
Counseling Concentration, M.Div. Degree ........................ 54
Counseling, Master of Arts in............................................. 64
Course
Appeal/Complaints ...................................................... 35
Changes (Add/Drop or Withdrawal)............................ 35
Descriptions ......................................................... 78-104
Numbering Guide ........................................................ 78
Offering Cancellations ................................................. 35
Repetition .................................................................... 35
Substitution .................................................................. 35
Waiver by EXCEL Examination ................................. 35
Courses
Doctoral ................................................................. 79-84
Master‘s ............................................................... 85-103
Pre-Baccalaureate ...................................................... 104
Coursework Requirements .................................................. 35
Credit Hour ......................................................................... 36
Credit Hour Load ................................................................ 36
Cross-Enrollment ................................................................ 36
Curriculum .................................................................. 78-104
D
Degree Programs .......................................................... 44-77
Diploma for the Ministering Wife ...................................... 77
Diploma Wives (DW) Courses ......................................... 104
Directory Information, FERPA ........................................... 37
Disabled Student Facilities and Services ..............................7
Disciplinary Actions ....................................................... 9-10
Diversity of Student Body ....................................................8
Divorce ............................................................................... 11
Doctor of Educational Ministry .......................................... 48
Doctor of Ministry ........................................................ 46-47
Doctor of Philosophy .................................................... 44-45
Doctoral Courses .......................................................... 78-83
Doctoral Programs ........................................................ 44-48
Dress ................................................................................... 11
Drop, Course ....................................................................... 35
Drug and Alcohol Awareness ...............................................6
E
Educational Fees ..................................................... 19-21, 31
Emergencies ..........................................................................6
Employment .................................................................. 12, 39
English Proficiency ............................................................. 31
EXCEL, Course Waiver .................................................... 35
Extension Programs, see Off-Campus Programs ...... 105-107
Extension Sites.................................................................. 105
121 Index
F
Facilities ............................................................................2-3
FACTS Payment Plan......................................................... 24
Faculty ................................................................... 3, 108-110
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act .................. 36-37
Federal Funds ................................................................. 8, 25
Fees, Educational ..................................................... 19-21, 31
Final Examinations ............................................................. 37
Finances ......................................................................... 19-29
Financial Aid ............................................................. 8, 24-27
Financial Payment Process ................................................. 19
Financial Services ............................................................... 23
Full-time, Student ......................................................... 25, 37
G
Grades/Grade Reports ........................................................ 38
Grading System .................................................................. 38
Graduate Certificate, Christian Foundations ...................... 76
Graduation ..................................................................... 49-51
Grievance Process ......................................................... 10-11
H
Half-time, Student ........................................................ 25, 37
History ...............................................................................4-5
Honors, Graduation ............................................................ 42
Housing ................................................................... 12-13, 22
I
Incomplete Grade ............................................................... 38
Independent Studies............................................................ 38
Instructional Facilities and Labs ........................................... 7
Insurance ............................................................................ 13
Integrity in Seminary Studies ............................................. 39
International Church Planting, ―2+2‖ or ―2+3‖ ............ 31, 55
International Church Planting, M.Div. Degree ................... 55
International Students .................................................... 17-18
Internet Courses .................................................... 40, 73, 104
J
Job Placement ....................................................................... 7
K
Kansas City Association of Theological Seminaries .......... 36
Koehn-Myers Center .......................................................... 14
L
Lacking Hours and Participating in Commencement ......... 42
Late Payments ................................................................ 8, 23
Leave of Absence ............................................................... 49
Library Use ......................................................................... 39
LifeWay Campus Bookstore .............................................. 12
Loans and Loan Deferments .......................................... 24-25
Local Church Membership Certification ............................ 11
Lost and Found ................................................................... 13
M
Maintenance ..........................................................................9
Maps..........................................................................123, 124
Master of Arts Degree
Biblical Archaeology Major ........................................ 71
Biblical Languages Major............................................ 72
Theological Studies Major (MATS/online) ................. 73
Master of Arts in:
Christian Education Degree ......................................... 60
plus a Church Music Concentration ..................... 61
Church Music Degree ............................................ 67-68
Counseling Degree ...................................................... 69
Master of Arts Programs ............................................... 70-73
Master of Divinity (M.Div.) Degree ............................. 54-64
Basic Program ............................................................. 55
Biblical Languages Concentration ............................... 56
Christian Education Concentration .............................. 57
Collegiate Ministries Concentration ............................ 58
Counseling Concentration ........................................... 59
International Church Planting Concentration .............. 60
North American Church Planting Concentration ......... 61
Urban Ministry Concentration ..................................... 62
Worship Leadership Concentration ............................. 63
Youth Ministry Concentration ..................................... 64
Master's Courses ......................................................... 85-103
Master's Programs ......................................................... 54-73
Meal Plan/Housing Fees ............................................... 21-22
Midwestern Baptist College, SBC .................................. 4, 68
Midwestern Evangelism Teams (MET) .............................. 14
Midwestern Women‘s Fellowship ...................................... 14
Ministry Opportunities ........................................................ 14
Misconduct ..................................................................... 9-10
Mission Statement ........................................................ 1, 112
Music Opportunities ........................................................... 15
N
Nehemiah Project .......................................................... 31, 61
New Student Orientation ................................................ 8, 32
Nondegree-Seeking Students .............................................. 39
Nondiscrimination ................................................................6
Non-Payment of Financial Obligations .......................... 8, 19
Nontraditional/Online Master‘s Program............................ 73
Nontraditional Courses ..................................................... 105
North American Church Planting, M.Div. Degree ............. 61
O
Off-Campus Programs .............................................. 104-106
On-Campus Requirement for a Degree ....................... 40, 105
Online/Internet Courses ........................................ 40, 73, 105
Online Master‘s Program .................................................... 73
Online Policies Chart .......................................................74
Orientation, New Student ............................................... 8, 32
Index 122
P
Parking ............................................................................... 13
Part-time, Student ......................................................... 25, 37
Peer-to-Peer File Sharing ..................................................... 7
Ph.D. Degree ................................................................. 49-50
Post Office and Campus Mail ............................................. 13
Pre-Baccalaureate Courses ............................................... 103
Pre-Baccalaureate Program ................................................ 75
Pre-enrollment ................................................................ 8, 40
Probation, Academic .......................................................... 33
Professional Doctoral Programs .................................... 50-53
Professional Master‘s Programs .................................... 54-69
Profiles in Ministry ....................................................... 32, 42
Programs of Study ................................................. 3-4, 49-75
Prospective Students ............................................................. 8
Publications ........................................................................ 14
Purpose Statement ........................................................ 1, 112
R
Readmission of Servicemembers/Veterans ........................ 45
Recreation ........................................................................... 15
Reenrollment after a Withdrawal ....................................... 45
Refunds .................................................................. 22-23, 106
Registration .................................................................. 37, 45
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 ................................................... 7
Repayment Policy (Return of Title IV Aid) ....................... 25
Research Doctorate ........................................................ 49-50
Research Master‘s Programs ......................................... 75-77
Residency Requirement ...................................................... 47
Responsibilities, Student ........................................... 8-12, 46
S
Satisfactory Academic Progress .............................. 25-27, 46
Scholarships................................................................... 27-29
Scholastic Awards, Graduation .................................... 47, 48
Security ............................................................................... 14
Smoking ............................................................................... 9
Student
Body Association ........................................................ 15
Center .......................................................................... 14
Development Committee ............................................. 14
Handbook .................................................................6-18
Organizations .............................................................. 15
Right to Know ............................................................... 6
Student‘s Responsibility and Academic Advising .............. 46
Style Guide for Written Papers/Assignments ..................... 46
Supervised Ministry............................................................ 46
T
Table of Contents ................................................................ iv
Testing Services‘ Institutional Codes ................................. 32
Textbooks ........................................................................... 21
Theological Studies Major, M.A. Degree (Online)............. 73
Transcripts ...................................................................... 8, 32
Transfer Credit .............................................................. 32-33
Trustees ........................................................................... iv, 4
Tuition .......................................................................... 20-21
Tuition Differential ............................................................. 18
Tuition, Student Child........................................................20
Tuition, Student Spouse......................................................20
Two-plus-Two Option, M.Div.-NACP ............................... 61
U
Undergraduate
Students enrolling in a Master‘s course ....................... 41
Urban Ministry Concentration, M.Div. Degree .................. 62
V
Veteran's Benefits ............................................................... 27
W
Weather, Closure ................................................................ 34
Website .................................................................................4
WISDOM Courses ............................................................ 104
WISDOM Program ....................................................... 16, 77
Withdrawal from Seminary ...................................... 9, 22, 41
Worship Leadership Concentration, with MACE Degree .. 66
Worship Leadership Concentration, M.Div. Degree .......... 63
Worship Services ................................................................ 16
Y
Youth Ministry Concentration, M.Div. Degree .................. 64
123 Maps
[City Map]
Maps 124
[Campus Map]