| ERSU Program & Individual Study Track |
|
Introduction ERSU is a Seminary and as such its main goal is and will remain the training of future pastors and church leaders. But over the years we also see a growing need to offer a more differentiated program to our students. For this reason we developed several 'Major Programs', that will allow the students to concentrate on more specific areas in the field of theology. There may be several reasons to choose a specific Major, e.g.: - to receive extra training in a specific area of interest or where the student feels a need to upgrade - those who have a zeal for study, but do not want to become a pastor, can concentrate on an area of their interest - those who want to continue studying at another institute after finishing ERSU can already start a specialization in a certain area. Those who finish a Major will receive a Master of Divinity diploma of ERSU.
1. Master of Art (MA) and Master of Divinity (MDiv) Programs in ERSU a. The designation 'MA' or 'MDiv' are related to the output of the program: - 60 credits MA diploma, which is esp. for those who do not prepare for a full time ministry in the church - 90 credits MDiv diploma, which is esp. for those who prepare for a full-time ministry - as a pastor or otherwise.
b. All Courses in ERSU will be taught on a MDiv-level, this regards also MA-program.
c. Both the MA and the MDiv will be open for men and women, but women will not participate actively in the Homiletics Courses. As far as course assignments would be typical for the work of the pastors, female students will receive alternative tasks.
1.1. MA Program All students do the same MA program of 60 credits.
1.2. MDiv Programs After finishing this MA Program students can be allowed into one of the Majors of the MDiv program: - pastoral ministries - biblical studies - church planter/mission - reformed theology - church history. In future the development of other Majors is possible.
a. Format of the MDiv - Major Programs In the Major Program a Course does not necessarily imply lectures, but can also be made up by reading and writing assignments only. This will be discussed with the mentor and students individually and agreed upon by the staff.
b. How to choose your Major? * Those students who want to have the specific training for the Pastoral ministry will enter the Pastoral Ministry Major. * The other Majors are for those students, who have a special interest in some more focused area of theology and / or service in the church. It is important to know, why you want to study a certain Major, because these Majors require more self-discipline, more self-study and more special interest in a topic than the Pastoral Ministry Major. It is also important to realize, that the home church of a student may require specific Courses for the ministry which is needed in the church. For this reason students make their choice of Major on the basis of their Personal Development Plan, which they discuss together with (a member of) the staff. The choice of a Major should be approved by the staff. Eventually also contact with the home church of the student may be required.
Example: if someone wants to Major in church planting, but the staff does not see this as a good choice after discussing the Personal Development Plan together with the student, the staff will tell the student to choose another Major.
c. All Major Programs have some Courses, which are required for all. These Courses will not necessarily be scheduled during the last years of the study. The following Courses are required in all Majors Programs: - Introduction to Grammar - Hebrew I - Greek I
d. Homiletics Homiletics is included in all Majors. Women will not participate actively in the Homiletics Courses by preaching. Men who do not prepare for the pastorate will be allowed to take the Homiletics Courses or take other Courses instead.
e. Practical Ministry Assignment Those men who want to become a pastor, but do not take the Pastoral Ministry Major, will still need to have some knowledge in the following areas that are possibly not in the Major program they choose:
- Evangelism - Worship and Music - Counseling; Pastoral Care - Discipleship, Mentoring, Small Group Ministry
In as far as these Courses are not part of their Major, students who want to become a pastor, will be required to sit in on the lectures and actively participate in the lessons. They will not be required to do the home-work assignments for these Courses. For Course lectures attended the student will receive 1 credit per Course. The way the credits for the Practical Ministry Assignment will be applied within the Major will be discussed with each student on the basis of his / her Personal Development Plan.
Diploma The ERSU diplomas will show: - the MA or the MDiv degree - in case of the MDiv degree: - the Major that was taken will be indicated - if the Major was not the Pastoral Ministry Major also the Practical Ministry Assignment has to be indicated for those who want to become pastors.
The churches who are responsible for licenses, examination and ordination, must be aware of the program and also of the philosophy behind the Practical Ministry Assignment!
MA Program (60 credits Program)
Biblical Studies Credits BI210 Biblical Interpretation 3 BI211 Biblical Theology/Covenant 3 OT310 Pentateuch 3 OT311 Joshua-Esther 3 OT312 Poetry and Wisdom 3 OT313 Prophets 3 NT410 Gospels 3 NT411 Acts and Pauline Epistles 3 NT412 General Epistles and Revelation 3 27 Credits
Church History CH510 Early Church – 1100 3 CH511 1100-1700 Eastern and Western 3 CH512 1700-Present Eastern and Western 3 9 Credits
Systematic Theology ST610 Introduction to Reform Doctrine 2 ST611 Revelation & God & Man (incl. Trinity & Creation) 2 ST612 Sin & Person and Work of Christ 3 ST613-1 Holy Spirit: Person & Work (incl. Order of Salvation) 3 ST613-2 Church and Eschatology 3 ST614 Ethics: Introduction and Cases 3 16 Credits
Practical Theology PT710 Church, Ministry, and Christian Education 3 PT711 Communication and Leadership 2 PT715 Faith, Culture, and Society 2 7 Credits
Study Skills & Portfolio 1
Total 60 Credits
MDiv Programs (additional 30 credits)
For those who want to become a pastor but do NOT choose the Pastoral Ministry Major, a special Pastoral Ministry Assignment will be required, which will be implemented in the Major. This will be done in consultation with the mentor and the staff.
** means: either / or
1. MDiv with Pastoral Ministry Major Grammar 1 LT110 Hebrew I 3 LT112 Greek I 3 LT113 Greek II 2 PT712 Evangelism 2 PT713 Homiletics 3 PT714 Worship and Music 2 PT717 Counseling; Pastoral Care - Theory and Practice 6 PT721 Discipleship, Mentoring, Small Group Ministry 3 PT723 Advanced Homiletics 2 PT 724 Spiritual Growth: Theology And Practice 2
Portfolio 1
Total 30 Credits
2. MDiv with OT Biblical studies Major Grammar 1 LT110 Hebrew I 3 LT111 Hebrew II 2 LT112 Greek I 3 Theological English 3 PT713 Homiletics 3 Theology of the OT 7 In-depth Biblical Exposition - OT (e.g. Isaiah) 7
Portfolio 1
Total 30 Credits
3. MDiv with NT Biblical Studies Major Grammar 1 LT110 Hebrew I 3 LT112 Greek I 3 LT113 Greek II 2 Theological English 3 PT713 Homiletics 3 Theology of the NT 7 In-depth Biblical Exposition - NT (e.g. Romans) 7
Portfolio 1
Total 30 Credits
4. MDiv with Systematic Theology Major Grammar 1 LT110 Hebrew I 3 LT112 Greek I 3 Theological English 3 PT713 Homiletics 3 Introduction to Contemporary Theology 3 Advanced studies in a certain locus of Systematics 3 In-depth study of one topic or theologian 6 History of Philosophy 2 Apologetics 2
Portfolio 1
Total 30 Credits
5. MDiv with Church Planting Major Grammar 1 LT110 Hebrew I 3 LT112 Greek I 3 PT713 Homiletics 3 PT712 Evangelism 3 PT716 Mission, Church Planting and Church Growth 6 PT721 Discipleship, Mentoring, Small Group Ministry 3 Advanced Communication & Leadership 2 **World religions and Cults 2 **History of Missions / Spread of Christianity 2 **Advanced studies in the history of Slavic Christianity 2 Apologetics 3
Portfolio 1
Total 30 Credits
6. MDiv with Church History Major Grammar 1 LT110 Hebrew I 3 LT112 Greek I 3 PT713 Homiletics 3 Theological English 3 Theory and History of Historical research 2 **Advanced studies in the history of Slavic Christianity 3 **World History / Civilization 3 Advanced studies in a certain period of Church History 5 Specialized studies on a certain person or movement in CH (from the period of specialization) 6 Portfolio 1
Total 30 Credits
|