Courses | Master of Divinity (Spiritual Formation)
Below are the course requirements for this academic program. For more program details, including graduation requirements and learning outcomes, visit Biola's academic catalog.
Specialization Requirements
Changes of specialization may be authorized under certain circumstances prior to the completion of 40 credits, but are discouraged after that point.
Advanced Standing
Applicants who have taken undergraduate courses in biblical or theological studies may request advanced standing based on collegiate work. See Talbot Admissions Requirements for details.
Biblical Languages Requirement
Two biblical languages are required: Greek and Hebrew.
Greek
The courses listed below are required. Qualifying examinations to test out of TTNT 501 or TTNT 502 are available to all interested students. Depending on exam results, a student may enroll directly into TTNT 502 or TTNT 503. For any language courses waived by a qualifying examination, the student should take an equal number of credits in the New Testament department (3 or 6).
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| TTNT 501 | Beginning Greek I | 3 |
| TTNT 502 | Beginning Greek II | 3 |
| TTNT 503 | Introduction to Exegesis | 3 |
| TTNT 604 | Exegesis in the Gospels | 3 |
| or TTNT 605 | Exegesis in the Epistles | |
Hebrew
The courses listed below are required. Qualifying examinations to test out of TTOT 603 or TTOT 604 are available to all interested students. Depending on exam results, a student may enroll directly into TTOT 604 or TTOT 703. For any language courses waived by the qualifying examination, the student should take an equal number of credits in the Old Testament department (3 or 6).
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| TTOT 603 | Elements of Hebrew I | 3 |
| TTOT 604 | Elements of Hebrew II | 3 |
| TTOT 703 | Introduction to Hebrew Exegesis | 3 |
| TTOT 722 | Hebrew Exegesis | 2 |
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prerequisite Courses | ||
| Old Testament Survey | ||
| New Testament Survey | ||
| Program Courses | ||
| Students enrolling in the Spiritual Formation specialization will take the following program courses and co-curricular requirements. All TTSF courses must be taken in-residence. | ||
| TTSF 517 | Hermeneutics and the Word in Spiritual Formation | 3 |
| or TTBE 517 | Hermeneutics and Bible Study Methods | |
| TTHT 505 | Patristic and Medieval Theology | 3 |
| or TTHT 506 | Reformation and Modern Theology | |
| or TTHT 514 | Historical Theology Survey | |
| TTNT 501 | Beginning Greek I | 3 |
| TTNT 502 | Beginning Greek II | 3 |
| TTNT 503 | Introduction to Exegesis | 3 |
| TTNT 604 | Exegesis in the Gospels | 3 |
| or TTNT 605 | Exegesis in the Epistles | |
| TTOT 603 | Elements of Hebrew I | 3 |
| TTOT 604 | Elements of Hebrew II | 3 |
| TTOT 703 | Introduction to Hebrew Exegesis | 3 |
| TTOT 722 | Hebrew Exegesis | 2 |
| TTPT 609 | Expository Preaching | 3 |
| TTTH 521 | Theology I: God, Scripture, Creation | 3 |
| TTTH 522 | Theology II: Christ, Humanity, Sin, Salvation | 3 |
| TTTH 623 | Theology III: Spirit, Church, Last Things | 3 |
| Spiritual Formation Specialization Courses | ||
| TTPT 602 | Pastoral Ministry | 3 |
| TTSF 521 | Introduction to Christian Spirituality and Prayer | 2 |
| TTSF 524 | History and Theory of Christian Soul Care and Direction | 2 |
| TTSF 531 | History and Traditions of Christian Spirituality (or TTSF elective course) | 2 |
| TTSF 532 | Developmental Spirituality and Contemplative Prayer | 2 |
| TTSF 543 | Personal Foundations of Spirituality and Retreat | 2 |
| TTSF 544 | Personality Development and Psychopathology | 3 |
| TTSF 577 | Soul Care Pre-practicum I and Professional Ethics | 2 |
| TTSF 578 | Soul Care Pre-practicum II and Professional Referral | 3 |
| TTSF 602 | Prayer and Formation in Expository Preaching 1 | 1 |
| TTSF 645 | Christian Virtue and the Spiritual Disciplines | 2 |
| TTSF 670 | Intensive Journey Inward and Retreat 2 | 2 |
| TTSF 677 | Soul Care Practicum I | 2 |
| or TTPT 791 | Field Apprenticeship IV | |
| TTSF 678 | Soul Care Practicum II 3 | 2 |
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Introduction to World Missions | ||
| Apologetics | ||
| Evangelism and Disciple-Making Strategies | ||
| Developing Strategic Church Ministries | ||
| The Church and Society | ||
| Elective Courses | ||
| TTSF elective courses | 2 | |
| Co-Curricular Requirements | ||
| Contact the Institute for Spiritual Formation (ISF) for a full description of these requirements. 4 | ||
Didactic Therapy | ||
Faculty-Student Retreats | ||
Personal Retreats | ||
Student Progress Assessment | ||
| Personal Spiritual Direction (must be taken every term of enrollment) | ||
| Total Credits | 79 | |