ERSU is a Seminary and as such its main goal is the training of future pastors and church leaders. The MDiv Pastoral track covers all those subjects considered essential for an all-rounded preparation for ministry of the Word. However, we realise that not everyone preparing for Christian ministry is called to pastoral ministry and so we also offer an MDiv General track with a greater number of elective courses. This allows students to pick several courses related to their own particular areas of ministry or interest.
a. The designation ‘BDiv’ or ‘MDiv’ are related to the output of the program:
– 60 credits BDiv diploma, which is especially for those not preparing for full time ministry in the church
– 90 credits MDiv diploma, which is especially for those preparing for full-time ministry – as a pastor or otherwise.
b. All Courses in ERSU will be taught on a MDiv-level, this regards also BDiv-program (which is merely shorter in length and does not require the study of the biblical languages).
c. Both the BDiv and the MDiv will be open for men and women, but women may not pursue the MDiv Pastoral track nor actively participate in the Homiletics Courses. (For any course assignments directly related to the typical duties of a pastor (such as the preparation of a series of sermon outlines), female students will receive alternative tasks.)
All ERSU students do the same core program of 60 credits. Those who successfully complete these courses may conclude their studies at that point and receive the BDiv diploma.
| Biblical Studies | ||
| BI210 | Biblical Interpretation | 3 |
| BI211 | Old Testament Introduction | 3 |
| BI212 | New Testament Introduction | 2 |
| OT310 | Pentateuch | 3 |
| OT311 | Joshua-Esther | 2 |
| OT312 | Poetry and Wisdom | 2 |
| OT313 | Prophets | 3 |
| NT410 | Gospels | 3 |
| NT411 | Acts and Pauline Epistles | 3 |
| NT412 | General Epistles and Revelation | 3 |
|
27 Credits
|
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| 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 | Revelation, Scripture, Introduction to Reformed Theology | 3 |
| ST611 | God, Man, Sin | 3 |
| ST612 | Person and Work of Christ | 3 |
| ST613 | Person and Work of HS, Eschatology | 3 |
| ST614 | Church, Sacraments | 2 |
| ST615 | Ethics: Introduction and Cases | 3 |
|
17 Credits
|
||
| Practical Theology | ||
| PT724 | Spiritual Growth: Theology and Practice | 2 |
| PT711 | Leadership, Care and Mentoring | 3 |
| PT712 | Apologetics | 2 |
| 7 Credits | ||
| Total 60 Credits | ||
Those students who want to have specific training for the Pastoral ministry are recommended to enter the Pastoral Ministry Track. Students with a calling to the ordained ministry, but considering choosing the General Track, should check whether this will meet the requirements of the denomination where they wish to pursue ordination.
The following subjects are required for both MDiv tracks:
– Hebrew 0
– Hebrew I
– Greek 0
– Greek I
– Homiletics I
| LT100 | Hebrew 0 | 2 |
| LT110 | Hebrew I | 3 |
| LT111 | Greek 0 | 2 |
| LT112 | Greek I | 3 |
| PT710 | Local Church: Ministry, Practice, Administration and Education | 3 |
| PT713 | Homiletics I | 3 |
| PT716 | Mission and Church Planting | 3 |
| PT717 | Counseling and Pastoral Care | 3 |
| PT718 | Evangelism | 2 |
| PT723 | Homiletics II | 2 |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Total 30 Credits | ||
| LT100 | Hebrew 0 | 2 |
| LT110 | Hebrew I | 3 |
| LT111 | Greek 0 | 2 |
| LT112 | Greek I | 3 |
| PT713 | Homiletics I | 3 |
| Electives | 17 | |
| Total 30 Credits | ||
| PT710 | Local Church: Ministry, Practice, Administration and Education | 3 |
| PT716 | Mission and Church Planting | 3 |
| PT717 | Counseling and Pastoral Care | 3 |
| PT718 | Evangelism | 2 |
| PT723 | Homiletics II | 2 |
| PT715 | Faith, Culture & Society | 2 |
_________
(MDiv General Track students must choose at least 3 of their elective courses from the above list.)
| PT726 | Internship/Practical Ministry Project | 1 |
| PT714 | Worship and Music | 2 |
| PT720 | History of Missions | 2 |
| ST620 | World religions and Cults | 2 |
| LT113 | Advanced Greek Language & Exegesis | 3 |
| LT121 | Advanced Hebrew Language & Exegesis | 3 |
| LT115 | Theological English | 2 |
(Normally, no more than one of the following subjects should be chosen for advanced study.) Subjects SS800-802 will include a classroom teaching element, when possible. Otherwise these and other Advanced Studies courses will involve reading and research directed by a faculty member. All these courses except SS804 require a basic reading knowledge of English, shown either by a comprehension test or the successful completion of LT115. SS800 requires prior successful completion of PT712. SS801 requires prior successful completion of LT100, LT110 and LT121. SS802 requires prior successful completion of LT111-113. SS803 requires prior successful completion of CH512 and ST610-613. SS804 and SS805 require prior successful completion of CH510-512. SS806 requires prior successful completion of any four Practical Theology classes. SS807 requires prior successful completion of ST610-613.)
| SS800 | Advanced studies in Apologetics | 3 |
| SS801 | Advanced studies in Old Testament | 3 |
| SS802 | Advanced studies in New Testament | 3 |
| SS803 | Advanced studies in Contemporary Theology (Distance Education Course) | 3 |
| SS804 | Advanced studies in the history of Slavic Christianity | 2 |
| SS805 | Specialized studies on a certain person or movement in Church History | 2 |
| SS806 | Advanced studies in Practical Theology | 2 |
| SS807 | Advanced studies in a certain locus of Systematic Theology | 3 |