Arizona Theological Seminary (520) 303-7261

The Bible teaches that every child of God is of the priesthood. "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated people, and a people claimed by God intended for His own, to proclaim the triumphs of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9).

If you've ever thought about becoming a pastor the most important requirement is for God to put the calling of a Pastor on your heart along with the gifting to accomplish that calling.

A pastor doesn't just preach sermons on the weekends. Days are filled with counseling those that are hurting, preparing for a wedding or a funeral or even dealing with tedious issues around the office.

 

Are you a people person, concerned about others spiritual condition and are willing to sacrifice for their welfare? Can you be a team leader, form partnerships and delegate when necessary? Are you ready to learn how to become a pastor? We will train you and ordain you for the harvest field.

Required courses are taught in online classrooms with an instructor and fellow students and will meet for several hours each week - usually in the evenings.

The primary role of a pastor is to ensure that every member of their pastorate is given the best chance of growing as a Christian disciple and yet it carries with it an awesome responsibility both to exhibit upright moral character and to teach the Word of God with diligence.

Seminary formation aims to introduce seminarians to the spiritual and lifestyle changing education in classical and contemporary theology, and also developing leadership and communitarian sense of involvement.

Spiritual formation for the pastorate is done to waken and develop in the seminarian a sense of the sacred in life through spiritual exercises and spiritual direction. Personal guidance is given to develop the discipline necessary for a solid spiritual life and to see the unity of prayer and life.

Intellectual formation is to develop the knowledge and skills necessary for the office of the Pastor.

Pastoral exposure to and involvement in a specific community area or ministry is meant to strengthen identity in God to acquire and develop leadership skills and inculcate a sense of service.

These degree programs qualify you for ordination with the General Conference of the Evangelical Baptist Church.

Curriculum

The total amount of credits needed for an Associate of Arts in Divinity degree is 62 credits.

General Education (GE) core courses are online and may be taken in your own time frame during weekdays, evenings/weekends, or in conjunction with the counseling/chaplaincy required courses. All General Education core classes must be completed by the graduation deadline.

Below is a recommended framework of GE courses for completing the degree.

Divinity (AA) required courses:

*all courses award 3 credits each

TH-101      Introduction to Theology
TH-102      Bibliology and Hermeneutics I
REL-111H  Introduction to Ancient Hebrew
REL-111    Old Testament Survey
REL-112    New Testament Survey
REL-201    Church History
TH-210      Introduction to Systematic Theology
REL-204    Missions and Evangelism 

MIN-201    Foundations in Ministry
MIN-202    Leadership Development I
PCC-203   Pastoral Care and Counseling
COM-111  Pre-Homiletics

Total 36 credits

Curriculum

The total amount of credits needed for an Bachelor of Arts in Divinity degree is 110 credits.

General Education (GE) core courses are online and may be taken in your own time frame during weekdays, evenings/weekends, or in conjunction with the counseling/chaplaincy required courses. All General Education core classes must be completed by the graduation deadline.

Below is a recommended framework of GE courses for completing the degree in two years.

Divinity (BA) required courses:

*Prerequisite first year Divinity courses or equivalent

**all courses award 3 credits each

TH-202      Bibliology and Hermeneutics II
REL-112G  Introduction to Ancient Greek
PH-201      General Philosophy
PH-202      Worldview
TH-204      Christian Ethics
TH-310      Advanced Systematic Theology
TH-203      Angelology

REL-300    Pastoral Studies
MIN-301    Ministry Leadership

COM-222   Homiletics

MIN-300    Leadership Development II with Lab
PCC-311   Christian Counseling with Lab

Total 36 credits

Curriculum  *prerequisite Bachelor's degree

The Master of Arts in Divinity with an emphasis in ministry leadership is an academic degree distinct in purpose from the Master of Theology degree, which is a degree oriented towards scholarship and academia. The M.Div. is designed for students whose studies will focus on the dynamics of leadership, ministry, church and church offices, ministry development and effective communication. The Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) model is used in which each course will have a lead instructor who will assemble additional team instructors in an effort to provide a comprehensive learning experience using the PAL method.

Program Requirements

The M.Div. program consists of 66 total academic credits. The required coursework is 66 credits and the writing of a full-length thesis, for which 6 credits are granted.

The student writing a thesis should propose a thesis topic before the end of the first semester, and upon approval, the student should begin research as soon as possible thereafter. The thesis must be submitted within the final semester the completion of all coursework.     

The review committee evaluates the writing of the master's thesis. The committee consists of the thesis director and two professors.

All courses award 3 credits unless otherwise stated.

COURSES
              
COM501   GRADUATE LEVEL WRITING, RESEARCH AND PRESENTATION (2 credits)
TH510      BIBLICAL HERMENEUTICS AND EXEGESIS
TH512      OLD TESTAMENT THEOLOGY
LAN500H  ANCIENT HEBREW
TH507      NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGY
LAN501G  NEW TESTAMENT GREEK   
REL509    CHURCH HISTORY AND CANON    
PHIL510   PHILOSOPHY AND CHRISTIAN THOUGHT   
PHIL511   WORLDVIEW ANALYSIS
TH512      ADVANCED APOLOGETICS
PH513      ETHICS
TH601      SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY
TH602      RENEWAL THEOLOGY
REL465    HISTORY OF GCEBC (1 credits)
MIN501    PRINCIPALS AND PRACTICE OF PASTORAL MINISTRY
MIN510    BUILDING THE 21ST CENTURY CHURCH
CON611   PASTORAL COUNSELING
MIN602    SPIRITUAL WAREFARE IN EVANGELISM AND MISSIONS  
COM610   THE MINISTRY OF PREACHING AND TEACHING
RELF600   MINISTRY FIELD: LEADERSHIP (Internship)
MA600     THESIS PRESENTATION (6 credits)

Total  66 credits