Master of Divinity Online Classes

The University of Dubuque Theological Seminary is delighted to offer Master of Divinity courses online! These courses are available to those individuals who are admitted as Unclassified Students.  Three Master of Divinity credit hours are earned for successful completion of most courses unless otherwise stated. A Bachelor's Degree is necessary to apply for participation in these courses.

Those taking classes for the first time must both APPLY and REGISTER.  Returning students may REGISTER for up to 12 credits maximum as an unclassified student.  We do not advise taking more than 6 online credits in any one semester.  The application and all supporting materials must be submitted to the Seminary Office of Admissions by the deadlines listed below. Early application is highly recommended as enrollment is limited.

To APPLY for admission as an Unclassified student, click here.

To REGISTER for courses, as a new or returning student, click here.

Tuition for these courses is $560* per credit hour and is non-refundable. Upon acceptance, one-third of the total tuition is required. The remaining two-thirds is due on the dates indicated below.

Fall 2010

• BI500 Hebrew I
  Instructor: Dr. Matt Schlimm
• BI502 New Testament Greek I
  Instructor: Dr. Annette Huzenga
• BI511 Old Testament Introduction
  Instructor: Dr. Mindi Thompson
• BI657 New Testament Exegesis
  Instructor: Dr. Lyle VanderBroek
• HT500 Early and Medieval Church History
  Instructor: Dr. Gary Hansen
• HT540 Christian Doctrine I
  Instructor: Dr. Elmer Colyer
• HT615 Presbyterian History and Confessions
  Instructor: Staff
• MN611 The Ministry of Leadership
  Instructor: Dr. Les Longden

Contact Seminary Admissions at 800.369.UDTS if you have any questions about the application, admission, or registration process.

For more information about these online courses contact: UDTSOnline@dbq.edu 

*tuition subject to change

BI 500, Section 2
Introduction to Old Testament Hebrew I

Instructor: Matthew R. Schlimm, Ph.D.
3 credits, letter grade

This course provides an introduction to the grammar, syntax, and vocabulary of biblical Hebrew. It is designed to facilitate the beginning stages of reading and exegesis in the Hebrew Old Testament. This course is highly recommended for certain denominational requirements (please check with your governing body) and may be taken as an elective. 

Required Texts

• Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia. American Bible Society. ISBN: 978-3438052223.
• Futato, Mark. Beginning Biblical Hebrew. 2nd printing, with corrections. Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns, 2005. ISBN: 978-1-57506-022-4.
• Holladay, William L., editor. A Concise Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 1988. ISBN: 978-0-8028-3413-3.
• Pratico, Gary D., and Miles V. Van Pelt. Biblical Hebrew Laminated Sheet. Zondervan Get an A! Study Guides. Zondervan, 2005. 978-0310262954. 

Full Course Description

BI 502
Introduction to New Testament Greek I

Instructor: Annette Bourland Huizenga, Ph.D.
3 credits, letter grade

This course is the first half of a two-semester survey that introduces the grammar, syntax, and vocabulary of New Testament Greek. It introduces the linguistic tools that allow students to enter the world of the New Testament in the original language and hence become better equipped to interpret and proclaim God's Word.

Required Texts

• Croy, N. Clayton. A Primer of Biblical Greek. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1999.
• Nestle, Eberhard and Kurt Aland, eds. Novum Testamentum Graece, 27th ed. New York: American Bible Society, 1993.

Full Course Description

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BI511
Old Testament Introduction

Instructor: Melinda Thompson, Ph.D.
3 credits, letter grade

This course provides an introduction to the content, historical background, canon, theological and critical issues of the Old Testament. This course fulfills the M.Div. basic first-year requirement in Old Testament studies, but is open to all UDTS students.

Required Texts

• Any good study Bible. Among those considered "good" (i.e., scholarly rather than devotional in nature) are The HarperCollins Study Bible (NRSV), The New Oxford Annotated Bible (NRSV), and The NIV Study Bible. Students wishing to use a Bible other than those listed here should consult with the professor.
• Steven L. McKenzie and Stephen R. Haynes, eds., To Each Its Own Meaning: An Introduction to Biblical Criticisms and Their Application, revised and expanded ed. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1994.
• John Drane, Introducing the Old Testament, completely revised and updated ed. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2000.

Full Course Description

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BI657
New Testament Exegesis I

Instructor: Lyle Vander Broek, Ph.D.
Course prerequisites: New Testament Introduction, Greek I and II
3 Credits: letter grade

This course is a seminar in which we will participate together in the Greek exegesis of the Gospel of Mark. It will focus strongly on soteriological and ecclesiastical aspects of the Gospel, both in terms of what the original audience might have heard and how we might apply the gospel writer's words to the modern church.

Required Texts

• Gordon D. Fee, New Testament Exegesis: A Handbook for Students and Pastors (Westminster/John Knox, 2002).
• R.T. France, The Gospel of Mark (NIGTC, 2002).
• Nestle-Aland, Novum Testamentum, 27 Th Ed.
• Lamar Williamson, Jr., Mark (Interpretation, 1983).
• Other exegetical resources as recommended.

Full Course Description

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HT500
Early and Medieval Church History

Instructor: Gary Neal Hansen, Ph.D.
3 credits; letter grade only

This course is the first half of the required two-semester survey of the history of Christianity. Its objective is to familiarize students with the history and teachings of the Christian Church from early in the second century to the beginning of the sixteenth century.

Required Texts

Readings of which the full text will be assigned:

• Gonzalez, Justo L., The Story of Christianity, Vol. 1, The Early Church to the Dawn of the Reformation
• Gonzalez, Justo L., Church History: An Essential Guide.
• Fry, Timothy, ed., The Rule of St. Benedict.

Readings of which excerpts will be assigned (Some students may wish to wait until paper assignments are made the first week of class before purchasing books):

• Brown, Raphael, trans., The Little Flowers of St. Francis.
• Chadwick, Henry, trans. and intro., Saint Augustine: Confessions.
• Davies, Brian and G. R. Evans, eds., Anselm of Canterbury: The Major Works.
• Fathers of the English Dominican Province, trans., St. Thomas Aquinas: Summa Theologica (accessed online).
• Greer Rowan A., trans., Origen: An Exhortation to Martyrdom, Prayer, and Selected Works.
• Oden, Amy, ed., In Her Words.
• Noble, Thomas F. X. and Thomas Head, Soldiers of Christ.
• A Religious of the CSMV, trans., St. Athanasius: On the Incarnation.
• Spearing, A.C., translator, Julian of Norwich: Revelations of Divine Love.
• Williams, Frederick and Lionel Wickham, trans., Gregory of Nazianzus: On God and Christ.

Full Course Description

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HT540
Introduction to Christian Doctrine I: The Trinity, Revelation, Creation, Anthropology

Instructor: Elmer M. Colyer, Ph.D.
3 credits: letter grade only (Prerequisite: HT501D & HT502D, or permission of the professor)

This course introduces students to the content of the Christian faith as believed and confessed by the Christian church from the early church to the present day. Christian Doctrine I examines the Trinity, revelation, Scripture, authority, method, creation, human nature, and sin. There will be lectures, readings, and discussions. This will include readings and discussions of a variety of contemporary perspectives, such as Third World, feminist, and other theologies.

Required Texts

• Rosemary Ruether, Sexism and God-talk
• Rebecca Merrill Groothuis, Women Caught in the Conflict
• W. Dyrness, Learning About Theology From the Third World
• J. Leith, Basic Christian Doctrine
• A. McGrath, Understanding Doctrine
• A. McGrath, Christian Theology: An Introduction, 4rd edition
• D. Migliore, Faith Seeking Understanding
• D. Bloesch, Essentials of Evangelical Theology, Vol. I
• T. F. Torrance, The Mediation of Christ

Full Course Description

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MN611
The Ministry of Leadership

Instructor: Les Longden, Ph.D.
3 credits: letter grade

This course will examine biblical, historical, and contemporary models of leadership with the goal of preparing pastors and congregational leaders to develop sound theological practices for the training and support of maturing leaders.

Required Texts (Tentative texts-Final choices made in July)

• Herrington, Bonem, and Furr, Leading Congregational Change
• Kouzes & Posner, Christian Reflections on the Leadership Challenge
• Roxburgh and Romanuk, The Missional Leader

Full Course Description