Master of Divinity in Missions and Bible Translation
The Master of Divinity in Missions and Bible Translation is designed to produce graduates qualified to serve in specialist cross-cultural roles in Bible translation, ethnology, descriptive linguistics, or in other cross-cultural service.
This program is offered in conjunction with Dallas International University. (formerly Graduate Institute of Applied Linguistics, GIAL)
How Southern can prepare you for the mission field
IMB president Paul Chitwood knows missions. Even more, he knows that theological training is non-negotiable for men and women called to the mission field. And from his M.Div. (’95) and Ph.D. (’01) from the school, he knows Southern Seminary can prepare you for a life of missions work better than anyone.
Note: Continuing students should consult the Academic Catalog for the year in which they started for course requirements as the current requirements may have changed.
Contact the Student Success Office with questions.
Completion of the Master of Divinity degree with a Missions and Bible Translation Concentration requires 89 graduate hours from two institutions: 73 hours at Southern Seminary (SBTS) and 16 graduate hours at Dallas International University (DIU). Admission to the graduate program at DIU requires an additional 15 hours of undergraduate prerequisite courses.
SBTS students who complete the 16 DIU graduate hours for the M.Div. in Missions and Bible Translation can obtain a Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics degree from DIU by completing an additional 6 graduate hours at DIU and either passing the comprehensive exam or writing a thesis. The plan of study should be planned carefully in consultation with advisors from both the Billy Graham School and Dallas International University.
Concentration in Bible Translation (SBTS)
| Missions and Bible Translation Concentration Requirement | 3 | |
|---|---|---|
| 30960 | Intercultural Communications or | |
| 33010 | Communication in Oral Culture | 3 |
Master of Divinity Core
This core curriculum is required for the Master of Divinity degree in the Billy Graham School. It applies to all concentrations.
| Remedial/Prerequisite Courses | (8) | |
|---|---|---|
| 20400 | Elementary Hebrew1 | (3) |
| 22400 | Elementary Greek1 | (3) |
| Biblical and Theological Studies | 42 | |
| 20200 | Introduction to the Old Testament I | 3 |
| 20220 | Introduction to the Old Testament II | 3 |
| 20440 | Hebrew Syntax and Exegesis or | 3 |
| 22440 | Greek Syntax and Exegesis | |
| 22100 | Biblical Hermeneutics | 3 |
| 22200 | Introduction to the New Testament I | 3 |
| 22220 | Introduction to the New Testament II | 3 |
| 25100 | Introduction to Church History I | 3 |
| 25120 | Introduction to Church History II | 3 |
| 26200 | Southern Baptist Heritage and Mission | 3 |
| 27060 | Systematic Theology I | 3 |
| 27070 | Systematic Theology II | 3 |
| 27080 | Systematic Theology III | 3 |
| 29250 | Survey of Christian Ethics | 3 |
| 40150 | Personal Spiritual Disciplines | 3 |
| Missions, Evangelism and Ministry | 27 | |
| 28700 | Christian Apologetics | 3 |
| 30000 | Christian Preaching2 or | 3 |
| 45400 | Christian Teaching | |
| 30020 | Preaching Practicum2 or | 3 |
| 40200 | The Worshiping Church | |
| 32100 | Personal Evangelism | 3 |
| 32960 | Introduction to Missiology | 3 |
| 32980 | World Religions and Christian Mission | 3 |
| 34300 | Introduction to Biblical Counseling | 3 |
| 40080 | Christian Leadership | 3 |
| 40301 | Pastoral Ministry2 or | 3 |
| 45260 | Discipleship and Family Ministry | |
| Applied Ministry | 1 | |
| 44920 | Applied Ministry: BGS or | 1 |
| 44930 | Applied Ministry: Mission Trips/Partnership | |
| Total Requirements at SBTS | 73 | |
1Successful completion of elementary language courses, whether at SBTS or elsewhere, is required prior to completing the syntax/exegesis course below.
2Courses 30000, 30020, and 40301 are reserved for, but not required of, men.
Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics (Dallas International University)
IMPORTANT: Dallas International University requires 15 prerequisite hours of undergraduate linguistics courses prior to admission into the Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics (DIU Catalog, p. 111). These courses are offered at DIU and may be completed subsequent to the 73 hours from SBTS, but MUST be completed prior to enrolling in the following graduate level courses.
| Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics General Core Requirements | 16 | |
|---|---|---|
| AL5406 | Field Methods and Linguistic Analysis | 4 |
| AL5207 | Field Data Management | 2 |
| AA5151 | Cross-cultural Teaching Seminar | 1 |
| AL5312 | Discourse Analysis | 3 |
| AL5315 | Semantics and Pragmatics | 3 |
| AL5316 | Theory and Practice of Translation | 3 |
| DIU graduate hours | 16 | |
| SBTS graduate hours | 73 | |
| Total Master of Divinity in Missions and Bible Translation Requirements | 89 | |
| Dallas International University undergraduate prerequisite hours | 15 | |
| Elementary Hebrew (if required) | +3 | |
| Elementary Greek (if required) | +3 | |
Bring the Bible to the ends of the earth.
Visit Campus
Visiting Southern will give you an opportunity to explore our beautiful campus and to get all of your important questions answered.
Attend Preview Day
Southern Seminary hosts a Preview Day each Spring and Fall – attendees are automatically entered to win a $1000 scholarship.
Request Information
Learn more about Southern. Discover how you can learn in Louisville or where you are through distance learning options.