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Lead by a united faculty of pastor-theologians, the Diploma of Theology program fully equips you to:

Master the Original Languages

Understand How to Interpret Any Text

Proclaim the Bible Verse-by-Verse

Shepherd God’s People with Reformed Practical Theology

Core Classes and Schedule

View Academic Catalog

When it comes to the care of souls, the question is not “How quickly and easily can I prepare?” but “How much training do I need to be fully equipped?” That is why our Diploma of Theology curriculum requires twice the units of other programs and emphasizes the original languages.

And because pastors need to care for souls in a place of souls, our full Diploma of Theology is a residential program, located on the campus of Grace Community Church.

  • 9 Language Courses
  • 7 Bible Courses
  • 6 Theology Courses
  • 6 Ministry Courses
  • 5 Preaching Courses
  • 5 Elective Courses

Year One

FallUnitsSpringUnits
OT Studies I3OT Studies II3
Hermeneutics3Pastoral Counseling3
Beginning Greek I2Beginning Greek II2
Foundations of Expository Preaching1Philosophy of Ministry2
Grammar, Research, Writing2Prayer and the Pastor2
Total11Total12

Year Two

FallUnitsSpringUnits
NT Studies3Apologetics and Evangelism3
Historical Theology I3Historical Theology II3
Greek Exegesis I3Greek Exegesis II3
Hebrew Grammar I3Hebrew Grammar II3
General Elective I2General Elective II (PM)2
Total14Total14

Year Three

FallUnitsSpringUnits
History of Preaching1Mech. of Expository Preaching2
Hebrew Exegesis3Exp. Preach. Workshop3
Theology I3Theology II3
Greek Ex. Elective2Hebrew Ex. Elective2
Gen. Elective III2Gen. Elective IV2
Total11Total12

Year Four

FallUnitsSpringUnits
Exp. Preaching Lab*3Ordination Prep 2
Adv. Hermeneutics2Practice of Past. Min3
OT Introduction 3NT Introduction 3
Theology III3Theology IV3
Gen. Elective C2
Total13Total11

What it Takes to Complete

4
Years to Complete
98
Required Units

Meet the Faculty

View All Faculty
Austin T. Duncan
Pastoral Ministries Department Chair & Director of D.Min. Studies
Michael Grisanti
Old Testament Department Chair
Brad Klassen
Bible Exposition Department Chair
Mark Zhakevich
New Testament Department Chair
Kevin Zuber
Theology Department Chair

Compare Diploma of Theology to our other Programs

Diploma of Theology

Prerequisites

  1. No previous degrees required.
  2. A consistent record of commendable Christian ministry experience.
  3. Over 25 years old.

Career Outcomes

Qualification for pastoral, missionary, and Christian education ministries, as well as further graduate study.

Learning Outcomes

  1. As a future elder, pastor, missionary, or educator, comprehend the significant areas of biblical interpretation, biblical languages, Christian theology and pastoral ministry.
  2. As a future elder/pastor, construct a personal, biblical philosophy of ministry with application to the desired vocational goals.
  3. As a future preacher/teacher of the Scripture, synthesize the input of biblical languages, Bible backgrounds and theological constructs to preach and teach the Bible to varied age levels and abilities within any ministry context.
  4. As a future spiritual leader, exhibit the disciplines of holiness, prayer, leadership, and compassion required for ministry.

Bachelor of Theology

Prerequisites

  1. A minimum of 30 semester units of undergraduate general education credits, with at least 3 of those credits in math.
  2. A consistent record of commendable Christian ministry experience.
  3. Over 25 years old.

Career Outcomes

Qualification for pastoral, missionary, and Christian education ministries, as well as further graduate study.

Learning Outcomes

  1. As a future elder, pastor, missionary, or educator, comprehend the significant areas of biblical interpretation, biblical languages, Christian theology and pastoral ministry.
  2. As a future elder/pastor, construct a personal, biblical philosophy of ministry with application to the desired vocational goals.
  3. As a future preacher/teacher of the Scripture, synthesize the input of biblical languages, Bible backgrounds and theological constructs to preach and teach the Bible to varied age levels and abilities within any ministry context.
  4. As a future spiritual leader, exhibit the disciplines of holiness, prayer, leadership, and compassion required for ministry.

Diploma of Theology

Prerequisites

  1. No previous degrees required.
  2. A consistent record of commendable Christian ministry experience.
  3. Over 25 years old.

Career Outcomes

Qualification for pastoral, missionary, and Christian education ministries, as well as further graduate study.

Learning Outcomes

  1. As a future elder, pastor, missionary, or educator, comprehend the significant areas of biblical interpretation, biblical languages, Christian theology and pastoral ministry.
  2. As a future elder/pastor, construct a personal, biblical philosophy of ministry with application to the desired vocational goals.
  3. As a future preacher/teacher of the Scripture, synthesize the input of biblical languages, Bible backgrounds and theological constructs to preach and teach the Bible to varied age levels and abilities within any ministry context.
  4. As a future spiritual leader, exhibit the disciplines of holiness, prayer, leadership, and compassion required for ministry.

Master of Divinity

Prerequisites

  1. Bachelor’s Degree
  2. A consistent record of commendable Christian ministry experience.

Career Outcomes

Qualification for pastoral, missionary, and Christian education ministries, as well as further graduate study.

Learning Outcomes

  1. As a future elder, pastor, missionary, or educator, comprehend the significant areas of biblical interpretation, biblical languages, Christian theology and pastoral ministry.
  2. As a future elder/pastor, construct a personal, biblical philosophy of ministry with application to the desired vocational goals.
  3. As a future preacher/teacher of the Scripture, synthesize the input of biblical languages, Bible backgrounds and theological constructs to preach and teach the Bible to varied age levels and abilities within any ministry context.
  4. As a future spiritual leader, exhibit the disciplines of holiness, prayer, leadership, and compassion required for ministry.

Diploma of Theology

Prerequisites

  1. No previous degrees required.
  2. A consistent record of commendable Christian ministry experience.
  3. Over 25 years old.

Career Outcomes

Qualification for pastoral, missionary, and Christian education ministries, as well as further graduate study.

Learning Outcomes

  1. As a future elder, pastor, missionary, or educator, comprehend the significant areas of biblical interpretation, biblical languages, Christian theology and pastoral ministry.
  2. As a future elder/pastor, construct a personal, biblical philosophy of ministry with application to the desired vocational goals.
  3. As a future preacher/teacher of the Scripture, synthesize the input of biblical languages, Bible backgrounds and theological constructs to preach and teach the Bible to varied age levels and abilities within any ministry context.
  4. As a future spiritual leader, exhibit the disciplines of holiness, prayer, leadership, and compassion required for ministry.

Master of Theology

Prerequisites

  1. Master of Divinity (or M.Div-equivalent M.A. of at least 72 credits)
  2. A consistent record of commendable Christian ministry experience

Career Outcomes

Qualification to fulfill a teaching position and pursue doctoral study, such as the PhD

Learning Outcomes

  1. As an advancing scholar, specialize in an area of biblical or theological studies, gaining facility in its literature and scholarship.
  2. As an advancing exegete, employ more refined skills in Hebrew and Greek translation, exegesis, and interpretation.
  3. As an advancing teacher, implement the skills of communication and effective teaching of course content.
  4. As an advancing researcher, demonstrate thoughtfulness, in-depth interaction, thorough research, and excellence in scholarly writing.

Diploma of Theology

Prerequisites

  1. No previous degrees required.
  2. A consistent record of commendable Christian ministry experience.
  3. Over 25 years old.

Career Outcomes

Qualification for pastoral, missionary, and Christian education ministries, as well as further graduate study.

Learning Outcomes

  1. As a future elder, pastor, missionary, or educator, comprehend the significant areas of biblical interpretation, biblical languages, Christian theology and pastoral ministry.
  2. As a future elder/pastor, construct a personal, biblical philosophy of ministry with application to the desired vocational goals.
  3. As a future preacher/teacher of the Scripture, synthesize the input of biblical languages, Bible backgrounds and theological constructs to preach and teach the Bible to varied age levels and abilities within any ministry context.
  4. As a future spiritual leader, exhibit the disciplines of holiness, prayer, leadership, and compassion required for ministry.

Doctor of Philosophy

Prerequisites

  1. Master of Theology
  2. A consistent record of commendable Christian ministry experience

Career Outcomes

Qualification for professorship, writing, and research

Learning Outcomes

  1. As a critical thinker, collect and analyze primary and secondary sources of information, critique interpretations of the evidence, synthesize the evidence for future scholarly contributions to the field of study, and draw and integrate implications for professional practice.
  2. As a theological exegete, apply exegetical skills to the biblical text, develop a theological critique of views related to the text, and connect the issue with its historical precedents.
  3. As a scholarly communicator, engage in quality written papers and oral presentations in colloquia for the purpose of disseminating personal scholarship to peer audiences as well as future readers and hearers of their work.

Diploma of Theology

Prerequisites

  1. No previous degrees required.
  2. A consistent record of commendable Christian ministry experience.
  3. Over 25 years old.

Career Outcomes

Qualification for pastoral, missionary, and Christian education ministries, as well as further graduate study.

Learning Outcomes

  1. As a future elder, pastor, missionary, or educator, comprehend the significant areas of biblical interpretation, biblical languages, Christian theology and pastoral ministry.
  2. As a future elder/pastor, construct a personal, biblical philosophy of ministry with application to the desired vocational goals.
  3. As a future preacher/teacher of the Scripture, synthesize the input of biblical languages, Bible backgrounds and theological constructs to preach and teach the Bible to varied age levels and abilities within any ministry context.
  4. As a future spiritual leader, exhibit the disciplines of holiness, prayer, leadership, and compassion required for ministry.

Doctor of Ministry

Prerequisites

  1. Master of Divinity (or M.Div-equivalent M.A. of at least 72 credits)
  2. 3+ years of commendable pastoral ministry experience

Career Outcomes

Enhanced skills in sermon preparation and public exposition of Scripture

Learning Outcomes

  1. As an experienced biblical expositor, to add further understanding, quality, and depth to the exegetical skill needed in sermon preparation.
  2. As an experienced biblical expositor, to add further understanding, quality, and depth to the sermon content synthesis.
  3. As an experienced biblical expositor, to add further understanding, quality, and depth to the rhetorical eloquence.
  4. As an experienced biblical expositor, to demonstrate enhanced expository preaching skills in a culminating program project.

Diploma of Theology

Prerequisites

  1. No previous degrees required.
  2. A consistent record of commendable Christian ministry experience.
  3. Over 25 years old.

Career Outcomes

Qualification for pastoral, missionary, and Christian education ministries, as well as further graduate study.

Learning Outcomes

  1. As a future elder, pastor, missionary, or educator, comprehend the significant areas of biblical interpretation, biblical languages, Christian theology and pastoral ministry.
  2. As a future elder/pastor, construct a personal, biblical philosophy of ministry with application to the desired vocational goals.
  3. As a future preacher/teacher of the Scripture, synthesize the input of biblical languages, Bible backgrounds and theological constructs to preach and teach the Bible to varied age levels and abilities within any ministry context.
  4. As a future spiritual leader, exhibit the disciplines of holiness, prayer, leadership, and compassion required for ministry.

Diploma of Theology

Prerequisites

  1. No previous degrees required.
  2. A consistent record of commendable Christian ministry experience.
  3. Over 25 years old.

Career Outcomes

Qualification for pastoral, missionary, and Christian education ministries, as well as further graduate study.

Learning Outcomes

  1. As a future elder, pastor, missionary, or educator, comprehend the significant areas of biblical interpretation, biblical languages, Christian theology and pastoral ministry.
  2. As a future elder/pastor, construct a personal, biblical philosophy of ministry with application to the desired vocational goals.
  3. As a future preacher/teacher of the Scripture, synthesize the input of biblical languages, Bible backgrounds and theological constructs to preach and teach the Bible to varied age levels and abilities within any ministry context.
  4. As a future spiritual leader, exhibit the disciplines of holiness, prayer, leadership, and compassion required for ministry.

Frequent Questions

What scholarships are available to Diploma of Theology students?

Unfortunately, we do not offer any financial aid for Diploma of Theology students.

Does the Diploma of Theology program accept international students?

No.

Who is the Diploma of Theology for?

In general, Diploma of Theology applicants are older than the average seminary student and have circumstances of life that make the acquisition of an undergraduate education impractical.

Do I have to attend Grace Community Church as a student?

Students are not required to attend Grace Community Church while they are at The Master’s Seminary. Thankfully, there are many biblically focused, Christ-exalting churches in the greater Los Angeles area. However, the seminary is located on the campus of Grace Community Church and many of our faculty and administration are elders and leaders at Grace Church. By attending Grace Church, students will fully benefit from the church-seminary partnership—including discipleship and ministry opportunities—that are at the foundation of the training model.

Do I have to have an undergraduate degree to attend The Master’s Seminary?

To enroll in the Master of Divinity program, students must have a bachelor’s degree. However, students without a bachelor’s degree can pursue the Bachelor of Theology or Diploma of Theology at TMS.

What about my wife and family? How can they get involved at TMS?

The Master’s Seminary offers a variety of ministries and programs for wives and families, including Seminary Wives Discipleship, Every Woman’s Grace, Adventure Club, and The Master’s Kids. Along with those official programs, life on a local church campus provides families ample opportunity to develop relationships and enjoy community.

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Do you have on-campus housing?

Although we do not have on-campus housing, we do try and help students find housing through the TMS page on the yammer app.

When you say TMS has a united-faculty of pastor-theologians, does that means all professors have to believe the exact same thing about every issue in the Bible?

When we say a united-faculty of pastor-theologians, we are saying that our faculty are united behind the school’s doctrinal statement. That does not mean faculty members have to agree on every non-essential issue in Scripture.

Why TMS?

You wouldn’t trust a doctor who didn’t train at a hospital, who had never cared for an actual patient. In the same way, you shouldn’t entrust the care of your soul, or your family’s, to a pastor with no local church experience. You want someone who was trained in the church and trained by pastors.

Learn More

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