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The
following degrees are granted by a school of theological and
ministerial studies of Kernel
University:
1.
Master
of Christian Counseling
2.
Master
of Christian Education
3.
Master
of Divinity
4.
Master
of Religious Business Administration
5.
Master
of Religious Social Work
6.
Master
of Sacred Music
7.
Master
of Theology
8.
Master
of
Missiology
9.
Master
of
Holistic Eastern Medicine
10.
Master
of
Holistic Medicine in Naturopathy
The
Master of Theological Studies (M.T.S) program is dedicated to the
integration of faith and learning and consequently endeavors to
promote a balanced commitment to God’s revelation and to academic
excellence in the pursuit of knowledge.
The
M.T.S. is a professional degree designed to prepare men and women
for service in the Church and missionary agencies. The program
provides training for participants to reflect theologically on the
role of the Church in contemporary society and to develop the skills
necessary for effective ministry within the local church, mission
agencies, and para-church ministries.
Requirement
for Admission
Responsibility
for admission decision is vested in the Graduate Admission Committee
(GAC). The following materials are required before a decision on
admission can be made by the GAC.
1.
Official
transcript of a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher indicating the
bachelor’s degree
Based
on individual merit, at the discretion of the GAC, an applicant
whose grade point average is below 2.5 may be admitted into the
program on a provisional status – requiring the applicant to
complete the first 12 credit hours of graduate level courses with
grades of “B” or above before receiving further consideration for
regular standing in the M.T.S degree program.
2.
A
recommendation from the applicant’s academic advisor or other
professors under whose guidance the applicant pursued their
bachelor’s degree program
3.
A
recommendation from a minister who knows the
applicant
4.
Nonrefundable
payment of the master’s degree application fee
$100.00
Classification
of Students
Each
M.T.S student will be placed into one of the following enrollment
categories:
1.
Regular Standing:
Students who intend to obtain a maser’s degree and who are admitted
without reservation are granted regular standing in the M.T.S
program. Only those students who have regular standing may become
candidates for the master’s degree.
2.
Provisional Standing:
A student whose academic record indicates deficiencies may be
granted provisional status. The student must demonstrate ability to
do graduate level work by completing three courses or 12 credit
hours of graduate study with at least a “B” in each course before
receiving further consideration for regular standing in the master’s
degree program. The GAC, upon the student’s completion of the three
courses, may then grant the student regular graduate standing, or
determine that the student should remain on provisional standing
until certain additional requirements have been met, or request that
the student withdraw from the program.
3.
Special Students:
Special students who meet all requirements for regular standing but
who do not plan to earn a degree may be granted special standing in
the M.T.S program. Students with special standing may apply at a
later date to the GAC for regular standing in the M.T.S degree
program. The University and the M.T.S program are not obligated
legally or morally, however, to accept a special standing status
student into degree status. An abbreviated application form is
available from the Office of School Dean for students applying for
Special Standing.
4.
Auditor:
Students who attend graduate classes for
personal enrichment, and not for academic credit, may be granted
auditor’s status. Auditors attend class with no obligation to
participate actively in the work. An abbreviated admission process
is necessary to receive this status and audit fees are required for
each class in which audit students enroll. Regular standing M.T.S
students enrolled in 16 units or more may audit one course free of
charge.
5.
Continuing Education Students:
Students who enroll for non-credit courses, Bible high subjects,
seminars, worships or conferences for the purpose of personal
enrichment, spiritual formation or ministry development. These
learning activities are not for university’s credit and are not any
part of the institution’s degree program. Participants who complete
each course or activity will receive a certificate of continuing
education or diploma on Biblical Studies if
desired.
Academic
Advisors
The
Office of the School Dean will assign a faculty member to serve as
the academic advisor to counsel students concerning the details of
their program. Students will receive notification of the name of
their academic advisor prior to their initial registration in the
program. Because only those courses approved by each student’s
advisor may be used toward the master’s degree, students must
arrange for an interview (in person or by phone) with their academic
advisor in advance of the announcement registration
dates.
Student
Academic Load
A
full-time academic load in the M.T.S program is 12 credit hours or
more per semester. Exceptional students may enroll for up to 16
credit hours upon the approval of their academic advisor. Students
may not enroll for more than 16 credit hours in a regular quarter
without the recommendation of their academic advisor and the
approval of the office of the School Dean.
In
order to graduate, students must achieve a minimum grade point
average of B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale). Students are expected to gauge
the course load for each quarter so that they will achieve at least
a B grade in each course attempted. Any grade below B is considered
below minimal.
Leave
of Absence from the M.T.S. Program
M.T.S.
students who find it necessary to interrupt the regular sequence of
Fall-Winter-Spring quarter enrollment are expected to file notice of
a leave of absence to ensure continuity of their program. Forms for
this purpose are available in the Office of the School Dean. Time
spent on leave of absence is not exclusive of the eight-year (8)
time limit for completion of the M.T.S.
degree.
Transfer
Credit and Residency Requirement
Title
5, California Code of Regulations, Article 16, Section 71865 (b)(1)
stipulates that no more than six graduate semester or nine graduate
quarter units awarded by another institution may be credited toward
a master’s degree. All other coursework for the master’s degree must
be completed at the institution where the degree is
granted.
Exit
Options
There
are four M.T.S. options by which students may complete their
master’s degree: the thesis or project option and the Integrative
Seminar or Field Education option.
The
thesis option or the project option – Students will take the
initiative in selecting a topic. Once an interest has developed,
they should consult with their academic advisor for assistance and
initial supervision. The academic advisor will give an evaluation
regarding the merit of the topic. The prospectus should then be
developed under the guidance of the thesis or the project committee
chair that is selected by the student. Upon completion of the
prospectus, students should submit one copy of the signed committee
signature sheet to the Office of the School
Dean.
Students
taking either the thesis option or the project option should
register for Research Methodology in their second from the last
academic term before the anticipated date of graduation. Students
should register for either Master’s Project or Master’s Thesis in
the last academic term before their anticipated date of
graduation.
Students
will be required to give a satisfactory oral defense of their thesis
or project. Students should arrange for their defense date with the
Office of the School Dean and the student’s committee chair. The
original final copy of the thesis or project must be submitted to
the Office of the School Dean for binding. A binding fee is
required. A double binding fee and a total of two copies of the
thesis or project is required if a personal bound copy is
desired.
Integrative
Seminar – The Integrative Seminar is a classroom experience designed
to help students reflect theologically on their ministry experience
by integrating what they have learned in graduate coursework with
the practice of ministry.
Field
Education – Students may petition to exist
the program by completing a field education requirement. If students
choose a field education experience, they must select a mentor and
place of ministry to be approved by the Faculty Supervisor in Field
Education.
Requirement
for Graduation
A
Candidate for the Master of Theological Studies shall
have:
1.
Successfully
completed an approved program with a minimum cumulative grade point
average of 3.0 with no more than two (2) course grades of less than
a B counting toward the degree: The M.T.S degree requires a minimum
of 5 credit hours of graduate coursework (500,600,700 level
coursework).
2.
Successfully
completed either by the integrative seminar, field education or
thesis/project option
3.
Successfully
completed all degree requirements within the maximum time limit
allowed until eight years
4.
Settled
all financial obligations to the University
Master
Courses
Total 51 credits
Core
Courses 36 credits
OT
501
Old Testament Survey
3
credits
OT
502
Pentateuch
3
credits
OT
601
Poetic-Wisdom Literature
3
credits
OT
602
Prophets
3
credits
NT
501
New Testament Survey
3
credits
NT
502
Synoptic Gospel
3
credits
NT
601
Life and Lessons of Christ
and Disciples
3
credits
NT
602
General Epistles
3
credits
ST
501
Topical Study of the Bible
3
credits
ST
601
Eschatology
3
credits
CH
501
History of Reformation
3
credits
PT
601
Research Methodology
3
credits
Elective
Major Courses
15
credits
In
addition to the core requirements listed above, a student in Master
Course need to select and complete 15 credit hours in one of the
following area studies.
1)
Christian Education Electives
15
credits
CE
701
Christian Leadership
3
credits
CE
702
Methods of Education
3
credits
CE
703
Home Schooling
3
credits
CE
704
Dynamics of Small Group Ministries
3
credits
CE
705
Thesis/Research Project or
3
credits
CE
706
Integrative Seminar
3
credits
CE
707
Field Education
3
credits
2)
Christian Counseling Electives
15
credits
CC
701
Theology of Christian Counseling
3
credits
CC
702
Inner Healing Counseling
3
cred | 
