Barriers Can Be Discouraging
Manageable Course Load
8-13 credit hour certificate programs.
Affordable
Receive graduate-level education without committing to a full degree.
Rolling Enrollment
Study at your own pace from wherever you are, either online or residentially.
Certificate Programs
- Languages
- Bible
- Theology
- Local Campus Certificates
Greek Certificate-of-Completion
By completing the eight-credit Greek certificate-of-completion, a student will have gained facility with the vocabulary, grammar, and syntax of New Testament (Koine) Greek in order to be enriched and strengthened in their walk with God through the study of the New Testament Scriptures in their original language.
Courses:
- Greek 1
- Greek 2
- Greek Exegesis
Course Time: 12 weeks or less per online course
Certificate Duration: Flexible pace
Format: Online or Residential
What You'll Learn:
- A command of a foundational Greek vocabulary.
- Working knowledge of how to use aids such as reference grammars and dictionaries.
- A mastery of basic Greek grammar.
- Facility in parsing, reading, and translating narrative and didactic passages.
- An essential knowledge of the field of New Testament textual criticism.
- The ability to make basic decisions regarding the authenticity of variant readings.
- A strong grasp of the exegetical method for the Greek text.
- Ability to develop sermon and teaching outlines that reflect the structure of the biblical text.
Hebrew Certificate-of-Completion
By completing the eight-credit Hebrew certificate-of-completion, a student will have gained facility with the vocabulary, grammar, and syntax of Biblical (Classical) Hebrew in order to be enriched and strengthened in their walk with God through the study of the Old Testament Scriptures in their original language.
Courses:
- Hebrew 1
- Hebrew 2
- Hebrew Exegesis
Course Time: 12 weeks or less per online course
Certificate Duration: Flexible pace
Format: Online or Residential
What You'll Learn:
- A command of foundational Hebrew vocabulary.
- Working knowledge of how to use aids such as reference grammars and dictionaries for continued study of the Hebrew language.
- A mastery of basic Hebrew grammar.
- Facility in parsing, reading, and translating the Hebrew Bible.
- A strong grasp of the exegetical method for the Hebrew text.
- Ability to develop sermon and teaching outlines that reflect the structure of the biblical text.
Old Testament
By completing the 11-credit Old Testament certificate-of-completion, a student will have gained a foundational understanding of the historical setting, literary style, theme, purpose, and message of each of the 39 Old Testament books. While the Hebrew certificate is not a prerequisite for the Old Testament certificate, a knowledge of biblical Hebrew will enhance the coursework in the Old Testament certificate.
Courses:
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Genesis – Deuteronomy
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Joshua – Esther
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Poets
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Isaiah – Malachi
Course Time: 12 weeks or less per online course
Certificate Duration: Flexible pace
Format: Online or Residential
What You'll Learn:
- Practice applying hermeneutical and exegetical principles to the study of the Old Testament
- Interact with various interpretive methods: historical, literary, textual, source, and form criticism
- Explore the Old Testament’s biblical-theological categories and their relation to systematic theology
- Grow in your appreciation of the relationship between the Old Testament and New Testament
- Gain facility with using special introduction, academic commentaries, and other secondary literature written from a variety of perspectives in order to enable continued study
- Learn to understand the meaning of a text to its original audience and articulate its implications for the church in the present
New Testament
By completing the 11-credit New Testament certificate-of-completion, a student will have gained a foundational understanding of the historical setting, literary style, theme, purpose, and message of each of the 27 New Testament books. While the Greek certificate is not a prerequisite for the New Testament certificate, a knowledge of the Greek language will enhance the coursework in the New Testament certificate.
Courses:
- Gospels
- Acts & Romans
- Pauline Epistles
- Hebrew – Revelation
Course Time: 12 weeks or less per online course
Certificate Duration: Flexible pace
Format: Online or Residential
What You'll Learn:
- Practice applying hermeneutical and exegetical principles to the study of the New Testament
- Interact with various interpretive methods: historical, literary, textual, source, and form criticism
- Explore the New Testament’s biblical-theological categories and their relation to systematic theology
- Grow in your appreciation of the relationship between the Old Testament and New Testament
- Gain facility with using special introduction, academic commentaries, and other secondary literature written from a variety of perspectives in order to enable continued study
- Learn to understand the meaning of a text to its original audience and articulate its implications for the church in the present
Historical Theology
By completing the 12-credit Historical Theology certificate-of-completion , a student will have a broad knowledge of the history of Christianity from the time of the early church up to the 21st century. The two required courses give particular attention to the church’s formulation of Christian doctrine and its response to heresy, as well as the contributions of significant historical figures, movements, and church assemblies. Elective courses enable a student to investigate the life and theology of particular individuals, groups, movements, and other historical issues.
Courses:
- History of Christianity I
- History of Christianity II
- Specified Electives in HT
Course Time: 12 weeks or less per online course
Certificate Duration: Flexible pace
Format: Online or Residential
What You'll Learn:
- A framework for understanding the task of historical thinking
- Improved facility with reading primary sources within their historical context
- An increased recognition of the complexity of history, including church history
- An understanding of the relevance of historical thinking for theology and ministry in the present
- A growing appreciation for God’s faithfulness to the church throughout history (cf. Matt. 16:18)
Systematic Theology
By completing the 13-credit Systematic Theology certificate-of-completion, a student will have a strong grasp of the classical topics (loci) of Christian theology, grounded in God’s self-revelation in Scripture and in dialogue with the creeds and confessions of the church.
The coursework within the certificate will present the classical Reformed understanding of these doctrines, but will also engage alternative conceptions within Roman Catholicism, liberal theology, and other streams of the evangelical church. Significant attention will also be given to covenant theology as the structure of redemptive history and to its implications for the various doctrines.
Courses:
- Introduction to Pastoral & Theological Studies
- ST: Scripture, Theology Proper, Anthropology
- ST: Christology, Soteriology, Eschatology
- ST: Ecclesiology & Sacraments
- Covenant Theology
Course Time: 12 weeks or less per online course
Certificate Duration: Flexible pace
Format: Online or Residential
What You'll Learn:
- The Doctrine of Scripture
- The Doctrine of the Triune God (Theology Proper)
- The Doctrine of Man (Theological Anthropology)
- The Doctrine of Christ (Christology)
- The Doctrine of Salvation (Soteriology)
- The Doctrine of the Last Things (Eschatology)
- The Doctrine of the Church (Ecclesiology)
- The Doctrine of the Sacraments
Applied Theology
By completing the 10-credit Applied Theology certificate-of-completion, a student will have a foundational understanding of philosophical and ethical issues grounded in the Christian worldview to promote faithful Christian living and witness. The student will also be equipped to respond to non-Christian views of these issues in a biblically consistent way.
Courses:
- Christian Thought & Philosophy
- Apologetics
- Pastoral & Social Ethics
- Christ, Culture, & Contextualization
Course Time: 12 weeks or less per online course
Certificate Duration: Flexible pace
Format: Online or Residential
What You'll Learn:
- Gain a knowledge of the relationship between philosophy and theology
- Learn how to apply philosophical thinking to Christian faith and practice
- Survey major figures and movements within Christian thought
- Engage key issues in ethics and apologetics
- Examine various approaches to defending the Christian faith
- Understand the biblical basis for morality
- Receive a framework for engaging culture from a Reformed perspective
- Grow in knowing how to apply cultural analysis and contextualization in ministry situations
Christian Counseling at RTS Charlotte
The Level I Certificate in Christian Counseling promotes an understanding of the theoretical framework for biblical counseling and provides an opportunity for students to engage in counseling under professors’ supervision. The foundational courses are applied in the two practicum courses as students practice counseling with one another and then counsel under the supervision of an experienced professor.
Level I Courses
Introduction to Christian Counseling
Typical Problems in Christian Counseling
Marriage & Family Counseling
Counseling Practicum I
Counseling Practicum II
The Level II certificate in Christian Counseling further equips recipients of Level I certificates through a detailed study of the theological and personal foundations for counseling. Particular focus is given to studying the person as made in the image of God through in-depth courses on physiology, personhood, and theories of change as relates to counseling.
Level II Courses
Methods of Biblical Change
Counseling & Physiology
Human Personality
Theology & Secular Psychology
Counseling in the Local Church
Practicum III
What You'll Learn:
- Foundations of Scripture-centered counseling
- Training in counseling the most common situations faced by counselors
- Detailed instruction on the care and growth of Christian families
- Physiology, personhood, and theories of change as relates to counseling
Theology & Public Life at RTS Washington
By completing the Theology & Public Life certificate-of-completion, students will be better prepared theologically to exercise responsibility in their citizenship and other callings related to public life. This certificate program integrates biblical and systematic theology as well as apologetics to equip Christians to engage questions about ordering our lives together in political community.
Courses:
- Foundations of Theology & Public Life
- ST: Scripture, Theology, Anthropology
- Apologetics
- ITPL Electives
ITPL electives cover topics in the three basic areas of public policy: social policy, economic policy, and foreign policy.
What You'll Learn:
- Discern theological principles relevant to issues in public life.
- Engage a perspective on public life informed by the multiple spheres of responsibility entailed in the cultural mandate.
- Consider the challenges of increasing pluralism and how to commend biblical truth about how God has made the world for its flourishing and sound reason about the implications of that truth.
- Study various topics in three main public policy areas (social, economic, and foreign policy) and how to engage them from a Christian worldview.
- Consider the ways that spiritual formation in the covenantal community of the church shapes a practical public theology through teaching, ministry life, prayer, and anticipation of the Spirit’s work in common grace.
Faith, Work, and Culture at RTS Orlando
By completing the 12-credit hour Faith, Work, and Culture certificate-of-completion, a student will be prepared to responsibly fulfill their various callings, in the workplace and in other avenues of culture-making, and to equip others to do so with a biblical formation. This 12-credit hour certificate combines courses specifically tailored to address work and culture with broader preparation in theology and ethics.
Required Courses:
- Forming Disciples for Faith and Work (2 hours)
- Christ, Culture, and Contextualization (2 hours)
- Pastoral and Social Ethics (3 hours)
- Free Electives (5 hours)
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