Programs of Study Programs of Study • Masters Degree Programs
• Doctors Degree Programs
• Certificate Programs
• Core Courses for the M.T.S. Degree
• Core Courses for the M.B.C. Degree
• Biblical Counseling Certification
• Courses Recorded in Video
• Courses Recorded in Audio
Masters Degree Programs
Messianic Life Institute offers two Masters Degrees -- a Master of Theological Studies (M.T.S.) and a Master of Biblical Counseling (M.B.C.). Each of these include core courses in Messianic Jewish Theology and related studies.
To graduate with a Masters Degree, the student must complete 36 semester hours and, in addition, pass a comprehensive oral examination. This examination is to ensure that all MLI graduates have a substantial understanding of Messianic Judaism, and broad knowledge in their respective fields of study.
Although a thesis is not required for either the M.T.S. or the M.B.C., students with superior grades who write a thesis or complete an internship may be awarded their degree "with honors." [Return to Top of Page]
Doctors Degree Programs
Messianic Life Institute offers a Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) in two broad fields -- Messianic Judaism and Biblical Counseling. These programs emphasize the practical application of biblical principles to ministry and are not intended to be academically abstract.
To earn a Doctor of Ministry, the student must either write a dissertation or plan, create, implement, and document a major ministry project. The candidate for this degree must also pass a comprehensive oral examination in Messianic Judaism and in his or her field of specialization. Dissertations and major projects are supervised by advisors that are selected by the student and approved by the school. The Doctor of Ministry work product must be the equivalent of at least two full-time years of scholarly work, and must be completed within six years from the date of acceptance into the program.
The doctoral student may take any number of courses for credit or audit that he or she deems helpful for completing his or her dissertation or major project. The only course required for the degree is "Fundamentals of Theological & Behavioral Research," but other courses may be required as prerequisites if the student's Masters level preparation is deemed insufficient. [Return to Top of Page]
Certificate Programs
Certificates are awarded to unmatriculated (non-degree) students who complete the equivalent of at least one year of full-time study. Earning a certificate is one way for an undergraduate student to gain admission to a Masters degree program without having first earned a bachelor's degree. [Return to Top of Page]
Core Courses for the M.T.S. Degree (Messianic Jewish Theology)
The following is the recommended core program for the M.T.S. degree. Although the number of credits required for the degree is 36, demonstrable knowledge is required in all of the core areas. Since each of the courses in the core is valued at 3 semester credit hours, a student entering the program without prior knowledge in the core areas may be required to take prerequisites from the core list of up to 12 additional credits. All course substitutions must be pre-approved by the Dean:
Core Courses for the M.B.C. Degree (Biblical Counseling)
The following is the recommended core program for the M.B.C. degree. Although the minimum number of credits required for the degree is 36, demonstrable knowledge is required in all of the core areas. Since each of the courses in the core is valued at 3 semester credit hours, a student entering the program without prior knowledge in one or more core areas may be required to take prerequisite courses from the core list of up to 12 additional credits -- a maximum of 48. All course substitutions must be pre-approved by the Dean:
MLI's Masters Degree program in counseling is intended to fulfill course requirements for becoming a Biblical Counselor, but it does not provide the supervised counseling practice necessary for certification. This latter goal may be pursued through an internship at MLI's Biblical Counseling Institute, or through numerous other Biblical Counseling institutions in the country.
Biblical Counseling is a ministry and not a field of psychology or medicine. As such, its practice is usually not regulated by state law, particularly when practiced as part of a congregation or church ministry. Nevertheless, the prospective student of Biblical Counseling is strongly urged to check the statutes and regulations of the State in which he or she intends to practice, to determine what (if any) restrictions there may be, or licensure that may be required. [Return to Top of Page]
Biblical Counseling Certification
Biblical Counseling is similar to many professions in that it can be studied academically through coursework. That notwithstanding, one cannot become a competent practicianer without receiving hands-on experience under supervision. MLI provides supervised training and counseling internships through Biblical Counseling Institute (BCI) , an institution that offers free counseling to the public in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area. It also provides certification for Biblical Counselors using nationally recognized standards adopted by the Board. [Return to Top of Page]
Courses Recorded in Video
The following pre-recorded courses are available in both audio and video versions: