Master of Arts in Eastern Studies Program according to International Standards / M.A.E.S.

The three-year Master of Arts in Eastern Studies program according to International Ecclesiastical standards parallels the M.A.B.S. program, encompassing courses

3Years

77Credit Hours

Online & On Campus

Program Details

The three-year Master of Arts in Eastern Studies program according to International Ecclesiastical standards parallels the M.A.B.S. program, encompassing courses in practical ministry and general studies, biblical studies, theological studies, and Eastern studies.

Purpose. The program of Eastern Studies aims to prepare students for service in Arab countries, based on their unique history, traditions, and the challenges they faces. To adequately prepare students for this program, they will receive training that includes the basic theological and biblical subjects required from any student in seminaries and Bible colleges, in addition to courses specific to Eastern studies. This program incorporates the aforementioned objectives of the Master of Arts in Biblical Studies program in regard to the educational, spiritual, and ministerial perspectives, in addition to the historical study of Christian influence on the Arab East.

List of Courses. The following is a list of courses required in the M.A.E.S. program:

Program Courses

General Courses
- Developing Academic Thinking
  This course introduces the students to the foundations and methodology of scientific research in Christian theology. It enables students to develop analytical thinking skills with an emphasis on theological literature. This course is also the formal prerequisite to writing an academic thesis. This course covers: the foundations of scientific research in theology, the definition and use of primary and secondary sources, comprehension of literary texts, inductive and deductive methods, JETS Research Methods Manual, philological and syntactic issues, exercises undertaken by students, and paradigms for scientific research.
- Writing Research Papers Using the Computer
  This course guides students in composing all parts of small and large research papers according to the scientific and international style of Turabian. The course also trains students to use the computer for all their writing, especially using all the tools provided for Microsoft Word. This course is designed to guide students into effective strategies for theological research, including the use of library, internet, and available computer databases (including ATLA).
Bible Books Courses
- Advanced Hermeneutics
  This course offers a critique of the theoretical approaches from which the principles of biblical interpretation are derived. Cultural context, historical background, geographical location, linguistic and literary factors are analyzed in order to obtain clarity about the original author’s intended meaning. Thus the various genres of Scripture are examined for their theological content.
- Advanced Studies in New Testament Books 1
  This course surveys the Gospels and Acts, emphasizing the contribution of each book to the kingdom theme, the occasion of each book’s writing, and the application of each book’s message. Also, the course focuses on interpreting NT narratives and parables and applying the ministry of Jesus and the early church to our modern situation.
- Advanced Studies in New Testament Books 2
  This course surveys Romans to Philemon, emphasizing the contribution of each book to the kingdom theme, the occasion of each book’s writing, and the application of each book’s message. Also, the course focuses on Paul’s theology and the believer’s relationship to the Mosaic law.
- Advanced Studies in New Testament Books 3
  This course surveys Hebrews to Revelation, emphasizing the contribution of each book to the kingdom theme, the occasion of each book’s writing, and the application of each book’s message. Also, the course focuses on the new covenant and the relationship between faith and works and New Testament Eschatology.
- Advanced Studies in Old Testament Books 1
  This course surveys Genesis to Ruth, emphasizing the contribution of each book to the kingdom theme, the occasion of each book’s writing, and the application of each book’s message. Also, the course focuses on the covenants with Abraham and Moses and on interpreting narrative literature and the Law.
- Advanced Studies in Old Testament Books 2
  This course surveys to 1 Samuel-Esther and Psalms, emphasizing the contribution of each book to the kingdom theme, the occasion of each book’s writing, and the application of each book’s message. Also, the course focuses on the Davidic covenant and on interpreting narratives and the Psalms.
- Advanced Studies in Old Testament Books 3
  This course surveys Job to Malachi (except Psalms), emphasizing the contribution of each book to the kingdom theme, the occasion of each book’s writing, and the application of each book’s message. Also, the course focuses on the new covenant, interpreting wisdom and prophetic literature, and how the prophets fit in Israel’s history.
Theological Studies Courses
- Bibliology
  This course deals with how the Bible came from God’s mind to a written form. It covers the study of inspiration, canonicity, transmission, translation, and interpretation. The course stresses the Bible’s inerrancy, infallibility, and authority.
- Ecclesiology
  This course is a study of various understandings of and issues in ecclesiology from both a historical and Biblical point of view. Emphasis is placed on applying the doctrine and principles gleaned from this study to contemporary worship, ministry, and leadership in local churches within the Arab world.
- Eschatology and the Book of Revelation
  This course covers personal eschatology and general eschatology. Personal eschatology is in regard to every person and includes the study of death, resurrection, the intermediate state between death and resurrection, the judgment seat of Christ, the general judgment, hell, and eternal punishment. General eschatology includes the importance of studying eschatology, the eschatological system followed in this study, the pursuit of the correct interpretation, the conditional and unconditional covenants of the Bible, the different beliefs regarding the millennial kingdom, the difference between Covenant Theology and Dispensational Theology, benefiting from the various eschatological systems, the nature of the unprecedented Tribulation, the relationship of the rapture of the Church with the Tribulation, the different interpretations of the Book of Revelation, common errors regarding the Book of Revelation, the chronology of the Book of Revelation, the parallelism between Christ’s warnings, the prophecies of Daniel and the teachings of Paul, the manifestation of God’s heart in the appearance of Christ in His glory among the churches, the manifestation of God’s heart in the revelation of Christ to all that is behind the last judgments of evil and the wicked, with the judgments of seals, trumpets, bowls, and Babylon the harlot, and the revelation of God’s heart in the fulfillment of the reign of believers with Christ on earth as a prelude to the eternal state in the heavenly Jerusalem, and the gathering of all redeemed peoples in the heavenly Jerusalem forever.
- Ethics
  This course is an introduction to moral theology, with an emphasis on building a commitment to using a Biblical and theological foundation to guide one’s beliefs and choices in contemporary life, rather than relative cultural values. Several major ethical issues of international and contextual relevance are studied from a Biblical point of view.
- Patrology, Christology, and Pneumatology
  This course is a continuation of TH 620 and presents the study of the persons of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The study of the Father includes: an analysis of the divine name Yahweh and His distinctive function. The study of the Son includes His deity, the unity of His two natures, His emptying of Himself, His sinlessness, and His death and resurrection. The study of the Holy Spirit includes His role in both the Old and New Testaments, His procession, His role in the Believer’s life including baptism, regeneration, empowering, and gifting. Enrollment in this course is conditioned in completing TH 620 as a prerequisite.
- Soteriology
  This course is in five sections. Section one is the introductory material covering a metanarrative of salvation and the Biblical roots. Section two discusses and critically analyses the soteriological development in the thinking of the Church Fathers and Theologians who made a major contribution to the doctrine. Including the thinking of Irenaeus, Athanasius, Anselm and Barth. Section three Covers essential soteriological aspects. Section four outlines and discusses the effects of the atonement and section five poses critical questions. The central focus throughout is on the cross and the atonement but the effects of the atonement concerning the salvation of sinners is also dealt with. Our presupposition is that soteriology/ the doctrine of salvation (along with Christology) is the central doctrine of Christian theology. A solid grasp of this doctrine is considered vital to the adequacy and balance of the corpus of Systematic Theology as a whole.
- Theology Proper and Trinitarianism
  This course is a study in unity in diversity of the Trinity, with emphasis on comparison and contrast with the understanding of pervading Arab philosophy of God and His attributes. The course then demonstrates the necessary triune concept of God as a basis for God’s incarnation and redemption and for man knowing God in a personal way.
Pastoral Ministry Courses
- Expository Preaching
  This course presents advanced training in preaching based on exegesis of certain biblical texts from the Old and New Testaments. This course stresses the structure of the text from the original languages, the flow of thought, the exegetical outline, the homiletical outline, the main idea along with communication skills. This course also stresses the method of putting Christ at the center of every sermon based on what He did for the salvation of mankind and sanctification of His people. The professor and the students evaluate the sermons presented by each student.