School of Biblical Studies

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O. Herbert Hirt, III, Ph.D., Dean

Graduate Bible Programs

Jay A. Quine, Ph.D., Chair

Professor

Michael Dittman, D.Phil.
Richard Emmons, Ph.D. 
Brian Toews, Ph.D.
Robert E. Wenger, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

David C. Hard, Ph.D.
Paul Isensee, D.M.A.

Administrative Faculty

Timothy Hui, Th.D.

Part-time Faculty

David Babbitt, Ed.D.

Adjunct Faculty

David Brewer, Th.M.
Sidney Buzzell, Ph.D. 
Patrick Cate, Ph.D. 
Dean Field
Earl D. Hagar, M.A.
Peter Hook, Th.M.
David A. Marks, M.S. 
V. Lee Martin, M.S.
Larry Moyer, Th.M.
Earl Radmacher, Th.D.
Allen Ross, Ph.D.
Ben Scott, Ph.D.
David E. Seip, Th.M.
Geoff Stevens, Th.M.
David White, M.Div.
Robert Zweitzig, Th.D.

Master of Science in Bible Degree Program

Students from diverse educational backgrounds apply for the M.S. in Bible degree and find a number of program designs within the curriculum to help accomplish their goals. PBU’s Graduate Programs offer a unique course schedule which enables students to complete their degree without leaving a ministry or current employment. The creative design of evening, weekend, summer, distance, and one-week courses provides a variety of options—and satisfies the scheduling needs of students from across the country and around the world.

The 60-credit master’s program consists of a required core curriculum of 48 credits and a wide range of electives for the remaining 12 credits. A student may choose electives from Bible, Greek, Hebrew, Theology, Christian Counseling, Education, Educational Leadership and Administration, Organizational Leadership, Jewish Studies, or Music courses.

A graduate of an accredited Bible college, Christian liberal arts college or university, or seminary may be eligible for up to 15 credits of advance standing in this program. University Records Office personnel will evaluate official transcripts, and the Bible Enrollment Counselor will inform the applicant of the number of credits accepted for advance standing. An individual curriculum design will then be constructed by the Enrollment Counselor to determine the specific courses a student needs to complete the degree.

An applicant who has taken graduate courses at another accredited graduate school may be eligible to transfer up to 15 credits if coming with advance standing (for a total of up to 30 credits), or 30 credits if no advance standing, toward the Philadelphia Biblical University master’s degree. Again, official transcripts must be sent to the University Records Office for evaluation. Applicants who do not have any previous academic work in Bible or doctrine will be required to complete the 60 credits outlined in this document in order to receive the Master of Science in Bible degree.

Master of Divinity Degree Program

The Master of Divinity has long been identified as the normative and recognized degree for a person engaged in full-time Christian service. Many of PBU’s M.Div. students are pastors who are pursuing the degree to enhance their ministry skills. They want to deepen their biblical comprehension and broaden their understanding of Greek and Hebrew. Additionally, they want to hone their skills in preaching, teaching, counseling, and church administration. Some students come from the mission field; others are elders, deacons, Sunday School teachers, administrators, and lay leaders. The application of the Master of Divinity degree is as diverse as the students themselves.

The 93-credit Master of Divinity Program consists of a required core curriculum of 81 credits and 12 elective credits chosen from various programs. Our current student body takes an average of eight credits per semester. Starting without any advance standing means that it will take the average student at least 11 semesters to complete the program.

Many students, however, come from an undergraduate experience through an accredited Bible college, Christian liberal arts college or university, or seminary. This enables them to receive up to fifteen credits for advance standing in the M.Div. program—eliminating one year of study! University Records Office personnel will evaluate official transcripts, and the Bible Enrollment Counselor will inform the applicant of the number of credits accepted for advance standing. An individual curriculum design will then be constructed by the Enrollment Counselor to determine the specific courses a student needs to complete the degree.

An applicant who has taken graduate courses at another accredited graduate school may be eligible to transfer up to 15 credits if coming with advance standing (for a total of 30 credits), or 30 credits if no advance standing, toward the Philadelphia Biblical University master’s degree. Again, official transcripts must be sent to the University Records Office for evaluation. Applicants who do not have any previous academic work in Bible or doctrine will be required to complete the 93 credits outlined in this document in order to receive the Master of Divinity degree.

Women in the Graduate Bible Programs

We are frequently asked, “Should a woman pursue an M.Div.?” The answer is a resounding “Yes!” Some of our female students are already teachers of the Bible—teaching in small groups, Sunday School classes (children and adult), conferences, and even radio ministries. Others have only briefly studied the Bible, but seek to deepen their understanding of the Scriptures as they continue their busy schedules of family, work, and church responsibilities. Many contribute to their husbands’ pastoral ministry. Whatever their background, they have one thing in common: they enroll in the M.Div. program at Philadelphia Biblical University to deepen their knowledge of God and His Word.

The opportunities for women pursuing the M.Div. continue to expand. Positions are increasingly available for women to be employed by church and para-church organizations in areas of ministry leadership, teaching, and counseling. A chaplaincy, whether military, hospital, or even in business, is also an avenue available for women; as well as evangelism and the mission field (both domestic and abroad).

The School of Biblical Studies at PBU now has a “Women of the M.Div. and M.S. Bible” network, which provides the opportunity for students to meet for encouragement, fellowship, and professional opportunities. Since PBU is non-denominational, many of our students may go on to leadership roles in the church or other organizations. The “Women of the M.Div. and M.S. Bible” support each other as they step out in faith to respond to God’s call on their lives.

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