DIPLOMA IN THEOLOGY

SEMESTER BY SEMESTER COURSE DISTRIBUTION

FIRST SEMESTER

SECOND SEMESTER

THIRD SEMESTER

FOURTH SEMESTER

CATEGORY B – BIBLE, LANGUAGES AND APPLIED HERMENEUTICS

DTSB 101: Old Testament Survey                                                              3 Credit hours

This course aims to provide a brief background for the study of the Old Testament and a survey of the books of the Old Testament (OT). It covers the political and socio-religious setting of the Bible World, and a survey of the Old Testament to have a grasp of the leading themes and events such as lives of the Patriarchs, the Exodus and settlement in Canaan, the Monarchy in Israel and Judah, the exile and the Return. The Intertestamental period and its relevance to events in the New Testament are also discussed.

DTSB 102: New Testament Survey                                     3 Credit hours

This course is designed to deal with introductory issues in the study of the New Testament as well as a survey of the books of the New Testament. The political, social, religious and the cultural backgrounds of the New Testament will be explored before a discussion of the leading themes in the various types of material in the New Testament such as Johannine literature, Pauline epistles, synoptic gospels and the general letters is undertaken. The aim is to ensure that students are exposed to the different literary genres of the New Testament such as Letters, Gospels, History and Apocalypse and how they should be handled.

DTSB 201: Old Testament and African Life and Thought          3 Credit hours

Students are enabled to make a comparison of some Old Testament practices such as marriage ceremonies, funerals, festivals, kingship, naming of children, worship with the African life and thought to help them appreciate the relevance of the African life and thought to the study of the Old Testament and be able to apply the Old Testament life and thoughts to the African context.

DTSB 202: Pauline Studies                                                  3 Credit hours

The course covers an in-depth study of Paul’s life and work with particular emphasis on the major theological themes in his writings, his missionary strategy and pastoral traits.  Emphasis will be placed on the influence of Paul in shaping the direction of the Early Church.  The objective is to help students to understand Paul in his environment and appreciate his relevance to contemporary church life and work.

DTSB 212: Beginners Biblical Hebrew                                          3 Credit hours

This course introduces students to basic principles of Biblical Hebrew reading. The objective is to generate interest in the student from the onset so that upon completion they will be able to employ the skills gained in simple translations of the Hebrew Bible and also find a basis for advanced study in the field. Topics to be covered include the alphabet, vowels, dagesh, shevas, syllables, definite article, prepositions, gender and number of nouns, attributive and predicative usage of adjective, subject and demonstrative pronouns, segholates, noun construct, and pronominal suffixes on prepositions, particles and nouns. Basic vocabulary to enhance the reading of simple sentences in Hebrew is also covered.

DTSB 211: Beginners’ Biblical Greek                                            3 Credit hours

The course is intended to introduce the student to the basics of Biblical Greek grammar and vocabulary. The purpose is to establish a strong foundation for further work in the Biblical language at the intermediate level. Topics to be covered include the following: the Greek alphabet, Breathings, accents, syllabification, the Present Indicative Active, the Present Indicative passive, the Imperfect Indicative Active, the Imperfect Indicative Passive, the definite article, First Declension Feminine nouns, First Declension masculine nouns, Second declension masculine and neuter nouns, Second declension adjectives, Third declension Masculine and Feminine nouns, and Third declension Neuter nouns.

DTSB 308: The Gospels                                                                   3 Credit hours

The content of this course includes issues of origin, place, authorship, audience and message of the individual gospels. Theories regarding these issues will be discussed. The course also deals with the fundamental issues involved in the interpretation of the gospels including various approaches to a critical study of the gospel. This will include the historical critical method, Form Criticism and Reduction Criticism. The unique theological emphases of the various gospels will also be addressed as well as theories propounded as a solution to the Synoptic Problem. The relationship between the gospel of John and the Synoptic gospels will also be explored.

CATEGORY C – HISTORY AND MISSIONS

DTSC 103: General Church History                                              3 Credit hours

This is a course designed to give students a comprehensive view of the history of the Christian Church from its very beginnings. It begins with a study of the activities of the church as narrated in the Acts of the Apostles and other New Testament Books and moves on to consider the post apostolic period stretching to the Constantinian era and beyond. Particular attention is paid to the period of the persecutions, the role of the Church Fathers and other outstanding personalities of the period. The various controversies and their impact on the church are also examined in the light of the various Church councils that sought to give direction to the church.

DTSC 104: Principles of Mission & Evangelism                           3 Credit hours

This is a foundational course to introduce students to the fundamental principles underlying Christian mission and evangelism. There is a study of the Biblical and theological principles with a concentration on the missionary practice of the early church. There will also be a focus on contemporary strategies of church planting and church growth including the various methods adopted by the newer churches and the challenges they pose to the older established churches. Other general challenges facing the Church in Africa generally and Ghana in particular will also be dealt with. Specific case studies from Ghana churches will be used.

DTSC 301: History of Christianity in West Africa

The course is designed to enable students acquaint themselves with the history of the planting of Christianity in West Africa.  It introduces students to the formation of the various Missionary Bodies and their contributions to the development and expansion of Christianity in West Africa. A general overview of the church’s achievements and failures is discussed as it relates to mission and evangelism, and church and state relations.

DTSC 302: Introduction to Missiology                                           3 Credit hours

This course is designed to equip students with the basic tools for the study of the science of missions. It comprises an introduction to missiology as a branch of theology, the scope and the development of the study. The student is also introduced to the mission theories of selected missiologists as well as to the Biblical and theological vision of mission. This includes the Old Testament as well as the New Testament understanding of mission and the various paradigms discernible in the Bible. Time will also be devoted to a historical study of mission paradigms from Pentecost to the modern era as well as modern trends in mission, ministry and evangelism.

CATEGORY D – ETHICS AND PHILOSOPHY

DTSD 106: Introduction to Christian Ethics                                 3 Credit hours

The aim of this course is to expose the Ministerial student to the subject matter of Christian ethics and to teach him/her how to make Christian moral decisions and how to do Christian ethics as an African Christian. The course will give a general introduction to subject areas such as What ethics is, Major Ethical theories in Moral Philosophy (Deontological, Teleological Ethics and Utilitarianism), Determinants of African Traditional Ethics, What Christian Ethics is, the Ethics of the Early Church and some definite issues in our current African context such as wealth and poverty, gambling, polygamy and stewardship.

DTSD 212: Introduction to Philosophy                                          3 Credit hours

The aim of this course is to expose students to the subject matter of philosophy. It is basically an attempt to understand philosophy for the purpose of understanding theology. The course will give the Ministerial student a bird’s eye view of what philosophy is, the different branches of philosophy, the different approaches to philosophy, Logic, major ideas of some major Western philosophers who have influenced theology and major ideas of two African philosophers.

CATEGORY E – SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY

DTSE 105: Basic Christian Beliefs                                                 3 Credit hours

The aim of this course is to introduce the ministerial student to basic Christian Beliefs as contained in the Apostles’ Creed. It is the objective of the course that upon completion beneficiaries will have a clear understanding as to why Christians believe what they believe. Students will also be able to interpret convincingly those passages of the Bible that give support to such doctrines. The course will give a general introduction to such major Christian doctrines as Revelation, God, the Human Being, Jesus Christ, Salvation, The Holy Spirit, The Church and Eschatology.

DTSE 313: Jesus the Christ                                                             3 Credit hours

The course is intended to provide a general biblical and theological background to the study of Christology.  Particular attention is given to the theological interpretation of the virgin birth, message, works, death, resurrection and exaltation of Jesus.  The eschatological event of salvation associated with the advent of Christ, the New Testament confession of Jesus as the Lord, the Messiah, Saviour, Prophet, Son of Man and Son of God will also be considered to enable students gain a general knowledge of Jesus, the Christ and a firm theological foundation for further Christological studies.

CATEGORY F – PASTORAL THEOLOGY

DTSF 108: Liturgics                                                                                     3 Credit hours

The course is designed to lead students to discover how the Ministry of the Word and the Eucharist developed with reference to classical Liturgies, the Reformation adaptations and contemporary liturgical revivals in various churches. It is the objective of the course to produce people who have been adequately equipped to lead worship in church and guide others to do so in a way that is consistent with the Bible doctrine and Church practice.

DTSF 110: Preaching                                                                                   3 credit hours

This course is designed to offer the student an understanding of the art of preaching and the craft of the preparation of sermons. The importance of preaching in the ministry is discussed. Emphasis is placed on preaching as the exposition of the Word of God so the proper interpretation of the Bible is discussed. Other sources for sermon ideas as well as different types of sermons are explored. Students are exposed to a step-by-step method of deriving a message from the Word of God and applying it to the context of the hearers. Communication skills and the art of delivery of sermons are also discussed.

DTSF 204: Pastoral Care and Counselling                                    3 Credit hours

This course is designed to help students understand the theory and principles underlying the practice of pastoral care and counselling. Specific topics such as the definition of care, models of care, the biblical and psychological understanding of the human person, the concept of shepherding as pastoral care, functions of, and resources for pastoral care are discussed. Pastoral Counselling as a specific model of care is considered and the basic ingredients or skills necessary for effective counselling as well as the stages of counselling are discussed.

DTSF 207: The Practice of Preaching                                            3 Credit hours

This is designed to give the student an opportunity to practice the art of preaching and receive class evaluation of student sermon. Those who participate in this course can expect to gain insight into the preparation, experience the practice of preaching, and receive guidance in coping with criticism and feedback toward the improvement of sermon delivery, gestures and pulpit presence. Opportunities to grow in the art of listening with fairness to the viewpoints of others are also gained in this course. 

DTSF 209:  Introduction to Christian Education                         3 Credit hours

This course is designed to examine the theoretical basis of Christian education, its historical, philosophical and psychological foundations. Attention will be given to human developmental stages and their significance for the teaching-learning process.

DTSF 303 Youth Ministry                                                               3 Credit hours

This course is designed to examine Christian Ministry to the youth. The content and methods of education for the youth, affective and cognitive development, psychology of adolescence, youth and culture, intergenerational conflicts, identity, responsibility and vocational developments, etc. will be explored.  Special attention will be given to the character, organization and planning for Youth Ministry in the Church and among para-church and other Christian organizations such as YWCA, YMCA, S.U. GHAFES, the Brigade, etc.

DTSF 304:  Christian Marriage and Family Counselling            3 Credit hours

Aim: The course is designed to help students have a good understanding of what Christian Marriage is.

Objective: Upon completion of the course students will acquire the necessary competence as to how to legally and theologically contract marriage in Ghana, and be able to prepare people to enter it.

Outline and description: Such an understanding is brought to bear on what the nature of Christian Marriage should be in the Ghanaian context. The types of marriages in Ghana are discussed and the nature and process of premarital, marriage and family counselling are explored. The Christian Family in the Ghanaian context is also explored and the implications for counselling are attended to. Group marriage counselling and family life education are also discussed.

CATEGORY G – THE STUDY OF RELIGIONS

DTSG 112: World Religions/ Comparative Study of Religions   3 Credit hours

The aim of the course is to introduce students to the basic tenets of the major non-Christian religions with the view to examining how these religions impact on Inter-Faith relations.  The non-Christian religions to be looked at in this course include Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, African Traditional Religions, Sikhism and Islam.  The main focus of the course will be on Islam as it is the non-Christian religion that impacts most on our situation.

DTSG 208: African Traditional Religions                                     3 Credit hours

This course is intended to study the African religion from the point of view of its practitioners themselves.  It seeks to examine what religious ideas, practices and institutions that are peculiar to Africa mean to her peoples.  This course will cover the main features of the African Traditional religions, the concept of God in African belief, the ancestors, divinities, spirits, African conception of the human and moral values.

DTSG: 312:  The Pentecostal (and Neo Pentecostal) Movement 3 Credit hours

This course is designed to introduce students to the phenomenon of Pentecostalism and Neo-Pentecostalism as recent expressions of Christian faith both in Ghana and elsewhere.

The objective of the course is that students who go through it will be able to analyse the Pentecostal phenomenon wherever they meet is and formulate the appropriate response to it.

The course will examine the rise of classical Pentecostals and some of their unique theologies as well as the distinctive features of neo-Pentecostalism, popularly called charismatic churches in Ghana. Attempts will also be made to analyse why African Christianity is becoming increasingly Pentecostal in nature.

CATEGORY P. GENERAL PRE-REQUISITES

DTSP: 113: English for Tertiary Education                                  3 Credit hours

This course aims at equipping students with the requisite skills to be able to use English Language effectively in Christian ministry. The objective is to ensure that upon completion of the course, beneficiaries will be able to preach, teach and do other aspects of mission, in the English Language in terms of communicating the Christian Gospel. The components of this course will include reading comprehension, note-taking towards summary writing, note-taking towards essay writing, summary writing, essay writing, English grammar, etc.

DTSP 219:     Computer Literacy                                                   3 Credit hours

Aim: The course is intended to introduce candidates to the basics of computer usage, especially in the area of simple softwares but also fundamental hardware components of the computer.

Objective: It is expected that students who complete the course will be given the capacity not only to know the basic components of the computer such as hard disk, mouse, keyboard and monitor, but also they will be able to employ the use of simple software in their research and communication. Topics to be treated include introduction to hardware (components of the computer), Microsoft word, dos prompt, excel, spreadsheet, power point, etc.

DTSP 305:  Church Management                                                   3 Credit hours

This course aims at introducing students to personal management and church management for effective ministry. The objective is that at the end of the course students will be able to learn and apply simple management principles, such as Planning, Organizing, Leading and Controlling in a church setting.

Outline and description

 A person who holds a management position inside an organization is required to think strategically and conceptually in order to achieve organizational goals. The course will address management issues relating to the understanding of principles that make for fruitful ministry, ability to manage one’s personal life and family as well as effective leadership necessary for managing and administering our God-given resources.

DTSP 314: Ghanaian Languages

This course is aimed at helping students to learn the principles and rules governing the writing systems of the various Ghanaian Languages (i.e Akan, Ewe, Ga). Special attention will be given to orthography and the use of appropriate registers and word collocation for these languages. Reading and comprehension exercises will also constitute a major part of this course. Language and culture, grammar and translation exercises will also be included in the course.

DTSP 315: Introduction to Logic and Critical Thinking                         3 Credit hours

Aim: This course is intended to help students discriminate logically between rhetorical ploys with motives and good arguments supported by logical reasoning. Those enrolled in this course will be provided the vocabulary and techniques to employ critical thought and practice within the academic arena and beyond.

Objective: Students will recognise the contrast between inductive and deductive reasoning and the different types of support yielded by each and evaluate the quality of evidence confirming an empirical hypothesis about human conduct to maintain individual professional and scholarly discretion in the face of peer pressure and mob mentality.

Outline: Inductive and deductive reasoning, evidence and the confirmation of hypotheses, deductive validity, inductive force, the difference between truth, knowledge and belief; rhetorical ploys and fallacies, and the construction, identification and assessment of arguments.