Apologetics (APOL)
APOL 701 Ministry Foundations for Applied Apologetics 3 Credit Hour(s)
This course offers a broad introduction to ministry as an expression of applied apologetics, the challenges and opportunities related to ministry in the contemporary context of the 21st century, and the various expressions of the practice of ministry
Offered: Online
APOL 702 Philosophical Foundations for Applied Apologetics 3 Credit Hour(s)
This course introduces students to relevant philosophical foundations for learning and critical thinking in a way that will prepare them for their future academic work related to applied apologetics.
Offered: Online
APOL 810 Miracles, the Resurrection, and Christian Ministry 3 Credit Hour(s)
Online Prerequisite: DMIN 810
This course examines the apologetic value of the miraculous, giving special emphasis to the resurrection of Jesus, as it bears on Christian theology and the life and mission of the Church.
Note: Available to DMIN Students only
Offered: Online
APOL 815 Dissertation Concept Development for Applied Apologetics 3 Credit Hour(s)
Online Prerequisite: RTCH 805
In this course students will facilitate development of the dissertation concept. To this end, students will explore a suitable subject/area of interest and work to narrow the scope of concern to a responsibly narrow and appropriate topic that they are then able to articulate into a cogent and compelling prospectus.
Offered: Online
APOL 820 Cultural Apologetics 3 Credit Hour(s)
Online Prerequisite: DMIN 810
This course equips students to understand, evaluate, and engage cultural trends from a Christian ministerial perspective. Students will learn a biblical theology of culture which they will use to evaluate strategies for church engagement in the culture. Particular emphasis will be placed on the intersections that exist between ecclesial ministry, cultural influences in the western world, and apologetics.
Registration Restrictions: Admission to the DMIN Program
Offered: Online
APOL 845 Applied Apologetics Literature Review I 3 Credit Hour(s)
This course familiarizes students with the processes, resources, and skills involved in surveying, analyzing, and synthesizing the scholarly literature related to a research topic to position the student’s own research within the scholarly conversation of the topic.
Offered: Online
APOL 846 Applied Apologetics Literature Review II 3 Credit Hour(s)
Online Prerequisite: APOL 845
This course applies the principles, resources, and skills learned in previous courses for conducting an academic literature review, including the theoretical framework and research methodology. Students will accomplish this by creating a literature review of the academic conversations around their proposed topic for the purpose of determining both their topic’s suitability for a dissertation as well as positioning the student’s research as a contribution to the on-going scholarly conversations of the topic.
Offered: Online
APOL 847 Applied Apologetics Topical Research I 3 Credit Hour(s)
In this course, students will be introduced to the various methods and requisite skills involved in conducting focused doctoral-level research of a proposed topic, including both research modalities and resources required to conduct a thorough investigation of a topic in support of a proposed dissertation.
Offered: Online
APOL 848 Applied Apologetics Topical Research II 3 Credit Hour(s)
Online Prerequisite: APOL 847
In this course, students will learn to execute focused research in an appropriate field of study and further develop their ability to both collect data and use that data in ways that are discernable to an academic audience. Students will accomplish this by identifying a research inquiry that is appropriate to their program, designing a research argument that helps satisfy that inquiry, and producing an academic presentation that articulates that argument and reflects scholarly research.
Offered: Online
APOL 849 Applied Apologetics Dissertation Presentation I 3 Credit Hour(s)
In this course students will improve their ability to synthesize information and articulate the relationships between interrelated concepts that pertain to an appropriate area of study. To this end, students will examine and analyze the scholarly works of others so that they may grow in their ability to organize an argument in a compelling way.
Offered: Online
APOL 850 Applied Apologetics Dissertation Presentation II 3 Credit Hour(s)
Online Prerequisite: APOL 849
In this course students will draw upon what they have learned throughout this program to develop a compelling dissertation concept and articulate how a compelling argument will be investigated and ultimately satisfied in their coming dissertation project. This will be achieved after students fine-tune a dissertation proposal and develop an engaging and well-organized presentation of what they hope to demonstrate in their dissertation project.
Offered: Online
APOL 900 Reading Seminar in Apologetics 3 Credit Hour(s)
A reading seminar which focuses on the basic literature in the field.
Offered: Resident
APOL 910 Apologetic Method 3 Credit Hour(s)
A seminar critically examining various methods and taxonomies of apologetics. A detailed study of major Christian apologetic methodologies, as espoused by representative thinkers, from New Testament times to the present. Emphasis is placed on the structure and defense of various systems, including the formulation of a personal apologetic strategy.
Offered: Resident
APOL 920 Resurrection and Miracles 3 Credit Hour(s)
A seminar examining classic and modern arguments against the miraculous with special attention to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Offered: Resident
APOL 930 The Problem of Evil, Pain and Suffering 3 Credit Hour(s)
A seminar examining the problem of evil in classical theology and apologetics. Theodicies from the time of the Church Fathers down through the modern era, as well as serious challenges to Christian theism, from both philosophy and apologetics, will be critically examined.
Offered: Resident
APOL 935 Apologetics and Culture 3 Credit Hour(s)
This seminar develops a biblical, theological, and philosophical framework for understanding, evaluating, and engaging culture.
Offered: Resident
APOL 940 Modern Apologetic Issues 3 Credit Hour(s)
A seminar examining current issues in apologetics, including pluralism, open theism, the validity/historicity of the biblical documents, and the validity of religious truth claims.
Offered: Resident
APOL 950 Engaging Modern Religious Movements and World Theologies 3 Credit Hour(s)
This course examines approaches to engaging modern religious movements and world theologies. Attention is given to the historical development, beliefs, and practices of such movements, in comparison to Christian orthodox beliefs and practice.
Registration Restrictions: Admission to PhD in Theology and Apologetics or PhD in Theological Studies degree.
Offered: Resident
APOL 965 Apologetics in the Church 3 Credit Hour(s)
A course especially designed to deal with current issues in Christian evidences, so that the pastor can apply the results to preaching, teaching and evangelism.
APOL 987 Dissertation Writing in Applied Apologetics I 5 Credit Hour(s)
In this course, the doctoral candidate will compose the early chapters of a dissertation based on the candidate's research and organization of content.
Registration Restrictions: GPA of 3.0 or higher
Offered: Online
APOL 988 Dissertation Writing in Applied Apologetics II 5 Credit Hour(s)
Online Prerequisite: APOL 987
In this course, the doctoral candidate will compose the middle chapters of a dissertation based on the candidate's research and organization of content.
Offered: Online
APOL 989 Dissertation Writing in Applied Apologetics III 5 Credit Hour(s)
Online Prerequisite: APOL 988
In this course, the doctoral candidate will compose the final chapters of a dissertation based on the candidate's research and organization of content. This course may be repeated until the dissertation supervisor indicates the dissertation is ready to be defended
Offered: Online
APOL 990 Dissertation Defense for Applied Apologetics 0 Credit Hour(s)
Online Prerequisite: APOL 989
In this course, the doctoral candidate will provide an oral defense of his/her applied apologetics dissertation.
Offered: Online
APOL 993 Readings in Apologetics and Cultural Engagement and Comprehensive Exam 3 Credit Hour(s)
Analysis of the major primary sources and scholarly research of Apologetics, cultural engagement, and public theology, leading toward a comprehensive examination.
Registration Restrictions: Once students complete 27 hours of course work within their degree program they are eligible to register for their comprehensive exams. Must be approved by the Director of the PhD in Theological Studies.
Offered: Resident
APOL 995 Directed Research in Apologetics 1-3 Credit Hour(s)
Designed for the advanced student in good standing who has demonstrated an ability to work independently. The student will work with the instructor in developing a proposal for guided research in a specified area of Apologetics.
Offered: Resident
APOL 997 Seminar in Apologetics 3 Credit Hour(s)
An intensive study in a specific subject of Apologetics. This course allows variation in the approach and content of the regular curriculum and often will be used by visiting professors.
Offered: Resident