COURSES
Deepen Your Theological Understanding
At Hartwell Divinity School™, each course is grounded in conservative, evangelical Christian theology and rigorous exegetical principles. Our curriculum emphasizes a deep understanding of Scripture, practical ministry skills, and the ability to defend the faith in a secular world. Lectures are live and online.
International students and residents of Florida can take courses, certificates, and earn degrees through HDS as a program of Hartwell University®. All other students can complete HDS courses and certificates as a program of Hartwell Quest®.
Additionally, every HDS student has access to credit transfer and degree programs at over 240 accredited Christian colleges and universities through our accredited partnerships.*
Course Categories & Descriptions
HDS classes are live online lectures that offer direct professor-student interaction. Coursework can be completed on your own schedule. Each course is 3 credits/units each.
- New Testament Studies
- Old Testament Studies
- Greek
- Hebrew
- Theology
- Church History
- Homiletics
- Pastoral Care
- Evangelism
- Apologetics
New Testament Studies
NTS 503: New Testament Gospels
In this course, students will survey the life of Christ from a harmony of the Gospels. Thus, they will be able to analyze the life of Christ chronologically while also assessing the differences between the gospel accounts. Special attention will be given to the theological implications of each of the narrative events and discourses.
NTS 513: New Testament Acts
In this course, students will study the book of Acts and learn about the history of the early church. This course will feature a substantial examination of the introductory material of the book of Acts as well as a deep dive into the social and political fabric surrounding many of the events of Acts.
NTS 523: New Testament Letters and Revelation
In this course, students will read and analyze the letters of the New Testament and the Book of Revelation. This will be done in concert an analysis of the heresies that apostles like Paul had to deal with in the regional churches. Additionally, the book of Revelation will be assessed through a dispensational lens with discussion on other views.
NTS 533: Exegesis of Matthew
In this course, students will be reading through the book of Matthew attempting to assess and analyze the structure of the narrative and how the entire gospel operates a messianic prophecy proof for Jesus’ messiahship. Additionally, students will be developing a homiletic grid that they can use to construct teachings or sermons.
NTS 543: Exegesis of John
In this course, students will be reading through the book of John with an eye for the theological implications of the narrative and the use of dichotomies to illustrate key points. The study of John will provide students with a better understanding of Christology and truth of the nature and character of Jesus Christ.
NTS 553: Exegesis of Romans
In this course, students will be reading through the book of Romans. Special emphasis will be given to the debate on the New Perspective on Paul scholarship as well as the traditional understanding of Pauline literature as promoting justification by faith alone. Students will also discuss Paul’s view on Israel and its place in the plan of God.
NTS 563: Exegesis of the Book of Revelation
In this course, students will be reading through the letters of the New Testament and the Book of Revelation. The letters will be assessed to develop more robust systematic theology and to better understand the issues and context of the early church. The book of Revelation will be examined through a dispensational hermeneutic and students will be given the opportunity to defend their individual views.
Old Testament Studies
OTS 503: Old Testament Torah
In this course, students will survey the first five books of the Old Testament, known as the Torah. This course will cover the history of the patriarchs, the details of the Sinaitic Covenant, and the formation of the people of Israel. We will also be giving special attention to the veracity of the first five books and their historical character.
OTS 513: Old Testament History and Wisdom Literature
In this course, students will analyze Joshua, Judges, Ruth, Job, 1+2 Kings, 1+2 Chronicles, the Psalms, Proverbs, Song of Songs, Ecclesiastes, and Lamentations. This course will focus on the apologetical issues of Joshua and Judges as well as the cyclical nature of the history of Israel’s fall, crying out, salvation, and prosperity.
OTS 523: Old Testament Major and Minor Prophets
In this course, students will read and theologically interpret the major and minor prophets. This course will focus on interpretive methodology concerning apocalyptic literature as well as understanding the use of symbols and predictive prophecy. We will also have a heavy focus on messianic prophecy and its proper interpretation.
OTS 533: Exegesis of Genesis
In this course, students will examine the book of Genesis in great detail. We will be looking at the interpretive issues regarding the first three chapters of Genesis as well as some of the more difficult sections of early human history. Additionally, students will be expected to properly interpret the Abrahamic Covenant as it pertains to all other covenants and God’s plan of redemption and salvation.
OTS 543: Exegesis of Deuteronomy
In this course, students will read the entire book of Deuteronomy and detail the purpose and requirements of the Sinaitic Covenant. Additionally, students will pay particular attention to the New Covenant and its specifically Jewish tenets. Finally, students will work with the aspects of Deuteronomy that are focused on messianic prophecy and relate them to other portions of Scripture.
OTS 553: Exegesis of Isaiah
In this course, students will read the entire book of Isaiah and be able to address the three central sections and provide a defense of the united authorship of the book. Students will work on relating the book of Isaiah to the larger issue of the Messiah’s future comings as well as the typo of world the Messiah plans to bring. The concepts of justice, righteousness, holiness, and wrath will all be explored as they pertain to the text.
OTS 563: Exegesis of Ezekiel
In this course, students will read the entire book of Ezekiel and be able to interpret apocalyptic literature and woe literature in its historical context. Additionally, students will also present an analysis of the Ezekiel 40-48 as it pertains to the Millennial Kingdom and the Millennial Temple.
OTS 573: Exegesis of Minor Prophets
In this course, students will investigate the links between the 12 minor prophets. Students will use the book of Joel to formulate the basis of understanding the concepts like the Day of the Lord, the Wrath of God, and the Messiah. Additionally, students will assess several verses for the possibility of containing messianic prophecy.
Greek
GRK 503: Introduction to Greek I
In this course, students will learn the basic of the Greek language. They will be learning approximately 1,500 words, the basic tenses of verbs and declensions of nouns. Students will be expected to translate portions of the Gospels during the course.
GRK 513: Introduction to Greek II
In this course, students will learn more advanced topics about the Greek language. They will be learning approximately 1,500 new words and the more advanced tenses and declensions of nouns. Students will be expected to do more thorough translations of portions of the New Testament this semester.
Hebrew
HEB 503: Introduction to Hebrew I
In this course, students will learn about the introductory concepts of the Hebrew language. They will be learning approximately 1,500 new words as well as the syntax of various sentence structures.
HEB 513: Introduction to Hebrew II
In this course, students will learn about more advanced topics of the Hebrew language. They will be learning approximately 1,500 new words as well as more difficult grammar rules and how they can be applied in a variety of ways.
Theology
THE 503: Systematic Theology I: Prolegomena, Theology Proper, Trinity
This course serves as the first part of three courses designed to survey the core theological divisions of Christian Theology. These courses are designed to examine these aspects of theology from systematic, polemic, and elenctic paradigms. The first course will open with a discussion of Theological Prolegomena, including the topics of definitions of theology, divisions of theology, and theological method. Then, we will proceed to Theology Proper in which we will cover the existence of God, definitions of God, knowability of God, names of God, attributes of God, deficient views of God. We will then end with a discuss of the doctrine of the Trinity and trinitarian heresies.
THE 513: Systematic Theology II: Anthropology, Christology, Soteriology, and Eschatology
This course serves as the second part of three courses designed to survey the core theological divisions of Christian Theology. These courses are designed to examine these aspects of theology from systematic, polemic, and elenctic paradigms. The first course will open with a discussion of biblical anthropology, including the topics of traducianism vs. creationism, hamartiology (the study of sin), and the constitution of human nature. Then, we will proceed to Christology in which we will cover the theanthropic God-Man and historical heresies, the roles of Christ, the Incarnation, and the sinlessness of Christ. Next, we will discuss soteriology, including the atonement, election, spiritual regeneration, justification, sanctification, and resurrection. Finally, we will end with a discussion on topics of Eschatology, including the existence of heaven and hell.
THE 523: Bibliology
This course serves to provide an in-depth analysis of the topic of Bibliology. In this course, we will be discussing topics that include the doctrine of divine revelation as well as the inerrancy, infallibility, sufficiency, clarity, supremacy, and inspiration of Scripture. We will also assess the foundation of our knowledge of God from a theological/philosophical perspective. Additionally, we will examine various alternative positions and criticisms of orthodox belief, giving students the opportunity to defend their positions.
THE 603: Biblical Anthropology
In this course, students will be examining a variety of hot button topics in the area of biblical anthropology. We will be examining biblical definitions of humanity, male and female, homosexuality, transgenderism, surrogacy, abortion, and transhumanism.
Church History
CHI 503: Church History I: Apostolic Period to Reformation
In this course, students will be studying the periods of church history between the Apostolic Period through the Reformation. There will be a special emphasis on the turning points in church history that set Christianity off into vastly different trajectories. Additionally, this course will emphasis doctrinal issues throughout history and the policies that resulted from them.
CHI 513: Church History II: Reformation to Present Day
In this course, students will be studying the periods of church history between the Reformation and the present day. There will be a special emphasis on the history of the Protestant Reformation and all of the denominations that rose out of it. Additionally, we will be looking at the expansion of Christianity that happened during the 1900’s as well as the decline of Christianity in America and Europe as a result of the Modernist and Post-modernist movements.
Homiletics
HOM 503: Introduction to Homiletics
In this course, students will be trained to craft and deliver sermons. The course will focus on expository preaching as the staple pillar of the office of the pastor in the church. Students will be preparing multiple sermons during this course and engaging in critique from their professor and fellow cohort members.
HOM 513: Introduction to Teaching
In this course, students will be trained to craft and deliver teaching lectures. This course will focus on the appropriate hermeneutical methodology to properly handle Scripture within teaching ministries in a church. Students will be preparing multiple lessons during the course and engaging in critique from the professor and fellow cohort members.
HOM 523: Homiletics Practicum
In this course, students will prepare several sermons on a variety of New Testament verses to be critiqued by the professor and fellow students. Additionally, students will consider the practice of preaching in the wider context of the church community.
Hom 533: Teaching Practicum
In this course, students will prepare several teachings on a variety of New Testament verses to be critiqued by the professor and fellow students. Additionally, students will consider the practice of teaching in the wider context of the church community.
Pastoral Care
PSC 503: Pastoral Ministry
This course trains pastors and ministers to properly handle the relational issues that may come up in the lives of those to whom they minister. This will cover topics such as marriage counseling, church discipline, and conflict management.
PSC 513: Discipleship Ministry
This course trains ministers and missionaries to properly handle the relational issues that may come up in the lives of those to whom they minister. This will cover topics such as general discipleship and conflict management.
Evangelism
EVA 503: Evangelism and Discipleship
In this course, students will learn about proper ways to present the gospel and how to teach and train others in those methods. Students will also evaluate multiple discipleship methodologies and determine which best fit their current ministry. Additionally, students will actively work on two practicums during this course in which they will evangelize to three people and disciple one person throughout the class.
EVA 513: Missiology
In this course, students will study missionary efforts throughout church history and wrestle with contemporary missionary concerns. Specifically, students will examine issues such as contextualization of the gospel and Christianity, persecution, relationship between home churches and church plants, funding missionaries, and promoting a missional mindset in a proper setting.
EVA 523: Missiology Practicum
This course serves as an opportunity for students to put their theory into practice in a real-world ministry application. Students will submit a proposal for a missionary project to the professor prior to signing up for the class for approval. The professor will then work with the students throughout the semester to provide insight and help to make sure the project is successful.
Apologetics
APO 503: Citizen of the Kingdom – Ambassador to the World: Faith and Politics
This course will examine the foundation of our citizenship in the God’s Kingdom and how we are to operate as His ambassadors in the world. We will be analyzing Scripture to develop a theology for God and government as well as to understand our proper place in relation to politics and civics.
APO 513: The Courts of God and Man: Biblical Justice vs. Critical Theory
In this course, students will be examining secular and “Christian” versions of Critical Theory and its opposition to the biblical understanding of justice. Students will be prepared to combat Critical Theory in the world of ideas through active debate and research.
APO 523: The Desecration of Man: Biblical Anthropology, Homosexuality, and Transgenderism
In this course, students will investigate the biblical understanding of the nature of humanity and humanity’s existence as male and female. Students will learn about the issues surrounding the modern transgender movement and how to persuasively deconstruct counter arguments so that they can defend the biblical understanding of men and women in their churches and in the world.
APO 533: Light in a Dark World: Biblical Worldview
In this course, students will derive the biblical worldview from Scripture and then use that as a template to examine the other major worldviews. Students will also assess the worldviews as they pertain to the various areas of culture and life, including law, science, art, history, and economics.
APO 543: Evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus
This class on the resurrection of Jesus Christ will survey the modern historiographical approach to the resurrection with special emphasis on disproving the alternative theories to the Resurrection. Additionally, a significant portion of the class will focus on analysis of the scientific evidence surrounding the validity of the Shroud of Turin as an image of the Resurrection event itself.
APO 553: Arguments of Classical Apologetics
In this course, students will analyze and use the following arguments: Cosmological Argument, Ontological Argument, Telocentric Argument, Moral Argument, and Aesthetic Argument. We will be looking at how these arguments have developed throughout history, their critiques, and how they have resurfaced in modern scholarship.
APO 563: The Problem of Evil
In this course, students will develop a theodicy or an argument defending God concerning the problem of the existence of evil. We will be looking at a historical analysis of how Christians have assessed this topic over the centuries and demonstrate the philosophical underpinnings to many of the arguments that have been developed.
*Accredited degree options are fully provided by our partner institutions. Enrollment at Hartwell Divinity School™ (HDS) is optional and not required to earn an academic degree from these partners. HDS does not manage any part of Title IV program participation. For more information on credit transfers and degree options, please contact us.