Winter Semester: January 1 - March 31
     Spring Semester: April 1 - June 30
     Summer Semester: July 1 - September 30
     Fall Semester: October 1 - December 31

The MDC Online Semesters are 3 months long and all homework is due on the Last Day of the Semester. Students can purchase a Homework Extension if needed by following this link: Homework Extension Page

Communicating Christ Cross-Culturally — This module acquaints the student with the fundamentals of Missiology, the theology of missions.  Pastors must be knowledgeable of and sensitive to cultures other than their own in this rapidly diversifying world. 

Communicating with Spoken and Written Language — Fundamentals of English grammar and speech are addressed here.

Living Ethical Lives — The moral implications of the Gospel and Christian character are key themes of this module.  Special attention will be given to the unique way in which moral reflection has characterized the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition.

Administering the Local Church — Here the prospective pastor is introduced to the art/science of Church Administration, which is a continual and intentional process that connects and uses gifts of individual believers to enable a particular congregation to win people to Christ and to build a spiritually healthy church.

Becoming a Holy People (Doctrine of Holiness) — Holiness of heart and life is traced as a theological doctrine from early Judeo-Christian literature through the 21st century expression in the Church.

Declaring the Gospel of God — The fundamentals of evangelism are considered in this module and various approaches to evangelism are presented. 

Exploring Christian Ministry — The module writer views the minister and the ministry from a biblical perspective, presents the ministry as a high calling demanding holy living and hard work, and encourages a hunger for and commitment to a lifetime of arduous study and patient ministry. 

Exploring John Wesley's Theology — The module will examine the life of Wesley in historical context-Britain in the 18th century. It will also examine Wesley's dependence upon and creative appropriation of certain theological traditions. Each aspect of the "Wesleyan Quadrilateral" will be examined. 

Exploring Nazarene History and Polity — The History and Polity module gives a brief overview of the development of the Church of the Nazarene as a denomination.  It also provides an introduction to the organization of the denomination via a study of pertinent sections of The Manual of the Church of the Nazarene.  

Interpreting Scripture (Hermeneutics) — A set of procedures by which to pursue the meaning of the text for its author and/or original audience and the ability to move from that "original" meaning to a contemporary application or contemporary significance is what this module provides the student. 

Investigating Christian Theology 1 — This module introduces the student to Systematic Theology, a thematic approach to understanding Christian Theology. 

Investigating Christian Theology 2 — This module continues the introduction to Systematic Theology, a thematic approach to understanding Christian Theology.  It is advisable that Christian Theology 1 be taken before Christian Theology 2 although it is not a requirement. 

Leading the People of God — The overarching vision for this module is for each student to embrace the biblical model of "servant" as the driving force and organizing principle within the individual as he or she seeks to lead a Christian community of faith. 

Telling the Old Testament Story of God — This module is an introduction to the serious study of the Hebrew Scriptures in their historical, cultural and literary contexts.  The module emphasizes the essential contents, structure and theological message of the books of the Old Testament.  Students are introduced to the practice of biblical exegesis and to the geography and archaeology of the lands of the Bible.

Telling the New Testament Story of God — This module will introduce the student to the New Testament biblical literature, Bible study methods, and the environment of the Early Church. Special attention will be given to the political, cultural, religious, and geographical setting, the literary genre, and the meaning of the text in its original cultural, historical, and literary context for the purpose of discovering the principles of truth to be applied to our contemporary setting. 

Preaching the Story of God — This module will equip the student to go through the process of sermon construction. Attention will be given to the preaching event as the oral culmination of sermon process, including the call for a decision. In addition, the module will aid the student in understanding the need for planning a preaching program.  

Providing Christian Education for All Ages — The course is a basic introduction to the field of Christian education.

Communicating the Gospel in a Pluralistic World — In this module students confront the ideology of religious pluralism from a Wesleyan-Arminian perspective.  Religious pluralism claims that not only are there many religions, the diversity represents the way things "ought to be". There exists no single religious perception of reality that is universally applicable and binding.  No religion can legitimately claim to proclaim the truth for all persons.

Communicating with Spoken and Written Language — Fundamentals of English grammar and speech are addressed here.

Examining Our Christian Heritage 1 — The Church History module will examine the foundation and development of the Christian Church up to the Reformation period (1500 AD). 

Examining Our Christian Heritage 2 — Developments in the Church since 1500 A.D. is the focus of this module.

Practicing Wesleyan-Holiness Spiritual Formation — Spiritual formation is the transformational outworking of the grace of God in the hearts and actions of human beings.  It includes Christian fellowship, community, and worship (Eph 4:15-16) as well as acts of service (Gal 6:10).  This course focuses primarily on the spiritual disciplines, devotional skills, and practices that open the door to the transforming Spirit. 

Sheparding God's People — In this module the student is introduced to the fundamentals of pastoral counseling.

Supervised Ministry Experience — This module is a practical training module which includes a simple and informative NewStart course which will help you understand the basics of "Starting New Ministries".

Tracing the Story of God in the Bible (Biblical Theology) — Through this biblical theology module students will learn to sort through the Bible's witness to God's involvement in the lives of people long dead to discern the timeless truths that should shape our understanding of God and life as His people in the present and our aspirations for the future.

Explanation of Scheduling  

The 24 Modules from the Nazarene Course of Study above are broken down into 2 sections. The top list are those modules currently being offered and the bottom list are modules that will be offered in the upcoming semesters. Please talk to your POD Facilitators about what modules are being taken in the individual PODs.

Contact The MDC Online Administrator for more information.