Course of Study (non-degree)

Faculty

Brent Peterson (Interim Program Directors)
Richard Thompson

Mission

NNU's Course of Study program (COS) is ministerial training done via an online learning management system (LMS).  The modules (courses) are provided by the Clergy Development Office of the USA and Canada Region of the Church of the Nazarene.  Each module is produced by a recognized, experienced educator in the Church of the Nazarene.  These modules are written for delivery in a classroom setting and have been adapted for presentation online.

Module facilitators are ordained Nazarene ministers serving in Nazarene churches throughout North America.  Each instructor holds a minimum of a Master's degree and some have earned doctoral degrees.

The online COS program is open to anyone proficient in English and at least 16 years of age, especially those pursuing ordination in the Church of the Nazarene.  For more information, contact the Course of Study Online office at (208) 467-8538.

In order to help all current and future COS students succeed in their work, the following registration policy has been implemented by the Course of Study Program:

  1. A new student to our program may register or enroll in one (1) COS module/course per session. This allows the student to adjust to online learning, the specific nuances of the course management system, the “rhythms” of our COS modules/courses, and balancing church, study, and work responsibilities.
  2. A returning student to our program may register or enroll in one (1) or two (2) COS modules/courses per session, as long as prior work in the program has been completed satisfactorily (a minimum GPA of 2.30). Those with a GPA below that threshold will be permitted to enroll in only one (1) COS module/course per session.
  3. A returning student to our program who has received unsatisfactory grades (a D+ or lower) for three (3) consecutive COS modules/courses may only register or enroll in one (1) COS module/course per session until that student demonstrates adequate ability to succeed in his/her work (i.e., a grade of C+ or above).
  4. Neither a returning student nor a new student may register or enroll in more than two (2) COS modules/courses per session, as past performance has indicated that students have usually not been successful in their work when enrolled in three or more modules/courses per session.
  5. If unusual circumstances may call for an exception, and if a reasonable plan that could help a student succeed can be implemented, then such an exception may be requested from the Director of the COS Program.  Such a request would need to come from the student and be supported either by the chair or secretary of the student's District Ministerial Studies Board (or Board of Ministry) or by the district superintendent, who would (a) offer some rationale for the request and (b) describe the support that would be provided to assist in the student's successful completion the module/course work.  This request (including the district support of that request) would need to be received by the Director of the COS Program at least 48 hours before the close of a session's registration.

Degrees and Certificates

Courses

CSBL1011: Telling the Old Testament Story of God

Credits 1
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. This module corresponds to the Directed Studies Program course 121. This module has 13 lessons.

CSBL1012: Telling the New Testament Story of God

Credits 1
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. This module corresponds to the Directed Studies Program course 111. This module has 20 lessons.

CSBL1020: Tracing the Story of God in the Bible

Credits 1
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. This is the only course module in the COS Online program requiring a textbook. New Dictionary of Biblical Theology (NDBT). IVP Academic, 2000. ISBN: 0-8308-1438-8. This course module has 12 lessons.

CSBL1021: Interpreting Scripture

Credits 1
A set of procedures by which to pursue the meaning of the text for its author and 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. This module corresponds to the Directed Studies Program course 131. This module has 14 lessons.

CSCH1024: Examining Our Christian Heritage I

Credits 1
The foundation and development of the Christian Church up to the Reformation period (1500 A.D.) is studied in this module. This module corresponds to the Directed Studies Program course 123. This module has 12 lessons.

CSCH1055: Exploring Nazarene History and Polity

Credits 1
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. This module corresponds to the Directed Studies Program courses 115 & 143. This module has 17 lessons.

CSMD1060: Foundations of Women's Ordination

Credits 1

This module is designed to give a multidisciplinary view of the ordination of women in the Church of the Nazarene. Broader biblical, historical and theological issues will be explored, with specific emphasis given to the Wesleyan-Holiness heritage. Practical issues such as power dynamics, the importance of inclusive language, and modeling gender mutuality, as well as the practical aspects of mixed gender pastoral teams, co-pastoring, and family issues for women clergy are also discussed. This module has 20 lessons.

CSPH1062: Living Ethical Lives

Credits 1
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. This module corresponds to the Directed Studies Program course 126. This module has 20 lessons.

CSPT1011: Administering the Local Church

Credits 1
Here the prospective pastor is introduced to the art and 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. This module corresponds to the Directed Studies Program course 136. This module has 20 lessons.

CSPT1042: Preaching the Story of God

Credits 1
The fundamentals of sermon preparation and presentation are addressed in this module. Students are expected to produce and preach sermons in their local setting. This module corresponds to the Directed Studies Program course 124 or 134 or 144. This module has 14 lessons.

CSPT1051: Communicating Christ Cross-Culturally

Credits 1
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. This module corresponds to the Directed Studies Program course 146. This module has 10 lessons.

CSPT1052: Communicating the Gospel in a Pluralistic World

Credits 1
In this module, students confront the ideology of religious pluralism from a Wesleyan-Armenian perspective. Religious pluralism claims that there are many religions, therefore, 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. This module corresponds to the Directed Studies Program course 143. This module has 12 lessons.

CSPT1053: Declaring the Gospel of God

Credits 1
The fundamentals of evangelism are considered in this module and various approaches to evangelism are presented. This module corresponds to the Directed Studies Program course 112. This module has 12 lessons.

CSPT1054: Exploring Christian Ministry

Credits 1
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. This module corresponds to the Directed Studies Program course 124 or 134 or 144. This module has 6 lessons and lasts 6 weeks.

CSPT1061: Leading the People of God

Credits 1
The overarching vision for this module is for each student to embrace the biblical model of a servant as the driving force and organizing principle within the individual as he or she seeks to lead a Christian community of faith. This module corresponds to the Directed Studies Program course 125. This module has 16 lessons.

CSPT1063: Practicing Wesleyan-Holiness Spiritual Formation

Credits 1
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. This module corresponds to the Directed Studies Program course 116. This module has 20 lessons.

CSPT1065: Shepherding God's People

Credits 1
In this module the student is introduced to the fundamentals of pastoral counseling. This module corresponds to the Directed Studies Program course 145. This module has 16 lessons.

CSTH1025: Exploring John Wesley's Theology

Credits 1
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. This module corresponds to the Directed Studies Program course 113. This module has 15 lessons.

CSTH1031: Investigating Christian Theology I

Credits 1
This module introduces the student to Systematic Theology, a thematic approach to understanding Christian Theology. This module corresponds to the Directed Studies Program course 132. This module has 20 lessons.

CSTH1033: Becoming a Holy People

Credits 1
Holiness of heart and life is traced as a theological doctrine from early Judeo-Christian literature through the 21st century expression in the Church of the Nazarene. This module corresponds to the Directed Studies Program course 122. This module has 12 lessons.

CSTH1041: Investigating Christian Theology II

Credits 1
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. This module corresponds to the Directed Studies Program course 142. This module has 17 lessons.