NON-DEGREE STUDY OPTIONS
MASTER’S LEVEL COURSES
All GCS students are initially enrolled in the Master’s Level Courses study option. This permits students to take courses according to their own interest and need. All courses will automatically transfer into a GCS degree program, if the student reaches that point, and courses are less than 10 years old.
See our Academic Catalog for more details.
CERTIFICATE OF THEOLOGICAL STUDIES (CTS)
Requirements:
The CTS requires four courses: any Bible course, any theology course and two additional courses from any discipline. We recommend the following four courses:
- BI501 Biblical Interpretation
- BI520 New Testament Survey
- CM501 Foundations of Christian Ministry (formerly known as Pastoral Leadership)
- TH507 Theology of C.S. Lewis
The CTS is not a degree, nor a requirement for any occupation, but an acknowledgement that a student has achieved a significant milestone in our educational programs. See our Academic Catalog for more details.
DIPLOMA OF CHRISTIAN MINISTRY (DCM)
GENERAL STUDIES TRACK
Requirements:
The DCM requires seven courses (21 units) including: any Bible course, any church history course, any theology course, any two Christian ministry courses and two more course from anywhere in our curriculum.
We recommend the following courses:
- BI501 Biblical Interpretation
- BI520 New Testament Survey
- CM501 Foundations of Christian Ministry (formerly known as Pastoral Leadership)
- TH507 Theology of C.S. Lewis
- CH501 Church History: The First Millennium
- CM504 Practice of Ministry
- TH501, 502 or 503
Six units may come from credit transferred in from another accredited institution, or through documented experiential learning.
The Diploma of Christian Ministry is not a degree, but a recognition that the student has achieved another noteworthy milestone in ministry training. See our Academic Catalog for more details.
DIPLOMA OF CHRISTIAN MINISTRY (DCM)
FOCUS ON DISCIPLESHIP, WORSHIP, OR WITNESS
These academic achievement awards are designed for lay leaders within Grace Communion International, although students of any denomination are welcome to take this group of courses. They are focused on Christian ministry courses.
Requirements:
- Either BI501 Biblical Interpretation or BI520 New Testament Survey
- CM501 Foundations of Christian Ministry
- CM508 Church Planting and Development
- CM510 Polity of Grace Communion International
- TH503 The Holy Spirit, the Church and Eschatology
- Either a second Bible course or a second theology course
- An elective appropriate to the area of focus
- For the worship focus, either CM506 Trinitarian Youth Ministry or CM513 Trinitarian Worship
- For the discipleship focus, CM506 Trinitarian Youth Ministry, or CM512 Small Group Bible Study Leadership
- For the witness focus, either CM514 Missional Living or CM504 Practice of Ministry
- Complete at least 21 units. Six units may come from credit transferred in from another accredited institution, or through documented experiential learning.
- Maintain a GPA of at least 2.5
The Diploma of Christian Ministry is not a degree, but a recognition that the student has achieved another noteworthy milestone in ministry training. See our Academic Catalog for more details.