Old Testament

The Master of Arts in Old Testament provides you with specialized education of New Testament theology. The program focuses on the disciplines and resources of biblical interpretation allowing graduates to continue education on their own well after program completion.

Highlights

Purposeful community of learners and leaders
Experienced and published faculty
Theologically diverse student body
MFT and ministry students integrated in foundational courses
Option to study in Israel each summer
Option to attend the Hispanic Summer Program
Diverse practicum opportunities
Online courses available
Fully accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)

Career opportunities

Graduating with a Master of Arts in Old Testament from Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary will prepare you for a future of teaching and writing in your area of expertise. Graduates teach at the collegiate level or in the church. The MAOT prepares you for a Ph.D. or other doctoral studies in a related field.

Program director

Lynn Jost, Ph.D.

Professor, Program Director, Old Testament, Director of the Center for Anabaptist Studies

Faculty

Tim Geddert, Ph.D.

Professor, Program Director, New Testament

Brian Ross, D.Min.

Associate Professor, Program Director, Christian Ministry, Master of Divinity & Ministry Leadership and Culture

Mark Baker, Ph.D.

Professor of Mission and Theology

Admission requirements

Commitment to and desire for Christian ministry and service
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited University
Minimum GPA of 2.5
Online application and fee ($90)
Personal profile questions
Three letters of reference
Writing sample

Download the Admissions Checklist to get started.

Course listing

Required Courses (60 Units)

Foundations

Code	Title	Units
BIB 709	Bible Knowledge Requirement Seminar	0
BIB 715	Elementary Hebrew I	3
BIB 716	Elementary Hebrew II	3
BIB 720	The Church and God’s Mission in the World *	3
BIB 725	Understanding, Interpreting and Teaching Scripture (Must be taken as a 3 course)	2-3
BIB 750	Old Testament Theology **	3
MIN 704	Discerning Vocation and Calling *	1
MIN 750D	Cross-Cultural Encounter: San Francisco	1.5
THEO 712	The Story of the Church and Its Theology (Must be taken as a 3 course)	2-3

Expanding the Base

Code	Title	Units
BIB 717	Intermediate Hebrew Exegesis	3
BIB 718	Advanced Hebrew Exegesis	3
BIB 726	Advanced Biblical Interpretation	2
BIB 752	New Testament Theology **	3
BIB 756	Old Testament Backgrounds	3
MIN 760	Practicum Assessment and Discernment	0
HIST 716 THEO 760 or HIST 718	The Evangelical Anabaptist Story or Evangelical Anabaptist Confessions of Faith or North American Religious History	3 or 3 or 3
THEO 730	Discipleship and Ethics (Must be taken as a 3 course) *	2-3

Practicing the Theory

Choose one

Code	Title	Units
COUN 724 MIN 718	Interpersonal Communication (Must be taken as a 3 course) or Effective Contemporary Public Communication	2-3 or 3
MIN 732 MIN 740 or MIN 742 or MIN 793B and MIN 793A	Church Educational Ministries or Preaching I or Preaching for Contemporary Listeners or The Practice of Ministry II and The Practice of Ministry I	3 or 3 or 3 or 3

Capstone Learning

Code	Title	Units
BIB 790OT BIB 799 or MIN 799	Senior Seminar - Old Testament * or Thesis or Thesis *	3 or 3-6 or 3-6
MIN 770OT	Ministry Discernment - Old Testament	0

Electives

Code	Title	Units
	Old Testament courses	6
	Free electives	4.5-7.5

*Course must be FPU Biblical Seminary course.

**At least one biblical theology course must be FPU Biblical Seminary course.

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Program details

Delivery mode

On campus

Cost per unit

$485

Number of units

Accreditation

Association of Theological Schools

Locations

Fresno Main Campus

I have grown spiritually and mentally here at FPU Biblical Seminary in being challenged to become a life-long learner in my walk with the Lord. My education has prepared me to think outside the box in preparation for service to others and engaging people's lives with the Bible.

Savannah Jean Pronovost

Old Testament