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Department of Urban Ministry- MA Course Descriptions

Course Descriptions

Mississippi Life University (MLU) uses a standardized course numbering system to indicate the level and sequence of courses within each department.
 

Number Ranges:
 

  • 100–199 – Freshman Level: Introductory courses with no prerequisites, designed for students beginning their program of study.

  • 200–299 – Sophomore Level: Intermediate courses that may require completion of certain 100-level courses.

  • 300–399 – Junior Level: Upper-division courses requiring foundational knowledge in the subject.

  • 400–499 – Senior Level: Advanced courses, typically requiring completion of specific prerequisites and junior-level courses.

  • 500–599 – Graduate Level (Master’s): Specialized, advanced courses requiring a bachelor’s degree and admission to a graduate program.

  • 600–699 – Graduate Research & Thesis: Independent study, research projects, and thesis preparation at the master’s level.
     

Letter Prefixes:

Each course number is preceded by a two- or three-letter prefix identifying the academic department or subject area. Examples include:
 

  • BST – Biblical Studies & Theology

  • CPC – Clinical Pastoral Counseling

  • ENG – English

  • FLG – Foreign Language

  • MAT – Mathematics

  • THE – Theology

  • UBM – Urban Ministry
     

Example:

BST 101 – Introduction to Biblical Studies

  • BST = Biblical Studies & Theology Department

  • 101 = Freshman-level, first course in the sequence

Department of Urban Ministry
Master of Arts Degree Plan/Course Descriptions
Course Number
THE 160
Description

Doctrine of Christ (3 Hour Lecture) - This course is designed to help students learn the entire spectrum of beginning, perfecting, understanding, and living the Christian life.

THE 161

Weaning of the Soul I (Merismos) (3 Hour Lecture) - This teaching

 students will  do an in-depth study on the Greek word for “dividingasunder” that is found in Hebrews 4:12. This course contains a unique  revelation of separation of the soul, psyche, and the spirit, pneuma, of a born-again Christian who is filled with the Spirit-ruled life, Zoe, of God. This course is a prerequisite to THE 164  –  Weaning of the Soul II (Merismos).

THE 160
​THE 164
Weaning of the Soul II (Merismos) (3 Hour Lecture) - This course will help students to learn the powerful transformative affects the Word of God can have on their spirit, soul, and body. They can be transformed by God and not conformed to this world.  This course is a continuation of THE 161 - The Merismos I Course.
​LEA 350

Leadership (3 Hour Lecture) - This course will provide students a basic under-standing of leadership and group dynamics theory and to assist the  in developing a personal philosophy of leadership, an awareness of the moral and ethical responsibilities of leadership, and an awareness of one’s  own style of leadership.

URB 360 

Introduction to Urban Ministry (3 Hour Lecture) - This course will teach students a theological introduction to the challenges and opportunities of ministry in urban settings. This course would be a pre-requisite for all other Urban Studies courses.

​URB 361

Urban Theology (3 Hour Lecture) - This course will enable students to develop a foundation and theological framework of God’s vision for the city. Examples of Old Testament leaders who had to rebuild cities (Nehemiah,Joshua, etc.) can be used as it relates to today’s challenges in our distressed urban neighborhoods.

ENG 320

English Composition I (3 Hour Lecture) - This course will prepare  students to think critically and compose texts for academic and professional rhetorical situations. This course is a prerequisite to ENG 321 - English Composition II.

THE 380

Christian Ceremonies (3 Hour Lecture) - This course will help students learn Christian ritual observances and procedures performed at communion, weddings, funerals, and baptisms.

​URB 362

Urban Sociology (3 Hour Lecture) - This course will provide students the ways social systems work in urban areas and how the lack of those social systems can create a subculture of crime, violence, drug trafficking, educational decline and academic failure. This course will also provide ways churches can develop new social systems in distressed environments.

THE 381

Greek Theology I (3 Hour Lecture) - This course will help students to learn  Biblical and Classic Greek. This course is a prerequisite to THE 382 - Greek Theology II.

ENG 321
English Composition II (3 Hour Lecture) - ENG 321 English Composition II is a continuation of ENG 320 English Composition I with emphasis on research, argumentation, and composition. Readings, essays, and a research paper are required. Prerequisite: Pass   ENG 320 - English Composition I with a “C” or higher grade. 
THE 382   

Greek Theology II: (3 Hour Lecture) - THE 382 - Greek Theology II is a  continuation of THE 381 Greek Theology I with emphasis on Biblical and

Classical Greek. Prerequisite: Pass THE 381 - Greek Theology I with a  “C” or higher grade.   

THE 383
​COM 330

Homiletics: (3 Hour Lecture) - This course will help students in the development and delivery of expository sermons.

Fundamentals of Public Speaking (3 Hour Lecture)  - This course will enable students to study and practice in making speeches for a variety of public forums. Major emphasis is placed on speech preparation and delivery.

ENG 322

Creative Writing/Dissertation I (3 Hour Lecture) - This course will help students learn how to prepare citations, avoid plagiarism, and thesis-statements. Dissertation must be completed before the degree isawarded. This course is a prerequisite to ENG 323 - Creative Writing/Dissertation II.

URB 460

Principles of Church and Community Engagement (3 Hour Lecture) -        This course will explore how to train church leadership as they plan to

organize the community around church outreach programming and they embrace distressed demographics.

COM 430

Gender Roles (3 Hour Lecture) - This course will provide students with knowledge of biblical equality means that believers stand on equal ground before God.   

​FLS 440

Spanish I (3 Hour Lecture) - This course will provide students an oral-aural approach which stresses conversation, pronunciation, listening is oncomm unication. This course is a prerequisite to FLS 441 - Spanish II.

ENG 422

​Creative Writing/Dissertation II (3 Hour Lecture) -  ENG 422 Creative Writing/Dissertation II is a continuation of ENG 322- Creative Writing/Dissertation I with emphasis on preparing citations avoiding plagiarism, and thesis statements. Dissertation must be  completed before the degree is awarded. Prerequisite: Pass ENG 322 Creative Writing/Dissertation I with a “C” or higher grade. This course is a prerequisite to ENG 423 - Creative Writing/Dissertation III.

URB 461

The Church and Community Engagement (3 Hour Lecture) - This course will provide students community organizing skills to connect the local church to the surrounding area. This course will also provide the organizing skills to engage church outreach ministries to the demographic area the church is located in. This course demonstrates how the church is made relevant in the community it serves.

URB 462

Urban Missions (3 Hour Lecture) - This course would give students a perspective of what it means to live and minister in poor urban communities. Students would understand the value of building relationships as it relates to engaging in the lives of people that live in the context of poverty, isolation, and social decline.

​FLS 441

Spanish II (3 Hour Lecture)  - FLS 441 Spanish II is a continuation of FLS 440 - Spanish I with a wider vocabulary and more complex structures and functions. Prerequisite: Pass FLS 440 - Spanish I with a “C” or higher grade. This course is a prerequisite to FLS 442 - Spanish III.

NOTE:  This material of study is the property of the Department of Urban Ministry (DUBNM), Mississippi Life University (MLU).  MLU owns the copyrights to all courses of study and related materials.  Request for usage must be granted in writing by the MLU Chancellor/MLU Provost.

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