Graduate School

Congratulations on your decision to advance your education. For those who pursue ministry, there is nothing more important than the unrelenting quest for greater knowledge to be imparted to those we serve. The desire to advance your knowledge and understanding of spiritual things is a testament to your devotion to the advancement of Christ’s Kingdom. Thank you for choosing Sunset Graduate School to advance your knowledge.

Our Masters’ Degrees are distinctive programs combining scripture with practical ministry knowledge to prepare you for successful service in the Kingdom. Your studies will include instruction on how to do graduate-level work, practical teaching regarding the day-to-day work of ministry, and training to develop your leadership skills. You will have the opportunity to take elective classes in the biblical text, Christian history, and Christian counseling. The overall program was developed to help you find success as you work with a local congregation, so that your ministry in Christ’s Kingdom may be long and fruitful.

Doctoral studies with Sunset Graduate School provide deep insight into the biblical text, theology, and practical ministry skills (preaching, counseling, and leadership). Our Doctor of Biblical Studies and Doctor of Theology programs afford Master Degree graduates the opportunities to advance their knowledge and earn a terminal degree in Bible and ministry.

A SIBI education is both an opportunity and an honor Sunset International Bible Institute is the oldest preacher-training type school in the churches of Christ. It has been estimated that at least one-quarter of all ministers within churches of Christ have received their training from SIBI, and the school’s reputation is well respected within the brotherhood.

May God bless you as you pursue your education and advance your knowledge in Christ!

Sincerely,
Kerry W. Williams
Dean, Sunset Graduate School

Academic Recognition and Accreditation

Sunset Graduate School is not accredited, nor are there any plans to pursue accreditation in the future. As the first preaching school among churches of Christ, the reputation of SIBI (originally the Latin American Bible Institute, then Sunset School of Preaching, now Sunset International Bible Institute and its many associated schools) is well established and is internationally known. We do not feel that pursuing accreditation would add anything to the level of credibility which we already have among those whom we seek to serve.

Our objective is to provide the highest quality ministry education at a price that ministers can afford.

In service to the Kingdom of Chist and the mission of Sunset International Bible Institute, Sunset Graduate School exists to equip and inspire God’s servants for effective, long-term service in local congregations of the churches of Christ through biblically based, practical, real-world instruction.

MISSION STATEMENT

Masters of Biblical Studies in Congregational Ministry

The Master of Biblical Studies (MBS) in Congregational Ministry degree is a thirty-six-hour program consisting of two foundational courses (six hours credit), four required core courses (twelve hours credit), five elective courses (fifteen hours credit), and a capstone research seminar (three hours credit). The entire course of study is offered online and can be completed from anywhere with access to the internet. The coursework is intended to be done in an in-ministry setting, allowing students to put their studies to immediate practical use. Students can therefore complete a master’s degree without having to leave their present ministry.

Several hybrid short-course versions of our regular courses will be offered in various locations around the United States every year. These two-day intensives allow students to experience a classroom environment and complete the remainder of the course online. Although not required, Sunset strongly encourages students to take advantage of as many short courses as possible, as there is no substitute for in-person classroom instruction.

The coursework normally requires a minimum of two years to complete. A student may take up to two courses per trimester. There are three trimesters per year. SIBIGS (Sunset International Bible Institute Graduate School) semesters begin in January, May, and September. Trimesters are fourteen weeks in length. A maximum of six years is allowed for completion of the MBS degree.

Degree Plan:

Foundation Courses (2 Courses – 6 Credit Hours)
BIB501 – Introduction to Graduate Studies
BIB512 – Theology of Biblical Leadership

Core Courses (4 Courses – 12 Credit Hours)
MIN502 – Preaching in the 21st Century
MIN532 – Practical Ministry in the Congregational Context

Two of the following courses:
COU503 – Theology of Christian Counseling
COU570 – Conflict Resolution in the Church
MIN515 – Advanced Homiletics and/or
MIN533 – Advanced Church Growth

Electives
15 hours (5 classes) in any combination of other courses

Capstone (1 Course – 3 Credit Hours)
MIN600 – Research Project


Masters of Biblical Studies in Youth and Family

The Master of Biblical Studies in Youth and Family (MBS) is a thirty-six-hour program consisting of three foundational courses (nine hours credit), five required core courses (fifteen hours credit), three elective courses (nine hours credit), and a capstone research seminar (three hours credit).

Degree Plan:

Foundation Courses (3 Courses – 9 Credit Hours)
BIB501 – Introduction to Graduate Studies
BIB512 – Theology of Biblical Leadership
BIB508 – Graduate Readings in Theology – Christian Spirituality

Core Courses (6 Courses – 18 Credit Hours)
MIN532 – Practical Ministry in the Congregational Context
COU503 – Theology of Christian Counseling
COU570 – Conflict Resolution in the Church
MIN513 – Family Ministry Concepts
MIN531 – Advanced Youth Ministry
MIN 519 – Christian Education

Electives
6 hours (2 classes) in any combination of other courses

Capstone (1 Course – 3 Credit Hours)
MIN600 – Research Project


Master of Spiritual Leadership

The Master of Spiritual Leadership (MSL) is a thirty-six-hour program consisting of three foundational courses (nine hours credit), six required core courses (eighteen hours credit), two elective courses (six hours credit), and a capstone research seminar (three hours credit).

Degree Plan:

Foundation Courses (3 Courses – 9 Credit Hours)
BIB501 – Introduction to Graduate Studies
BIB512 – Theology of Biblical Leadership
BIB508 – Graduate Readings in Theology – Christian Spirituality

Core Courses (5 Courses – 15 Credit Hours)
MIN532 – Practical Ministry in the Congregational Context
COU503 – Theology of Christian Counseling
LDR575 – Leadership: Creating Vision
LDR576 – Leadership: Mediating Change in Adverse Conditions
LDR577 – Leadership: Succession Planning

Electives
9 hours (3 classes) in any combination of other courses

Capstone (1 Course – 3 Credit Hours)
MIN600 – Research Project


Graduate Certificate in Leadership

Degree Plan

Foundation Courses (4 Courses – 12 Credit Hours)
BIB512 – Theology of Biblical Leadership
COU570 – Conflict Resolution in the Church
LDR576 – Leadership: Mediating Change in Adverse Conditions
LDR577 – Leadership: Succession Planning


Graduate Certificate in Church History

Degree Plan

Foundation Courses (4 Courses – 12 Credit Hours)
HIS520 – Restoration History: Stone & Campbell
HIS535 – History of Churches of Christ in the United States
HIS565 – Social World of Christianity: Greece and Rome
LDR577 – Leadership: Succession Planning


Doctor of Biblical Studies

The Doctor of Biblical Studies (DBS) degree is a thirty-nine-hour program consisting of thirteen courses for 39 doctoral hours of credit. The entire course of study is offered online and can be completed from anywhere with access to the internet. The coursework is intended to be done in a ministry setting, allowing students to put their studies to immediate practical use. Students can therefore complete a doctoral
degree without having to leave their present ministry. Most courses have a ZOOM component, simulating an in-class experience.

Occasional hybrid short-course versions of our regular courses will be offered in various locations around the United States every year. These two-day intensives allow students to experience a classroom environment and complete the remainder of the course online. Although not required, SIBI strongly encourages students to take advantage of as many short courses as possible, as there is no substitute for in-person classroom instruction.

The coursework normally requires a minimum of two and a half years to complete. A student may take up to two courses per trimester. There are three trimesters per year. SIBIGS (Sunset International Bible Institute Graduate School) semesters begin in January, May, and September. Trimesters are fourteen weeks in length. A maximum of six years is allowed for completion of the DBS degree.

Degree Plan:

BIB701: The Gospels
BIB702: Writings of Paul
LDR703: Seminar in Leadership
MIN704 Seminar in Counseling
MIN705: Seminar in Preaching
MIN706: Seminar in Evangelism & Missions
BIB707: The Holy Spirit
BIB708: Salvation Theology
BIB709: Restoration Theology
BIB710: Revelation
BIB713: Individual Study in the Biblical Text
BIB714: Individual Study in the Biblical Text
(One of the following courses)
MIN733: Advanced Church Growth (or)
BIB715: Individual Study in the Biblical Text


Doctor of Theology

The Doctor of Theology (THD) degree is a forty-eight-hour program consisting of ten courses (30 credit hours) and 18 dissertation credit hours for 48 doctoral hours of credit. The entire course of study is offered online and can be completed from anywhere with access to the internet. The coursework is intended to be done in a ministry setting, allowing students to put their studies to immediate practical use. Students can therefore complete a doctoral degree without having to leave their present ministry. Most courses have a ZOOM component, simulating an in-class experience.

Occasional hybrid short-course versions of our regular courses will be offered in various locations around the United States every year. These two-day intensives allow students to experience a classroom environment and complete the remainder of the course online. Although not required, Sunset strongly encourages students to take advantage of as many short courses as possible, as there is no substitute for in-person classroom instruction.

The Doctor of Theology Program includes a dissertation requirement of a minimum of 18 credit hours. The coursework normally requires a minimum of four and a half years to complete. A student may take up to two courses per trimester while completing the required coursework, but may only register for one dissertation class (3 credit hours) per term after the initial coursework is complete. Students who complete the coursework section of the THD program (30 credit hours) will receive a Master of Theology Degree (ThM). During the dissertation phase, students must develop, submit, and pass a dissertation proposal before a three-professor panel under the direction of the student’s doctoral advisor. Once the proposal is approved, students may begin writing their dissertations under the supervision of their doctoral advisor. Once the doctoral advisor approves a dissertation, the student must defend the dissertation before a three-professor panel.

If a student requires more than six terms to complete a dissertation, the student can reenroll in BIB721. There is no limit to how many dissertation hours a student may complete, but all THD coursework (courses and a minimum of 18 dissertation hours) must be completed before the eight-year deadline.

There are three trimesters per year. SIBIGS (Sunset International Bible Institute Graduate School) semesters begin in January, May, and September. Trimesters are fourteen weeks in length. A maximum of eight years is allowed for completion of the THD degree.

Degree Plan

BIB701: The Gospels
LDR703: Seminar in Leadership
MIN706: Seminar in Evangelism & Missions
BIB708: Salvation Theology
BIB709: Restoration Theology
BIB710: Revelation
BIB711: Old Testament Theology
BIB712: New Testament Theology
BIB713: Individual Study in the Biblical Text
(One of the following courses)
MIN733: Advanced Church Growth
or
BIB715: Individual Study in the Biblical Text
BIB716: Dissertation 1
BIB717: Dissertation 2
BIB718: Dissertation 3
BIB719: Dissertation 4
BIB720: Dissertation 5
BIB721: Dissertation 6