The Master of Divinity (MDiv) is the basic professional degree for ordained ministry in the local church and other ministerial leadership positions. The students and faculty of HGST represent a wide range of denominational and ministerial backgrounds. The HGST MDiv degree is designed to encompass the breadth of traditions reflected in our students and staff while connecting those traditions to the historic Christian church and faith. The depth of the HGST course work is enriched by the diversity of tradition and experience embodied by our students and faculty. The degree requires 87 credit hours.
Master of Arts in Counseling
The Master of Arts in Counseling (MAC) is a professional degree that provides the academic preparation required for taking the Texas Licensure Exam for either Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). In addition, it integrates the most current trends in counseling theory with study of Christian faith and practice. The degree consists of 62 credit hours. To prepare for both exams requires the completion of 65 credit hours.
Each degree requires fourteen (14) credit hours in biblical and theological studies and contains at least six credit hours of supervised practicum experience. The practicum experience may be applied toward the total forty-eight (48) graduate credit hours required by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors for application for a temporary professional counselor license.
Master of Theological Studies
The Master of Theological Studies (MTS) is an academic degree focused on a specific theological discipline or concentration within a general theological discipline. HGST offers 3 concentrations in the MTS degree: (1) biblical studies, (2) theological studies, or (3) Christian spirituality. This degree is designed for those who desire to continue beyond the MTS into further graduate study or who desire a focused area of learning at the graduate level. The degree requires 52 credit hours.
The final project for the MTS degree is the presentation of a student portfolio and summative paper in the area of concentration as part of an interdisciplinary capstone course that includes an entire cohort of MTS students in their final semester.
Note: The MTS degree is not designed for those entering ordained or parish ministry. Students entering ordained ministry should pursue the Master of Divinity degree.
MTS-Theological Studies Plan
MTS-Biblical Studies Plan
MTS-Christian Spirituality Plan
Certificate in Christian Spirituality
The Certificate in Christian Spirituality is designed for clergy, counselors, other religious professionals, and lay persons who wish to enhance their ministries with a thorough practical program that will enable them to lead and teach in institutional settings, small groups, and one-on-one situations in the areas of Christian Spirituality and spiritual direction. This program requires nineteen hours of Master’s level credit in Christian Spirituality leading to certification in this field.
This program is designed for those who already possess the MDiv degree or an MA in a related field. The Certificate in Christian Spirituality, however, can be pursued as a part of a specialized MDiv or MTS degree plan. In certain cases, admission may be granted to those who neither possess a prior Master’s degree nor wish to pursue a Master’s degree. The certificate requires 19 credit hours.
Certificate in Spiritual Direction
The Certificate in Spiritual Direction is designed for students who desire more extensive preparation in the area of Christian Spirituality than the Certificate in Christian Spirituality entails, and who feel called to serve as Certified Spiritual Directors, This program requires 28 hours of Master’s level credit—the nineteen hours of the Certificate in Christian Spirituality with an additional nine hours for certification as a spiritual director. The Certificate in Spiritual Direction may also be obtained by adding the same nine hours to a completed Master of Theological Studies degree with a Christian Spirituality concentration. The certificate requires 28 credit hours.
Certificate in Christian Spirituality
Certificate in Spiritual Direction