
MDiv Bridge Program
‒ Master of Divinity without BA‒

Required Coursework- 12 Credits
Elective Coursework- 0 Credits
Courses Must Be Completed Prior to Taking MDiv Courses
BRIDGE402 & 403 Textbooks Required as Reference Books for Degree Completion
COURSES
• BRIDGE401‒Sharpening Your Reading Skills‒ C-3
• BRIDGE402‒ Critical Thinking Essentials‒ C-3
• BRIDGE403‒ Power & Clarity in Written Expression‒ C-3
• BRIDGE404‒ Putting It All Together: Final Submissions & Essay‒ C-3
Sword & Spirit Seminary features a BRIDGE PROGRAM for students who have not yet earned a BA but would like to earn a MDiv.
Similar programs are in place at institutions like Loyola University, Boston University, Penn State, Pepperdine and Johns Hopkins titled with terms such as Integrated, Accelerated, Dual or Combined with additional course requirements and some courses earning dual credit.
BRIDGE401‒ Sharpening Your Reading Skills
Required for Bridge Program― 2 credits. No Prerequisite.
Excellent reading comprehension is essential for ease and success in academic endeavors such as seminary completion, yet many of us may not have been provided the tools and techniques needed to excel in reading.
This course is designed to bridge this gap by introducing and explaining how to succeed in the various levels of reading—from elementary reading, through systematic skimming and inspectional reading, to speed reading.
Readers will learn when and how to “judge a book by its cover,” and also how to X-ray it, read critically, and extract the author’s message. The textbook was originally published in 1940 and is now the go-to book on reading with half a million copies in print.
BRIDGE PROGRAM students are responsible to read and study only 11 of the 21 chapters.
BRIDGE402‒ Critical Thinking Essentials
Required for Bridge Program― 2 credits. Prerequisite: BRIDGE401‒ Sharpening Your Reading Skills
Did you know that a study found that 93% of CEO’s agree that “a demonstrated capacity to think critically, communicate clearly, and solve complex problems is more important than [a candidate’s] undergraduate major.”
Critical thinking has driven countless major innovations in human history. It took a critical thinker to disprove that the world was flat and to land manned aircraft on the moon. From leaders in history to modern innovators, critical thinking has driven transformative achievements and effective decision-making.
So, what is critical thinking? Basically, it’s independent thinking leading to making Intelligent decisions. Essential to every aspect of life, it’s what makes us human.
This short course‒ based on a very small book‒ equips students with critical thinking skills essential for analyzing complex issues, making sound decisions, and approaching challenges with clarity and wisdom. Students will learn to identify logical fallacies, assess evidence, and think independently‒ skills vital for ministry, leadership, preaching, teaching, counseling, and navigating the complexities of faith and life.
BRIDGE403‒ Power & Clarity in Written Expression
Required for Bridge Program― 2 credits. Prerequisite: BRIDGE402‒ Critical Thinking Essentials
Because students are at times required to submit written assignments and dissertations‒ and because many will write sermons and speak publicly‒ understanding how to pen strong, clear and proper writing is essential.
The seminary’s challenge was to find a resource that could help accomplish this while avoiding making students feel they are revisiting middle or high school. Students will be delighted to know that we believe we have realized this goal in a mini-sized book which serves as a condensed guide on the four pillars of sound writing – structure, style, readability, and grammar. The material covers 20 immutable writing principles and 30 commonly encountered rules of grammar‒ though students will only focus on what we believe are the most essential.
You could say that this course provides tips & tricks for power & clarity in writing. Cutting through the overwhelming details, this course provides sound advice and timeless insights by presenting only the most common and necessary fundamental principles in easy-to-understand language.
Whether you need to write a homework paper for a course, compose your master’s thesis or doctorate dissertation, this minimalist approach provides students not only the tools, but the confidence to do so‒ and do so with style, clarity and power.
BRIDGE404‒ Putting It All Together: Final Submission & Essay
Required for Bridge Program― 2 credits. Prerequisite: BRIDGE403‒ Power & Clarity in Written Expression
After students have studied reading comprehension, critical thinking and composition… they are ready to demonstrate the skills they have gained by writing and submitting an opinion essay for evaluation.
Students will compose and submit an initial draft as well as a final version of an essay chosen by the student from a short list of topics the seminary provides‒ and receive feedback on their work from a professor.
Students will utilize a rubric grid provided to students to assist them in meeting standards of strong, clear and proper writing.