Leadership Studies Courses*
500-Level Graduate Courses
CLSG 504 • Introduction to Christian Leadership Studies (3 units) (M.T.S. core)
A study of selected models and principles by which to understand the interior life of the leader as well as skills needed to facilitate the church’s spiritual life and mission within cultural and social environments.
CLSG 521 • Disciplines of the Spiritual Life (1-3 units) (M.A. or M.T.S.)
A study of the biblical and theological foundations of spiritual formation. The course seeks to establish a sound theological framework for a functioning spirituality within the Pentecostal/Charismatic tradition. Such topics as prayer, worship, community, study and other such disciplines will be considered.
CLSG 523 • Sociology of Religion (1-3 units) (M.A. or M.T.S.)
The social structural approach to the study of religion, with particular emphasis on American society. Each unit will focus on one of the following major topics: defining religion; the restructuring of American religion; religion and public square.
CLSG 524 • Pentecostal-Charismatic Movements (1-3 units) (M.A. or M.T.S.)
A socio-historical approach to the study of Pentecostal-Charismatic movements in American society. Each unit will focus on one of the following: charisma and institutional dilemmas; contemporary renewal and revival; and Pentecostal-Charismatic healing beliefs and practices.
CLSG 526 • Small Group Ministry (1-3 units) (M.T.S. elective)
A study of group dynamics within the context of local congregational mission and ministry. Issues in design and implementation of small group programming are also explored.
CLSG 528 • Contemporary Issues in Latin and South American Countries (1-3 units) (M.A. or M.T.S.)
An examination of current strategic, political and theological issues characteristic of Latin American religion and culture, including research in Latin and South America, Caribbean and Latin American politics, media, social movements, and gender.
CLSG 532 • History of Pentecostalism (1-3 units) (M.A. or M.T.S.)
Antecedents, Wesleyan and nineteenth century holiness backgrounds; origin, development, and varieties of traditional Pentecostalism; some attention to the Neo-Pentecostal or Charismatic movement. Course may include field trips to significant Southern California sites.
CLSG 538 • Church Financial Management (1-3 units) (M.T.S. elective)
Prerequisite: BUSN 220/221, BUSN 215/216, or permission of the professor. Basic accounting, cash/banking, financial record keeping and reporting, plant/property management, audits, insurance, wills, endowment and stewardship programs will be included in this course.
CLSG 545 • Lay Ministry Development (1-3 units) (M.T.S. elective)
A study of the untapped potential resident in the laity of the church with emphasis on developing strategies for lay renewal and equipping for active participation in the mission of the church. Current alternative models of doing church are critiqued.
CLSG 546 • Parables for Preaching (1-3 units) (M.T.S. elective)
An examination of the interrelationship between the meaning of the parables as Jesus spoke them to His original hearers and the message of parables proclaimed in the church today.
CLSG 554 • Principles and Methods of Inter-Cultural Ministry (1-3 units) ((M.A. or M.T.S.)
An examination of the principles and methods of inter-cultural ministry from the perspective of a North American missionary. Special emphasis is given to the discussion of a truly indigenous church, and the analysis of effective mission strategies.
CLSG 556 • Current Issues in Youth Ministry (1-3 units) (M.T.S.)
An exploration of adolescent development, culture and socialization as an integration point for effective youth ministry. Discussion of current issues in youth ministry will serve to provide students with foundations necessary for contemporary youth ministry.
CLSG 557 • Church Growth (1-3 units) (M.A. or M.T.S.)
An examination of the underlying biblical and sociological principles and dynamics involved in the qualitative and quantitative growth of the body of Christ. Particular attention will be given to an analysis of the "vital signs" of health and growing churches for application to less healthy and non-growing situations.
CLSG 564 • Religion and Culture in Latin America (1-3 units) (M.A. or M.T.S.)
An examination of the dynamics of traditional and evangelical forms of religion in Latin America, including the milieu of popular culture and beliefs, the functions of the Catholic church, current movements within Catholicism, evangelical influences, and Pentecostal growth.
CLSG 570 • Special Topics (1-3 units) (M.A. or M.T.S.)
Study in a special topic in leadership studies.
CLSG 590 • Seminar in Leadership Studies (1-3 units) (M.A. or M.T.S.)
Mutual investigation of one topic in practice of particular relevance to graduate students in leadership studies.
600-Level Graduate Only Courses
CLSG 606 • Spiritual Formation (1-3 units)
Strongly recommended prerequisite: CLSG 521. This course will be a journey together, discussing the various and diverse meanings of spirituality and the implications of a spiritual life. It will look into the issues of faith that flow from the mysticism of the Holy Spirit into the prophetic radicalism of living out the Christian values in our modern world. The class will be a shared experience, elaborating a spirituality for our lives that is holistic.
CLSG 607 • Spiritual Direction (1-3 units)
Prerequisite: CLSG 606. This course equips the scholar with foundational understandings and resources necessary to serve as a spiritual director for persons who are seeking guidance to discern the mysterious and tangible ways that God is present and at work in their lives.
CLSG/EDAG 610 • Appreciative Inquiry (1-3 units) (M.A. or M.T.S.)
Church leaders must discern ways that religious organizations can maintain their central identity and mission while being responsible and responsive to change. Appreciative Management taps into the power and imagination of the congregation’s history, personal narratives, imagination and spiritual discernment. Participants will leave with a strategy in place for their organization’s effectiveness and spiritual renewal.
CLSG/EDAG 611 • Leadership and the New Science (1-3 units) (M.A. or M.T.S.)
The new science discoveries in quantum physics and chaos theory and biology have completely altered the way we think about humans and organizations. This course will focus upon these new realities with an eye toward fashioning a new science of leadership and ministry for religious organizations.
CLSG 622 • Conflict Management (1-3 units) (M.A. or M.T.S.)
An examination of the nature of conflict and how it develops within the church or religious organization, ways to manage conflict, and how to be effective in intervention strategies using the best models in social sciences and the Christian tradition.
CLSG 623 • Marketing in Christian Organizations (1-3 units) (M.A. or M.T.S.)
An exploration of the corporate vision of the organization and how a marketing theory integrates the corporate organizational mission with internal needs and community needs in a voluntary “exchange” process.
CLSG 624 • Change and Strategic Planning (1-3 units) (M.A. or M.T.S.)
An examination of change within congregations and religious organizations with a view toward understanding systematically the relationship between the organization and its environment. Alternate strategic planning, problem solving and program evaluation models will be explored in light of intentional mission and ministry.
CLSG 625 • Principles of Church Revitalization and Renewal (1-3 units) (M.A. or M.T.S.)
A study of the principles of church revitalization and renewal. The course will examine the role of the Holy Spirit in church renewal, explore the history and biblical principles of church revitalization, and analyze selected models of church organization in order to assess the forms of congregational life that facilitate renewal and revitalization.
CLSG/EDAG 626 • Spirit and Soul of Leadership (1-3 units) (M.A. or M.T.S.)
This course will explore the condition of the leader’s interior life within a community, and the impact of the interior life upon the external world of the religious organization.
CLSG 627 • New Forms of Preaching in a Postmodern World (1-3 units) (M.A. or M.T.S.)
This course focuses upon narrative forms of preaching in a postmodern context. The shift from the instructional and cognitive to the oral and visual will be explored. Preaching forms utilizing word pictures and images to communicate the story as sermon will be developed.
CLSG 630 • Pastoral Counseling in Christian Organizations (1-3 units) (M.A. or M.T.S.)
This seminar will review the literature on pastoral counseling in order to discover current trends in counseling and therapy, including Christian perspectives. The course will explore the relationship of the pastoral or Christian counselor to other health care professionals and will integrate theological reflection with social science theory and practice.
CLSG 635 • Issues in Pastoral Leadership (1-3 units) (M.A. or M.T.S.)
A study of the leadership role of the pastor in developing evangelistic strategies, lay leadership, and group and individual interaction in the church. Also included will be issues of the minister’s ongoing personal growth, skill development and mental health with assessment of the "life passages" of the pastor. Strategies of resolving role conflicts will be evaluated, including role definition and conflict in multiple staff relations.
CLSG 655 • Theological Education in the Third World (1-3 units) (M.A. or M.T.S.)
Biblical, historical, ecclesiastical and cultural considerations in theological education. Discussions on theological education by extension, non-formal learning structures and contextualization of theological education.
CLSG 665 • Leadership Development in Cultural Context (1-3 units) (M.A. or M.T.S.)
The role of church leadership in relationship to social/organizational structures, with an emphasis on leadership development that occurs among developing nations or people groups.
CLSG 670 • Special Topics (1-3 units) (M.A. or M.T.S.)
Study in a special topic in leadership studies.
CLSG 680 • Individual Study in Leadership Studies (1-3 units) (M.A. or M.T.S.)
An individualized study initiated by the student who must develop a written prospectus of the proposed study and secure an appropriate sponsoring faculty member to supervise and evaluate the study. Up to a maximum of three units may be applied toward the degree requirements.
CLSG 690 • Seminar in Leadership Studies (1-3 units) (M.A. or M.T.S.)
Mutual investigation of one topic in cross-cultural ministry of particular relevance to graduate students in leadership studies.
700-Level Graduate Only Courses
CLSG 710 • Mission and Culture in Theological Perspective (3 units) (M.A. core)
This interdisciplinary study, integrating theology and praxis, seeks to develop a theology of mission based on the premise that the unifying theme of Scripture is embodied in the concept of the Kingdom of God introduced in the Old Testament, fulfilled in the ministry of Jesus Christ in the New Testament, and demonstrated to the world through the life and actions of a believing community empowered by the Holy Spirit.
CLSG 715 • The Church and Contemporary Moral Issues (3 units) (M.A. core)
This course seeks to develop a constructive Christian ethic as a basis from which to understand and to evaluate the moral problems confronting the contemporary church. Emphasis will be placed on the theological character of the church’s ethical reflection on moral issues.
CLSG 720 • Theology and Theory of Leadership (3 units) (M.A. core)
An examination of selected theological issues regarding leadership and an overview of leadership theory since its inception as a discipline and a focus in research. Particular emphasis is placed on the student’s research skills to explore and articulate theological, theoretical and contemporary findings in the field.
CLSG 740-742 • Seminar in Practical Theology (1-3 units) (M.A. elective)
A research oriented course that deals with topics of particular relevance to students in Christian leadership studies. The particular topic will be announced in the registration class schedule in the semester when offered. Topics will include but may not be limited to the following seminars. may be repeated for credit.
- Contemporary Theological Movements and Church Mission — A study of the mission and the ministry of the church from the perspective of one or more of the major significant theological movements of the twentieth century. The particular theological movement(s) -- for example, Pentecostalism, evangelicalism, theological existentialism, ethno-theology -- will be announced in the Graduate Course Schedule in the semester when offered.
- Biblical Exegesis and Expository Preaching — A study of the movement from the sound exegesis of the biblical text to the effective exposition of the text in sermonic form.
- Education and Faith Formation — A study of educational learning theories as they apply to the formation of faith in Christian life, including the themes of faith development in the family, the use of small groups in faith formation, gift discovery and development, value clarification and moral development, and the use of theories of faith formation in age level education.
* This information is provided for ease of use, however it is not the official record. See the academic catalog for official course descriptions and requirements.