Symposium

We are excited to announce the details of the 2022 MABC Symposium. This promises to be an exciting time for everyone involved as we hear students and faculty interact on the capstone projects of the program. See the details below and please email Mark at mcsmith@masters.edu if you have any questions.

Symposium Description

Each student in the MABC program is required to develop a 20-to-30-page thesis research outline in BC598 as a capstone project and give a defense of their research in person on the university campus at the same time as graduation proceedings at the beginning of May.

The symposium highlights Scripture as related to the students’ topics and allows others to benefit from the students’ research. The defense occurs with a panel of faculty and staff from the MABC program and is open for others like family, friends, and other students to attend.

Recording presentations is not guaranteed and depends on the availability of technology and personnel. Students may produce their own recordings in person provided that this does not impede progress at the event. Special accommodations will be made whenever possible.

An option exists for students to write a 120-page thesis composition in BC599 instead of the thesis research outline project. These projects are represented in separate courses. Students must receive adviser approval prior to enrolling in the thesis composition course (BC599).

Students are advised to complete the thesis research outline course (BC598) first and upon successful completion may then be approved to develop their work further into a thesis composition (BC599). Most students will only complete the thesis research course (BC598).

Students who successfully complete BC598 and desire to enroll in BC599 may only do so if they enroll in BC599 that follows the semester in which they complete BC598 or beginning the next summer semester after they complete BC598 at the latest (see course descriptions).

Students are required to present their thesis research outlines at the symposium to pass the course. Panelists will evaluate each presentation and the student’s grade will be posted within 1-2 weeks following graduation. Please contact the Program Director if you have any questions.

Projects to be presented at the current symposium are posted on this page for reference by students and panelists. After the symposium, all projects will be posted on the MABC Resource page by topic and author for the benefit of the local church.

All updates for the symposium will be posted on this webpage and notification emails sent to students and panelists.

Symposium Details

1. Symposium Update: 5/3/22

2. Symposium Date: Thursday, 5/5/22

3. Symposium Times: 1:30pm to 6:30pm (start and end times for each group / room listed below)

4. Graduation Dinner: 6:30pm to 8:30pm in EHC100 immediately following the symposium event (friends and family are welcome up to 3 people per graduate).

Symposium Guidelines

Students, guests (family, friends, etc. are welcome), and panelists will be present for the duration of the event and a break will be scheduled at around the halfway point. Undergraduate students will be completing their exams at 1:30pm so you might encounter some traffic going into the room (see campus map below).

Student Presentation Outline

1. 2:00 — 2-minute summary of why you chose to study in the MABC program and what you plan to do in biblical counseling after graduation.

2. 10:00 — 10-minute summary of your Thesis Research Outline (give a broad overview but also give significant highlights and related Scripture).

3. 10:00 — 10-minute question and answer directed by Lead Panelist (only Panelists will be able to ask questions due to time constraints).

Panelists will receive additional instructions regarding student evaluations by email. Panelists will meet for a short time after the symposium at 6:30pm in BSC204 to debrief and discuss their evaluations.

Symposium Schedule

The following is a schedule for the thesis symposium on Thursday, May 5th. Draft projects to be presented at the current symposium are posted on this page for reference by students and panelists. These drafts will be updated with the final versions when submitted and then after the symposium the final versions will be transferred to the MABC Resource page. Click on the name of each student below to view and download their current thesis outline.

Please note, the panel lead may differ from the student’s adviser depending on adviser availability.

Group 1

• Room: BSC100 (Biblical Studies Center, North Campus)
• Faculty Panel: Dr. John Street, Greg Gifford, Mary Somerville, Carolyn McGuire, James Street

Group 2

• Room: BSC203 (Biblical Studies Center, North Campus)
• Faculty Panel: Tom Sugimura, Ernie Baker, Matthew Heller

Group 3

• Room: BSC205 (Biblical Studies Center, North Campus)
• Faculty Panel: Ed Wilde, Todd Sorrell, Daniel Gloster

Group 4

• Room: BSC206 (Biblical Studies Center, North Campus)
• Faculty Panel: Stuart Scott, Keith Palmer, Michael Chrzanowski

Click here to see a map of our campus to help you find the Biblical Studies Center on our campus (scroll down on the page to find the map). Then find your room in the Biblical Studies Center using the diagram below…