Page 96 - THBI Student Handbook - 2020

The thesis or dissertation by the graduate level student shows the THBI Leadership if you have made
these transitions or not.

Therefore: The graduate paper must convince the Reviewer that you: 1) Comprehend the knowledge
about and, 2) Have developed UNDERSTANDING of the subject you are presenting and, 3) You are on the
path to becoming a LEADER in ministry service in this field of study.

DEFINING TERMS:
Knowledge: Simply - - acquired information about one or more topics, subjects, issues, concerns or
interests. Knowledge by itself really serves no useful purpose:

1 Corinthians 8:1-3 (NKJV)
“… We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.
“And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to
know …” (Emphasis added)
Comprehend: Explain and/or illustrate what the knowledge (acquired information) actually means - -

Example: “Sin” - - Student should be able to explain its origin, its propagation, its results
(in a general sense) socially and culturally and its effects or what it produces
(specifically) upon and within the lives of individuals
Understand: The ability to correctly apply in practical fashion, the truth about the subject you are writing
- - especially to assist others in applying this truth in their own lives.

Example: “Sin” - - Students should be able to explain to the readers (of this hypothetical
paper) how sin specifically affects individual lives, how to guard against sin,
what leads an individual to commit acts of sin (temptation) and how to defeat
temptation so they will avoid committing sinful acts.
Leadership Qualities: The ability to IMPART UNDERSTANDING TO OTHERS; take other people in the
correct direction; show others how to do a thing - - that is: You must show the reader how to correctly
apply the subject truth to their lives in a manner that genuinely benefits them.

➔ SUCCESS: For a student of True Hope Bible Institute to be approved to receive his or her graduate
degree, either Masters or Doctoral degree – INCLUDING AN HONORARY DOCTORATE DEGREE – the
student must be able to exhibit that he/she has a sound understanding of his/her field of study, to the
extent that he/she is able to impart that understanding into the life of another person.
➔ CONSIDER THIS: Only time will truly tell if you have truly reached the level of mastery that is
indicated by your graduate level degree … BUT THE DISSERTATION OR THESIS IS THE INITIAL
EVIDENCE INDICATING TO THE FACULTY OF THIS COLLEGE THAT YOU HAVE INDEED ACHIEVED
THAT LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING.
SIGNIFICANCE OF GRADUATE DEGREES
A Master’s Degree means that you have mastered the understanding in a certain field that then qualifies
you to lead in that field! A Doctoral Degree means that you have mastered the disciplines of the field of
study that you are actually able to discriminately administer to others what they need for their lives from
your field of expertise! (Much like a medical doctor able to prescribe or administer medicines based on
his diagnosis of the patient’s situation.)

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