Master of Divinity (M.Div.)
The Master of Divinity program is designed primarily as preparation for congregational and congregation-based ministries. However, flexibility has been built into the program for a wide variety of areas of concentration. This is made possible by the large segment of core elective and elective hours provided in the program. By using these elective hours, students who desire more intensive training in specialized forms of ministry, such as youth ministry, pastoral counseling, or Christian education, may acquire concentrations in these areas of preparation.
Admission Requirements
- Application
- Official transcripts sent to Admissions directly from the institution
- $50 non-refundable application fee
- Personal history
- Reference forms
- A professor or academic administrator
- A lay person
- The pastor of the church you attend, or another minister
- A personal friend or acquaintance
- 2.75/4.00 grade point average
Applicants whose grade point average falls between 2.50 and 2.75 may be admitted on a “reduced load” basis. For applicants whose cumulative grade point average is below 2.50, a score of 50 on the Miller Analogies Test or a 500 on the verbal section of the Graduate Record Examination is required.
Additional Admission Requirements for the In-Ministry M.Div.
The In-Ministry M.Div. provides an avenue for persons involved in full-time Christian ministry to complete the M.Div. while continuing their ministerial responsibilities. Applicants must be at least 35 years old and have five years of paid experience in full-time or bivocational Christian ministry.
Course Structure (96 hours)
- Core Formational Courses (6)
- Kingdom, Church and World
- Vocation of Ministry
- Formation for Ministry (4)
- Supervised Ministry: Parish
- Supervised Ministry: Institutional
- Biblical Foundation (24)
- Survey of Biblical Hebrew
- Concise Greek or Comprehensive Greek
- Old Testament Introduction
- New Testament Introduction
- Inductive Bible Studies – 1 & 2
- New Testament Exegesis
- Old Testament Exegesis
- Theological Orientation (17)
- Method and Praxis in Theology
- Basic Christian Doctrine
- Church History – 1 & 2
- Philosophy of Religion
- Theology of John Wesley
- Contextual Integration (7)
- Christian Ethics
- Additional Coursework in Ethics and Contextual Theology
- The Practice of Ministry (20)
- Communication for Christian Leaders
- Preaching
- Christian Leadership
- Worship and Music
- Servant Ministry – 1 & 2
- Apostolic Ministry
- General Electives (18)
In addition to these classes, students are required to complete a Bible Competency Examination, and a mid-program assessment.