Master of Divinity

Oversight/Location of the Program within the Seminary: Plenary Faculty

The Master of Divinity (M.Div.) program consists of a 96-semester-hour program* of study designed primarily as preparation for congregational and congregation-based ministries. However, flexibility has been built into the program within its 10 year framework 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 utilizing 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. The M.Div. program encourages student development following the guidelines described earlier in this catalog.

BS400 does not apply toward graduation.

PRE-SEMINARY CURRICULUM

As an accredited member of The Association of Theological Schools, Asbury Seminary accepts the Association's standards for admission. The following statements of the Association are inserted as a guide for desirable undergraduate work in preparation for the M.Div. degree program:

It is no longer possible to prescribe one pattern as normative for all pre-seminary education. Religious bodies vary in their expectations. Individuals may seek to develop non-parochial ministries in which theological study will complement work in other professions. Different ministries demand a variety of patterns of pre-theological studies. The Association of Theological Schools therefore finds it increasingly difficult to prescribe or even advise a single pre-seminary curricular model as the ideal.

Although absolute guidelines cannot be prescribed, for a balanced preparation it is suggested that students take approximately three-fourths of their undergraduate work in the following areas:

English-literature, composition, and related studies. At least six semesters (nine quarters).
Speech Arts-at least two semesters (three quarters).
History-Ancient, modern European, and American. At least three semesters (four quarters).
Philosophy-orientation in history, content, and method. At least three semesters (four quarters).
Natural Sciences-preferably physics, chemistry, and biology. At least two semesters (three quarters).
Social Sciences-psychology, sociology, economics, political science, and education. At least six semesters (nine quarters), including a minimum of one semester (one quarter) of psychology.
Management-principles of administration and organization. At least two semesters (three quarters).
Fine Arts and Music-at least two semesters (three quarters).
Foreign Languages-one or more of the following linguistic tools of scholarly research: Latin, Greek, Hebrew, German, or French. Students who anticipate postgraduate studies are urged to undertake these disciplines as early in their training as possible. At least four semesters (six quarters).

The transition to the theological curriculum is easier for the student who gains a foundational knowledge of Greek during undergraduate studies.

Decisions about additional language skills should be related to their future utility for the individual. Thus, French or German should be included for a person contemplating possible graduate study in academic theology. Spanish or a language of the Developing World might be of value for another type of ministry.

The student should have the ability to write and speak clear and correct English prose. Asbury Seminary reserves the right to ask the applicant to correct any serious deficiencies.

CURRICULAR PHILOSOPHY

The larger context for the curricular philosophy at the Seminary is found in the Catalog statements on "Educational Mission," "Educational Assumptions," "Commitments to the Student," and "Goals," as well as the "Statement of Faith" and the institutional bylaws. These provide the general theological and educational framework within which the learning experience occurs.

Asbury Seminary is a graduate professional school dedicated to the mission of preparing men and women for congregational and other forms of ministries. Students who enroll at the Seminary may expect to find basic preparation adequate to begin their ministerial vocations. This preparation occurs in the variety of experiences-academic and non-academic, formal and non-formal-which make up the total life of the Seminary community. The formal curriculum represents the most obvious place where such preparation occurs, but very important learning and transformational experiences also occur in worship services, in lectureships, in special conferences, in small-group meetings, in voluntary service, and in social and recreational events. The Seminary intends to serve as a community of learning, worship, and spiritual growth.

The curriculum is designed to assist students in the development of a biblical and theological understanding of ministry that will undergird a lifelong commitment to serve Christ and his church. It is structured to insure that each student receives an exposure to the theological disciplines that are essential for contemporary ministry, and incorporates a flexibility that recognizes individual needs and specialized ministry callings. Methods of teaching and learning are stressed which actively engage students in the educational process so that they may assume responsibility for their learning, both during Seminary preparation and afterward.

The following basic concerns are included within the curriculum:

Biblical Authority: Since God has revealed himself above all in Christ through the written Word, the Scriptures serve at once as the foundation, controlling center, and formative context of the entire curriculum and of each course in particular. With the aid of the Holy Spirit, the careful interpretation of texts within their book and canonical contexts, coupled with an understanding of overarching biblical themes, allows Holy Scripture as final authority to form and inform all other disciplines in appropriate ways, and in turn to be illuminated by them. The Bible provides the integrative center for the various acts and skills of ministry and defines what it means to function under the authority of God's Word. The Faculty assumes the responsibility for establishing the biblical basis and implications for each course.

Theological Commitments: The Seminary stands within the Wesleyan-Arminian theological tradition and helps to shape the evangelical perspective in contemporary theological education. Our understandings of biblical authority, the human situation, the nature and mission of the church, evangelism, Christian experience and nurture, and personal and social holiness are especially illumined by the thought of John Wesley. We rely on the principle that truth is discerned by the appropriate use of Scripture, reason, experience, and tradition, with Scripture as ultimately determinative. These commitments provide the framework for the theological integration and orientation of the curriculum and of each course.

Contextual Relevance: The classical sources for Christian faith are appropriated within a context of awareness of the contemporary pluralistic socio-cultural situation and the role of ministry within that framework. Affirmations and critiques of cultural values-our own and those of others-are carried out on the basis of reflective insights derived from Scripture and Christian doctrine. The primary concern is to facilitate a ministry that has contemporary relevance and, at the same time, is rooted in classical Christian tradition.

Educational Integration: The unifying theme of the curriculum is "The Minister of Christ as Servant to the Church in Its Mission to the World." The curriculum is designed to be systemic in the sense that any of its parts not only contributes to a holistic goal, but also tends to contain, in embryonic form, the ingredients for the development of a minister in the Asbury Seminary context. Course formats and procedures are structured in ways that enhance their integrative connections with other disciplines and with field experiences. Within this design there are sequences and tiers of curricular offerings that provide the learner with a core of common curricular experiences and elective courses in the pursuit of personal and vocational preparation.

Personal Formation: A focal concern in the Seminary community is the development of every person toward maturity in Jesus Christ. The academic program and the Seminary environment are planned to overcome the fragmentation of human experience by fostering the unity of the whole person in the "image of God" and by integrating the physical, emotional, relational, intellectual, and spiritual formation of persons. Since all ministry is embodied ministry, the Seminary encourages attention to nutrition and to the use of exercise and recreation schedules and facilities. Good emotional health and the ability to develop meaningful relationships are necessary components for satisfactory and creative living and for effective ministry. Asbury Seminary encourages the development of healthy intrapersonal and interpersonal growth by providing academic offerings, experiential learning opportunities, supportive counsel, and corporate worship for such development. It is recognized that learning occurs both in the cognitive and affective domains and both are engaged, shaped, and integrated in the educational process. This involves the use of teaching and learning techniques that are intended to cultivate such cognitive skills as knowledge, comprehension, analysis, application, synthesis, and critical evaluation, as well as such affective internalizations as awareness, responding, commitment, value organization, and value generalization. Christian spirituality is that graced vision of human happiness which is grounded in the Fatherhood of God, modeled by Jesus Christ, energized by the Holy Spirit, and shaped by Scripture and tradition. Since it is essential to the personal formation of the minister of Christ, the Seminary structures opportunities and facilities for spiritual formation into its academic program and environment.

Introductory Statement of Program Goals: Recognizing the Wesleyan commitments of Asbury Theological Seminary, the faculty of the School of Theology have adopted four goals for the graduates of the Master of Divinity degree program:

Graduates will demonstrate enhanced understanding of and commitment to personal and social holiness through practices of moral, personal and spiritual formation, in a context of accountability to a community of faith, and dependence of the Spirit of Christ;
Graduates, as members of the Body of Christ, will demonstrate a clear sense of vocation as servants of the saving purpose and work of God and a commitment to ongoing formation of vocational competencies;
Graduates will demonstrate their ability to work integratively, critically, and creatively with the resources of the Christian faith as they interpret and engage the world within which they serve the mission of God; and
Graduates will demonstrate their capacity to lead and equip others for faithful witness to the initiating, justifying, and sanctifying grace of God in a world increasingly marked by diversity and secularity.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

For admission requirements, see the section on Academic Information

ACADEMIC ADVISING PROGRAM

The Academic Advising program assists students in the planning of their academic course work. New students are assigned an Academic Advisor after confirming admission and completing the FirstClass orientation process. Academic Advisors are housed in the Office of the Registrar.

The advisor serves as a guide through the curriculum at Asbury. They will help students interpret the curriculum and select courses that will enable students to fulfill their calls in ministry. They also clear students to register for new classes. Students must meet with their Academic Advisors at least once a semester. Students cannot register for classes until they have been cleared to do so by their Academic Advisors.

BIBLE CONTENT REQUIREMENT

The Bible Content Examination (BCE) tests the student's basic knowledge of the Bible's structure and content. It must be passed before the end of a student's first 32 hours in seminary. This is a timed, proctored exam, given upon request in the Information Commons on both the Florida and Kentucky campuses or by special arrangement for Virtual campus students. All students may sign up to take the exam by calling or sending an email request to BCE@asburyseminary.edu. Students may attempt the proctored exam three times, with two months separating the sittings and with sign-up priority given to persons who are taking the exam for the first time. A passing score for the BCE is 80 percent or higher. If the proctored exam is failed three times, or if the student fails to pass the exam before the end of his or her first 32 hours of seminary work, the student is required to take BS400, which must be completed with a grade of "Pass."

Students may prepare for the Bible Content Examination in a variety of ways:

By accessing the Bible Tutor through a web browser: acts.luthersem.edu/asbury. User name: "asbury." As the password changes periodically, students will need to consult with the Information Commons attendant to obtain the current password;
On the Florida campus, by borrowing the Florida Information Commons' copy of the Bible Tutor CD (two-hour maximum; see the circulation attendant);
By purchasing a personal copy of the Bible Tutor Educational CD: http://www.bibletutor.com; and/or
By engaging in personal or group study of the Bible's content and world, and its important persons, places, and events.

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT

Students must take either NT500 Concise Greek (3 hrs) or NT501/502 Comprehensive Greek (6 hrs). Those who opt for Comprehensive Greek will find that the first three hours of Comprehensive Greek will fulfill the Greek language requirement; the second three hours of the Comprehensive track will be considered elective hours. Students who pass the Greek Competency Exam will receive three hours of advanced standing, thus reducing by three the number of hours necessary to graduate.

Students must take at least three hours of Hebrew, beginning with OT501 Survey of Biblical Hebrew (3 hrs). After successfully completing OT501, they may also take OT502 Grammar and Readings in Biblical Hebrew (3 hrs.) as an elective. Students who pass the Hebrew Competency Exam will receive three hours of advanced standing, thus reducing by three the number of hours necessary to graduate.

DENOMINATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Certain M.Div. students are asked to meet denominational requirements in order to fulfill conditions for ordination and/or scholarships. These include:

United Methodist - CL553, CH600, DO670, DO690
Free Methodist - CL551, selection of 3 hours of study in Holiness or Wesleyan theology.
Society of Friends - CL555

Persons seeking ordination in The Wesleyan Church may meet denominational requirements by including the following courses in their program: PR610 The Servant as Proclaimer [3], WO510 Worship Leadership in the Church [3], CD510 Foundations in Christian Discipleship [3], PC510 The Servant as Pastoral Care-Giver [3], MS610 The Ministry of Evangelism [3], CH660 A Survey of the History of the Holiness Movement [3], CL552 Wesleyan Polity and Discipline [3], and DO660 The Christian Doctrine of Holiness [3]. Among the electives in Mission, they should choose one of the following courses: MS652 Christian Ministry in a Multicultural Society [3], MS653 Cross-Cultural Leadership [3], MS671 Anthropology for Christian Mission [3], or MS675 Christian Mission and Global Culture [3]. Among the electives in Preaching, they should choose one of the following courses: PR652 Preaching from the Parables [3], PR653 Homiletical Study of Holiness [3], PR701 Inductive Preaching [3], or PR702 Expository Preaching [3].

Persons seeking ordination in The Wesleyan Church are advised not to opt for the Academic Vocation Studies track in the M.Div. degree program.

United Methodists seeking ordination as (permanent) Deacons may fulfill denominational requirements with the M.Div. degree and with most of the M.A. degrees (see the section on the Master of Arts Program, following). Requirements for the Order of Deacons in The United Methodist Church include the following courses: CL553 United Methodist Polity and Discipline [2], CH501 Church History I [3], CH502 Church History II [3], CH600 History of Methodism [2], DO501 Basic Christian Doctrine [3], DO670 United Methodist Theology [2], any worship course in the range WO510-549 [3], any evangelism course in the range MS610649 [3], OT520 Old Testament Introduction [3], NT520 New Testament Introduction [3], and IS501 Kingdom, Church, and World [3]. (For full educational requirements for elders and deacons in The United Methodist Church, see The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church 2004 _324.4)

It is highly recommended that students seeking ordination within the United Methodist Church take ST501 within the first year of their degree program before taking other DO and ST courses.

Students are encouraged to contact their denominational offices in order to ensure that denominational requirements are satisfied in the mapping of their degree programs.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

Students may choose to complete the M.Div. in three, four, or more years (maximum of ten) depending upon their workload, financial, and other needs. For other general graduation requirements, see the section on Academic Information. In addition, the following specific requirements are necessary to receive the M.Div. degree:

Satisfactory completion of 96 semester hours, including required courses;
Attainment of a grade point average of at least 2.00/4.00;
Except for transfer and ExL students, completion of six full semesters or their equivalent in residence at either the Kentucky or Florida campuses of Asbury Seminary. Normally two full academic years plus three summers will be the minimum required to meet residence requirements of 32 hours;
Satisfactory fulfillment of all degree requirements in not more than ten calendar years from time of matriculation.
Apply for graduation online.

Any exceptions to these requirements will come under automatic review by the Vice President of Academic Affairs and the Academic Committee.

Degree Program Requirements

The M.Div. curriculum is divided into four categories: (1) Core Formational Courses, (2) Core Courses, (3) Core Electives, and (4) Electives.

1. Core Formational Courses (6 hours)

Two core formational courses are required:

Students in the M.Div. degree program are required to enroll in both Core Formational Courses within the first 21 hours of study. Typically, IS501 Christian Formation: Kingdom, Church, and World is taken in one's first semester, IS502 Christian Formation: Vocation of Ministry in the second. Together, these courses require year-long participation in small-group, covenant discipleship experiences.

2. Core Courses (37 hours)

Irrespective of degree focus, all students in the M.Div. degree program must complete the following courses:

Formation for Ministry (4 hours)

Biblical Foundations (12 hours)

OT501 Survey of Biblical Hebrew (3)

Students who pass the Hebrew Competency Exam will receive three hours of advanced standing, thus reducing by three the number of hours necessary for graduation.

NT500 Concise Greek (3) or NT501/NT502 Comprehensive Greek (6)

Students who pass the Greek Competency Exam will receive three hours of advanced standing, thus reducing by three the number of hours necessary for graduation.

OT520 Old Testament Introduction (3)
NT520 New Testament Introduction (3)

Theological Orientation (17 hours)

Contextual Integration (2 hours)

CS601 Christian Ethics (2)

The Practice of Ministry (2 hours)

SP501 Communication as Christian Rhetoric (2)

3. Core Electives (35 hours)

The heading "core electives" refers to necessary areas of study, generally without specifying a single course that fulfills a core requirement. Core electives allow students to navigate the curriculum in ways consistent with their understanding of their call to ministry and vocational goals.

Biblical Foundations (12 hours)

Inductive Biblical Studies-1 (3)

Choose any course with an IBS prefix within the range 510-549

Inductive Biblical Studies-2 (3)

Choose any course with an IBS prefix within the range 610-649

Old Testament Exegesis (3)

Choose any course with an OT prefix within the range 610-649 or 710-749

New Testament Exegesis (3)

Choose any course with an NT prefix within the range 610-649 or 710-749

Contextual Integration (5 hours)

Ethical Studies (2)

Choose any course within the ranges CS610-39 , CS651-89

Understanding the World (3)

Choose any course within the ranges CS610-49 , MS651-89

The Practice of Ministry (18 hours)

Proclamation (6)

Choose two courses from two of the following prefixes: MU, PR, WO. For PR courses, choose courses within the range PR610-49. For MU and WO courses, choose within the ranges MU510-549 and WO510-49.

Leadership (3)

Choose any course with a CL prefix within the range 610-649.

Servant Ministry (6)

For the first core elective in Servant Ministry, choose any course from the following ranges: CO510-549, PC510-549, CD510-549 , YM510-549, and CM510-549. For the second core elective in Servant Ministry, choose any course from the following ranges: CO510-549 , PC510-549, CD610-649, YM610-649, and CM610-649.

Apostolic Ministry (3)

Choose any course with an MS prefix within the range 610-49.

4. Electives (18 hours)

In consultation with their advisors, students should choose elective courses designed to prepare them for their particular ministry paths.

ACADEMIC VOCATION STUDIES

Students enrolled in the M.Div. degree program who anticipate an academic vocation may elect out of as many as 12 hours of coursework in required areas in order to devote those hours to additional coursework in the area of their academic focus. Course requirements that students may elect not to fulfill include the following:

Core Elective in Proclamation (3 hours)
Core Electives in Servant Ministry (6 hours)
Core Elective in Apostolic Ministry (3 hours)

A student may choose this route only in consultation with his or her academic advisor and with an additional faculty person in the Area of the student's proposed academic focus. Substitute courses available to students who choose this option are limited to 600 and 700 level courses and language courses. The process for receiving this exemption is as follows:

Using an Academic Petition, request permission to focus on Academic Vocation Studies.
In consultation with your academic advisor, specify on the Academic Petition the course requirement(s) for which an exemption is sought.
Receive approval on the Academic Petition from your academic advisor and an additional faculty person in the School of proposed academic focus.
Submit the completed Academic Petition for approval to the Office of the Registrar.

Course Sequencing

The M.Div. degree program has three sequencing paths that require the attention of all new students.

Students must enroll in the two courses, IS501 Christian Formation: Kingdom, Church, and World and IS502 Christian Formation: Vocation of Ministry, within their first 21 units at Asbury Theological Seminary.
The Bible Content Examination must be completed prior to completing one's first 32 units.
Students must take their Greek exegesis requirement within six months of completing NT500 or NT502.
Prior to enrolling for a course in preaching, students must have completed the following courses: NT500 Concise Greek and OT501 Survey of Biblical Hebrew, Inductive Biblical Studies-1 and Inductive Biblical Studies-2, and SP501 Communication as Christian Rhetoric. This means that students should begin their biblical language studies and work in Inductive Biblical Studies in their first semester at Asbury Seminary.

In addition, students will need to consult course descriptions in this Catalog for the prerequisites expected of courses offered at the Intermediate and Advanced levels. The course numbering system assumes the following breakdown:

500-level courses: Introductory, with no prerequisites
600-level courses: Introductory, with prerequisites; or Intermediate
700-level courses: Advanced, with prerequisites

The following sequences provide an orderly and integrative process for completing requirements in the M.Div. program. One of these sequences should be followed unless there are compelling reasons not to do so.

Three-Year Sequence

First Thirty-Two Hours of Study

Bible Content Examination
IS501: Christian Formation: Kingdom, Church, and World (3)
IS502: Christian Formation: Vocation of Ministry (3)
IBS-1: Core Elective in Inductive Biblical Studies-1 (3) (IBS 510-549)
NT500: Concise Greek (3)
OT520: Old Testament Introduction (3)
NT520: New Testament Introduction (3)
ST501: Method and Praxis in Theology (3)
CH501: History of Christianity-1 (3)
PH501: Philosophy of Christian Religion (3)
SP501: Communication for Christian Leaders (2)
Core Elective in Servant Ministry (3) (CO, PC, CD, TM, OR CM 510-549)

Second Thirty-Three Hours of Study

IBS-2: Core Elective in Inductive Biblical Studies-2: From Text to Sermon (3) (IBS 610-649)
OT501: Survey of Biblical Hebrew (3)
DO501: Basic Christian Doctrine (3)
CH502: History of Christianity-2 (3)
Core Elective in New Testament Exegesis (3) (NT 610-649 or 710-749)
Core Elective in Understanding the World (3) (CS 610-649; MS 651-689)
Core Elective in Proclamation (3) (Choose 2 Prefixes; PR 610-649, MU 510-549, WO 510-549)
Core Elective in Servant Ministry (3) (CO, PC, CD, YM or CM 510-549)
Core Elective in Leadership (3) (CL 610-649)
CS601: Christian Ethics (2)
MM601-602: Mentored Ministry: Local Church-1-2 (4)

Third Thirty-One Hours of Study

Core Elective in Old Testament Exegesis (3) (OT 610-649 or 710-749)
DO690 Theology of John Wesley (2)
Core Elective in Ethical Studies (2) (CS 610-639; CS 651-698)
Core Elective in Proclamation (3) (Choose 2 Prefixes; PR 610-649, MU 510-549, WO 510-549)
Core Elective in Apostolic Ministry (3) (MS 610-649)
Electives (18)

Four-Year Sequence

First Twenty-Six Hours

Bible Content Examination
IS501: Christian Formation: Kingdom, Church, and World (3)
IS502:Christian Formation: Vocation of Ministry (3)
IBS-1: Core Elective in Inductive Biblical Studies-1 (3) (IBS 510-549)
NT500:Concise Greek (3)
NT520: New Testament Introduction (3)
ST501: Method and Praxis in Theology (3)
CH501: History of Christianity-1 (3)
SP501: Communication for Christian Leaders (2)
Core Elective in Servant Ministry (3) (CO, PC, CD, TM, OR CM 510-549)

Second Twenty-Four Hours

IBS-2: Core Elective in Old Testament Exegesis (3) (OT 610-649 or 710-749)
OT501: Survey of Biblical Hebrew (3)
OT520: Old Testament Introduction (3)
Core Elective in New Testament Exegesis (3) (NT 610-649 or 710-749)
DO501 : Basic Christian Doctrine (3)
CH502: History of Christianity-2 (3)
Core Elective in Proclamation (3) (Choose 2 Prefixes; PR 610-649, MU 510-549, WO 510-549)
Core Elective in Servant Ministry (3) (CO, PC, CD, YM or CM 510-549)

Third Twenty-Four Hours

Old Testament Exegesis (3)
PH501 Philosophy of Christian Religion (3)
CS601 Christian Ethics (2)
Core Elective in Proclamation (3) (Choose 2 Prefixes; PR 610-649, MU 510-549, WO 510-549)
Core Elective in Understanding the World (3) (CS 610-649; MS 651-689)
Core Elective in Leadership (3) (CL 610-649)
MM601-602 Mentored Ministry: Local Church-1-2 (4)
Electives (3)

Fourth Twenty-Two Hours

DO690: Theology of John Wesley (2)
Core Elective in Ethical Studies (2) (610-639; CS 651-698)
Core Elective in Apostolic Ministry (3) (MS610-649)
Electives (15)

M.Div./M.A. Degree Sequencing

Students in the M.Div. degree program may be able to earn a Master of Arts degree with only an additional 30 hours beyond the 96 hours required for the M.Div. Students interested in this two-degree program option should consult with their academic advisor (and a faculty member in the School housing the desired M.A. degree) early in their academic career at Asbury Theological Seminary.

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