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Master of Divinity

For individuals seeking the most comprehensive preparation offered through a master's-level degree, the Master of Divinity is generally the degree of choice for those seeking ordination, licensure or devoted to full-time ministry. The overall program requires 90-credit hours and is typically completed in three years.

Students in the program benefit from extensive knowledge gained in theology, biblical languages and church history, as well as the Old and New Testaments. The Master of Divinity program is also designed to provide students with a significant number of elective courses that can be tailored (with approval) toward the specific interests and calling of each individual student.

Concentrations

M.Div.—Practical Theology

The Master of Divinity (Concentration: Practical Theology) (also available through Online Learning) is the traditional 90-credit hour seminary degree which prepares men and women for professional church leadership roles. The program is designed to equip students in the areas of biblical interpretation, theology, pastoral care, pulpit ministry and administration, while giving special attention to New Testament ministry emphases such as making disciples, equipping believers for the work of ministry, and selecting and training reliable leaders who can finish well and pass on Christian leadership skills and principles to others. Distinctives of the program include student interaction with issues related to personal integrity, spiritual formation, principles of church revitalization and the development of strategies to establish Spirit-empowered churches and ministries around the world. A number of practical theology tracks are available.

The Master of Divinity is the established degree for students preparing for full-time Christian service as a church pastor, staff minister for a parachurch ministry or a chaplain. The program provides the broad theological and ministry training required by most ordaining bodies and is the standard prerequisite for the Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.), Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), and other terminal degrees. Students planning to pursue ordination or terminal degrees should consult the relevant organizations to determine their specific requirements.

Tracks of Study


M.Div.—Missiology

The Master of Divinity (Concentration: Missiology) is a 90-credit hour seminary degree designed for students who have ordination and a full-time, professional cross-cultural ministry in view. The program is intended to prepare career missionaries for evangelism, church planting, discipleship and leadership in church, missions and parachurch ministries in cross-cultural contexts, whether on the mission fields of North America or the most unreached regions of the world. Students in this concentration should seek to become dynamic "master builders" (1 Cor. 3:10) who can help mobilize the global Church for the strategic completion of the Great Commission. Such ministry includes training and mentoring leaders in a cross-cultural context and leading local churches to fulfill their roles in world evangelization. The concentration also offers a track in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).

The missiology concentration also provides technical skills that lead to competence and confidence in situations in which the gospel message must be preceded by addressing human quality of life needs. It also seeks to impart to students a vision for multiplying leadership by training indigenous leaders to plant churches and lead their own evangelism movements, holistic ministries of compassion, and community development projects.

The M.Div. (Concentration: Missiology) is ideally suited for those seeking to serve with missions agencies in a full-time, professional capacity and provides the broad theological and ministry training required by most ordaining bodies. Students planning to pursue ordination or terminal degrees should consult the relevant organizations to determine their specific requirements.

Tracks of Study