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Master of Divinity (M.Div.) Program

Admission Requirements
In addition to the general requirements for admission to the Seminary given on pages 18-19, applicants for the M.Div. program are expected to present an accredited baccalaureate degree (or its equivalent) with a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher (on a 4.0 scale), including a breadth of liberal arts. Applicants who do not meet these general academic requirements may petition the Admissions Committee for consideration. A recommendation from the applicant’s pastor and three personal recommendations regarding the applicant’s Christian character and leadership potential also are required.

Degree Requirements
The Master of Divinity degree is conferred upon the attainment of certain personal and academic requirements. In addition to the general seminary requirements outlined on pages 30-31, degree candidates must (1) give evidence of a genuine Christian character, orthodox belief, and conduct consistent with a God-given call to a position of leadership; (2) complete all courses in the prescribed M.Div. curriculum with a minimum grade point average of 2.0. Students may complete their studies in as few as six semesters, including mentored field ministry. At least one year of studies (30 credits) must be completed in residency.

The M.Div. degree requires a minimum of 90 credit hours. The program is designed around a common core of 76 hours and an elective track of 14 hours. The 76-hour core contains six hours of mentored ministry. The elective track involves either the completion of a ministry specialization (14 hours of prescribed and elective credits) or an open track (14 hours of elective credits approved by a faculty mentor). Students in either track may choose a concentration (open track students may select as many as two concentrations). Each concentration consists of six elective hours in a particular discipline, with the course selection requiring faculty mentor approval. (A further explanation of the concentrations may be found under the heading “Program Concentrations” below.)

M.Div. Core (76 HRS)

Spiritual formation: 6 hours
SFS 501 Learning to Love God and Others (2)
SFS 502 Practicing Prayer and Other Key Disciplines (2)
SFS 504 Growing into Ethical Maturity (2)

Biblical studies: 16 hours
DBS 506 Learning to Interpret Scripture (4)
BLS 501 Interpreting Genesis to Song of Solomon (4)
BLS 502 Interpreting the Prophets to Gospels (4)
BLS 503 Interpreting Acts to Revelation (4)

Biblical language studies: 12 hours
(see note below on biblical language options)
NTS 501 Functional Foundations of Greek (3)
NTS 502 Functional Application of Greek (3)
or
NTS 508 Introducing Foundation for Greek Exegesis (3)
NTS 509 Greek Reading and Syntax (3)
(Students complete either NTS 501/502 or NTS 508/509)
OTS 501 Functional Foundations of Hebrew (3)
OTS 502 Functional Application of Hebrew (3)
or
OTS 508 Introducing Foundation for Hebrew Exegesis (3)
OTS 509 Hebrew Reading and Syntax (3)
(Students complete either OTS 501/502 or OTS 508/509)

Theological studies: 16 hours
THS 501 Knowing the Triune God: Theology I (4)
THS 502 Glorifying the God of our Salvation: Theology II (4)
THS 503 Living as the Community of the Spirit: Theology III (2)
THS 508 Integrating Ministry and Theology (2)
CHS 505 Wisdom from Church History (4)
or
CHS 506 Insight and Inspiration from Church History (2)
CHS 5xx Church history elective (2)
(Students complete either CHS 505 or CHS 506 and a CHS elective)

Ministerial studies: 20 hours
DIS 501 Communicating Christ in Culture (2)
DMS 501 Thinking Theologically about Ministry (2)
DMS 502 Introducing Theology and Practice of Worship (2)
DMS 506 Developing Godly Leadership for the 21st Century (2)
EMS 505 Growing Disciples Intentionally (2)
PTS 503 Practicing Evangelism and Apologetics (2)
PTS 504 Maximizing the Church’s Redemptive Influence (2)
PTS 507 Providing Pastoral Counseling (2)
PTS 508 Developing Strong Families (2)
PTS 510 Preparing and Preaching Expository Sermons (2)

Mentored Ministry: 6 hours
MFM 500 Discovering and Developing Ministry Potential (2)
MFM 501-04 Mentored Field Ministry (1+1+1+1)
Note: Check with your program advisor for MFM 501-504 details. Students selecting the World Ministry Specialization or the dual track MA Counseling / MDiv Pastoral Counseling specialization will fulfill the mentored field ministry requirement through alternatives specified in the description of those specializations.

M.Div. Specialization or Elective Tracks: 14 hours
The 14 hours of course work in the elective tracks may be taken in one of three ways: (1) a ministry specialization (minimum of 8 hours in pastoral, expositional, or world ministry courses); (2) selecting one or more program concentrations (consisting of a minimum of 6 hours of coursework in a specific discipline); or (3) an integrated sequence of electives chosen with faculty guidance. The choice among these three options is based

MDiv program total: 90 hours

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