Master of Divinity (M.Div.) Program

Ministry Specialization, Program Concentration or Electives

Ministry Specialization
The intent of a ministry specialization is to further equip an individual with the skills, insights, and training experiences necessary for a distinctly defined ministry role. Like the divinity core, the ministry specializations are outcome-driven. Eight-to-twelve hours of course work reflect a thoughtful blend of required courses and restricted electives designed to impart the character, knowledge, and skill outcomes deemed essential for each particular role.

Program Concentrations
The purpose of program concentrations is to provide a focused, intensive preparation in one narrow area of emphasis. They may be ministry-specific, academically-oriented, or a combination of both. Program concentrations consist of at least six hours of course work in one area of emphasis, chosen in consultation with one’s faculty mentor. Courses selected for a program concentration may not come from the core of the M.Div. program.

Program concentrations currently offered:

Students may choose from among the concentrations listed above, or may propose a new concentration drawn from courses offered by Western Seminary (subject to approval). Appropriate course work from other graduate institutions might also be used in designing a concentration (subject to transfer credit provisions). These must be acceptable graduate-
level work, with at least 50% of the credits being taken at Western.

Students may complete both a ministry specialization and a program concentration, but no more than two hours of credit may overlap and be applied to both. The successful completion of a program concentration is noted on the student’s academic transcript. No course may be applied to more than one concentration. Please consult with the Registrar’s Office for additional information.

Open Track Electives
Students may elect to choose up to 14 hours of course work apart from any specialization or concentration. Electives are chosen with faculty mentor guidance based on student goals, prior experiences, talents, and God-given gifts.

Biblical Language Options
The seminary offers Master of Divinity students two options to complete their requirements in the biblical languages: the exegetical language track and the functional language track.

The exegetical language track equips students with both the foundations of the Greek and Hebrew languages, including the elements of grammar, syntax, and reading, and with the skills of exegesis--the interpretation of the text. Then students will be able to read the Bible as it was written and encounter the depths of meaning that can get lost in translation. Students are introduced to a wide range of language tools, including computer programs. Following this track will lay a foundation for in-depth study in advanced classes. It will give students the strongest foundation as life-long learners to teach and preach the biblical text in an informed manner and/or to pursue advanced studies in which this level of original language competence would be expected. In addition, students in this track will be able to read advanced commentaries with greater understanding, be able to take additional elective courses in the interpretation of various biblical books, and be better equipped to evaluate commentaries, articles and theological books on their own. If the study and the preaching of God’s Word is your main focus of ministry, this is the recommended track to take. Students in the exegetical language track enroll in NTS 508-509 and OTS 508-509.

For students who choose not to develop the skill to read and translate the Bible in the original languages, the seminary offers the functional language track. It is designed to give students the practical ability to access the original languages through the Bible Works computer program and other contemporary reference tools. Using these tools, the student will learn the essential grammar and syntax of the biblical languages. Students will use the computer to find word meanings, parsing, etc. By the end of the two-semester sequence, students will be able to use original language commentaries with discernment and do many steps of the exegetical process as they prepare sermons and lessons in ministry. Students in the functional language track enroll in NTS 501-502 and OTS 501-502.

Master of Divinity Admission and Degree Requirements

• Master of Divinity Expositional Ministry Specialization
• Master of Divinity Pastoral Ministry Specialization
• Master of Divinity World Ministry Specialization
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