Master of Divinity
Attention
The MDiv degree has been revised!
Students who enrolled prior to Fall 2008 have the option of continuing under the previous plan. Students who enroll beginning in Fall 2008 or later will be required to complete their degree under the new plan.
This degree prepares persons for pastoral leadership, family ministry, youth work, pastoral care and counseling, church planting, Bible teaching, community development and cross-cultural ministry. The degree combines classroom and field-based learning to produce personal growth in biblical knowledge, theological understanding, community building, and practical ministry experience. Students serve in a supervised ministry position for a minimum of four semesters. The electives provide opportunity for specialization. The MDiv is the required degree for admission to Doctor of Ministry programs.
The Fund For Theological Education offers substantial scholarship support through its Ministry Fellows Program. The program is for students entering a Master of Divinity program. The application deadline is April 1st.
The REVISED MDiv plan
Foundations (16 units)
(Courses recommended for first year of MDiv study)
- Biblical Interpretation 1 (3)
- Church and God’s Mission in the World (3)
- Christian Thought (3)
- Mentoring/Connecting (1)
- History of Christianity (3)
- Cross-Cultural Encounter (3)
Expanding the Base (17 units)
(Courses recommended for first two years of MDiv study)
- Biblical language 1-2 (6) (Greek or Hebrew) †
- Interpersonal Communication (2)
- Biblical Theology 1-2 (6) (formerly Old Testament Theology and New Testament Theology)
- Spiritual Formation (2)
- Personal Evangelism (1)
Testing the Theory (13.5 units)
- Biblical language 3 (3) (Greek or Hebrew)†
- Supervised Ministry Experience 1-3 (4.5)
- Discipleship and Ethics (3)
- Anabaptist MB Studies (3)
or North American Religious History (3)
Practicing the Theory (10 units)
- Preaching 1 (3) (Formerly Contemporary Biblical Preaching)
- Christian Worship (3)
- Pastoral Care (3)
- Church conflict (1)
Capstone Learning (7.5-10.5 units)
- Supervised Ministry Experience 4: Commencing (1.5)
- Pastoral Leadership (3)
- Senior Seminar (3)
or Thesis (6) - Ministry Discernment (0)
Electives (23-26 units)
- Bible content (5-6)
- Practical Studies (3)
- MFCC elective (1.5)
- General electives (13.5-16.5)
† Students may petition the Academic Dean to substitute the MDiv Bible language requirement (9 units) with Biblical Language Tools (3 units) plus six units of Bible content courses. Interested students should discuss this option with their faculty advisor.
The OLD MDiv plan
Course Requirements (90 units)
Biblical Studies (31 units)
- Biblical Interpretation 1 (2)
- Biblical Interpretation 2 (2)
- Elementary Greek 1 (3)
or Elementary Hebrew 1 (3) - Elementary Greek 2 (3)
or Elementary Hebrew 2 (3) - Intermediate Greek Exegesis (3)
or Intermediate Hebrew Exegesis (3) - New Testament Theology (3)
- Old Testament Theology (3)
- Biblical Studies Electives (3)
Personal/Social Formation (13 units)
- Discipleship and Ethics (3)
- Cross-Cultural Encounter (3)
- Person, Family, and Culture (2)
- Interpersonal Communication (2)
- Mentoring/Connecting (1)
- Spiritual Formation (2)
- Degree Discernment (0)
- Ministry Discernment (0)
Practical Studies (25 units)
- Pastoral Leadership (3)
- Ministry in Daily Life (3)
- Contemporary Biblical Preaching (3)
- Advanced Biblical Preaching (3)
- Pastoral Care and Counseling (3)
- Basic Institute in Conflict Management and Mediation (2)
- Supervised Ministry Experience 1 (1.5)
- Supervised Ministry Experience 2 (1.5)
- Supervised Ministry Experience 3 (1.5)
- Supervised Ministry Experience 4 (1.5)
Senior Seminar/Thesis (3-6 units)
- Senior Seminar (3)
or Thesis (6)
Theology/History (15 units)
- The Church and God’s Mission in the World (3)
- History of Christianity (3)
- Anabaptist MB Studies (3)
or North American Religious History (3) - Christian Thought (3)
Students may complete a Master of Divinity without the Greek/Hebrew language requirements. They will complete a “Biblical Language Tools” course (that will be introduced in 2006-07) and six units of biblical studies courses to replace the Greek/Hebrew courses. Students should discuss this option with their faculty advisor, and then complete a petition to the Academic Dean.