Master of Divinity (M.Div.)

The Master of Divinity is the gold standard for professional ministry preparation. This three-year graduate program is designed for those who are called to senior pastoral leadership, denominational ministry, theological teaching, chaplaincy, or other specialized roles that demand the highest level of theological education and practical formation.

The M.Div. curriculum integrates advanced biblical scholarship, systematic and historical theology, pastoral praxis, and spiritual formation into a coherent whole. You will engage with Scripture in its original languages, wrestle with the great theological questions of the Church, and develop the leadership capacities needed to guide congregations and organizations through complex challenges.

A capstone integrative seminar and comprehensive examinations in your final year ensure that you leave not just with a collection of courses, but with a unified, mature theological vision for ministry.

Program Objectives

By the end of this program, you will be able to:

• Exegete and interpret Scripture at an advanced level using the original biblical languages
• Synthesize biblical, historical, and systematic theology into a coherent framework for ministry
• Preach and teach the Word of God with depth, clarity, and contextual sensitivity
• Provide skilled pastoral care, crisis counseling, and spiritual direction
• Lead churches and ministry organizations with strategic vision, administrative wisdom, and servant character
• Engage contemporary cultural, ethical, and social issues from a robust theological perspective
• Mentor and develop other leaders for the Church
• Cultivate a lifelong discipline of theological reflection, spiritual growth, and personal holiness

Course Outline

The program consists of 24 courses across six semesters:

Year 1: Foundations for Advanced Study

Semester 1

• MDV 501: Advanced Biblical Hermeneutics
• MDV 502: Old Testament Theology
• MDV 503: Prolegomena and Theological Method
• MDV 504: Spiritual Formation and the Contemplative Tradition

Semester 2

• MDV 505: New Testament Theology
• MDV 506: Early Church History and Patristic Theology
• MDV 507: Biblical Greek for Ministry I
• MDV 508: Advanced Homiletics

Year 2: Integration and Depth

Semester 3

• MDV 601: Systematic Theology: God, Trinity, and Creation
• MDV 602: Biblical Greek for Ministry II
• MDV 603: Pastoral Theology and the Care of Souls
• MDV 604: African Christian Theology and Contextualization

Semester 4

• MDV 605: Systematic Theology: Christ, Salvation, and the Church
• MDV 606: Biblical Hebrew for Ministry I
• MDV 607: Christian Ethics and Moral Theology
• MDV 608: Church Administration and Nonprofit Leadership

Year 3: Mastery and Integration

Semester 5

• MDV 701: Systematic Theology: Holy Spirit, Eschatology, and Hope
• MDV 702: Biblical Hebrew for Ministry II
• MDV 703: Theology of Mission in Global Context
• MDV 704: Integrative Seminar: Ministry in Practice

Semester 6

• MDV 705: World Religions and Interfaith Engagement
• MDV 706: Church, Culture, and Public Theology
• MDV 707: Supervised Ministry Residency
• MDV 708: Comprehensive Examinations and Capstone Project

Biblical Languages

The M.Div. program includes four semesters of biblical language study covering both Greek and Hebrew. You will learn to read the New Testament and Old Testament in their original languages, use academic commentaries and lexical tools with confidence, and bring the richness of the original text into your preaching and teaching ministry.

Supervised Ministry Residency

In your final year, you will complete a supervised ministry residency in a church, chaplaincy, or ministry organization. Unlike the field placements in our undergraduate programs, the residency is an immersive experience where you take on significant ministerial responsibilities under the mentorship of an experienced supervisor. The residency is accompanied by theological reflection seminars that integrate your academic learning with practical experience.

Comprehensive Examinations

The M.Div. culminates in comprehensive written and oral examinations covering the major disciplines of theological study: biblical studies, systematic theology, church history, and pastoral practice. These examinations are designed to help you synthesize your entire course of study into a unified theological vision. You will also complete a capstone project that addresses a real ministry challenge or opportunity.

Who Is This Program For?

• Pastors and associate pastors seeking advanced theological training
• Denominational leaders and bishops with strategic oversight responsibilities
• Aspiring theological educators and seminary faculty
• Chaplains serving in hospitals, military, prisons, or universities
• Holders of a Bachelor of Theology or equivalent degree pursuing the highest level of professional ministry preparation

Admission Requirements

• A Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) degree or a bachelor's degree in a related field from an accredited institution
• A cumulative GPA of at least 2.7 (on a 4.0 scale) in undergraduate studies
• A personal statement of calling and vocational goals
• Two letters of recommendation (one pastoral, one academic)
• An interview with the M.Div. admissions committee