The Master of Divinity, a three-year course of study, is recognized by The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS) as the basic professional degree. The theological education associated with this degree has service to the church as its central focus. Predicated on the assumption that ministers in the church should share a common theological substructure irrespective of their particular calling, the School of Divinity offers the Master of Divinity degree (MDiv) in six concentrations, each sharing a common 51-hour core comprised of biblical studies, historical/theological studies, spiritual formation, and ministry studies. Beyond the core, students may choose, by means of a 27-hour concentration, to earn the MDiv degree with a concentration in Pastoral Studies, Biblical Studies, Spiritual Formation/Christian Education, Pastoral Care and Counseling, Missiology, or Intercultural Studies.
Emphasizing theological reflection and ministerial formation, this course of study is designed to provide men and women with a comprehensive, in-depth knowledge of the body of divinity and to help ministers develop the skills necessary for effective ministry. “Real world” ministry situations, surfaced by the students themselves, serve as catalysts for theological reflection in interdisciplinary courses, team-taught seminars, and spiritual formation experiences.
Moreover, not only does the curriculum seek to bridge the gap between “theory” and “practice” in ministry, but also to help the student to synthesize and integrate the theological content of the various disciplines of the body of divinity.
The Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) for the Master of Divinity Degree are as follows:
The School of Divinity’s “Be, Know, and Do Statement,” encapsulated in the MDiv Student Learning Outcomes, is the guiding document around which the curriculum is built.
Core Curriculum (51 Hours)
The MDiv core curriculum is designed to be integrative, inductive, and interactive. Seeking to move beyond the artificial dichotomy between “theory” and “practice” that has often characterized theological education, the curriculum requires students to reflect theologically on the practice of ministry while they are actually engaged in ministry. The common core of divinity means that every student, irrespective of his/her ultimate vocational ministry, will share the same biblical/theological substructure for ministry, thus making “shared ministry” and “pastoral teamship” less an ideal and more a reality. Moreover, such an approach fosters a genuine appreciation for ministerial diversity and the rich variety of the ministries of the church.
A guiding principle behind the core curriculum is that effective ministry is not simply a function of what the minister knows, or even what the minister does, but must also include who the minister is, both personally and vocationally. Assessment of who students “are,” what students “know,” and what students can “do” is informed by pre- and post-tests, specific assignments, and assessment interview/conferences associated with the following core courses.
Biblical (18 hours)
Historical/Theological (9 hours)
| DSTH 200 | Introduction to Christian History and Theology I | 3 |
| DSTH 201 | Introduction to Christian History and Theology II | 3 |
| | Any Historical or Theological Elective | 3 |
Spiritual Formation (9 hours)
| DSSF 100 | Introduction to Theological Education for Ministry | 3 |
| DSSF 200 | Spiritual Formation: The Christian Journey | 3 |
| DSSF 300 | Theological Integration Capstone Seminar | 3 |
Chapel/Formations/Mentor Conferences
DSSF 100 must be taken during the first 24 hours of study.
Ministry (15 hours)
| DSCE 115 | Administration and Leadership in the Church | 3 |
| DSPC 100 | Introduction to Pastoral Care and Counseling | 3 |
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| DSMS 310 | Mission in Biblical-Theological Perspectives | 3 |
| | OR | |
| DSIS 310 | Transformational Movements in the Texts | 3 |
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| DSET 100 | Christian Ethics | 3 |
| DSMN 201 | Worship through Proclamation | 3 |
Concentrations (27 hours)
Beyond the 51-hour core, students must choose one of six concentrations, each requiring a further 27 hours: Pastoral Studies, Biblical Studies, Spiritual Formation/Christian Education, Pastoral Care and Counseling, Missiology, or Intercultural Studies. Instead of a concentration the student may pursue one of four dual-degree programs: the MDiv/MBA, the MDiv/MA in English, the MDiv/MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, or the MDiv/MA in Religion.
Pastoral Studies
The Pastoral Studies concentration, designed primarily, though not exclusively, with a view toward pastoral ministries (pastor, associate pastor, etc.) extends the basic MDiv core curriculum by adding courses in advanced biblical languages, advanced biblical electives, advanced historical/theological electives, and courses focusing on the more practical aspects of ministry in a local church setting.
Learning Goals
A student completing the Pastoral Studies concentration will:
- Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the Bible;
- Distinguish and assess the various significant theological positions taken by the church throughout the church’s history;
- Integrate the knowledge of biblical languages into the biblical hermeneutical process;
- Apply the meaning of biblical texts to situations faced in church ministry through preaching, teaching, and pastoral counseling;
- Demonstrate appropriate pastoral care skills and pastoral ethics and the ability to apply them to a local church ministry setting.
| DSGK 101 | Greek II | 3 |
| DSHB 101 | Hebrew II | 3 |
| DSMN 100 | Life and Work of the Minister | 3 |
| | Biblical electives | 6 |
| | Historical/Theological Electives | 6 |
| | Practical Ministry electives | 6 |
Biblical Studies
The Biblical Studies concentration offers specialized training for persons who wish to emphasize in their ministry the study and the teaching of Scripture. With additional hours of Old Testament and New Testament electives (including biblical languages), as well as seminars that focus on pedagogy (teaching), research, and writing for publication, this concentration also prepares students for graduate research programs in Biblical Studies.
Learning Goals
A student completing the Biblical Studies concentration will:
- Identify, examine, and evaluate both their own theological and interpretive assumptions about biblical texts and other historical and current interpretive possibilities, integrating them into exegetical work with biblical texts;
- Articulate and implement biblical, theological, and philosophical bases for teaching and learning in the church and academy, and apply them by constructing syllabi, learning plans, learning goals, activities, and assessments that implement appropriate teaching methodologies;
- Demonstrate intermediate level mastery of vocabulary, grammar, and syntax of the biblical languages, especially the ability to distinguish the varied meanings of words in their specific contexts; and
- Demonstrate the ability to manage ideas, to articulate and evaluate titles and theses, to structure research, to give, receive, and assess critical feedback, and to present and revise writing projects in order to achieve a highly polished writing sample for use beyond the requirements of the course.
| DSNT 414 | Biblical Hermeneutics | 3 |
| DSCE 105 | Leadership through Teaching and Learning in the Church | 3 |
Biblical Languages
*Students in the Biblical Studies concentration must also take at least one Hebrew or Greek exegetical elective as part of their 15 hours of electives.
Leadership through Christian Formation/Education
The Leadership through Christian Formation/Education concentration offers specialized training for those entering the field. Through this study, one acquires leadership skills in formation/education, designing a church’s curriculum, working with volunteers, and organizing a church for mission and ministry.
Learning Goals
A student completing the Leadership through Christian Formation/Education concentration will:
- Be able to lead through designing instruction for education and formation that is age-appropriate, interactive, and easily assessed for continuous growth and development;
- Articulate a philosophy of teaching and ministry; and
- Identify ways to engage people in volunteerism and/or any leadership endeavor.
Leadership through Christian Formation/Education Concentration Required Courses
| DSCE 105 | Leadership through Teaching and Learning in the Church | 3 |
| DSCE 110 | Leadership in Church, Mission, and Ministry | 3 |
| DSCE 310 | Leadership with Volunteers | 3 |
Required Elective
Choose one of the following.
| DSCE 200 | Leadership in Youth Ministry | 3 |
| DSCE 206 | Leadership in Childhood Ministry | 3 |
| DSCE 211 | Leadership in College Student Ministry | 3 |
Concentration Electives
Choose two of the following.
| DSSF 201 | Readings in Spiritual Classics | 3 |
| DSSF 202 | Creating Curricula for Formation/Education | 3 |
| DSCE 451 | The Ministry of Writing and Research | 3 |
| DSMN 100 | Life and Work of the Minister | 3 |
| DSCE 400 | Formation/Education Practicum | 6 |
| DSCE 401 | Selected Topics in Leadership through Christian Formation/Education | 3 |
Electives
In the Leadership through Christian Formation/Education concentration, a student is allowed three free electives (i.e., any three non-core courses offered in the School of Divinity). A student may choose to substitute courses in Missiology/Intercultural Studies, Pastoral Care and Counseling, or Pastoral Studies for the two electives listed above. Combining these two electives with the three free electives would allow a student to take (in addition to the three required courses and required elective as described above):
- Four selected courses in the Pastoral Studies concentration (including DSNT 414, Hermeneutics) and one free elective; or,
- Four selected courses in Pastoral Care and Counseling and one free elective; or,
- Four selected courses in Missiology/Intercultural Studies and one free elective.
| | Additional nine credits (three courses) from any concentration | 9 |
Pastoral Care and Counseling
The Pastoral Care and Counseling concentration offers specialized training for persons who desire to emphasize in their ministry the pastoral role of the minister as counselor and caregiver, whether in a parish setting or in an institutional setting. The program gives attention both to theory and to clinical experience under supervision.
Learning Goals
A student completing the Pastoral Care and Counseling concentration will:
- Be able to demonstrate, acknowledge, and articulate the theories of Pastoral Care and Counseling and ways to integrate those with biblical and theological foundations;
- Be able to dialogue in a multidisciplinary way, employing both clinical and biblical principles, through reflective listening, assessment, evaluation, and the use of holistic and healthy resources in order to provide appropriate intervention for those to whom he/she ministers; and
- Demonstrate an understanding of the Theology of Care and Counseling as a vital part of the mission of the church by caring for individuals, families, and different pastoral settings, e.g., churches, communities, hospitals, etc.
| DSPC 200 | Clinical Pastoral Education | 3-6 |
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| | OR | |
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| DSPC 201 | Clinical Pastoral Education in the Parish | 3 |
| | AND | |
| DSPC 204 | Interpersonal Relationships in Ministry | 3 |
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| | OR | |
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| DSPC 400 | Pastoral Care and Counseling Practicum | 3 |
| | AND | |
| DSPC 204 | Interpersonal Relationships in Ministry | 3 |
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| DSPC 115 | Pastoral Care of Families | 3 |
| DSPC 120 | Crisis Intervention in Pastoral Care | 3 |
| DSPC 125 | Grief, Loss, Death, and Dying | 3 |
| DSPC 110 | Pastoral Theology | 3 |
| DSPC 405 | Health and Spirituality | 3 |
| | General electives selected from the School of Divinity Catalog | 6 |
DSPC 200: one unit of CPE is six credit hours; one-half unit of CPE is three credit hours. Six hours of CPE are required for this concentration.
Missiology
The Missiology concentration offers specialized training to persons who will serve in a variety of mission-related ministries. The program includes biblical, historical, theological, and practical issues that must be addressed by missionaries in the 21st century. The concentration will address both religious and cultural pluralism in an effort to equip persons for a variety of cross-cultural situations.
Learning Goals
A student completing the Missiology concentration will:
- Articulate a coherent biblical theology of the mission of God and the missions of God’s people;
- Develop competence in managing resources and technology for effective missions education and intercultural engagement;
- Improve cultural intelligence (CQ) through mission immersion experience and intercultural exposure; and
- Cultivate a missional mindset as transformational leaders.
One of the following courses.
| DSMS 302 | Urban Missiology | 3 |
| DSMS 305 | Diaspora Missions for Intercultural Diversity | 3 |
Each of the following courses.
| DSMS 311 | Mission in Historical-Contemporary Perspectives | 3 |
| DSMS 200 | World Religions | 3 |
| DSMS 300 | Evangelism and Discipleship | 3 |
| DSMS 301 | Church Planting and Development | 3 |
| DSMS 303 | Cultural Anthropology for Church ministry | 3 |
One of the following courses.
General Electives
| | General electives selected from the School of Divinity Catalog | 6 |
Intercultural Studies
The Intercultural Studies concentration offers specialized training to persons who will serve in cultures other than their own. The program aims to develop students’ knowledge, skills, and overall competence necessary for intercultural engagements in North America and overseas using the paradigm of change. This concentration will equip students to become effective agents of change in the face of 21st century religious pluralism, cultural relativism, urbanization, global diaspora, and globalization.
Learning Goals
A student completing the Intercultural Studies concentration will:
- Articulate a coherent biblical theology of the mission of God and the missions of God’s people;
- Develop competence in managing resources and technology for effective intercultural education and engagement;
- Improve cultural intelligence (CQ) through immersion experience and intercultural exposure; and
- Cultivate a missional mindset as transformational leaders.
One of the following courses.
Each of the following courses.
| DSIS 200 | Worldview Studies | 3 |
| DSIS 311 | Transformational Movements in Historical-Contemporary Perspectives | 3 |
| DSIS 300 | Transformational Leadership | 3 |
| DSIS 301 | Community Organizing and Development | 3 |
| DSIS 303 | Cultural Anthropology | 3 |
| DSIS 400 | ICS Case Studies, Ethnographic Research, Applied Linquistics | 3 |
| | General electives selected from the School of Divinity Catalog | 6 |
Ministerial Formation
Recognizing the importance of ministerial formation, each student’s progress is tracked throughout his or her divinity school experience. Evidence of movement toward maturity in spiritual and ministerial formation is gathered into a student portfolio. Such vehicles as the Profiles of Ministry Instrument Stage I, Mentor Conferences, Formations small group experiences, Assessment Interviews, and a Capstone Conference emphasize that genuine spiritual formation involves healthy relationships toward self, others, the material world, and God.
Participation in Chapel and a Formations group is a component of each of the three core spiritual formations courses: DSSF 100 Introduction to Theological Education for Ministry, DSSF 200 Spiritual Formation: The Christian Journey, and DSSF 300 Theological Integration Capstone Seminar. Faculty, students, and staff work together to plan, lead, and participate in Chapel worship experiences.
A small group Formations experience is led by each student’s faculty mentor (or by the instructor of any DSSF 100, 200, or 300 evening class) in conjunction with all spiritual formation classes. As the name Formations suggests, relevant issues of ministerial formation are addressed, such as integrity, stress, worship, ministerial identity, spiritual discipline, and intercultural competence.
In consultation with the faculty mentor, the student selects for inclusion in the Student Portfolio three to five examples of his/her best work done at various junctures during the course of study. Anecdotal items such as journal entries or faculty comments may also be included in the portfolio. A Ministry Formation Notation, should one be given, may likewise be placed in the Student Portfolio any time a matter of ministerial formation should be noted by a faculty member. These items become discussion points for the student's three Mentor Conferences and the conferences at the conclusion of the student's two Supervised Ministry Experiences. The portfolio becomes the property of the School of Divinity for a period not to exceed ten years, with a copy provided to the student at the student’s request.
Supervised Ministry Experience
During two semesters of his/her MDiv degree program, each student will participate in an approved Supervised Ministry Experience (SME), serving in a ministry position, either volunteer or paid, which will involve the student in significant leadership opportunities requiring responsibility in planning, administering, leading, and evaluating.
Students will engage in a Supervised Ministry Experience during the semester the student is enrolled in DSCE 115 Administration and Leadership and again when enrolled in DSSF 300 Theological Integration Capstone Seminar. In both of these SME's each student will serve a minimum of ten hours weekly in the ministry placement. Proposed SME placement must be approved by the Associate Dean of the School of Divinity who administers the program and oversees student progress in a ministry setting.