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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. The M.Div. with languages is the foundation for earning the Ph.D. typically required for service in academia. The M.Div. may also be followed with a Doctor of Ministry degree (D.Min.), an advanced professional degree designed for the person in local church or denominational ministry. 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 (M.Div.) in four concentrations, each sharing a common 60-hour core comprised of biblical studies, historical/theological studies, spiritual formation, and ministry studies. Beyond the 60-hour M.Div. core, students may take one of four 30-hour concentrations: Pastoral Studies, Christian Education, Missiology, or Pastoral Care and Counseling. Or, in lieu of a concentration, students also have the option of two dual degree programs, the M.Div./M.A. in English or the M.Div/M.B.A. 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 School of Divinity's "Be, Know and Do Statement" is the guiding document around which the curriculum is built. |
