Divinity, MDiv

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Offered in Columbia, SC

The Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree is a three-year program (92 credit hours) that prepares persons for ordained ministry in most mainline churches. It is also available to students who wish to integrate ministerial formation into other kinds of professions. The MDiv is open to students of all denominations. This curriculum seeks to shape the entire person for faithful service to the church and to the world.

The MDiv degree consists of 57 required credit hours, combined with 25 elective credit hours and 10 hours of field education.

Admission Requirements

Visit Graduate Admission for the most current Program Admission Requirements.

Tier I (courses without prerequisites)

BIB 501 - Greek I 3 Credits.
BIB 502 - Greek II 3 Credits.
BIB 503 - Hebrew 3 Credits.
BIB 510 - Survey of the New Testament 3 Credits.
BIB 511 - Survey of the Old Testament 3 Credits.
CED 500 - Foundations in Faith Formation 3 Credits.
CHS 501 - Church History I 3 Credits.
CHS 502 - Church History II 3 Credits.
MIN 505 - Foundations in Pastoral Care 3 Credits.
MIN 510 - Foundations of Christian Worship 3 Credits.
MIN 520 - Foundations in Christian Mission 3 Credits.
THL 500 - Introduction to Theological Thinking 3 Credits.
Denominational Polity 3 Credits. *
Denominational Theology 3 Credits. *

Tier II (courses with prerequisites)

BIB 620 - Interpreting the New Testament Gospels 3 Credits.
BIB 630 - Paul’s Letters and Theology 3 Credits.
MIN 610 - Foundations in Preaching 3 Credits.
THL 600 - Introduction to Christian Theology 3 Credits.
THL 650 - Christian Ethics 3 Credits.
Christian Theology Elective 3 Credits.
Denominational History 3 Credits. *
Old Testament Elective 3 Credits.
Church in Context Elective 3 Credits.
General Elective 3 Credits.
General Elective 3 Credits.
General Elective 3 Credits.
Preaching Elective 3 credits

Contextual Education Courses

MIN 500A - Boundary Training 0 Credits.
MIN 500 - Field Education I 1 Credits.
MIN 501 - Field Education II 1 Credits.
MIN 502 - Cross Cultural Requirement (Multiple Choices) 1 Credits.
CPE 500 - Clinical Pastoral Education 6 Credits.
MIN 600 - Field Education III 1 Credits.
MIN 601 - Field Education IV 1 Credits.

Total Credit Hours: 92

*Lutheran students take three courses specific to their denominational polity, theology, and history. Methodists and Baptists take two courses for their denominational courses and choose an additional elective. Provisions can be made for students from denominations other than Lutheran, Methodist, and Baptist to engage in contract courses with adjunct professors within their specific denominations.

Degree Outcomes

The faculty will teach, form, and nurture MDiv students so that graduates exhibit the following competencies:

A comprehensive and discriminating understanding of the Christian heritage (scripture, theology, and church history).
An ability to interpret scripture as a witness to God’s faithfulness in Jesus Christ and to communicate the message of scripture clearly in various forms of ministry
An ability to interpret and communicate the Gospel with theological integrity, being shaped by both the Christian heritage and the contemporary multicultural world.
A level of emotional and spiritual maturity and faithful living that is appropriate to public ministry and Christian leadership.

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