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Master's Degree Programs

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  • Master of Divinity (M.Div.)

    Purpose
    The Master of Divinity prepares students to enter ministry as ordained religious leaders or as lay professional ministers. United’s program emphasizes Bible, theology, ethics, evangelism, preaching and worship, ministry formation, church history, pastoral care and church renewal. It meets the requirements for ordination in most major Protestant denominations.

    Overview
    Comprehensive in academic focus and process, the Master of Divinity program includes rigorous coursework in both academic and practical disciplines, along with the intentional worship and community life necessary for personal and professional development in ministry.

    Credits Required
    57 Hours Required Courses

    21 Hours Electives

    Assessment (non-credit requirements)

    Curriculum
    Online Student Orientation: Required program introducing Theological Education

    Contextual-ed

    Concentrations
    Church Renewal

    Care Giving

    African American and Black Studies

    Time for Degree Completion
    3 years full time study

    Admissions Requirements

    degree plan

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    Online Option

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  • M.Div. Concentrations and Emphases

    M.Div. with Church Renewal Concentration
    How can we bring new life to struggling congregations? The Master of Divinity concentration in Church Renewal at United Theological Seminary equips students to address this very question. The basic conviction of this program is that all renewal – whether of individuals, churches, or the Church Universal – begins with the work of the Holy Spirit. Renewal is not just about numbers. It is about creating faithful, committed disciples of Jesus Christ. We are engaged therefore in a vital conversation with church leaders about ways in which we can come alongside the work of the Spirit in leading people into lives of faithfulness. Students in this program learn not only from our full-time faculty, but from clergy who have been leaders in renewal at the local-church level. The church needs dynamic, well-equipped leaders. At United Theological Seminary, our goal is to produce such leaders in service to Jesus Christ.

    This concentration will enable students to provide leadership in a variety of areas related to the renewal of the church, including the renewal of worship, missions and evangelism, Christian initiation and formation, and media communications in an increasingly digital culture and world.

    degree plan

    M.Div. with Care Giving Concentration
    The Care Giving concentration provides a theological foundation for pastoral care giving ministry and incorporates human science theory and practical skills training appropriate for pastoral assessment and intervention.

    degree plan

    African American and Black Studies
    Building upon a long history of partnership with the African American and Black Churches, United offers courses that prepare students for ministry in, and in relationship with, Black Church traditions.  Courses at United’s campus include:

    Introduction to African American Church History (3)

    Introduction to Black Theology (3)

    The Civil Rights Movement

    Martin Luther King, Jr.  (3)

    Augustine (3)

    Shaping the African American Church

    Black Church Renewal (3)

    Social Justice and Liberations Theology (3)

    In addition, United and Payne Theological Seminary share a relationship that allows students to cross-register in both institutions’ courses. A seminary of the African Methodist Episcopal Church located in nearby Wilberforce, OH, Payne offers numerous courses in African American and Black Studies that are available to United students.  Please visit the Payne website at www.payne.edu for the latest listings.

  • FLEX UMC M.Div.

    United’s Flexible Residency Hybrid Master of Divinity degree offers the same quality of education as our traditional M.Div. with the added flexibility of August FLEX Residency Weeks as well as hybrid and online course offerings. It is designed especially for students in regions not readily served by a local seminary community and offers a hybrid model of distance theological education that aims to maximize the use of technology while also allowing the student to complete one-third of the degree in residence, as required for United Methodist ordination.

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    Requirements

    • Complete a minimum of one-third of the degree in residency on United’s campus through a combination of four mandatory two-week FLEX Residency Weeks and a Gathering Week residency each semester.

    • Enroll in Hybrid Contextual Ministries as soon as you begin your M.Div.

    • Admission process must be completed by July 20

    The degree program may also be completed over a longer period of time and may be a mixture of educational formats to fit your schedule. Schedules should be reviewed by your advisor.

    Course Schedules

    The course schedules below will allow you to complete the degree in three years. Courses may be taken at any time or in any order (subject to prerequisites), but course offerings are subject to change.

    course schedule

    Residency
    To complete the required one-third of the degree in residence,  FLEX UMC students must attend mandatory FLEX Residency Weeks and Gathering Weeks, both held at United’s Dayton, OH, campus.

    FLEX Residency Weeks
    Two-week intensive sessions held each August beginning on Monday and ending on the second Friday.

    FLEX Residency Week Schedule

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    Gathering Weeks
    One week intensive session held each fall and spring.

    Gathering Week Schedule

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    FLEX Residency Weeks and Gathering Weeks Allow FLEX Students To:

    • Complete Intensive courses

    • Participate in classroom instruction for hybrid courses

    • Complete intensive courses

    • Worship as a community

    • Gain preaching experience

    • Serve the sacraments

    • Build relationships with other students, clergy and professors

    • Develop as pastoral leaders

    Fees for Gathering Weeks and FLEX Residency Weeks, in Addition to Tuition

    Housing: We have negotiated lower prices at some of the hotels in our area. Please explore the Visitor Accommodation section of the website to make your room arrangements for the week or contact Student Services. If you prefer to stay at Salem Heights, please send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

    For other housing questions, please contact Renee Stefan at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it | 937.529.2206.

    Meals and Incidentals:
    Gathering Week = $120
    FLEX Residency Weeks = $285

    Transportation
    United will provide transportation to and from the hotels in Englewood near I-70 and SR 48 for $20 per day. Please advise us if you need this service. Some hotels provide free transportation to and from the airport. Please arrange this with your hotel.

  • West Virginia In-Context M.Div.

    Contact: Janet Flanagan
    This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it | 304.342.9222

    Purpose
    The In-Context Master of Divinity is designed for clergy and those preparing to enter full-time ministry as ordained religious leaders in geographical areas that are not otherwise readily served by a United Methodist Seminary.

    The curriculum for the West Virginia program is structured by design and coursed schedule to meet the personal and professional needs and interests of those pursuing theological education while ministering to local churches.   It meets the requirements for ordination in most major Protestant denominations.

    Overview
    Designed with the same rigor as the Dayton program, the In-Context curriculum is comprehensive in academic focus and process. Faculty and coursework are shared between the campus in Ohio and the West Virginia site, West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon, WV. Students participate in online coursework and have the opportunity to participate in the Distance Learning program by choosing online courses as part of their curriculum.

    Credits Required
    57 Hours Required Courses

    21 Hours Electives

    Assessment (non-credit requirements)

    Curriculum
    Online Student Orientation: Required program introducing Theological Education

    Contextual-ed

    Concentrations
    Church Renewal

    Care Giving

    Time for Degree Completion
    2.5 to 3 years full time study

    Admissions Requirements

    degree plan

    Apply

  • Master of Arts in Christian Ministries (M.A.C.M.)

    Purpose
    The M.A. in Christian Ministries (M.A.C.M.) is designed to equip persons for leadership and service in various areas related to the Christian community’s public life and practice. It is designed for those preparing for the work of Deacon in The United Methodist Church; those who are seeking ordination in a denomination that requires a 45-semester hour seminary degree; those seeking to supplement existing professional specialties with theological studies; and laypersons who seek to serve the church with specific competencies.

    Overview
    The M.A.C.M is designed to develop the personal spiritual characteristics necessary for Christian ministry, provide a solid background in the theories undergirding Christian ministry, and to help students utilize them for the practice of ministry.

    Credits Required
    45 semester hours

    Curriculum
    30 semester hours of courses in basic theological studies

    15 hours of electives

    Experiences of personal and professional formation

    Students may, if they wish, select an emphasis in Care Giving, Christian Education, Worship, Church Renewal or UM Deacon Studies.

    Time for Degree Completion
    2 years full-time study

    Course schedules are developed to accommodate both full-time and part-time study. Working in a placement of more than twenty hours each week may extend the time it takes to complete the degree.

    Admissions Requirements

    degree plan

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    Online Option

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  • Master of Theological Studies

    Purpose
    The Master of Theological Studies degree program is designed for persons who wish to pursue the academic study of religion or to increase their religious understanding and their ministerial capacity to serve the Church and community.

    Overview
    The M.T.S. degree provides a solid basis in theological foundations including bible, theology, and church history, and introduces methodologies involved in the academic study of religion.

    Credits Required
    60 semester hours

    Curriculum
    Basic Theological Studies: 24 sem. hrs.

    Concentration and Project: 18 sem. hrs.

    M.T.S. Colloquy: 3 sem. hrs.

    Electives: 15 sem. hrs.

    Time for Degree Completion
    Minimum: 2 to 3 years full time study

    Admissions Requirements

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  • United Catalog

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