Master of Divinity (M.Div.)

For those preparing to enter ministry as ordained religious leaders or as lay professional ministers

The Master of Divinity degree program is designed for those preparing to enter ministry as ordained religious leaders or as lay professional ministers.

This program meets the requirements for ordination in most major Protestant denominations.

The M.Div. degree is designed to:

• Strengthen personal and corporate spiritual life and worship, and deepen relationships with God and others in cooperation with the grace of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit
• Develop self-understanding, spiritual maturity and direction within a Christ-centered seminary community
• Emphasize biblical, Judeo-Christian teachings, values and heritage
• Accentuate the mission of the Church in both local and global contexts
• Foster understanding that God’s redemptive activity is both personally and socially transformational
• Cultivate the skills and perspectives necessary for the faithful practice of Christian ministry and leadership

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.

It integrates experience and theological knowledge to develop faithful, transformational leaders for effective and compassionate Christian ministry in the Church and world.

The program’s design requires that all students participate in intercultural experiences to increase sensitivity toward a multicultural world and to promote awareness that God’s love and good will extend to the whole of humanity. Growth toward this objective is furthered by coursework that incorporates perspectives from, and texts written by, persons from a variety of cultures.

Within the collegial and consultative setting of the Ministry Formation and Integration Groups, students gain expertise in reflecting theologically on their ministerial experiences and classroom learning and benefit from the insight and experience of peers, scholars, mentors and supervisors. Ministry Groups also provide helpful opportunities for students to set educational goals, share personal journeys and engage in self-evaluation. As part of the Ministry Formation and Integration experience, all first- and second-year M.Div. students are required to participate in the seminary community’s corporate worship life and Common Meal.

Academic Course of Study

The Master of Divinity program involves ninety (90) semester hours of coursework. The curriculum includes a number of academic areas, all critical to a theological understanding of Christian ministry.

The curriculum is closely integrated with the seminary’s mission statement:

United Theological Seminary is a Christ-centered graduate school of The United Methodist Church that equips leaders for the church in a pluralistic world through the nurture of piety, the love of learning, and the pursuit of justice.

M.Div. Degree Requirements

• 30 semester hours of gateway courses that reflect and foster love of learning and incorporate ministerial formation and contextual education
• 15 semester hours with an emphasis on the nurture of piety, pastoral formation, and congregational care in preparation for leadership in the community of faith
• 15 semester hours with an emphasis on the pursuit of justice and the work of the church in the world
• 30 semester hours drawn from across the spectrum of the curriculum

See the M.Div. Requirements page or Academic Catalog for additional details.