The purpose of the program:
• to prepare men for the pastoral ministry and to equip them to meet ecclesiastical requirements for ordination (Pastoral Ministry Track)
• to train men and women for gospel ministries of a more specialized sort (General Ministries Track). Such ministries might include counseling, Christian education, youth work, college and university student ministries, and urban service.

The program of study prescribed for the M.Div. degree provides two tracks for training, in keeping with the twofold purpose of the program:
     • a Pastoral Ministry Track  

     • a General Ministries Track which has three emphases: General Studies, Counseling, and Urban Mission.

The degree requirements for both tracks are the same except for certain Practical Theology courses. Courses in both tracks are arranged to provide for orderly progress within the work of each department and for coherence within each semester of study.

Successful completion of a program of Mentored Ministry is required in both tracks. Students should contact the Mentored Ministry Office at the beginning of the second semester of their first year in order to arrange for completing their required four units of ministry.

All M.Div. Tracks
All of the programs require at least three years of full-time study (16-17 hours per semester, plus winter term) for completion. Note that in order to complete the program in the minimum time, the student must begin with the summer term and complete the courses in sequence.  Please see the degree program charts in the catalog for detailed information. The Registrar and Dean of Students are available for counsel concerning individual student needs.

M.Div. Learning Goals

Upon graduation the student will:

1. Exhibit love for the triune God, his word, his truth and his church; and a Christ-like humility in relation to others;
2. Be able to exegete the text of scripture as given in the original languages;
3. Be able to understand and articulate the system of doctrine contained in the Westminster Standards and its importance for biblical, systematic, and practical theology, and integrate this system of doctrine into life and ministry;
4. Be able to understand the particularity of cultural context and apply God’s eternal word to a changing world and to particular individuals and congregations;
5. Understand the biblical principles of leadership and demonstrate potential for becoming a future leader in the church.

For detailed information on the following topics please see the catalog links below:

• General Requirements
• M.Div. Program Requirements
• Placement in Greek and Hebrew
• Admissions to the Program
• Mentored Ministry
• Time Limits

**Please note - Students planning to seek ordination for pastoral ministry should be aware that completion of the M.Div. degree in a General Ministries Track may not satisfy the requirements for ordination of certain denominations. This is particularly the case if the sequence of courses in preaching is not included. One should check with the appropriate denominational judicatory.