Program Overview
The three-level MDiv program consists of 76 credit hours of work using a competency-based learning process in the eight areas of ministry shown below. Courses are two, four, and eight weeks long. Most are taught online; residential courses are taught in 10 day intensive sessions. Instead of simply accumulating credit hours, this program requires that students demonstrate pastoral abilities through competency exercises and a capstone project. Students are in a congregational role throughout their degree program in order to benefit from the distinctive formation of congregational life and leadership. At each level, the learning process integrates attention to the spiritual, intellectual and practical aspects of pastoral ministry.
Level 1 – Apprentice Level
The MDiv curriculum is designed around a mentor-apprentice model. During the Apprentice Level, the student learns foundational knowledge about ministry. This level consists of short courses and competency exercises that prepare the student to enter the Journeyer level.
Level I Courses (500 level courses) are short courses lasting from two to four weeks (2 weeks = .5 credit; 4 weeks = 1 credit). For grading information, see the Student Handbook.
Areas of Ministry
An area of ministry is a way to categorize particular practices that are important for pastoral leadership. There are four Interpreting areas and four Leading areas of ministry in this curriculum design.
| Interpreting the Scripture For the Church | Leading the Church Through Care |
| Interpreting the Faith For the Church | Leading the Church in Worship |
| Interpreting the Behavior For the Church | Leading the Church into Mission |
| Interpreting the Past for the Church | Leading the Church in Formation |
Competency Exercises
When a MDiv student completes the number of required and optional courses in one area of Interpreting and one area of Leading, the student will then take a Competency Exercise that integrates the two areas of ministry.
Level 2 – Journeyer Level
When a student has passed at least one such, integrative Competency Exercise, she/he will then be eligible to begin taking nine, 2-hour electives in the Journeyer Level (600 level courses). At this level students learn a variety of perspectives and understandings of ministry.
Level 3 – Master Level – Capstone Project
After completing the electives at the Journeyer level, a student moves to Level III, the Capstone Project. The student, in consultation with his/her mentor, identifies a significant ministry issue in the congregation that will form the basis of research and resource development. The student draws together his/her research of biblical and theological understandings of the issue with a coherent plan of addressing the issue through liturgical, educational, and programmatic processes and resources. The project is presented to the assessment team for evaluation.
Covenant Groups
Students participate in a total of four Covenant Groups: two Covenant Groups while taking courses in the Apprentice Level before their Competency Exercises are completed, one while in the Journeyer Level, and one while completing the Capstone Project. The Covenant Groups are facilitated by faculty and clergy and explore issues of ministry and learning throughout the program.
| LEVEL I: APPRENTICE LEVEL | 51.0 |
|---|---|
| Succeeding in Seminary (SIS) | 2.0 |
| SIS 570 The Three R's of Seminary: Reading, Writing & Research (Must be taken within the first 8 hours of courses) | 1.0 |
| Interpreting the Behavior of the Church (IB) | 4.0 |
| IB 500 Required Courses | |
| IB 551 Ethical Forms | 1.0 |
| IB 552 God and Science: Introduction to Issues in Biomedical Ethics | 1.0 |
| IB 553 Social Ethics | 1.0 |
| IB 500 Electives | 0.5 |
| IB Competency Exercise | 0.5 |
| Interpreting Faith for the Church (IF) | 10.0 |
| IF 500 Required Courses | |
| IF 550 Theology and Theological Language (Prerequisite for all other IF courses) | 1.0 |
| IF 552 Theology of Sermons | 0.5 |
| IF 553 Made in the Image of God: Theological Anthropology | 1.0 |
| IF 554 The Nature of God: Theology | 1.0 |
| IF 555 "One Bread, One Body": Theology of the Church | 1.0 |
| IF 556 "Who Do You Say That I AM?": Christology | 1.0 |
| IF 557 Theology and Pastoral Care: Discussing Suffering and Hope | 1.0 |
| IF 558 God Save Us: Soteriology | 1.0 |
| IF 500 Electives | 1.5 |
| IF 590 Competency Exercise | 1.0 |
| Interpreting the Past for the Church (IP) | 4.0 |
| IP 500 Required Courses | |
| IP 550 Early and Medieval Western Church: 100-15th Century | 1.0 |
| IP 551 From Reform to Individualistic Freedom: 16th-20th Century Western Church | 1.0 |
| IP 500 Electives | 1.5 |
| IP 590 Competency Exercise | 0.5 |
| Interpreting the Scripture for the Church (IS) | 10.0 |
| IS 500 Required Courses | |
| IS 520 The Origin, Inspiration, and Authority of the Church's Scripture | 0.5 |
| IS 540 Reading the Torah in the Church Today | 1.0 |
| IS 541 Reading the Prophets in the Church Today | 1.0 |
| IS 542 Reading the Deuteronomic Histories in the Church Today | 0.5 |
| IS 553 Preparing to Help the Church Read the New Testament for Today | 0.5 |
| IS 554 The Gospels as Resources for the Church | 1.0 |
| IS 556 Pauline Letters as Resources for the Church | 1.0 |
| IS 560 Exegesis for the Church | 2.0 |
| IS 500 Electives | 1.5 |
| IS 590 Competency Exercise | 1.0 |
| Leading the Church Through Care (LC) | 4.0 |
| LC 500 Required Courses | |
| LC 520 Pastoral Care Modalities (self-standing, prerequisite for all other LC courses) | 0.5 |
| LC 550 Creating a Congregational Culture of Care | 1.0 |
| LC 552 Diagnosis and Referral: The Lost Art of Listening | 0.5 |
| LC 554 The Art of Visitation | 0.5 |
| LC 500 Electives | 1.0 |
| LC 590 Competency Exercise | 0.5 |
| Leading the Church in Information (LF) | 4.0 |
| LF 500 Required Courses | |
| LF 550 Biblical and Vocational Foundations of the Teaching Ministry | 0.5 |
| LF 551 Congregation as Context | 0.5 |
| LF 552 Cultural Shifts Impacting Teaching of Faith | 0.5 |
| LF 553 Stages of Faith | 0.5 |
| LF 500 Electives | 1.5 |
| LF 590 Competency Exercise | 0.5 |
| Leading the Church Into Mission (LM) | 6.0 |
| LM 500 Required Courses | |
| LM 520 Program Planning and Evaluation | 1.0 |
| LM 560 Resources for Mission: Stewardship as Vision & Practice | 1.0 |
| LM 561 Governance and Management | 1.0 |
| LM 562 When Conflict Comes Calling | 1.0 |
| LM 500 Electives | 1.5 |
| LM 590 Competency Exercise | 0.5 |
| Leading the Church Through Worship (LW) | |
| LW 500 Required Courses | |
| LW 550 Introduction to Worship (self-standing, prerequisite for all other LW courses) | |
| LW 553 New Birth to Dying in Christ: Baptism, Table, Wedding, Funeral | |
| LW 554 Sermon Preparation | |
| LW 577 Practice Preaching | |
| LW 500 Electives | |
| LW 590 Competency Exercise | |
| Covenant Groups - 500 Level | |
| CO 501 Covenant Group *Students will participate in two (2) Covenant Groups while taking courses in the Apprentice Level before their Competency Exercises are completed. |
| LEVEL II: JOURNEYER LEVEL | |
|---|---|
| Covenant Groups - 600 Level | |
| CO 601 Covenant Group | |
| 600 Level Elective Courses |
| LEVEL III: MASTER LEVEL | |
|---|---|
| Covenant Groups - 700 Level | |
| CO 701 Covenant Group | |
| Capstone Project | |
| ML 700 Capstone Project |
Download the Curriculum Worksheet
MDiv Capstone Project – Overview (See the Student Handbook 7.1.13) »