Master of Divinity

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Purpose: The M.Div. is the degree of choice for those entering preaching ministry. It lays a solid foundation for a lifetime of ministry practice through a focus on spiritual growth, research tools and methodology, and practical concepts and skills.

Emphasis: This degree provides opportunities and encouragement for personal spiritual growth, an understanding of Scripture and theology, an introduction to historical and cultural contexts of churches, and both understanding of and supervised experience in major aspects of ministry. The M.Div. is also the basic degree required by most schools of religion and seminaries for admission to Ph.D. or Th.D. programs.

Intended Degree Outcomes: M.Div. graduates will:

Demonstrate advanced skills in the interpretation of scripture.
Demonstrate the skills required for theological reflection.
Demonstrate a critical understanding of Christianity and the Stone-Campbell Movement in particular.
Demonstrate the ability to integrate the scriptures and theological tradition with diverse contemporary cultural contexts.
Demonstrate a commitment to personal spiritual formation
Demonstrate the skills associated with providing ministerial leadership for churches and communities.

Time Frame: The degree requires a minimum of three academic years of full-time work or its equivalent.

Residency: At least nine hours must be taken on the Harding School of Theology campus. One of the on-campus courses must be BMIN 5990 Advanced Theological Research , which students must take within the first nine hours. It will include a retreat at the end of each intensive course. In semesters where the course is available only on a weekly basis the retreat will be near the end of the term.

Admission

Undergraduate GPA: A student whose undergraduate grade point average is between 2.25 and 2.50 may be admitted on probation for the M.Div. program. Probation will be removed upon successfully completing 18 semester hours of graduate courses with a grade point average of 2.50.

Advanced Standing: Harding School of Theology may grant up to 18 hours of advanced standing by examination from the faculty over undergraduate coursework: 6 hours for Greek, 6 hours for Hebrew, and up to 6 hours from electives or BOLD 5001 , BNEW 5201 , BDOC 5400 , BHIS 5640 , HOML 5810 or HOML 5830 .

Transfer Credit: Subject to the approval of the admissions committee, a student may transfer a maximum of 48 hours of credit from another institution. A student may apply as much as 100% of an HST degree (i.e., up to 36 hours from the MA and up to 48 hours from the MACM) toward the MDIV, not to exceed two-thirds of the MDIV.

Language Requirements: One year of Greek and one year of Hebrew at the undergraduate level with a grade of C or better are required, or the student may take one year of Greek and/or Hebrew as part of the degree. One graduate-level reading course of three semester hours is also required.

Testing: Psychological, career and other types of testing are sometimes used for guidance purposes.

Program: 75 hours

See the Course Descriptions for core requirements and exceptions.

Theological Division: (15 hours)

Recommended sequence: Take 5601 and 5602 before taking 5400 or 5450 .

BDOC 5400 - Systematic Theology Credit Hours: 3
BHIS 5601 - History of Christianity I Credit Hours: 3
BHIS 5602 - History of Christianity II Credit Hours: 3
BHIS 5640 - Stone-Campbell Movement Credit Hours: 3

Choose one:

BDOC 5450 - Contemporary Christian Thought Credit Hours: 3
BDOC 5520 - Faith and Reason Credit Hours: 3
BDOC 5550 - Ethics and Character Formation Credit Hours: 3
BDOC 5555 - Seminar in Theology Credit Hours: 3

Ministerial Division (18 hours)

BMIN 5730 - Counseling Skills Credit Hours: 3
BMIN 5801 - Theological Foundations of Ministry I Credit Hours: 1
BMIN 5802 - Theological Foundations of Ministry II Credit Hours: 1
BMIN 5803 - Theological Foundations of Ministry III Credit Hours: 1
BMIN 5873 - Leading Churches in Mission Credit Hours: 3
BMIN 5875 - Congregational Ministry Credit Hours: 3
or BMIS 5901 - Spiritual Leadership Credit Hours: 3
BMIS 5910 - Global Evangelism Credit Hours: 3
or BMIS 5920 - Multicultural Ministry Credit Hours: 3
HOML 5810 - Sermon Development and Delivery Credit Hours: 3
or HOML 5830 - Biblical Preaching Credit Hours: 3

Electives (9 hours)

Additional Requirements

Level of Scholarship: An average scholarship level of 2.50 is required for the M.Div. Courses in which a grade of C has been received may be repeated, and only the second grade will count. Courses in which a grade of B has been received may not be repeated. Courses in which a grade of D or F is made will not be counted toward the degree but will be used in figuring the GPA unless repeated. No course may be repeated more than once without permission of the professor.

Thesis: A thesis is optional and can count for 6 hours of general elective credit. Procedures and requirements for theses are stated in the Student Handbook.

Chaplaincy Candidates: Students who intend to enter ministry as a chaplain should consult with ministry faculty about CPE requirements.

Degree Candidacy: Students should apply for candidacy to the degree from November through December 15 prior to the spring or summer in which they intend to graduate; fall graduates should apply by July 15. Students are responsible to notify the associate dean if they apply for graduation and are unable to complete graduation requirements.

English Bible Exam: All students in all master’s degree plans must pass a comprehensive English Bible exam within their first semester. Students who fail must take the corresponding survey(s), BOLD 5000 and/or BNEW 5200 .

Statute of Limitation: All degree requirements must be completed within a 10-year period from time of entry into the program. No credit more than 10 years old may be counted toward the degree requirements. If one goes beyond the 10-year time limit, one may obtain a time extension of one year for each additional three-hour course successfully completed in the area of area of study with approval of his or her advisor.

Probation: After completion of 12 semester hours and thereafter, students with grades below a 2.50 average will be placed on academic probation. To remove probation, a student must achieve a 2.50 overall average during the next 18 hours of study.

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