MASTER OF DIVINITY
At Shepherds Theological Seminary, the Master of Divinity (MDiv) is our flagship degree. Universally recognized as the gold-standard for vocational ministry, the MDiv is designed to prepare pastors, ministers, chaplains, global workers, and other Christian workers for a life of effective servant leadership. The degree combines an in-depth academic study of Bible Exposition, Old Testament, New Testament, Biblical Languages, and Theology, with practical training in pastoral ministry, expository preaching, teaching, biblical counseling, and discipleship. A student in the MDiv program can choose to focus in one of several concentrations to further customize their degree.
CREDIT HOURS
Unique Conentrations
CONCENTRATION CREDITS
AVG. YEARS TO COMPLETE
CORE CURRICULUM
Required in all Master of Divinity concentrations
RS 500 | Research and Writing | 1 |
BC 501 | Foundations of Biblical Counseling | 2 |
BE 501 | Old Testament Studies I: Pentateuch and Former Prophets | 3 |
BE 502 | Old Testament Studies II: Latter Prophets and Writings | 3 |
BE 504 | Introduction to Biblical Hermeneutics | 3 |
BE 511 | New Testament Studies I: Matthew to Acts | 3 |
BE 512 | New Testament Studies II: Romans to Revelation | 3 |
BE 513 | History & Geography of Israel* | 3 |
BE 613 | Life of Christ | 3 |
BE 617 | Exposition of Romans | 2 |
HT 500 | Historical Theology | 3 |
NT 550 | Elementary Greek Grammar I | 3 |
NT 551 | Elementary Greek Grammar II | 3 |
NT 650 | Biblical Greek Exegesis I | 3 |
NT 651 | Biblical Greek Exegesis II | 3 |
OT 550 | Biblical Hebrew I | 3 |
OT 551 | Biblical Hebrew II | 3 |
OT 650 | Biblical Hebrew Exegesis | 3 |
PT 506 | Introduction to Creative Bible Teaching | 2 |
PT 515 | Apologetics, Evangelism, & Discipleship | 3 |
PT 581 | Ministry Preparation | 2 |
PT 782 | Mentored Apprenticeship | 3 |
TH 501 | Systematic Theology I | 3 |
TH 502 | Systematic Theology II | 3 |
TH 503 | Systematic Theology III | 3 |
TH 601 | Systematic Theology IV | 3 |
TH 609 | Christian Ethics | 2 |
Elec | Open Electives (typically 2-3 courses) | 6 |
Total MDiv Core Credits | 80 |
- BIBLE + THEOLOGY 50%
- BIBLICAL LANGUAGES 26%
- PRACTICAL MINISTRY 13%
- OTHER REQUIRED COURSES 11%
CONCENTRATIONS - I
Total Core Credits | 80 | |
BE 619 | Exposition of 1 Timothy and Titus | 2 |
PT 602 | Pastoral Theology | 2 |
PT 604 | Ordination Preparation* | 1 |
PT 605 | Theology of Leadership | 2 |
PT 701 | Expository Preaching | 3 |
PT 704 | Church Administration | 2 |
Total MDiv Credits | 92 |
* Men who are already ordained are not required to take PT 604 and gain 1 unit of open elective. Men who are seeking to go into the pastorate and are not already ordained are required to take PT 604.
- BIBLE + THEOLOGY 46%
- BIBLICAL LANGUAGES 22%
- PRACTICAL MINISTRY 22%
- OTHER REQUIRED COURSES 10%
Total Core Credits | 80 | |
BE 619 | Exposition of 1 Timothy and Titus | 2 |
ME 504 | Church Planting | 2 |
PT 604 | Ordination Preparation* | 1 |
PT 605 | Theology of Leadership | 2 |
PT 701 | Expository Preaching** | 3 |
PT 704 | Church Administration | 2 |
Total MDiv Credits | 92 |
* Men who are already ordained and women in this concentration are not required to take PT 604 and gain 1 unit of open elective. Men who are seeking to go into the pastorate and are not already ordained are required to take PT 604.
** Women in this concentration will take PT 607 Communication Skills in place of PT 701 and gain 1 unit of open elective.
- BIBLE + THEOLOGY 46%
- BIBLICAL LANGUAGES 22%
- PRACTICAL MINISTRY 22%
- OTHER REQUIRED COURSES 10%
Total Core Credits | 80 | |
AR 510 | Archaeological Method and Theory | 2 |
AR 515 | Introduction to Biblical Archaeology | 2 |
AR 610 | Archaeological Fieldwork I | 2 |
AR 615 | Archaeological Fieldwork II* | 2 |
BE 710 | Greco-Roman & Jewish Backgrounds | 3 |
OT 710 | Ancient Near Eastern History | 3 |
Total MDiv Credits | 92 |
* Not required but can be taken as an open elective.
For more information, check out our Department of Biblical Archaeology.
- BIBLE + THEOLOGY 50%
- BIBLICAL LANGUAGES 22%
- PRACTICAL MINISTRY 11%
- ARCHAEOLOGY 9%
- OTHER REQUIRED COURSES 8%
Total Core Credits | 80 | |
BC 502 | Foundations of Biblical Marriage | 2 |
BC 506 | Biblical Soul Care | 2 |
BC 515 | Counseling Skills and Methodology | 2 |
BC 607 | Comparison of Counseling Models | 2 |
BC 610 | Crisis Counseling | 2 |
BC 615 | Contemporary Issues in Counseling | 2 |
Total MDiv Credits | 92 |
- BIBLE + THEOLOGY 43%
- BIBLICAL LANGUAGES 22%
- PRACTICAL MINISTRY 15%
- ARCHAEOLOGY 11%
- OTHER REQUIRED COURSES 9%
Total Core Credits | 80 | |
BC 610 | Crisis Counseling | 2 |
BC 615 | Contemporary Issues in Counseling | 2 |
PT 602 | Pastoral Theology* | 2 |
PT 603 | Chaplaincy Ministry | 2 |
PT 604 | Ordination Preparation** | 1 |
PT 701 | Expository Preaching*** | 3 |
Total MDiv Credits | 92 |
* Women in this concentration will take PT 605 Theology of Leadership in place of PT 602.
** Men who are already ordained and women in this concentration are not required to take PT 604 and gain 1 unit of open elective. Men who are seeking to go into the chaplaincy and are not already ordained are required to take PT 604.
*** Women in this concentration will take PT 607 Communication Skills in place of PT 701 and gain 1 unit of open elective.
- BIBLE + THEOLOGY 43%
- BIBLICAL LANGUAGES 22%
- PRACTICAL MINISTRY 19%
- BIBLICAL COUNSELING 8%
- OTHER REQUIRED COURSES 8%
Total Core Credits | 80 | |
NT 752 / OT 752 | Advanced Greek Reading or Advanced Hebrew Reading | 3 |
Any 9 units of the following: | ||
NT 720 | New Testament Textual Criticism | 3 |
NT 752 | Advanced Greek Reading | 3 |
OT 702 | Old Testament Textual Criticism | 3 |
OT 705 | Septuagint | 3 |
OT 752 | Advanced Hebrew Reading | 3 |
NT/OT Elec | Any 600+ Level Greek/Hebrew Exegesis Course | 3 |
Total MDiv Credits | 92 |
- BIBLE + THEOLOGY 43%
- BIBLICAL LANGUAGES 36%
- PRACTICAL MINISTRY 11%
- OTHER REQUIRED COURSES 10%
CONCENTRATIONS - II
Total Core Credits | 80 | |
BE 705 | Advanced Hermeneutics | 3 |
Any 9 units of the following: | ||
NT 725 | Contemporary Issues and Debates in NT Studies | 3 |
NT 752 | Advanced Greek Reading | 3 |
OT 752 | Advanced Hebrew Reading | 3 |
TH 702 | Seminar on the Church & Israel | 3 |
TH 706 | Philosophy and Christian Epistemology | 3 |
TH 725 | Contemporary Theological Movements | 3 |
BE Elec | Any Bible Exposition Course | 3 |
HT/TH Elec | Any 600+ Level HT/TH Course | 3 |
NT/OT Elec | Any 600+ Level Greek/Hebrew Exegesis Course | 3 |
Total MDiv Credits | 92 |
- BIBLE + THEOLOGY 53%
- BIBLICAL LANGUAGES 26%
- PRACTICAL MINISTRY 11%
- OTHER REQUIRED COURSES 10%
Total Core Credits | 80 | |
BE Elec | Any 12 units of Bible Exposition Courses | 12 |
Total MDiv Credits | 92 |
- BIBLE + THEOLOGY 57%
- BIBLICAL LANGUAGES 22%
- PRACTICAL MINISTRY 11%
- OTHER REQUIRED COURSES 10%
HT/TH Elec | Any 12 units of HT/TH Courses (Courses cannot already be part of the core requirement and must have at least 6 units in your primary focus) | 12 |
Total Concentration Credits | 12 | |
Total MDIV Credits | 92 |
- BIBLE + THEOLOGY 57%
- BIBLICAL LANGUAGES 22%
- PRACTICAL MINISTRY 11%
- OTHER REQUIRED COURSES 10%
Total Core Credits | 80 | |
BC 506 | Biblical Soul Care | 2 |
CE 512 | Learning Theology and Philosophy of Education | 2 |
PT 507 | Engaging Women in Ministry | 2 |
PT 607 | Communication Skills for Ministry | 2 |
PT 608 | Women's Ministry in the Church | 2 |
TH 510 or TH 715 | Biblical Theology of Womanhood or Biblical Manhood & Womanhood* | 2-3 |
Total MDiv Credits | 92 |
- BIBLE + THEOLOGY 46%
- BIBLICAL LANGUAGES 22%
- PRACTICAL MINISTRY 18%
- OTHER REQUIRED COURSES 14%
Total Core Credits | 80 | |
CE 510 | Principles of Leadership Development | 2 |
CE 511 | History and Philosophy of Christian Education | 2 |
CE 512 | Learning Theory and Philosophy of Instruction | 2 |
CE 610 | Curriculum and Instructional Design | 2 |
CE 611 | Contemporary Issues in Christian Education | 2 |
PT 607 | Communication Skills for Ministry | 2 |
Total MDiv Credits | 92 |
- BIBLE + THEOLOGY 43%
- BIBLICAL LANGUAGES 22%
- PRACTICAL MINISTRY 13%
- PRACTICAL MINISTRY 11%
- OTHER REQUIRED COURSES 11%
Total Core Credits | 80 | |
Elec | Any 12 units of Courses from the MDiv Concentrations | 12 |
Total MDiv Credits | 92 |
No time is better than the present to apply!