At Shepherds Theological Seminary, the Master of Divinity (MDiv) is our flagship degree. Universally recognized as the gold-standard degree 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.
92
Credit Hours
11
Unique Concentrations
21
Concentration Credits
4
Avg. Years to Complete
CORE CURRICULUM
Required in all Master of Divinity concentrations
| RS 500 | Research and Writing | 1 |
| 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 613 | Life of Christ | 3 |
| OT 550 | Biblical Hebrew I | 3 |
| OT 551 | Biblical Hebrew II | 3 |
| OT 650 | Biblical Hebrew Exegesis | 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 |
| 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 |
| HT 501 | Historical Theology I: Pentecost to the Reformation | 2 |
| HT 502 | Historical Theology II: Post-Reformation to the Modern Church | 2 |
| TH 602 | Apologetics | 2 |
| PT 503 | Theology of Evangelism and Discipleship | 2 |
| BC 501 | Foundations of Biblical Counseling | 2 |
| PT 506 | Introduction to Creative Bible Teaching | 2 |
| PT 581/582 | Ministry Preparation for Men/Women | 2 |
| PT 782 | Mentored Apprenticeship | 3 |
| Total MDIV Core | 71 |
Concentrations
Pastoral/Church Ministry
| PT 607 | Communication Skills for Ministry | 2 |
| BE 619 | Exposition of 1 Timothy and Titus | 2 |
| CE 512 | Learning Theory and Philosophy of Education | 2 |
| PT 602 | Pastoral Theology | 2 |
| PT 704 | Church Administration | 2 |
| PT 701 | Expository Preaching | 3 |
| PT 604 | Ordination Preparation | 1 |
| Elec. | Open Electives (typically 3-4 courses) | 7-8 |
| Total Concentration Credits | 21 | |
| Total MDIV Credits | 92 |
Biblical Archaeology
| AR 510 | Archaeological Method and Theory | 2 |
| AR 515 | Intro to Biblical Archaeology | 2 |
| AR 610 | Archaeological Fieldwork I | 2 |
| AR 615 | Archaeological Fieldwork II* | 2 |
| BE 710 | Ancient Near Eastern Backgrounds | 2 |
| BE 706 | Hellenism and 2nd Temple Jewish Backgrounds | 2 |
| Elec. | Open Electives (typically 4-5 courses) | 9 |
| Total Concentration Credits | 21 | |
| Total MDiv Credits | 92 |
For more information, check out our Department of Biblical Archaeology.
Biblical Counseling
| BC 506 | Biblical Soul Care | 2 |
| BC 502 | Foundations of Biblical Marriage | 2 |
| BC 515 | Counseling Skills and Methodology | 2 |
| BC 610 | Crisis Counseling | 2 |
| BC 615 | Contemporary Issues in Counseling | 2 |
| BC 607 | Comparison of Counseling Models | 2 |
| Elec. | Open Electives (typically 4-5 courses) | 9 |
| Total Concentration Credits | 21 | |
| Total MDIV Credits | 92 |
Chaplaincy
| BC 610 | Crisis Counseling | 2 |
| BC 502 | Foundations of Biblical Marriage | 2 |
| BC 615 | Contemporary Issues in Counseling | 2 |
| PT 603 | Chaplaincy Ministry | 2 |
| PT 701 | Expository Preaching | 3 |
| PT 602 | Pastoral Theology | 2 |
| PT 604 | Ordination Preparation | 1 |
| Elec. | Open Electives (typically 3-4 courses) | 7-8 |
| Total Concentration Credits | 21 | |
| Total MDIV Credits | 92 |
Advanced Biblical Languages
| NT 750 | Advanced Greek Reading | 2 |
| OT 750 | Advanced Hebrew Reading | 2 |
| NT Elec. | Greek Exegesis Elective | 2 |
| OT Elec. | Hebrew Exegesis Elective | 2 |
| NT 705 | Septuagint | 2 |
| OT/NT 702 | Old Testament/New Testament Textual Criticism | 2 |
| Elec. | Open Electives (typically 4-5 courses) | 9 |
| Total Concentration Credits | 21 | |
| Total MDIV Credits | 92 |
Advanced Biblical Studies
| BE 701 | Advanced Hermeneutics | 2 |
| TH 710 | Contemporary Theological Movements | 2 |
| TH 706 | Philosophy and Christian Epistemology | 3 |
| NT/OT Elec. | Greek/Hebrew Reading or Greek/Hebrew Exegesis Course | 2 |
| BE Elec. | Bible Exposition Elective | 2 |
| NT 710 | Contemporary Issues and Debates in NT Studies | 2 |
| Elec. | Open Electives (typically 3-4 courses) | 8 |
| Total Concentration Credits | 21 | |
| Total MDIV Credits | 92 |
Women’s Ministry
| TH 510 | Biblical Theology of Womanhood | 2 |
| PT 607 | Communication Skills for Ministry | 2 |
| PT 507 | Women's Ministry of Teaching and Discipleship | 2 |
| PT 508 | Theology of the Family | 2 |
| PT 608 | Women's Ministry in the Church | 2 |
| CE 512 | Learning Theology and Philosophy of Education | 2 |
| Elec. | Open Electives (typically 4-5 courses) | 9 |
| Total Concentration Credits | 21 | |
| Total MDIV Credits | 92 |
Christian Education
| CE 511 | History and Philosophy of Christian Education | 2 |
| CE 512 | Learning Theory and Philosophy of Education | 2 |
| PT 607 | Communication Skills for Ministry | 2 |
| CE 510 | Principles of Leadership Development | 2 |
| CE 610 | Curriculum and Instructional Design | 2 |
| CE 611 | Contemporary Issues in Christian Education | 2 |
| Elec. | Open Electives (typically 4-5 courses) | 9 |
| Total Concentration Credits | 21 | |
| Total MDIV Credits | 92 |