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 Concentrations
Concentration Credits
Avg. Years to Complete
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
0%BIBLICAL LANGUAGES
0%PRACTICAL MINISTRY
0%OTHER REQUIRED COURSES
0%
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 |
BIBLE + THEOLOGY
0%BIBLICAL LANGUAGES
0%PRACTICAL MINISTRY
0%OTHER REQUIRED COURSES
0%
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 |
BIBLE + THEOLOGY
0%BIBLICAL LANGUAGES
0%PRACTICAL THEOLOGY
0%OTHER REQUIRED COURSES
0%
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 |
For more information, check out our Department of Biblical Archaeology.
BIBLE + THEOLOGY
0%BIBLICAL LANGUAGES
0%PRACTICAL THEOLOGY
0%ARCHAEOLOGY
0%OTHER REQUIRED COURSES
0%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
0%BIBLICAL LANGUAGES
0%BIBLICAL COUNSELING
0%PRACTICAL THEOLOGY
0%OTHER REQUIRED COURSES
0%
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 |
BIBLE + THEOLOGY
0%BIBLICAL LANGUAGES
0%PRACTICAL MINISTRY
0%BIBLICAL COUNSELING
0%OTHER REQUIRED COURSES
0%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
0%BIBLICAL LANGUAGES
0%PRACTICAL MINISTRY
0%OTHER REQUIRED COURSES
0%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
0%BIBLICAL LANGUAGES
0%PRACTICAL MINISTRY
0%OTHER REQUIRED COURSES
0%Total Core Credits | 80 | |
HT/TH Elec | Any 12 units of HT/TH Courses not already part of the core requirement (At least 6 of these units must be in your primary focus) | 12 |
Total MDiv Credits | 92 |
BIBLE + THEOLOGY
0%BIBLICAL LANGUAGES
0%PRACTICAL MINISTRY
0%OTHER REQUIRED COURSES
0%
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
0%BIBLICAL LANGUAGES
0%PRACTICAL THEOLOGY
0%OTHER REQUIRED COURSES
0%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
0%BIBLICAL LANGUAGES
0%PRACTICAL MINISTRY
0%CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
0%OTHER REQUIRED COURSES
0%