Master of Divinity Degree (M.Div.)
The Master of Divinity, a three-year course of study, is accredited by The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS) as the basic professional degree. The School of Divinity offers the Master of Divinity degree (M.Div.) in five concentrations, each sharing a common 60-hour core comprised of biblical studies, historical/theological studies, spiritual formation, and ministry studies. Each of the five concentrations requires 30 hours of coursework resulting in 90 total hours of M.Div. coursework credit. Dual-degree programs are available in which the M.Div. degree is partnered with degree programs such as the Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) and the Master of Arts (M.A.). Emphasizing theological reflection and ministerial formation, this course of study is designed to provide men and women with a comprehensive, in-depth knowledge of the body of divinity and to help ministers develop the skills necessary for effective ministry.
M.Div. Concentrations available in:
Biblical Studies
Christian Education and Formation
Missiology
Pastoral Care and Counseling
Pastoral Studies
Dual-Degree Programs Available in:
Master of Divinity/Master of Business Administration - (M.Div./MBA)
Master of Divinity/Master of Arts in English or English Education - (M.Div./MA)
Master of Divinity/Master of Arts/Ed.S. in Mental Health - (M.Div./MA/Ed.S.)
The Biblical Studies concentration offers specialized training for persons who wish to emphasize in their ministry the study and the teaching of Scripture. With additional hours of Old Testament and New Testament electives (including biblical languages), as well as seminars that focus on pedagogy (teaching), research, and writing for publication, this concentration also prepares students for graduate research programs in Biblical Studies.
Concentration Requirements
| Research |
3 hrs. |
| The Teaching Ministry of the Church |
3 hrs. |
| Biblical Languages |
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Hebrew 2 |
3 hrs. |
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Greek 2 |
3 hrs. |
| (Students in Biblical Students concentration must take at least 1 Hebrew or Greek exegetical elective as part of their 15 hrs. of electives) |
| Biblical Studies Electives |
15 hrs. |
| Writing for Publication Seminar |
3 hrs. |
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| TOTAL in Concentration |
30 hrs. |
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| M. Div. Core |
60 hrs. |
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| TOTAL for M. Div. Degree |
90 hrs. |
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The Christian Education concentration offers specialized training for those entering the field. Through this study, one acquires an overview of age-group work, tools in designed a church’s curriculum, and principles in organizing a church for mission and ministry.
Concentration Requirements
| The Teaching Ministry of the Church |
3 hrs. |
| The Church Organizing for Mission and Ministry |
3 hrs. |
| Two of the following courses: |
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Ministry to the Young Child |
3 hrs. |
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Ministry with Youth |
3 hrs. |
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Ministry with Adults |
3 hrs. |
| Enabling and Supervising Volunteers for the Church |
3 hrs. |
| Communicating Inside and Outside the Church |
3 hrs. |
| Designing a Church Curriculum |
3 hrs |
| General Electives (Selected from School of Divinity Catalog) |
9 hrs. |
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| TOTAL in Concentration |
30 hrs. |
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| M. Div. Core |
60 hrs. |
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| TOTAL for M. Div. Degree |
90 hrs. |
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The Missiology concentration offers specialized training to persons who will serve in a variety of mission and ministry settings that demand cross-cultural training. The program includes biblical, historical, theological and practical issues that must be addressed by missionaries and other Christian workers in the 21st Century. The concentration will address both religious and cultural pluralism in an effort to equip persons for a variety of cross-cultural situations.
Concentration Requirements
| Two of the following courses: |
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World Religions |
3 hrs. |
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Contemporary Religious Movements |
3 hrs. |
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Islam |
3 hrs. |
| Two of the following courses: |
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Urban Missiology |
3 hrs. |
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Jesus in a Global Perspective |
3 hrs. |
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Mission Immersion Experience |
3 hrs. |
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Evangelism |
3 hrs. |
| Mission Principles and Praxis |
3 hrs. |
| Gospel Across Cultures |
3 hrs. |
| General Electives (Selected from School of Divinity Catalog) |
9 hrs. |
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| TOTAL in Concentration |
30 hrs. |
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| M. Div. Core |
60 hrs. |
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| TOTAL for M. Div. Degree |
90 hrs. |
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The Pastoral Care and Counseling concentration offers specialized training for persons who desire to emphasize in their ministry the pastoral role of the minister as counselor and care-giver, whether in a parish setting or in an institutional setting. The program gives attention both to theory and to clinical experience under supervision.
Concentration Requirements
| Clinical Pastoral Education (one unit) * |
6 hrs. |
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Pastoral Care and Counseling Practicum * |
3 hrs. |
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Interpersonal Relationships * |
3 hrs. |
| Pastoral Care of Families |
3 hrs. |
| Crisis Intervention in Pastoral Care |
3 hrs. |
| Grief, Loss, Death, and Dying |
3 hrs. |
| Pastoral Theology |
3 hrs. |
| Health and Spirituality |
3 hrs. |
| General Electives (Selected from School of Divinity Catalog) |
9 hrs. |
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| TOTAL in Concentration |
30 hrs. |
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| M. Div. Core |
60 hrs. |
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| TOTAL for M. Div. Degree |
90 hrs. |
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| * Where CPE (one unit) is not an option for student, Pastoral Care and Counseling Practicum and Interpersonal Relationships may be substituted. |
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The Pastoral Studies concentration, designed primarily, though not exclusively, with a view toward pastoral ministries (pastor, associate pastor, etc.) extends the basic M.Div. core curriculum by adding courses in advanced biblical languages, advanced biblical electives, advanced historical/theological electives, and courses fo-cusing on the more practical aspects of ministry in a local church setting.
Concentration Requirements
| Biblical Electives |
6 hrs. |
| Biblical Languages |
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(Advanced Greek and Hebrew) |
6 hrs. |
| Historical / Theological Electives |
6 hrs. |
| Practical Ministry Electives |
6 hrs. |
| Designing a Church Curriculum |
3 hrs |
| General Electives (Selected from School of Divinity Catalog) |
9 hrs. |
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| TOTAL in Concentration |
30 hrs. |
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| M. Div. Core |
60 hrs. |
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| TOTAL for M. Div. Degree |
90 hrs. |
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The M.Div./M.B.A. program is designed to enhance the administrative skills and expertise of ministers by permitting them to earn a second degree, the M.B.A., instead of the usual M.Div. concentration. The program has three potential student populations in view: (1) the minister who desires greater expertise in business administration, (2) the church administrator in a large church; or (3) the bi-vocational minister. Foundational courses in accounting, microeconomics, statistics, finance, and microcomputers are pre-requisite to the program.
Concentration Requirements
| Managerial Accounting |
3 hrs. |
| Managerial Economics |
3 hrs. |
| Managerial Finance |
3 hrs. |
| Marketing Management |
3 hrs. |
| Organizational Behavior |
3 hrs. |
| Quantitative Methods |
3 hrs |
| Production and Operations Management |
3 hrs. |
| Business Law & Ethics |
3 hrs. |
| International Business |
3 hrs. |
| Strategic Management |
3 hrs. |
| Restricted M.B.A. Electives |
6 hrs. |
| Biblical Studies Electives |
6 hrs. |
| Historical / Theology Electives |
3 hrs. |
| Practical Ministry Electives |
3 hrs. |
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| TOTAL in Concentration |
48 hrs. |
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| M. Div. Core |
60 hrs. |
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| TOTAL for M. Div. / M.B.A. Degree |
108 hrs. |
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The M.Div./M.A. program is designed to enhance divinity students’ literary skills by permitting them to earn a second degree, the M.A., instead of the usual M.Div. concentration. This degree provides students with a broad and rich literary context from which to do ministry and provides them with a common frame of reference with which to connect with persons of diverse culture and background. Moreover, it provides students with enhanced critical and analytical skills while providing them with additional literary models with which to understand and interpret the Scriptures. The degree has two potential student populations in view: (1) the minister who desires greater background in the literary arts as a context for ministry, and (2) the minister who serves in a small church situation and finds it necessary to supplement church-derived income through secular employment.
Concentration Requirements
| Literary Criticism |
3 hrs. |
| (27 Additional Hours from the following): |
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Special Topics |
3 hrs. |
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Seminar in British Literature |
3 hrs. |
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British Lit. Selected Masterpieces |
3 hrs. |
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Seminar in American Literature |
3 hrs |
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American Lit. Selected Materpieces |
3 hrs. |
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Literature: A World Perspective |
3 hrs. |
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Contemporary Trends in Literature |
3 hrs. |
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Young Adult Literature |
3 hrs. |
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The Teaching of Writing |
3 hrs. |
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Thesis |
6 hrs. |
| Biblical Studies Electives |
6 hrs. |
| Historical / Theological Electives |
6 hrs. |
| Practical Ministry Elective |
3 hrs. |
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| TOTAL in Concentration |
45 hrs. |
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| M. Div. Core |
60 hrs. |
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| TOTAL for M. Div. / M.B.A. Degree |
105 hrs. |
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The M.Div./M.A./Educational Specialist in Mental Health Counseling program is designed to meet the needs of individuals who seek to integrate theology, faith, and spirituality with counseling theory and clinical experience in the mental health field. The program is designed to meet the educational requirements of licensure as professional counselors in North Carolina and in most other states. This program will prepare students to take the Licensed Professional Counselor exam and complete all educational requirements for North Carolina licensure.
Concentration Requirements
| Counseling Theories |
3 hrs. |
| Methods of Research and Program Evaluation |
3 hrs. |
| Legal, Ethical, and Professional |
3 hrs. |
| Multicultural Counseling |
3 hrs. |
| The Counselor as Professional, Practicioner and Consultant |
3 hrs. |
| Advanced Psychopathy |
3 hrs. |
| Advanced Human Growth and Development |
3 hrs. |
| Professional Development of Mental Health Counselor |
3 hrs. |
| Methods of Assessment and Evaluation |
3 hrs. |
| The Helping Profession |
3 hrs. |
| Psychodianostics and Treatment Planning |
3 hrs. |
| Vocational / Carreer Assessment Counseling |
3 hrs. |
| Crisis Intervention Counseling |
3 hrs. |
| Individual Psychological Assessment and Measurement |
3 hrs. |
| Couples and Family Counseling (elective)* |
3 hrs. |
| Child and Adolescent Counseling Seminar (elective)* |
3 hrs. |
| Substance Abuse Counseling Seminar (elective)* |
3 hrs. |
| Seminar on Contemporary Issues in Counseling |
3 hrs. |
| Practicum in Mental Health Counseling |
3 hrs. |
| Internship in Mental Health Counseling I |
3 hrs. |
| Internship in Mental Health Counseling II |
3 hrs. |
| Internship in Mental Health Counseling III |
3 hrs. |
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| TOTAL in Concentration |
60 hrs. |
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| M. Div. Core |
60 hrs. |
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| TOTAL for M. Div. / M.B.A. Degree |
120 hrs. |
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