Master of Divinity

The MDiv involves 27 courses. All students must complete one unit of Supervised Pastoral Education (SPE) and students in the contextual option must complete a 12 month period of Internship. Students who complete a major portion of their MDiv program through part-time studies, prior to becoming full-time students, may find that scheduling conflicts can develop which would lengthen their total program.



Additional Information
 
Admission Requirements

The Master of Divinity program commences in September annually. Applicants are assessed on the basis of the application materials submitted (including official transcripts, references, writing sample and a personal statement). These materials will not be returned to the applicant. The applicant may be invited for a personal interview.

The requirements for admission include a bachelor's degree (normally with a minimum grade point average of B) from a recognized accredited university or university college. All applicants will be required to complete a computer-based test (CASPerTM)as part of the selection process. There is a fee to the student for taking this test. 

 
Program Requirements

Students admitted to the Master of Divinity program must indicate, in their first term of study, whether they are participating in the Contextual or Coursework option.

Graduation requirements for all students (Contextual and Coursework options) include the equivalent of 27 half-credit courses including Supervised Pastoral Education.

Supervised Pastoral Education: The SPE course is taken either as an intensive, 12-week course, during the summer after the first or second academic year, or as a part-time, extended unit, over the course of the Fall and Winter Terms. Students who can demonstrate an equivalency of this requirement may apply to Academic Administrative Committee for the waiver of the SPE requirement.

Contextual Option:

Students in the contextual option (27 courses) are normally preparing for professional ministry. Such students are required to obtain, before the end of their first term, endorsement as acceptable ministry candidates by the church of which they are members. Continuance in the contextual component of the MDiv program after the first term is contingent upon the maintenance of such an endorsement.

Contextual Education: Students enrolled in the contextual option are required to be involved in field placements concurrent with their coursework. Placements are arranged through the supervisor of contextual education.

Internship: Students in the contextual option must complete a 12-month internship that is normally taken after the second year. Interns must also enroll in two, concurrent internship Seminars during their placement.

Coursework Option:

Students in the coursework option (27 courses) are either already working in a ministerial setting or are preparing for non-congregational ministry. This option includes four additional electives (in place of the Internship and Seminars for those in the Contextual option) allowing students to focus
coursework in areas of particular interest.

In addition to successfully completing the academic courses, all MDiv students must be deemed capable of assuming the professional responsibilities of the ordained ministry in order to be recommended for ordination by the faculty. Students who do not demonstrate this competence may be required by the principal-dean of Luther to withdraw from the program. 


Model Program of Study

The ideal program will consist of the following courses:

  • TH502A - Critical Analysis of Biblical Texts: Introduction
  • TH502B - Critical Analysis of Biblical Texts: Advanced
  • TH503A - Survey of the Hebrew Scriptures
  • TH503B - Themes of the Hebrew Scriptures
  • TH503C - Survey of the New Testament
  • TH503D - Themes of the New Testament
  • TH530A - Introduction to God and Theological Reflection
  • TH530B - Introduction to Jesus and Salvation
  • TH530C - Introduction to the Spirit and Community
  • TH530D - Introduction to Discipleship and Ethics
  • TH560A - Introduction to Worship
  • TH560B - Introduction to Spiritual Care
  • TH560C - Introduction to Preaching
  • TH560D - Introduction to Nurturing Faith
  • TH652A* - Supervised Pastoral Education: SPE I
  • TH621E - Issues in Church History: Study of the Lutheran Confessions
  • TH640H - Cross-Cultural Encounter
  • TH663A - Grief

Electives:

  • A Biblical/Ethical elective (Normally completed as a TH608 - Special Topics in Biblical Theology special topics course.)
  • Theological/Ethical (Normally completed as a TH648 - Special Topics in Systematic Theology special topics course.)
  • Biblical/Theological (Normally completed as either a TH608 - Special Topics in Biblical Theology, TH628 - Special Topics in Historical Theology, or TH648 - Special Topics in Systematic Theology special topics course.)
  • An additional half-credit elective course
Option Courses

Contextual Option
Endorsement from your church is required to complete the contextual option. Students completing the contextual option will complete the following in their final year:

Non-contextual option

  • Four half-credit elective courses