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Program Overview
The three-level M.Div. program consists of 76 credit hours of work using a competency-based learning process in the eight areas of ministry shown below. Level I and II are two, four, six and eight weeks long. Most are taught online; intensive residential modules are taught in 10 day sessions or on a long weekend. Rather than an accumulation of hours, this program requires that students demonstrate abilities through competency exercises and a capstone project. Students are in a ministry site throughout their degree program in order to benefit from the distinctive formation of congregational life and leadership. At each level, the learning process integrates attention to spiritual, intellectual and practical aspects of pastoral ministry.
Areas of Ministry
An area of ministry is a way to categorize particular practices that are important for pastoral leadership. There are four Interpreting areas and four Leading areas of ministry in this curriculum design.
| Interpreting Scripture for the Church | Leading the Church Through Care |
| Interpreting Faith for the Church | Leading the Church in Worship |
| Interpreting the Church’s Behavior | Leading the Church into Mission |
| Interpreting the Past for the Church | Leading the Church in Formation |
Level 1 – Apprentice Level
The M.Div. curriculum is designed around a mentor-apprentice model. During the first or Apprentice Level, the student learns foundational knowledge about ministry. This level consists of short courses and competency exercises that prepare the student to enter the Journeyer level.
Level I Courses are short courses lasting from two to six weeks. Level I courses are graded as pass/fail except for M.A. & M.A.P.S. degree students.
2 weeks = .5 credit; 4 weeks = 1 credit; 6 weeks = 1.5 credits
Competency Exercise - When a M.Div. student completes the number of required and optional courses in one area of Interpreting and one area of Leading, the student will then take a Competency Exercise that integrates the two areas of ministry.
Level 2 – Journeyer Level
When a student has passed four, integrative Competency Exercises, she/he will then be eligible to take nine, 2-hour electives in the Journeyer Level. At this level students learn a variety of perspectives and understandings of ministry.
Level 3 – Master Level – Capstone Project
After completing the electives at the Journeyer level, a student moves to Level III, the Capstone Project. The student, in consultation with his/her mentor, identifies a significant ministry issue in the congregation that will form the basis of research and resource development. The student draws together his/her research of biblical and theological understandings of the issue with a coherent plan of addressing the issue through liturgical, educational, and programmatic processes and resources. The project is presented to the assessment team for evaluation.
Covenant Groups
Students participate in a total of four Covenant Groups: two Covenant Groups while taking courses in the Apprentice Level before their Competency Exercises are completed, one while in the Journeyer Level, and one while completing the Capstone Project. The Covenant Groups are facilitated by faculty and clergy and explore issues of ministry and learning throughout the program.
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M.Div. Curriculum Overview
Level 1 – Apprentice Level ___________________ Credit Hours
• Succeeding in Seminary 2
Areas of Ministry
• Interpreting the Scriptures for the Church 10
• Interpreting the Past for the Church 4
• Interpreting the Faith for the Church 10
• Interpreting the Behavior of the Church 4
• Leading the Church through Care 6
• Leading the Church in Worship 6
• Leading the Church into Mission 6
• Leading the Church in Formation 4
Total for Apprentice Level ____ _______________________ _ _________________50
Level II – Journeyer Level
• Nine 2 hour electives 18
Level III – Master Level
• Capstone Project 6
C0venant Groups ______________________________________________________2
Total Credit hours for M.Div. Degree 76
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M.Div. Course Offerings
COVENANT GROUPS _______________________________________________2 credit hours
Level I – Apprentice
• CG 510 Covenant Group .5 cr.
• CG 520 Covenant Group .5 cr.
Level II – Journeyer
• CG 620 Covenant Group .5 cr.
Level III – Master: Capstone Project
• CG 720 Covenant Group .5 cr.
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Level I: Apprentice Level – 50 hours
♦ SUCCEEDING IN SEMINARY (SIS) 2 credit hours
• SIS 570 The Three R’s of Seminary: Reading, Writing & Research 1 cr.
• SIS 571 The Two P’s of Seminary: Prayer & Praxis 1 cr.
(Must be taken within the first 8 hours of courses)
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♦ INTERPRETING SCRIPTURE FOR THE CHURCH (IS) 10 credit hours
IS 500 REQUIRED COURSES 7 credits
• IS 520 The Origin, Inspiration, and Authority of the Church’s Scripture .5 cr.
(self-standing; taken within the first 3 hours of IS courses)
• IS 540 Reading the Torah in the Church Today 1 cr.
• IS 541 Reading the Prophets in the Church Today 1 cr.
• IS 542 Reading the Deuteronomic Histories in the Church Today .5 cr.
• IS 553 Preparing to Help the Church Read the New Testament for Today .5 cr.
• IS 554 The Gospels as Resources for the Church 1 cr.
• IS 556 Pauline Letters as Resources for the Church 1 cr.
• IS 560 Exegesis for the Church 1.5 cr.
IS 500 OPTIONAL COURSES 2 credits
(M.Div. Prerequisite for Optional Courses: at least one
of the required courses in the testament the course addresses.)
• IS 570 Creation and Science .5 cr.
• IS 571 Wisdom Literature .5 cr.
• IS 572 The Catholic Epistles .5 cr.
• IS 573 Acts of the Apostles .5 cr.
• IS 574 The NT (or Paul) and Women .5 cr.
• IS 575 Feminist Readings .5 cr.
• IS 576 Reading the Bible in the Black Church .5 cr.
• IS 577 Reading the Bible in the Hispanic Church .5 cr.
• IS 578 Liberationist Readings of the Bible .5 cr.
• IS 579 Leadership in the Bible .5 cr.
• IS 580 Reading the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament during Advent .5 cr.
• IS 581 Reading the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament
in the Broader Religious and Civic Community .5 cr.
• IS 582 Reading the Gospels in Advent .5 cr.
• IS 583 Reading the Bible in Lent .5 cr.
• IS 584 Biblical Book Study (various books) .5 cr.
• IS 585 Reading – (various specific books) .5 cr.
IS 590 COMPETENCY EXERCISE 1 credit
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♦ INTERPRETING THE PAST FOR THE CHURCH (IP) 4 credit hours
IP 500 REQUIRED COURSES 2 credits
• IP 550 Early and Medieval Western church – 100 – 15th Century 1 cr.
• IP 551 From Reform to Individualistic Freedom: 1 cr.
16th – 20th Century Western Church
IP 500 OPTIONAL COURSES 1.5 credits
• IP 570 Disciples History 1 cr.
• IP 571 Church and the Enlightenment (or Science) .5 cr.
• IP 572 Church and Post-modern Society .5 cr.
• IP 573 The Ecumenical Movement .5 cr.
• IP 574 Church’s engagement with social issues in the 19th and 20th century .5 cr.
• IP 575 The Church’s move to the Southern Hemisphere .5 cr.
• IP 576 The Church in Mexico .5 cr.
• IP 577 The Church and Race Relations in America .5 cr.
• IP 579 Women in the Church .5 cr.
• IP 580 The Church in North America .5 cr.
• IP 581 Current Challenges to Church examined historically .5 cr.
• IP/IF 582 Augustine .5 cr
IP 590 COMPETENCY EXERCISE .5 credit
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♦ INTERPRETING FAITH FOR THE CHURCH (IF) ___________________ 10 credit hours
IF 500 REQUIRED COURSES 7.5 credits
• IF 550 Theology and Theological Language 1 cr.
(Prerequisite for all other IF courses)
• IF 552 Theology of sermons .5 cr.
• IF 553 Made in the Image of God: Theological Anthropology 1 cr.
• IF 554 The Nature of God: Theology 1 cr.
• IF 555 “One Bread, One Body”: Theology of the Church 1 cr.
• IF 556 “Who do you say that I am?”: Christology 1 cr.
• IF 557 Theology and Pastoral Care: Discussing Suffering and Hope 1 cr.
• IF 558 God Save Us: Soteriology 1 cr.
IF 500 OPTIONAL COURSES 1.5 credits
• IF 559 Beyond the Pulpit: Teaching Theology in the Church .5 cr.
• IF 570 The Church and Homosexuality 1 cr.
• IF 571 African-American/Womanist Theology .5 cr.
• IF 572 Caring for Creation: “Greening” the Church .5 cr.
• IF 573 Preaching Metaphor .5 cr.
• IP/IF 582 Augustine .5 cr.
IF 590 COMPETENCY EXERCISE 1 credit
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♦ INTERPRETING THE CHURCH’S BEHAVIOR (IB) 4 credit hours
IB 500 REQUIRED COURSES 3 credits
• IB 551 Ethical Forms: deontological, utilitarian, teleological, etc. 1 cr.
• IB 552 God and Science: Introduction to issues in biomedical ethics 1 cr.
• IB 553 Social Ethics 1 cr.
IB 500 OPTIONAL COURSES .5 credit
• IB 571 Ethics and Popular Culture: What Television Teaches Laity .5 cr.
• IB 572 Christian Sexual Ethics: Black and White Churches in Dialogue .5 cr.
• IB 573 Ethics of Ancient Israel: Exploring the World of the Hebrew Bible .5 cr.
• IB 574 Standards of Just War & Issues of Peace .5 cr.
• IB 575 The Faith Community Faces Racism .5 cr.
• IB 576 Globalization and the Hebrew Bible .5 cr.
IB 590 COMPETENCY EXERCISE ________________________________ .5 credit
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♦ LEADING THE CHURCH THROUGH CARE (LC) 4 credit hours
LC 500 REQUIRED COURSES 2.5 credits
• LC 520 Pastoral Care Modalities .5 cr.
(self standing, pre-requisite for all other LC courses)
• LC 550 Creating a Congregational Culture of Care (Family Systems) 1 cr.
• LC 552 Diagnosis and Referral: The Lost Art of Listening .5 cr.
• LC 554 The Art of Visitation .5 cr.
LC 500 OPTIONAL COURSES 1 credit
• LC 570 Special Topics in Ministry .5 cr.
• LC 571 Loss and Grief in a Community of Faith .5 cr.
• LC 572 Crisis Response in Caring Relationships .5 cr.
• LC 574 Economic Crisis and Congregational Care .5 cr.
• LC 575 Small Groups as Centers of Care .5 cr.
• LC 577 The Healing Power of Anger: Contending as Spiritual Intimacy .5 cr.
• LC 578 Issues of Care in the Black Church .5 cr.
• LC 579 Issues of Care in the Latino/a Church .5 cr.
• LC 580 Power, Privilege & Difference: Issues that Damage Congregational Life .5 cr.
LC 590 COMPETENCY EXERCISE .5 credit
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