Academic Catalog: Master of Divinity (MDiv) Curriculum

The Master of Divinity degree program is designed primarily to prepare students for church ministries requiring ordination. It also prepares students for doctoral-level studies in many theological schools. As the standard ministerial degree program, its scope is sufficiently broad to equip students for varied church or mission vocations. The heart of the program is the core curriculum of required courses, selected in response to the demands of the work of ministry.

The MDiv degree program consists of eighty-nine core hours and eight elective hours for a total of ninety-seven semester hours.

MDiv Core

These courses are required of all MDiv students (except where noted) regardless of the concentration selected.

 

 

Course #

Sem. Hrs.

Biblical interpretation

BI 501

2

Old Testament

OT 511, 512

6

New Testament

NT 511, 512

6

Church history

CH 502, 503

6

Theology

TH 501, 502, 2 hour elective

8

Philosophy of religion

PR 501, 601

6

Pastoral ministries

PME 601, 6021, 701, 7022

10

Homiletics

HOM 612, 701

6

Educational ministry

EM 5013

3

Intercultural ministry

IM 501, 611

4

Biblical languages

 

 

     Hebrew grammar

OT 501, 5024

6

     Greek grammar       

NT 501, 502

6

Exegesis

NT 611, 612, OT 7014

9

Spiritual formation

T/M 500, 501, 601, 611, 701, 711

6

Mentored ministry

T/M 502, 602, 612, 702, 712

5

Open electives

 

      8

Total hours required for degree:                            

97

1 Students with a chaplaincy or pastoral counseling concentration should take CO 526 instead of PME 602.

2 Students with a leadership concentration should take LD 501 instead of PME 702.

3 Students with a youth and family ministries concentration should take YFM 602 instead of EM 501.

4 Those selecting a concentration in chaplaincy, intercultural ministry, leadership, outdoor leadership, pastoral counseling, worship, or youth and family ministries may take OT 501 and 505 (which reduces the hours in the core by four so that the concentration hours may be increased to twelve), or they may take OT 501, 502 and 701 (the normal Hebrew curriculum for the MDiv program), increasing the total number of hours for the degree to 101.

Degree Requirements

  1. Note the following sequence requirements in the MDiv program:
    1. OT 501 and OT 502 Introductory Hebrew (or OT 505 for some concentrations) must be taken in sequence.
    2. NT 501 and 502 Learning New Testament Greek (or the passing of the Greek qualifying examination) are required as a foundation for NT 611 and 612 as well as all other New Testament exegesis courses.
    3. BI 501 Effective Biblical Interpretation is a pre- or corequisite to NT 511 and 512, the two New Testament Survey courses.
  2. All MDiv students are required to prepare and defend a paper on doctrine and ministry similar to one prepared for an ordination council. Registration for the course "MDiv Orals" is required.
  3. A minimum of ninety-seven hours is required for the degree.

Graduation Requirements

  1. Satisfactory completion of a minimum of ninety-seven semester hours.
  2. Satisfactory completion of oral exams in doctrine and ministry, including:
    1. The preparation of a doctrinal paper similar to one prepared for ordination council.
    2. A satisfactory defense of the doctrinal paper in front of an oral exam committee.
    3. The preparation of a satisfactory paper on the student's concept of ministry.
  3. Approval of application for graduation. Application must be made in writing (on the appropriate form secured online or from the Registrar's Office) by the deadline posted for the semester in which the student expects to graduate (refer to "Application for Graduation" for more information).
  4. The fulfillment of all financial obligations to Denver Seminary.
  5. Completion of all course work that is applying to the degree within ten years from the date of first enrollment in courses. Withdrawal for any period of time during the degree program does not affect this time limit.
  6. Faculty determination that the student is theologically, psychologically, spiritually, morally, and academically fit as a candidate for some phase of evangelical ministry. This evaluation is based on the student's total seminary experience. Note that the term "evangelical" is used to designate the theological position set forth in the National Association of Evangelicals' statement of faith with an interpretation that is in keeping with the historic confession of the Christian church.
  7. Submission of a signed statement of agreement with the National Association of Evangelicals' statement of faith.

Suggested Sequence of Courses
Optional Concentrations

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