Master of Divinity (MDiv)
The Master of Divinity is a professional program for people who want to strengthen their capacity for ministry. The MDiv is grounded in four inter-related commitments and competencies: learning and formation; calling and vocation; reflections and practice; discernment for specific ministry. For some Christian denominations, this program is the standard requirement for ordained church ministry.
The MDiv trains leaders for the church by:
- Nurturing Biblical and Theological knowledge and reflection
- Fostering ministry identity and character through course work and a ministry discernment process
- Preparing students with ministry competencies to lead
- Equipping for vocation through a supervised practicum in a Canadian congregational setting
Quick Facts About the Program
- 3-year professional program
- Full-time or part-time study options available
- Afternoon, evening, and intensive course options
- In-person and distance (Livestream) class formats
Admission Requirements
A baccalaureate degree from a recognized university or college with a minimum GPA of 3.0 ('B'). For full admission requirements, see the Admissions Requirements and Deadlines page.
Residency Requirement
41 credit hours must be CMU courses
Curriculum Requirements
A minimum of 81 credit hours
Bible—15 credit hours, including:
- 3 credit hours focus on the Pentateuch
- 3 credit hours in either the Prophets, Psalms, or Wisdom Literature
- 3 credit hours focus on the Gospels
- 3 credit hours focus on an Epistle or book or collection of NT books other than the Gospels
- 3 credit hours in Biblical Languages
Theology, History of Christianity—15 credit hours, including:
- 3 credit hours History of Christianity survey
- 3 credit hours on Central Christian Teachings
- 3 credit hours on Christian Ethics
Practical Theology—9 credit hours from three of the following areas:
- Pastoral Care
- Mission and Evangelism
- Spiritual Formation
- Preaching
- Worship Arts
Ministry Formation—18 credit hours as follows:
- BTS-5330 Foundations for Christian Ministry
- BTS-5491 Vocation and Calling (1 credit hour)
- BTS-5492 Theological Reflection in Ministry (1 credit hour)
- BTS-5493 Discerning for Ministry (1 credit hour)
Field Education
- BTS-5920 Supervised Ministry Experience (9 credit hours)
- BTS-5930 Ministry in Context: Field Project
Electives—24 credit hours.
- 3 credit hours must come from outside of BTS and a maximum 9 credit hours may be taken outside of Biblical and Theological Studies.
Notes
- For courses presented for graduation, students must achieve a minimum grade point average of 3.0, with no course below a 'C+'. This includes any additional courses required as a condition of admission.
- Courses offered by CMU faculty or by instructors visiting at CMU, whether on campus or online, will count toward the residency requirement. Courses taken from MB Seminary to meet the MB GTE requirements will also count toward the residency requirement to a maximum of nine credit hours.
- Students may include up to 9 credit hours of introductory biblical languages within the electives of their program from the following list:
- LANG-5200 Elementary Biblical Hebrew I
- LANG-5210 Elementary Biblical Hebrew II
- LANG-5230 Elementary Biblical Greek I
- LANG-5240 Elementary Biblical Greek II
- Students must include 3 credit hours and may include up to 9 credit hours of electives outside of biblical and theological studies. Students will submit the proposed course(s) and rationale to their faculty advisor for approval. If the course is normally delivered at the undergraduate level, the instructor needs to be willing to have a graduate student in the class and to develop a graduate-level syllabus.
- Students who are in the MB GTE track must complete three courses with MB content as determined by the MB GTE Committee. The list of such courses can be obtained from the GSTM Director or from MB Theological Faculty.
- Students may begin their field education after completing 18 credit hours of the program. Students must take 9 credit hours of Supervised Ministry Experience at CMU, and 3 credit hours of Ministry in Context: Field Project. Students may choose to earn an additional 6 credit hours of field education through another post-secondary institution by Letter of Permission. Programs outside of CMU will be evaluated based on the nature of instruction, ministry experience, and supervision. Students enrolled in Clinical Pastoral Education may earn 6 credit hours for one unit of CPE.
- A maximum of 3 credit hours can be earned from one credit hour modular courses.
- A student may consider writing a thesis or field research project as an elective equivalent to 6 credit hours. A student who wishes to write a thesis or field research project should contact their faculty advisor in the first semester of their program. Normally, students wishing to write a thesis in biblical studies must demonstrate an appropriate level of competence in the pertinent biblical languages. Students who complete a 6 credit hour field research project are not required to complete the 3 credit hour Ministry in Context: Field Project.
- Students who have at least 10 years of relevant ministry experience may request to complete 6 credit hours of Supervised Ministry Experience (instead of the usual 9 credit hours) and a 6 credit hour field research project (instead of the usual 3 credit hours).
- BTS-5330 Foundations for Christian Ministry should be taken within the first 30 credit hours of the program.
- In the area of Bible, one thematic course may substitute for one specific requirement of the Old Testament, and another thematic course may substitute for one specific requirement of the New Testament. A thematic course does not substitute for the biblical language requirement.
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