Academic Programs

The School of Divinity offers programs of study leading to the Master of Arts in Religious Studies, Master of Divinity, and Doctor of Ministry degrees.

Master of Arts in Religious Studies

The Master of Arts in Religious Studies degree program is designed for persons interested in teaching (e.g. secondary or community college level), in continuing studies in religion and theology, or in preparation for advanced theological education. It is particularly desirable for persons who wish to pursue careers in religion other than that of pastoral ministry.

The Master of Arts in Religious Studies curriculum is designed for persons who desire to concentrate in a specific area of religious studies based upon an undergraduate major in the field, or for persons who seek to relate religious studies to an associated discipline, (e.g., sociology, philosophy, education, and psychology.) The degree is interdisciplinary, providing maximum flexibility in program planning for one of the following areas: biblical studies, historical studies, theological studies, ethics and society, African-American religious experience, history of religions, and religious education.

Special Admission Requirements

Only persons who have received a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent, as determined by the faculty of the School of Divinity, from an accredited college or university and have maintained a B average or its equivalent are academically eligible for admission to the program of studies leading to the Master of Arts in Religious Studies degree. In exceptional cases, the requirement of a cumulative B average or its equivalent in an undergraduate curriculum may be waived by the faculty.

Special Degree Requirements

The program normally requires a minimum of 48 credit hours including thesis with a B average or higher. During the first semester, students meet with the Master of Arts in Religious Studies Committee to tailor the requirements of their degree to their background and program. The program and number of hours worked out with the committee will constitute the basic contract for the student in the completion of the degree.

Each student must earn 24 hours in background courses in Old Testament, New Testament, Church History, Theology and Social Ethics, 9 hours in an area of concentration, plus an additional 12 elective hours. A 3 hour M.A.R.S. seminar is also required. Students with an undergraduate major in religion may obtain a waiver from background courses to take advanced courses in these areas up to the 48 required hours in consultation with the committee.

All students must present an acceptable thesis or project on the Friday nearest November 15 in the Fall semester for students who wish to qualify for graduation at the end of Fall term. During the Spring semester it must be presented on the Friday nearest March 15. Students must also pass an oral examination on the thesis or project in the year in which the degree is to be granted.

Master of Divinity

The Master of Divinity degree program is designed to prepare persons for the ministry of the church, both as pastors and in related fields including chaplaincies, Christian education, and staff positions within denominations. The Master of Divinity degree is the basic professional degree for clergy.

Special Admission Requirements

Only persons who have received a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent, as determined by the faculty, from an accredited college or university and who have a cumulative average of C or higher are academically eligible for admission as regular students. In exceptional cases persons who have received a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent, as determined by the faculty, from a nonaccredited college and who have a cumulative average of C or higher or its equivalent may be admitted on probation. Persons admitted on probation must achieve regular student status within one academic year. This is accomplished through the maintenance of not less than a B average during the academic year. Special Degree Requirements

The Master of Divinity degree requires the completion of a minimum of 78 credit hours of classroom work with a C average or higher.

Students in this program may earn two credits in summer field work and one credit for independent reading performed out of residence.

Following are the requirements for the degree, along with the areas of concentration:

Electives may be selected, in consultation with the adviser, from two or more areas of study within the School of Divinity, other divisions or schools of the University, or other member schools of the Washington Consortium of Universities and the Washington Theological Consortium.

Doctor of Ministry

This program is designed for people who wish to engage in an advanced level of preparation for ministerial practice. It is not designed primarily for teaching and research, although effective ministry includes aspects of both. Its primary goal is the integration of theological and anthropological understandings in the context of responsible engagement of ministry. Accordingly, all candidates are expected to be engaged in some acceptable form of ministerial practice.

Special Admission Requirements

Any person holding a baccalaureate degree and a Master of Divinity degree or their formal equivalents, as determined by the Doctor of Ministry Committee, and who is involved in some recognized form of ministry is eligible to apply. Acceptance into the Doctor of Ministry program is by action of the Doctor of Ministry Committee and the dean, based upon an evaluation of the applicant’s educational records, work experience, statement of vocational goals, and proposed course of study. The structure of the program provides flexibility both at the point of admission and in curricular planning. Applicants are considered on the merits of their ministerial experience and past academic performance. An agreed-upon course of study, constructed by the applicants and their adviser with the concurrence of the Doctor of Ministry Committee, will be the final stage of admission to the doctoral program. This projected program will correct deficiencies, where necessary, as well as provide each applicant an opportunity to focus on areas of professional concerns.

Doctoral students are encouraged to utilize academic resources of other schools in the University and to build desired courses offered in these schools into the agreed-upon course of study.

Candidates for the degree are required to complete a minimum of 36 credit hours at the B level or higher approved by the Doctoral Committee. Students must also satisfactorily participate in a doctoral colloquy, which provides the venue for action/reflection. Discussions in this context may include findings of the field-oriented project.

The final requirement is the designing and completion of a project or thesis which reflects theological understanding, sensitivity to social pathology and resources, and the capacity to integrate theory and practice at a high level of excellence. This will include field involvement supervised by faculty and adjunct instructors.