Master of Divinity (MDiv) in Humanist Studies

The MDiv in Humanist Studies program fosters leadership that is ethically grounded, informed, skillful, globally responsible, personally sustainable, and committed to meeting the needs of the Humanist community. This program is designed for students interested in becoming leaders who intend to work in Humanist settings and/or interreligious settings that include Humanists. The concentration offers a nondogmatic and nondoctrinal approach to learning leadership within an interreligious and ecumenical seminary community. This program includes courses offered online in affiliation with the American Humanist Association (AHA) Center for Education.

This MDiv program differs from the MAL in Humanist Studies program in that it includes training in ministerial competencies along with leadership skills with a Humanist focus. The MDiv program may be a good fit for you if you are interested in a career in congregational leadership, chaplaincy, and specialized leadership roles of spokesperson, educator, and advocate.

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Concentration Learning Outcomes

In addition to achieving the core MDiv degree learning outcomes, a graduate of the MDiv in Humanist Studies program will be able to meet the following outcomes. 

• Articulate the core values of Humanism across historical and cultural contexts. 
• Articulate a personal Humanist philosophy informed by critical analysis of multiple Humanist philosophers. 
• Articulate opportunities for practicing Humanist values in the world that incorporate their expressed personal beliefs derived from those values as well as critical reflection on their social position and past experiences.
• Articulate strategies for effective organizational leadership in multiple Humanist-oriented non-profit contexts.
• Articulate a constructive theological proposal that is conversant with core theological categories and addresses a social or political issue that relates to students’ vocational context OR articulate their own constructive theological position and interpret the theological context of their call to UU ministry or other vocation in a way that demonstrates a critical reflection of a number of Unitarian and Universalist theologies and the influences of other liberal traditions.
• Articulate strategies for effective, professional, ethical, and compassionate pastoral and spiritual care to a diversity of persons.
• Craft and deliver a sermon or public address that demonstrates effective speaking form/style and content based on a selected context.
• Achieve their self-defined practice of ministry goals that are appropriately based on the requirements of their denomination or other vocational path OR demonstrate skills for effective, professional, ethical, and compassionate pastoral and spiritual care to a diversity of persons.

United’s MDiv in Humanist Studies at a Glance

• Degree: Master of Divinity (MDiv)
• Concentration: Humanist Studies 
• Total Credits: 72 credits
• Courses: Twenty-four 3-credit courses, including one field experience. Some courses offered online in affiliation with the American Humanist Association (AHA) Center for Education.
• Typical Completion Time: Can be completed in approximately three years if you take a full-time course load of 9 credits per trimester.
• Learning Format: All MDiv concentrations, including Humanist Studies, can be completed entirely via distance learning; many courses can be taken completely asynchronously.
• Thesis: Final thesis or project not required, but you can choose to complete a thesis as an elective course.

If your goal includes chaplaincy endorsement or board certification, confirm current requirements with your endorsing body and CPE provider early in your planning.

Who This Program Is For

This concentration is a good fit if you want to lead in humanist settings and/or interreligious settings that include Humanists, and you’re seeking both:

• Humanist-focused leadership formation (values, philosophies, practices)
• Ministerial competencies (pastoral care, preaching/public voice, organizational leadership)

Typical vocational outcomes include:

• Congregational leadership in humanist communities
• Chaplaincy (with CPE/internship requirements defined by your pathway)
• Specialized leadership as a spokesperson, educator, advocate, or nonprofit leader

What You’ll Study in MDiv in Humanist Studies 

You’ll study humanist values, philosophies, and practices while also building practical competencies in:

• Pastoral and spiritual care
• Preaching and public voice
• Humanist worldviews and philosophies (AHA-affiliated courses)
• Organizational leadership for humanist/nonprofit contexts
• Leadership strategies for social change

Humanist Chaplain Training Pathway

Humanist chaplaincy often requires both graduate theological/ministerial education and clinical training. For example, The Humanist Society’s endorsement criteria include expectations such as:

• Aspirant Chaplain: currently pursuing an MDiv (or equivalent) and CPE
• Standard Chaplain: MDiv (or equivalent) plus at least one unit of CPE

How this program supports that pathway:

• Ministerial competencies in pastoral/spiritual care, preaching/public voice, and leadership
• Built-in options to pursue internship/CPE as part of the broader MDiv framework (see course guide below)
• Preparation to serve ethically and effectively in interreligious environments