United Theological Seminary

Master of Divinity General Studies

This flexible Master of Divinity program prepares you for ministry in a variety of contexts. It’s ideal if you are not following a predefined ordination track, or if you wish to pursue an MDiv but are not seeking ordination. It allows you to customize your curriculum to meet your vocational goals.

If you are seeking ordination from a denomination with rigorous curricular requirements, the MDiv in Church Leadership may be the better program for you.

This program may be a good fit for you if you plan to pursue:

  • Ordained ministry in a denomination with flexible ordination requirements
  • Ordination in a non-denominational church
  • A non-ordained ministerial position
  • A PhD from a seminary or divinity school that requires an MDiv for admission the PhD program

United’s MDiv at a Glance

  • 72 credits
  • Twenty-four 3-credit courses, including one field experience
  • Final thesis or project not required, but you can use an elective to pursue either
  • Can be completed in three years if you take a full-time course load (24 credits per year)
  • Most concentrations, including General Studies, can be completed entirely via distance learning

Program Guide Sheet

 

LEARNING OUTCOME
 NUMBER OF COURSES
 COURSES
Formation 2 Intro to Spiritual and Personal Formation

Organizational Leadership and Administration
Religious Texts 4 Hebrew Bible 1: Orientation

Hebrew Bible 2: Contextualized Interpretation

New Testament 1: Epistles, Acts, and Revelation

New Testament 2: Four Gospels
Theological Tradition 4 Religious and Theological Interpretation

History of Christian Theologies

History of Modern Theologies

Constructive Theology
Ethics/Justice 2 Choose two:

  • Christian Ethics
  • Comparative Religious Ethics
  • Theology for Social Transformation
Cultural Contextualization 1 Choose one:

  • World Religions
  • Global Christianities
Arts and Theology 1 Choose one:

  • History of Arts and Theology
  • Theological Interpretation of the Arts
Social Transformation 1 Leadership and Strategies for Social Change
Integration 1 Capstone Seminar
CORE SUBTOTAL
 16
Vocational Contextualization & Skills 8 Preaching and Your Public Voice

Three Practices of Ministry Electives

Three Electives

Choose one:

  • Church Internship
  • Ministry Practicum
  • CPE Ministry Practicum*
CONCENTRATION SUBTOTAL
 8
DEGREE TOTAL
 24

* Although not specifically required for degree completion, Interreligious Pastoral and Spiritual Care must be completed to be eligible for CPE registration.

Learn More

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