United Theological Seminary

Master of Divinity in Spiritual Direction

The Master of Divinity in Spiritual Direction program will provide you with the knowledge and skills required for effectively practicing spiritual direction in both one-on-one and group settings along with generalized training for congregational pastoral care. The degree involves a partnership between United and St. Catherine University, utilizing the St. Kate’s Spiritual Direction Certificate courses as concentration courses for an MDiv from United. You will engage in theological study, leadership training, and spiritual formation as you prepare for a career providing soul care and spiritual guidance for others.

If you would like to focus on spiritual direction without pursuing ministerial training or ordination, check out the MAL in Spiritual Direction.

This degree program may be a good fit for you if you are interested in:

  • A career in ordained church ministry with a specialty in spiritual direction
  • A career in ordained church ministry with an additional vocational skill in spiritual direction outside or alongside of the congregational context.

St. Kate’s Spiritual Direction certification courses are taken at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minnesota. The remaining classes in this program can be taken via distance learning if you choose.

CONCENTRATION LEARNING OUTCOMES

In addition to achieving the core MDiv degree learning outcomes, a graduate of the MDiv in Spiritual Direction program will be able to:

 

UNITED’S MDIV in Spiritual Direction AT A GLANCE

  • 72 or 73 credits (3 to 3-1/3 years with a full-time 24 credit course load per year)
  • Twenty-five 2-, 3- and 4-credit courses, including one field experience
  • Final thesis or project not required, but you can use an elective to pursue either
  • Most MDiv concentrations, including Spiritual Direction, can be completed entirely via distance learning

Program Guide Sheet

LEARNING OUTCOME
 NUMBER OF COURSES
 COURSES
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 one:
Christian Ethics
Comparative Religious Ethics
Choose one:
Queer and Trans Theologies
Black and Womanist Theologies
Formation 2
Introduction to Spiritual and Personal Formation
Organizational Leadership and Administration
Cultural Contextualization 1
Choose one:
Global Christianities
World Religions
Arts and Theology 1
Choose one:
History of Arts and Theology
Art, Religion, and Contemporary Culture
Social Transformation 1 Leadership and Strategies for Social Change
Integration 1 Capstone Seminar
CORE SUBTOTAL
 16
Vocational Contextualization & Skills 9
Preaching and Your Public Voice
Two United electives†
Introduction to Spiritual Direction* (2 credits)
Foundational Issues in Spiritual Direction* (2 credits)
The Art of Discernment* (2 credits)
Spirituality and Life Stages* (2 credits)
Choose one:
History of Spirituality I* (4 credits)
History of Spirituality II* (4 credits)
Spiritual Direction Practicum* (4 credits)
CONCENTRATION SUBTOTAL
 9
DEGREE TOTAL
 25
* Consortium courses taken through St. Catherine University.
† THEO 6992 Soul Care for Lay and Ordained Ministers* (2 credits) may substitute for one United elective.

 

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