Master of Divinity in UU Studies

This Master of Divinity (or MDiv) in UU Studies program will prepare you—in collaboration with your local congregation and the Ministerial Fellowship Committee (MFC)—for ministerial fellowship in the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) and for ordained ministry in a Unitarian Universalist (UU) congregation. As a liberal religious seminary, United has attracted a number of UU students, staff, and faculty, providing a welcoming community where UU students can feel at home as they prepare to become ministers in a pluralistic world.

This program may be a good fit for you if you are interested in ordained UU ministry, including but not limited to the following roles:

• Congregational ministry
• Community and entrepreneurial ministry
• Chaplain in a hospital or other professional setting (with the addition of chaplaincy certification)
• UU denominational leadership at the local, regional or national level

CONCENTRATION LEARNING OUTCOMES

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

• 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 (this outcome replaces the constructive theology MDiv degree learning outcome);
• effectively apply their knowledge of UU history, UUA polity structures, and the opportunities and challenges of Unitarian Universalism to the practice of UU ministry;
• prepare rituals for life passages and creatively and effectively utilize multicultural, multigenerational, and multisensory approaches to worship and liturgy in one’s religious context;
• demonstrate skills for effective, professional, ethical, and compassionate pastoral and spiritual care to a diversity of persons;
• construct and deliver a faith formation curriculum that arises from, and addresses the needs of specific populations/issues within ministry contexts and is based on solid theological and religious understanding;
• craft, deliver, and reflect on a sermon or public address that demonstrates effective speaking form/style and content based on a selected context; and
• apply an appropriate critical interpretation of, analysis of, and reflection on a selected topic in religion or theology to their vocational context.

United’s MDiv at a Glance

• 72 credits
• Twenty-four 3-credit courses, including one field experience
• A final thesis or project is 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 MDiv concentrations, including UU Studies, can be completed entirely via distance learning

Completion of the MDiv in UU Studies at United does not in itself fulfill the requirements of ordination or ministerial fellowship. Contact the MFC and your local ordaining congregation to determine any additional requirements.