The MDiv in Church Leadership program will prepare you for pastoral ministry. It is designed for students who are pursuing ordination by a denomination with rigorous church leadership curricular expectations but which does not fall under any of the designated denominational concentrations (e.g., MDiv in Presbyterian Studies).
If you are seeking a ministerial position in a non-denominational congregation or ordination with flexible curricular requirements, the MDiv General Studies 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 local congregation
- Chaplaincy (with the addition of chaplaincy certification)
- Other ordained positions from denominations for which we do not have a denominational concentration
Concentration Learning Outcomes
In addition to achieving the coreMDiv degree learning outcomes, a graduate of the MDiv in Church Leadership degree program will be able to:
- interpret a selected biblical passage from multiple historical and contemporary perspectives and using one or more critical methods, demonstrating understanding of the influence of their own situatedness on that interpretation;
- conduct a personal theological interpretation of a selected biblical text that demonstrates understanding of the influence of their own situatedness on that interpretation and that engages the situatedness of contemporary readers from a context different from their own;
- critically interpret, analyze and reflect on a selected Christian theological text or perspective in its historical context as well as through the lens of modern questions and challenges;
- 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; and
- achieve their self-defined practice of ministry goals that are appropriately based on the requirements of their denomination or other vocational path.
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 choose to complete a thesis as an elective course
- Can be completed in approximately three years if you take a full-time course load of 9 credits per trimester
- Most MDiv concentrations, including Church Leadership, can be completed entirely via distance learning; many courses can be taken completely asynchronously
Church Leadership in Action
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Kateri Boucher, MDiv Student The more Kateri learned about United, the more it seemed like the best choice. “I wouldn’t have to sacrifice what I [wanted] to do an online program,” she remembers thinking. Because she wanted to balance her part-time work at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Detroit, service projects, and seminary, Kateri sincerely appreciates United’s distance learning program. |
Program Course Guide Sheet for Academic Year 2025–2026
PRIMARY OUTCOME |
NUMBER OF COURSES | COURSES |
Theology | 4 |
Invitation to Theology: Truth, Goodness, and Beauty
History of Christian Theologies
History of Modern Theologies
Constructive Theology
|
Textual Hermeneutics | 4 |
Introduction to Religious Texts
Two 2000-level Religious Texts courses
Choose one:
Biblical Exegesis
One additional 2000-level Religious Texts course
|
Ethics and Justice | 2 |
Choose one:
Christian Ethics
Comparative Religious Ethics
Choose one:
Queer and Trans Theologies
Black and Womanist Theologies
|
Formation | 1 | Introduction to Spiritual and Personal Formation |
World Religions | 1 |
Choose one:
Global Christianities & Intra-religious Diversity
World Religions
|
Religion, Culture, and the Arts | 1 |
Choose one:
History of Arts and Theology
Art, Religion, and Contemporary Culture
|
Social Transformation | 1 | Leadership and Strategies for Social Change |
Religious Leadership and Practice | 2 |
Choose one:
Organizational Leadership and Administration
Social Enterprise
Contextual Education Internship
|
Concentration | 7 |
PM1001 Introduction to Pastoral and Spiritual Care
PM2003 Preaching and Your Public Voice
Three additional PM courses
Two elective courses
|
Research and Communication | 1 | MDiv Capstone Seminar |
DEGREE TOTAL |
24 |