A graduate of United’s Master of Divinity degree program will be able to:
- interpret a selected passage from a selected religious text 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;
- critically interpret, analyze and reflect on a selected theological text or perspective in its historical context as well as through the lens of modern questions and challenges;
- construct a theological perspective that is rooted in their particular context and faith tradition, is meaningfully engaged with other perspectives, and is creatively responsive to the contemporary situation;
- apply to their vocational context or academic study an appropriate critical analysis of and reflection on a selected moral dilemma from a variety of Christian OR interreligious ethical perspectives;
- construct a theological perspective that is rooted in their particular context and faith tradition, is meaningfully engaged with other perspectives, and is creatively responsive to the contemporary situation;
- critically analyze and reflect on the religious history and theological perspectives of a selected population historically marginalized by the dominant voices of their religious traditions;
- articulate a personal statement of values and ethics as a leader and develop an appropriate mission, vision, strategy, staffing, finances, fundraising, and marketing plan for a congregation OR develop a social enterprise project that utilizes a theory of change model, business concept generation, and a proposal to test the model;
- evaluate one’s spiritual development in light of one’s own “sources of the self” and religious horizons;
- identify, transform, and/or create specific sources of spiritual power that resist human degradation and enhance human life;
- critically analyze and reflect on the global expressions of religions in relation to their own faith tradition;
- articulate an informed understanding of the historical use of the arts as a means of theological or religious expression and reflection OR an informed understanding of the complex relationships among art, culture and religion;
- analyze a historical or contemporary artistic or cultural work for the ways it expresses spiritual and religious ideas;
- interpret cultural and vocational contexts and identify strategic points of leadership for social transformation;
- develop an effective plan for a social transformation initiative that includes a needs assessment, strategies and plans that address those needs, a communications plan, and a plan for acquiring needed resources;
- demonstrate a reflective awareness of how theological study and practical learning at seminary has shaped and empowered oneself as a religious leader;
- demonstrate the capacity to intervene articulately and persuasively in one’s existing field of ministry / religious leadership in a way that a) responds to some real-world problem or question and b) integrates the knowledge and skills cultivated in seminary; and
- demonstrate effective academic theological research and writing skills.