Master of Divinity
The Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree is a standard theological program offered by theological schools and seminaries. It is considered a professional degree. The program normally represents three academic years of full-time graduate study. The program is designed for persons who intend to engage in ministry in a serious and responsible manner. Included in its components are disciplines related to biblical, historical-theological, and practical studies.
Schools offering the M.Div. differ sufficiently as to their mission. On one end of the spectrum, an institution may design its program to help students fit into an ecumenical frame of reference, with courses emphasizing dialogue and constructive theology. On the other end, institutions may pursue a denominational interest and prepare students for service in a particular church body or country. NationsUniversity endeavors to strike a middle course in its offerings.
The M.Div. at NationsUniversity builds on a biblical foundation but takes care not to stress a historical denominational stance or a theological posture that reflects the thinking of a particular post-biblical father figure. The intent of biblical studies is to uncover the meaning of the text within its original setting and then provide the student with tools that will assist in the application of that message within contemporary settings. The school aims at making a meaningful impact around the world and realizes that its students come from a variety of backgrounds and cultures. The program is, therefore, more general than specific. It tends to be more creative than standard.
The typical M.Div. program is a residency program, where students live in the vicinity of the school campus for three years and complete their field experience in the vicinity. NationsUniversity, on the other hand, being a distance learning institution, serves students around the world. These students reside at different locations. They face greatly varied circumstances, obstacles, and opportunities. They pursue the curriculum in matters of time and method that are appropriate to their individual situations. Security issues that often come into play make it unwise for students to work together.
The resources required for this degree extend beyond the reach of students who cannot secure adequate books and Internet access. Consequently, the briefer programs may become terminal degrees for some students.
Objectives of the M.Div. degree are
1. Initiate the process whereby the student understands the nature of the Christian faith and its implications in a world environment.
2. Knowledge sufficient to provide a foundation for biblical-based ministry.
3. The extension of the student's awareness of biblical and related disciplines.
3. The extension of the student's awareness of biblical and related disciplines.
4. An orientation to spiritually-formed ministry.
5. An introduction to basic skills needed to engage in meaningful and effective ministry.
To meet these objectives, NU courses are designed to provide an orientation to basic worldviews, the biblical text, the science of interpreting the biblical text, the setting for ministry in multi-cultural situations, and principles for Christian ministry.
The program features three components: a general foundation for the work of ministry, field-based experience, and in-depth academic training.
The NationsUniversity curriculum is structured to help distance learning students acquire field experience in their own location, which is normally different and far distant from the U.S. field of ministry. The curriculum is not organized around a question or theme peculiar to a given culture, but is more universal in scope. Issues which are current in the American context may not be the peculiar issues which NationsUniversity is equipping its students to face. The issues of most concern to the personnel at NationsUniversity are those which are defined by the New Testament. While they include some of the same cultural items, they also include broader, global concerns, such as (1) the deity of Jesus in the face of Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, or Traditional beliefs, (2) biblical vs. secular ethics, and (3) living as a Christian in an environment dominated by Communist or Muslim ideology.
Admission to the M.Div. Degree. Students may enter the M.Div. directly, if they hold a bachelor's degree in any discipline. Those having completed the B.R.S. at NationsUniversity with a G.P.A. of 3.0 or above are admitted automatically upon application.
Students entering from other institutions may begin taking courses immediately, but they will not be admitted to the program until they have submitted evidence of having completed a standard bachelor's degree (minimum 120 semester credits), equivalent, or higher level of education. The degree may be in any discipline. Until certification is filed, the student shall be classified as a "certificate" student. However, once the student is formally admitted to the M.Div. program, course work completed will be applied toward the M.Div.
If the student presents a three-year Bachelor of Theology or similar degree or diploma, the student may be admitted to the master's program only after completing the 30 General Education credits required for the B.R.S. However, in this instance, a bachelor's degree will not be awarded, as the General Education credits are considered "leveling" work.
M.Div. Requirements
The M.Div. requires 84 semester credits, distributed in the following manner:
MRS 622 A Search for Spirituality*
MRS 001 The Hebrew Scriptures*
MRS 006 The Greek Scriptures*
M 3 Systemic Biblical Doctrine
M 4 Biblical Hermeneutics
MRS 540 The Church to 119 C.E.
M 11 Critical Analysis in Biblical Studies**
Ministry courses (15 credits drawn from M 7 and above and MRS 600 numbered courses)
Electives (45 credits, with a minimum of 6 credits drawn from courses numbered 100s, 200s, 300s, 400s, 500s, and 700s)
Capstone courses (M 11, 3 credits from a course bearing the prefix MFI, and 3 credits from a course bearing the prefix MRW.
*Students holding a degree from NU will have taken BRS 1/MRS 001, BRS 2/MRS 006, and perhaps BRS 16.6/MRS 622. They should substitute electives.
**As of October 1, 2009, M 11 Critical Analysis in Biblical Studies is a required course. Students entering the program before this date are encouraged to include the course, but are not required to do so.
Transfer Credits
Students who enter the M.Div. with graduate credit and/or graduate degrees in religious or related studies from an accredited institution, may transfer up to 30 semester credits toward the M.Div. Students who have completed other graduate degrees at NU are accorded the same privilege.
Admission to the M.Div. Degree. Students may enter the M.Div. directly, if they hold a bachelor's degree in any discipline. Those having completed the B.R.S. at NationsUniversity with a G.P.A. of 3.0 or above are admitted automatically upon application.
Students entering from other institutions may begin taking courses immediately, but they will not be admitted to the program until they have submitted evidence of having completed a standard bachelor's degree (minimum 120 semester credits), equivalent, or higher level of education. The degree may be in any discipline. Until certification is filed, the student shall be classified as a "certificate" student. However, once the student is formally admitted to the M.Div. program, course work completed will be applied toward the M.Div.
If the student presents a three-year Bachelor of Theology or similar degree or diploma, the student may be admitted to the master's program only after completing the 30 General Education credits required for the B.R.S. However, in this instance, a bachelor's degree will not be awarded, as the General Education credits are considered "leveling" work.
M.Div. Requirements
The M.Div. requires 84 semester credits, distributed in the following manner:
MRS 622 A Search for Spirituality*
MRS 001 The Hebrew Scriptures*
MRS 006 The Greek Scriptures*
M 3 Systemic Biblical Doctrine
M 4 Biblical Hermeneutics
MRS 540 The Church to 119 C.E.
M 11 Critical Analysis in Biblical Studies**
Ministry courses (15 credits drawn from M 7 and above and MRS 600 numbered courses)
Electives (45 credits, with a minimum of 6 credits drawn from courses numbered 100s, 200s, 300s, 400s, 500s, and 700s)
Capstone courses (M 11, 3 credits from a course bearing the prefix MFI, and 3 credits from a course bearing the prefix MRW.
*Students holding a degree from NU will have taken BRS 1/MRS 001, BRS 2/MRS 006, and perhaps BRS 16.6/MRS 622. They should substitute electives.
**As of October 1, 2009, M 11 Critical Analysis in Biblical Studies is a required course. Students entering the program before this date are encouraged to include the course, but are not required to do so.
Transfer Credits
Students who enter the M.Div. with graduate credit and/or graduate degrees in religious or related studies from an accredited institution, may transfer up to 30 semester credits toward the M.Div. Students who have completed other graduate degrees at NU are accorded the same privilege.
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