NationsUniversity - Tuition-free Online Christian Education

Effective for students registering or admitted to the M.Div. program on or after January 1, 2011.

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 are disciplines related to biblical, historical-theological, and practical studies.

The M.Div. at NationsUniversity builds on a biblical foundation but takes care not to stress an 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.  Both internet and textbooks are required to complete the M.Div program. 

Master of Divinity Objectives 

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.
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.   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 official transcript 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.  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 .  However, in this instance, a bachelor's degree will not be awarded, as the General Education credits are considered "leveling" work.

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.

Required Courses

The M.Div. requires 84 semester credits, distributed in the following manner: 
Spiritual Formation (6 credits)
        MRS 622 A Search for Spirituality*
        MRS 633 Being Christian in a Secular Environment
Foundations (15 credits)
        M 1 Critical Introduction to the Old Testament
        M 2 Critical Introduction to the New Testament
        M 3 Systemic Biblical Doctrine
        M 4 Biblical Hermeneutics
        M 11 Critical Analysis in Biblical Studies
Ministry (12 credits)
        M 12 Ministry
        M 13 Worship
        M 606 Missions
        MRS 624 Family
Electives (42 credits, with 6 credit minimum from each category) 
        MRS 100s (Biblical Backgrounds) 
        MRS 200s (Hebrew Scritpures)
        MRS 300s (Greek Scriptures)
        MRS 400s (Church History)
        MRS 500s (Theology)
        MRS 700s (Comparative Religions)
Concluding Courses (9 credits)
        MFI Field Interviews
        M 627 Service Project
        MRW Research and Writing