Mar 28, 2024  
Graduate & Pharmacy Catalog 2020-2021 
    
Graduate & Pharmacy Catalog 2020-2021 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Master of Divinity (M.Div.)


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Purpose and Outcomes

The principle objective of the Master of Divinity degree is to build on an existing undergraduate biblical and ministerial foundation to prepare students for positions of ministerial leadership, particularly in the broad stream of evangelical ministry.  Graduates from the Master of Divinity program must 1) demonstrate graduate-level knowledge in biblical, theological, and practical fields of study, 2) demonstrate character traits necessary for effective ministry, and 3) demonstrate skill in the praxis of ministry.

Academic preparation, exemplary personal character, and the practice of ministry must be integrated in order to produce knowledgeable and skilled ministers.  To this end, the School of Ministry is equally committed to providing:

  1. rigorous, high-quality academic preparation for ministry that strengthens the connection between fields of theological study;
  2. personal, purposeful spiritual formation and character development; and
  3. the opportunity for on-going, intentional practical application of academic knowledge in the praxis of ministry

In light of this, the Master of Divinity has the following program-specific learning outcomes:

  1. Evaluate and synthesize interpretive methods and traditions, and apply exegetical method to the interpretation of a biblical text
  2. Analyze and evaluate the broader heritage of the Christian tradition, the more specific character of particular Christian traditions and communities, the ways these traditions transcend particular social and cultural settings, and the ways they come to unique expressions within such settings
  3. Analyze spheres of contemporary culture and society from a biblical and theological perspective and articulate a Christian response.
  4. Develop the capacities for personal faith, emotional maturity and moral integrity that are requisite to a life of ministerial leadership
  5. Cultivate the capacities for ministerial leadership within both the congregation and the broader public context

Course Schedule/Structure

Students move through this degree as a cohort.  Courses are therefore scheduled two days per week in morning and afternoon blocks comprised of two courses each, in order to emphasize the integrated nature of biblical, theological, and ministerial studies. Students are encouraged to register each semester for both the morning and afternoon blocks of classes in order to gain the most benefit from the integrated nature of the degree. Students may, however, register for only one block of classes per semester (morning or afternoon block). Students wishing to enroll in less than one block per semester (for instance a single course) may do so, but they should be advised that they will likely encounter scheduling challenges.

The degree is also designed to emphasize the integrated nature of academic study and practical ministry. To this end, when enrolled in a full semester (Fall or Spring), students are strongly encouraged to enroll in the appropriate apprenticeship course as well. The practical nature of the apprenticeship will inform and be informed by the academic courses offered during the semester.

Admissions Requirements 

Admissions requirements for the Master of Divinity program may be found in the Admissions section of the Graduate and Pharmacy catalog.

Degree Requirements

A total of 72 credit hours are required.  As part of the degree, students must successfully complete 12 credit hours of apprenticeship courses, which require on-going ministry under the guidance of an approved practitioner-mentor, and 8 hours (4 semesters) of biblical language.

Students with a bachelor’s degree in a non-ministry major are required to complete up to 24 hours of specific pre-requisite coursework on the undergraduate level before beginning graduate coursework. Pre-requisite courses in which grades below “C-” have been earned are unacceptable. Prerequisite courses for the M.Div. degree: Biblical Hermeneutics, Old Testament Survey, New Testament Survey, Systematic Theology, Spiritual Formation, Evangelism and Apologetics, History of Christianity, and one practical ministry elective.

MDiv students intending to write a thesis for elective credit must submit a formal declaration of intention regarding this choice no later than the semester prior to their intended start. A student must complete at least 18 credit hours before beginning a thesis project as elective credit. MDiv students cannot take the comprehensive exam as elective credit. Enrollment in a thesis project is subject to the availability of a faculty advisor. The deadlines for submitting a declaration of intention are as follows:

For Summer thesis project, declaration of intent is due by December 1.

For Fall thesis project, declaration of intent is due by March 1.

For Spring thesis project, declaration of intent is due by October 1.

Students are limited to no more than seven (7) total credit hours of Directed and Independent Study coursework over the course of their degree.

Curriculum Requirements

72 Credit Hours 


The following courses of instruction are offered in the M.Div. degree.  Foundational courses must be successfully completed prior to graduate course registration.

Biblical/Exegetical Courses - 16 Credit Hours


Apprenticeship Courses - 12 Credit Hours


Students enrolled in an Apprenticeship Program course must be in a Christian ministry position that requires at least 10 hours per week for the duration of the course.

Biblical Language Courses - 8 Credit Hours


It is recommended that students take four semesters of one biblical language to satisfy the M.Div. language requirement.

Elective Courses - 12 Credit Hours


Students may apply approved graduate-level hours toward the elective requirements by taking PBA graduate courses in the fields of Ministry, Business, Counseling, Global Development, or Leadership. Alternatively, students seeking denominational ordination may choose to fill electives with those required classes.

Concentration in Bible Translation


This concentration is intended for individuals who are or will be engaged in Bible translation as translators, exegetical advisers or consultants with various sending agencies. Distinctives of this concentration are: (1) living and studying abroad for one year; (2) integrating biblical exegesis and linguistics; (3) seeing Bible translation as part of Scripture engagement and community transformation. Students in this concentration complete a course sequence of two years on ground at PBA and one year abroad. Courses in this concentration include:

  • Cultural Anthropology
  • Language andd Culture Learning
  • Language and Society
  • Morphology and Syntax
  • Semantics and Pragmatics
  • Translation Principles, Theory, andd Practice
  • Discourse Analysis
  • Other relevant topics

Concentration in Intercultural Studies


M.Div. students in the Intercultural Studies concentration will gain valuable insights from the fields of missiology and anthropology that will enable them to become better ministers and evangelists in intercultural contexts. Examples of students this concentration will benefit are those who are looking to do intercultural ministry in the U.S. or internationally, those who are looking to work for international non-profits, or those who want to work among migrant/displaced people groups.

The M.Div. concentration in Intercultural Studies replaces the 12 credits of M.Div. elective coursework with the following four courses in Intercultural Studies:

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