Master of Divinity
 (MDiv)

Admission

Applicants for the Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree must have graduated with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 from an accredited college and are often candidates for the Christian ministry. Besides the ability to write and speak English with clarity, applicants should have a broad understanding of the humanities and social sciences, and have some competence in the natural sciences. Also helpful is general knowledge of theological subjects and foreign language experience.

Curriculum Requirements

Rationale The Master of Divinity at Boston University School of Theology is shaped by a conviction that prophetic, practical religious leaders, thoroughly grounded in the wisdom of their traditions, are essential in the work of on-going transformation of the church and the world. The curriculum seeks to educate religious leaders who can interpret complex and evolving local and global contexts and who can engage those contexts in creative and confident conversation with a full array of theological resources.

The curriculum is built on two year-long first-year courses that begin the process of exploring the knowledge, skills, and practices of religious leaderships. In “Reading the World,” students engage in interdisciplinary reflection on the contexts, theologies, and historical experiences of Christian communities. Employing theological, historical, and sociological lenses, they explore the leadership that will lie ahead. In “Practices of Faith,” students investigate the spiritual and ethical practices of Christian communities across time and throughout the world. In the course of the year, students engage the lived challenges of ministries in Boston and begin to particular a vision of their vocation as leaders in the church and the world.

In addition to these two year-long courses, the MDiv curriculum includes core required courses in the study of scripture, additional required courses in history and theology, and at least two semesters of contextual education.

Recognizing that religious leadership will take place in a variety of vocational arenas, the remainder of the curriculum is then shaped around four distinct Tracks: Pastoral Ministry; Global and Community Engagement; Church and the Arts; and Religion and the Academy. Each track includes specific required and recommended courses, including additional courses in the study of scripture and from each of three distributional clusters.

In addition, students in each track may choose up to five courses as free electives.

The program requires a minimum of six semesters of full-time study for a total of 24 semester courses (96 semester credits). Some of the courses are in a sequence with prerequisites; in certain instances two or more courses are designed to be taken concurrently if possible, although it is recognized that some students proceed on a part-time basis. The residency requirement is two semesters with a minimum of 24 credits. The time limit for the degree program is five years (ten semesters).

If a recipient of a Scholarship for Merit: Scholarships for Merit are awarded for the academic year, September to May. They are renewable each year upon the annual evaluation of the recipient’s grade point average (3.3 minimum), character, and commitment to ministry. All awards are for a maximum of three academic years of full-time MDiv study. Scholarships for Merit are awarded before initial enrollment in the School of Theology; however, money is not available to the student until the first day of classes.

If a recipient of a Tuition Scholarship: Tuition Scholarships are awarded for the academic year, September to May. They are renewable each year upon the annual evaluation of the recipient’s grade point average (2.7 minimum), character, and commitment to ministry. All awards are for a maximum of three academic years of full-time MDiv study (see the Financial Aid section of this site for more information on Scholarships for Merit and Tuition Scholarships).

Master of Divinity Curriculum Requirements

The Master of Divinity degree consists of Core Requirements (40 credit hours), Distributional Electives (36 credit hours), and Free Electives (20 credit hours).

Core Requirements (40 credit hours)

  • Reading the World (2 sem/8 credit hours: STH TF 701 and 702)
  • Practices of Faith (2 sem/8 credit hours: STH TF 703 and 704)
  • Engaging the Bible: Hebrew Scripture (STH TO 704)
  • Engaging the Bible: New Testament (STH TN 721)
  • Theology II (select ONE of the following: STH TT 731, 732, or 733)
  • History II (select ONE of the following: STH TH 825, 826, 827, 832 or 847)
  • Contextual education (2 sem/8 credit hours: STH TC 801 and 802)

All students must complete the yearlong courses in “Reading the World” and “Practices of Faith” during their first year of study. Students may, in exceptional circumstances, petition the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs for advanced standing in order to move directly to more advanced study in scripture, history, and/or theology. These students will remain obligated to complete an equivalent number of courses in any area for which they are granted advanced standings.

Distributional Electives (36 hours)

Courses offered in the School of Theology (and certain courses available through the BTI and elsewhere in the University) are organized into three Curriculum Clusters: Cluster One—Texts and Traditions; Cluster Two—Contemporary Contexts; Cluster Three—Theories & Practices of Leadership. The Registrar will maintain a current list of courses available in each Cluster.

Students will choose courses to fill Distributional Electives based on the specific requirements and suggested programs of study for their Master of Divinity Track. In each Track, those requirements and electives will include:

  • 1 additional TO course
  • 1 additional TN course
  • 2 courses from Cluster One
  • 2 courses from Cluster Two
  • 2 courses from Cluster Three
  • 1 track-specific elective course

Free Electives (20 hours)

Grade Minimums No grade lower than C is acceptable for use in satisfying any course requirements for the Master of Divinity degree.

Testing Matriculants may be required to participate in a psychological testing program and/or profiles of ministry program in the first semester of their studies. Oral communication skills may be evaluated prior to taking a required preaching course.

Pastoral and Spiritual Formation All students must complete STH TF 703/704 Practices of Faith I & II (8 credits) in the first year of the MDiv program. All MDiv students must complete, normally in their second year, a minimum of 8 credits of supervised contextual education and pastoral formation in a parish setting.