Master of Divinity (MDiv)
Changes to this program will take effect in the 2045/2025 academic year.
Admission
The Master of Divinity is a postbaccalaureate degree. Admission requirements include (1) a baccalaureate degree from an institution of higher education accredited by a US agency recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, or approved by a Canadian provincial quality assurance agency, or the demonstrated educational equivalent of an accredited or approved North American baccalaureate degree; and (2) a minimum grade point average of 3.0.
Learning Outcomes
The primary learning outcomes of the MDiv are:
- A critical appreciation and a broad, operative understanding of the Christian tradition in relation to other religious and cultural traditions, including:
- the broader heritage of the Christian tradition and its legacies and the more specific character of particular Christian traditions and communities in relation to other faith traditions and social-cultural contexts;
- the ways that traditions transcend particular social and cultural settings, and the ways they come to unique expression in them; and
- the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament, the historical development and contemporary articulation of the doctrinal and theological traditions of Christian communities of faith, the social and institutional histories of those communities, and the mutual influence of those distinctive traditions with diverse social contexts.
- A critical understanding of and creative engagement with the cultural realities and structures within which the church and other religious communities live and carry out their missions, including:
- contemporary cultural and social issues and their significance for diverse linguistic and cultural contexts of ministry; and
- the global character of the church as well as ministry in the multifaith and multicultural context of contemporary society.
- Growth in personal faith, emotional maturity, moral integrity, and public witness.
- Growth in prophetic ministerial and professional leadership, including:
- ministerial and public leadership skills to address social issues in transformative ways;
- the use of theological and other scholarly resources in the service of social justice;
- professional and ministerial ethics;
- a developed sense of vocational direction;
- a critical awareness of one’s own theology, both lived and conceptualized;
- the ability to think theologically about the practice of ministry; and
- the cultivation of habits of lifelong learning.
- Growth in one’s capacity for a robust embrace of and engagement with social and theological diversity and one’s capacity to relate across difference.
Curriculum Requirements
The Master of Divinity at Boston University School of Theology (STH) is shaped by a conviction that prophetic, practical religious leaders, thoroughly grounded in the wisdom of their traditions, are essential in the work of ongoing 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.
Core
The curriculum is built on a sequence of first-year courses that begin the process of exploring the knowledge, skills, and practices of religious leadership. In the first year, students engage in interdisciplinary reflection on the contexts, theologies, and historical experiences of Christian communities through a yearlong sequence that begins with Introduction to Christian Traditions and ends with Christianity Engaging Modernity. Employing theological, historical, and other contextual lenses, students explore leadership for the twenty-first century in a variety of contexts within those two courses. In the term-long Practicing Faith, students investigate the spiritual and ethical practices of Christian communities across time and throughout the world and begin to develop a vision of their vocation as leaders in religious communities and in the world. Students in their first year also participate in the First-Year Formation seminar and Spiritual Companioning Groups (required in the first term and optional in the second) that establish a framework for personal and spiritual formation that is integrated throughout the MDiv program.
Spiritual Companioning Groups
Master of Divinity students in their first year participate in Spiritual Companioning Groups (required in the first term and optional in the second) that establish a framework for personal and spiritual formation that is integrated throughout the MDiv program. These are taken in addition to the First-Year Formation course, which introduces the “relational spirituality” model used at STH. The notion of “companioning” here borrows from theologians and educators (especially LatinX leaders who speak of “acompañamiento”) who understand formation for religious leadership to be a communal journey of traveling together and learning from one another through processes of spiritual reflection and development, mutual support, and mentoring. Guided by facilitators, students share and learn spiritual practices, develop sustaining relationships, and cultivate patterns of balance, rhythm, and integration as an intrinsic dimension of their scholarship and vocation.
By the end of the term, students participating in a Spiritual Companioning Group will:
- Gain an introductory understanding of and appreciation for several of the diverse spiritual practices in their own and other religious traditions.
- Incorporate one or more key practices into their own lives as a way of sustaining the rhythms, balance, and integration that is intrinsic to their scholarship and vocation.
- Demonstrate a deepening in their approaches both to spiritual dwelling and questing, especially as these bear on the MDiv degree outcomes of “growth in personal faith, emotional maturity, moral integrity, and public witness.”
- Cultivate skills in active listening, empathy, accountability, and community building, all of which are essential to “companioning” and to various “pastoral” dimensions that are intrinsic to all forms of religious leadership.
Electives
Free Electives
All students in the MDiv program may choose up to 15 units (five courses) of the required 74 units as free electives. Any student seeking to satisfy denominational polity, history, or doctrine requirements must take those courses as free electives.
Track Electives
Recognizing that religious leadership will take place in a variety of vocational arenas, the remainder of the curriculum is then shaped around seven distinct tracks: Pastoral Ministry; Global and Community Engagement; Chaplaincy; Theology and the Arts; Theology and Social Work Dual Degree; Interfaith Leadership; and Religion and the Academy. Each track is made up of nine courses selected by the student with careful advising from their academic advisor. These include two additional courses in the study of scripture, one track-specific elective, and two courses from each of three course clusters: (1) Texts and Traditions, (2) Engaging Contemporary Contexts, and (3) Theories and Practices of Leadership. The current list of courses available in each cluster is found in the STH Bulletin, and the STH Registrar maintains a list of alterations to that list between Bulletin updates.
Contextual Education
All students in the Master of Divinity program are required to undertake a yearlong contextual education placement along with “Integration of Theology and Practice” (ITP) groups designed to reflect on those placements and to integrate learning from the experience with the wider MDiv curriculum. The Directors of Contextual Education assist students in securing those placements, whether in congregations or local community sites. All students who serve in field placements are required to complete a background check before their service can begin. The requirement is for all students serving in field sites, regardless of degree program. Students undertaking a contextual education field placement should consult the Contextual Education office or its website for instructions on securing the background check prior to the beginning of their placement.
For students in the Theology and Social Work Dual Degree track, the yearlong SSW FE 803/FE 804 Social Work Field Education placement counts as the STH Contextual Education requirement. Students must, however, participate in an ITP group as mentioned in the previous paragraph and register for STH TF 821 ITP for Dual Degree Students (Fall) and STH TF 822 ITP for Dual Degree Students (Spring).
Mid-Degree Assessment
All students in the MDiv program participate in a mid-degree assessment, typically in the spring term of the second year of their program. This assessment culminates in an extended advising session with the student’s faculty advisor so that the last year of the program can be tailored to the results of the assessment. The mid-degree assessment requires the creation of an e-portfolio, which includes a short self-assessment, examples of papers or other projects completed, and any contextual education evaluations that have been completed to that point. The assessment is as much an assessment of the curriculum and how well it has served the student as it is an assessment of how well the student has taken advantage of the curriculum in moving toward the aims of the degree program and the student’s particular track within that curriculum.
Length of Program
The program requires a minimum of six terms of full-time study for a total of 24 term courses (72 term units) plus the 1-unit “First-Year Formation” seminar and the Spiritual Companioning Group required in the first term (and optional in the second term). 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 terms with a minimum of 18 units. The time limit for the degree program is five years (10 terms).
Taking Courses Outside STH
MDiv students are allowed to take up to three track electives (one from each cluster) and any free electives outside STH within Boston University or through the Boston Theological Interreligious Consortium (BTI). In addition, either the Hebrew Bible or the New Testament track elective course may be taken outside STH, but only by successful petition to the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. No core courses may be taken outside STH (except Contextual Education within the Theology and Social Work Dual Degree Track), and the track-specific elective must be an STH course unless specified by the Track plan of study. Up to a total of 24 (one-third) of the 74 MDiv units may be taken outside of the School of Theology, with no more than 18 of those 24 units taken through the BTI.
Grade Minimums
No grade lower than C is acceptable for use in satisfying any course requirements for the Master of Divinity.
Scholarships
Dean’s Scholarships
Dean’s Scholarships are awarded for the academic year, September to May. They are renewable each year, contingent upon the annual evaluation of the recipient’s grade point average (3.5 minimum), character, and commitment to ministerial or other religious leadership. All awards are for a maximum of three academic years of full-time MDiv study. Dean’s Scholarships are awarded before initial enrollment in the School of Theology. If the student has been awarded a stipend in addition to their full tuition, the stipend will be split equally over the two terms and be paid to the student by check in the first month of each term.
Tuition Scholarships
Tuition Scholarships are awarded for the academic year, September to May (though, in special cases, scholarships are available in the summer). They are renewable each year, contingent upon the annual evaluation of the recipient’s grade point average (2.7 minimum), character, and commitment to ministerial or other religious leadership. All awards are for a maximum of three academic years of full-time MDiv study.
The MDiv Plan of Study
The Master of Divinity consists of core requirements (32 unit hours), free electives (15 unit hours), and track electives (27 unit hours), for a total of 74 unit hours.
Core Requirements (32 unit hours)
STH TC 703 Spiritual Companioning Group 1 |
1 unit |
STH TC 801 Contextual Education I |
3 units |
STH TC 802 Contextual Education II |
3 units |
STH TF 701 Introduction to Christian Traditions |
3 units |
STH TF 702 Christianity Engaging Modernity |
3 units |
STH TF 703 Practicing Faith |
3 units |
STH TF 710 First-Year Formation |
1 unit |
STH TN 721 Introduction to the New Testament |
3 units |
STH TO 704 Introduction to the Hebrew Bible |
3 units |
STH TS 8XX Any STH social ethics course |
3 units |
Theology II (Students must take one of the following:)
- STH TT 731 Theology & World Religion
- STH TT 732 History of Christian Theology in Philosophical Perspective
- STH TT 733 Constructive Theology
- STH TT 837 Feminist and Womanist Theologies
- STH TT 862 Theologies of Liberation
|
3 units |
Church History II (Students must take one of the following:)
- STH TH 802 Christianity Beyond Early Modern Europe
- STH TH 803 History of Social Christianity
- STH TH 812 The Church in Late Antiquity
- STH TH 820 History of Western Christian Spirituality
- STH TH 825 The Medieval Church
- STH TH 826 Reformations
- STH TH 827 History of American Christianity
- STH TH 832 Modern Church History
- STH TH 845 Asian Christianity
- STH TH 847 Global Christianity
- STH TH 848 World Christianity
- STH TH 853 Christianity in Latin America
- STH TM 856 Women in World Christianity
- STH TM 863 African Christianity
|
3 units |
Policies pertaining to the core:
- All MDiv core requirements must be completed within STH.
- All students must complete the STH TF 701/702 yearlong sequence, Spiritual Companioning Group 1, and Practicing Faith during their first year of study. Students who do not earn a passing grade in Introduction to Christian Traditions may continue on to their second term of coursework, taking TF 702 Christianity Engaging Modernity; however, students will be expected to retake TF 701 Introduction to Christian Traditions.
- All core requirements must be passed for graduation.
- Students may, in exceptional circumstances, petition the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs for advanced standing in Introduction to the New Testament or Introduction to the Hebrew Bible based on prior academic transcripts and syllabi 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 unit hours in any discipline for which they are granted advanced standing.
- For students in the Theology and Social Work Dual Degree track, the yearlong SSW FE 803/FE 804 Social Work Field Education placement counts as the STH Contextual Education requirement for a total of 8 units. Students must also take STH TF 821 ITP for Dual Degree Students (Fall) and STH TF 822 ITP for Dual Degree Students (Spring) for 2 additional units. Since together these requirements constitute 10 units instead of the 6 Contextual Education requirements in the MDiv Core, the extra 4 units are considered Free Electives.
Free Electives (15 unit hours)
Five courses, for a total of 15 unit hours, may be taken as free electives. All may be taken within the BTI as long as the total of the required 74 unit hours taken outside Boston University does not exceed 18 unit hours. All students taking denominational history or polity courses must take them as free electives.
Track Electives (27 unit hours)
Students choose nine track elective courses based on the specific requirements of their chosen Master of Divinity track. The following seven tracks are available:
Pastoral Ministry Track
This track is especially appropriate for students pursuing ordination as a denominational elder, deacon, or pastor (though ordination requirements may be met in all seven tracks). It is also appropriate for those entering ministries of pastoral care in any vocational setting.
MDiv Core (see above) |
32 units |
Free Electives (see above) |
15 units |
Hebrew Bible II Elective (STH TO 704 is a prerequisite)—Any TO course may be taken |
3 units |
New Testament II Elective (STH TN 721 is a prerequisite)—Any TN course may be taken |
3 units |
Cluster 1—Texts and Traditions
One of the following must be taken:
- STH TC 817 Introduction to Christian Worship (3 units)
- STH TC 823 Spiritual Guidance in the Christian Tradition (3 units)
- STH TM 815 Christian Mission (3 units)
Plus any one other course from Cluster 1 (may be taken outside STH within BU or the BTI) (3 units) |
6 units
|
Cluster 2—Engaging Contemporary Contexts
One of the following must be taken:
- STH TC 835 Evangelism and Contemporary Cultures (3 units)
- STH TM 815 Christian Mission (3 units)
Plus any one other course from Cluster 2 (may be taken outside STH within BU or the BTI) (3 units) |
6 units
|
Cluster 3—Theories and Practices of Leadership
The following must be taken:
- STH TC 715 Introduction to Preaching (3 units)
Plus any one of the following:
- STH TC 817 Introduction to Christian Worship (3 units)
- STH TC 823 Spiritual Guidance in the Christian Tradition (3 units)
- STH TC 835 Evangelism and Contemporary Cultures (3 units)
- STH TC 852 Spirituality and Leadership (3 units)
- STH TE 812 Introduction to Christian Education (3 units)
- STH TY 704 Introduction to Spiritual Care (3 units)
|
6 units
|
Track-Specific Elective
One of the following must be taken:
- STH TC 817 Introduction to Christian Worship (3 units)
- STH TC 823 Spiritual Guidance in the Christian Tradition (3 units)
- STH TC 835 Evangelism & Contemporary Cultures (3 units)
- STH TE 812 Introduction to Christian Education (3 units)
- STH TM 801 Christian Mission in a Religiously Plural World (3 units)
- STH TM 815 Christian Mission (3 units)
- STH TY 704 Introduction to Spiritual Care (3 units)
|
3 units |
Total Units |
74 units |
Please note that within the Pastoral Ministry track, TC 715 Introduction to Preaching and TC 817 Introduction to Christian Worship are required. In addition, students must fulfill two of the following four competencies through their coursework selection: (1) mission and evangelism, (2) religious education, (3) pastoral care, and (4) spirituality. All four competencies are recommended, if possible. |
Global and Community Engagement Track
This track is especially appropriate for students pursuing vocational goals in conflict transformation, missiology, history of global mission, ecumenism, interfaith dialogue, trauma healing and theology, or nonprofit or social service leadership.
MDiv Core (see above) |
32 units |
Free Electives (see above) |
15 units |
Hebrew Bible II Elective (STH TO 704 is a prerequisite)—Any TO course may be taken |
3 units |
New Testament II Elective (STH TN 721 is a prerequisite)—Any TN course may be taken |
3 units |
Cluster 1—Texts and Traditions
Any two courses from Cluster 1 (one may be taken outside STH within BU or the BTI) |
6 units
|
Cluster 2—Engaging Contemporary Contexts
One of the following must be taken:
- STH TA 815 World Religions in Boston (3 units)
- STH TC 842 Urban Ministry (3 units)
- STH TC 847 Faith and Film (3 units)
- STH TC 850 Identity and Preaching in a Postcolonial Context (3 units)
- STH TC 867 Theology and Popular Culture (3 units)
- STH TM 815 Christian Mission (3 units)
- STH TR 802 Sociology of Religion (3 units)
- STH TS 815 God and Money (3 units)
- STH TS 877 The Principles & Practices of Restorative Justice (3 units)
- STH TT 843 Theology and the Environment (3 units)
- STH TT 898 Theology and Trauma (3 units)
Plus any one other course from Cluster 2 (may be taken outside STH within BU or the BTI) (3 units) |
6 units
|
Cluster 3—Theories and Practices of Leadership
One of the following must be taken:
- STH TC 825 Prayer and Social Engagement (3 units)
- STH TC 835 Evangelism and Contemporary Cultures (3 units)
- STH TC 842 Urban Ministry (3 units)
- STH TC 850 Identity and Preaching in a Postcolonial Context (3 units)
- STH TC 854 Leadership in Times of Change (3 units)
- STH TC 871 Spiritual Formation for Peace Builders (3 units)
- STH TF 703 Practicing Justice (if not taken as a Practicing Faith option) (3 units)
- STH TS 805 The Spirit & Art of Conflict Transformation (3 units)
- STH TS 806 Intro to Mediation Theory and Practice (3 units)
- STH TY 704 Spiritual Care (3 units)
Plus any one other course from Cluster 3 (may be taken outside STH within BU or the BTI) (3 units) |
6 units
|
Track-Specific Elective
Students in this track are required to either (1) take a travel seminar or (2) work with their advisor and the Contextual Education office to design and take STH TF 810 Practicum as a capstone course. |
3 units |
Total Units |
74 units |
Religion and the Academy Track
This track is especially appropriate for students in any academic discipline who are seeking to pursue doctoral studies and/or a teaching profession. It requires students to identify an academic discipline in which they wish to specialize and to focus on courses within that discipline.
MDiv Core (see above) |
32 units |
Free Electives (see above) |
15 units |
Hebrew Bible II Elective (STH TO 704 is a prerequisite)—Any TO course may be taken |
3 units |
New Testament II Elective (STH TN 721 is a prerequisite)—Any TN course may be taken |
3 units |
Cluster 1—Texts and Traditions
Any two courses from Cluster 1 (one may be taken outside STH within BU or the BTI). One must be taken from within your academic specialization. |
6 units
|
Cluster 2—Engaging Contemporary Contexts
Any two courses from Cluster 2 (one may be taken outside STH within BU or the BTI). One must be taken from within your academic specialization. |
6 units
|
Cluster 3—Theories and Practices of Leadership
Any two courses from Cluster 3 (one may be taken outside STH within BU or the BTI). One must be taken from within your academic specialization. |
6 units
|
Track-Specific Elective
Choose any one course from within your academic specialization but preferably a doctoral-level seminar (with permission from the instructor; must be taken at Boston University) |
3 units |
Total Units |
74 units |
Theology and the Arts Track
This track is especially appropriate for students pursuing sacred music, music ministry, liturgical studies, sacramental theology, aesthetics, theology and the arts, or the dual degree program with the Master of Sacred Music.
MDiv Core (see above) |
32 units |
Free Electives (see above) |
15 units |
Hebrew Bible II Elective (STH TO 704 is a prerequisite)—Any TO course may be taken |
3 units |
New Testament II Elective (STH TN 721 is a prerequisite)—Any TN course may be taken |
3 units |
Cluster 1—Texts and Traditions
One of the following courses must be taken:
- STH TE 811 Doing Theology Aesthetically (3 units)
- STH TC 833 Sung Faith (3 units)
- STH TC 847 Faith and Film (3 units)
- STH TC 861 Theologies of Church Music (3 units)
- STH TS 803 Literature and Ethics (3 units)
- STH TT 806 Theology and Literature (3 units)
Plus any one other course from Cluster 1 (may be taken outside STH within BU or the BTI) (3 units) |
6 units
|
Cluster 2—Engaging Contemporary Contexts
One of the following courses must be taken:
- STH TE 811 Doing Theology Aesthetically (3 units)
- STH TC 847 Faith and Film (3 units)
- STH TS 803 Literature and Ethics (3 units)
- STH TT 806 Theology and Literature (3 units)
Plus any one other course from Cluster 1 (may be taken outside STH within BU or the BTI) (3 units) |
6 units
|
Cluster 3—Theories and Practices of Leadership
One of the following courses must be taken:
- STH TC 817 Intro to Christian Worship (3 units)
- STH TC 818 Writing for Public Worship (3 units)
- STH TC 833 Sung Faith (3 units)
- STH TC 861 Theologies of Church Music (3 units)
- STH TE 808 Creative Pedagogy
Plus any one other course from Cluster 1 (may be taken outside STH within BU or the BTI) (3 units) |
6 units
|
Track-Specific Elective
Students must take one of the following:
- STH TA 820 Theology and the Arts (3 units)
- STH TF 810 Practicum—Students may work with their advisors and the office of Contextual Education to design this practicum (3 units)
|
3 units |
Total Units |
74 units |
Chaplaincy Track
This track aims to prepare students for religious leadership within settings traditionally understood under the rubric of chaplaincy. These include: prisons, the military, hospitals, hospice, retirement communities, police stations, airports, workplaces, and educational institutions (private high schools, colleges, and universities). The design of the track assumes that students need to be equipped to minister within religiously pluralistic and “secular” contexts, will have the necessary skills to provide spiritual care within those settings, and will be conversant in the primary policy/advocacy discourse within the setting in which they intend to minister.
MDiv Core [see above, though students in this track may elect to take Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) to fulfill the contextual education core requirement. TC 801/802 = one unit of CPE. The CPE site must be accredited by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE) and the units must have been completed no earlier than five years from time of matriculation into the MDiv degree program. ITP is not required for CPE units.] |
32 units |
Free Electives (see above) |
15 units |
Hebrew Bible II Elective (STH TO 704 is a prerequisite)—Any TO course may be taken |
3 units |
New Testament II Elective (STH TN 721 is a prerequisite)—Any TN course may be taken |
3 units |
Cluster 1—Texts and Traditions
Choose one course in World Religions/Interreligious Dialogue/Ecumenism/Missions plus any one other course from Cluster 1 |
6 units |
Cluster 2—Engaging Contemporary Contexts
- STH TY 704 Introduction to Spiritual Care (3 units)
Plus any one other course from Cluster 2 in the areas of pastoral care and counseling or sociology/social analysis and theory (3 units) |
6 units |
Cluster 3—Theories and Practices of Leadership
- STH TC 817 Introduction to Christian Worship (3 units)
Plus any one other course from Cluster 3 that develops competency in theories or practices of leadership most relevant to the proposed area of chaplaincy (3 units) |
6 units |
Track-Specific Elective
Students should select an advocacy or policy-focused course at Boston University that is most relevant to their proposed area of chaplaincy, such as: public health, higher education administration, criminal justice/law, international relations, political science, social work (3 units) |
3 units |
Total Units |
74 units |
Theology and Social Work Dual Track
This track supports students in the theology and social work dual degree and prepares students for leadership in a variety of religious and other contexts where social work skills might be utilized.
MDiv Core (see above) |
32 units |
Free Electives (see above, but note that SSW MP 759 Communities and Organizations and SSW ET 753 Social Work Practice Ethics may count toward STH Free Electives) |
15 units |
Hebrew Bible II Elective (STH TO 704 is a prerequisite)—Any TO course may be taken |
3 units |
New Testament II Elective (STH TN 721 is a prerequisite)—Any TN course may be taken |
3 units |
Cluster 1—Texts and Traditions
Any two courses from Cluster 1 |
6 units |
Cluster 2—Engaging Contemporary Contexts
Any two courses from Cluster 2 |
6 units |
Cluster 3—Theories and Practices of Leadership
Any two other courses from Cluster 3
|
6 units |
Track-Specific Elective
Students in this track are required to take either:
(1) STH TF 840 Dual Degree Integrative Seminar
(2) A theology course that satisfies an SSW Human Behavior/Practice, Policy/Research, or “Category C” Elective (see SSW listings) |
3 units |
Total Units |
74 units |
Policies:
- 15 units of the MSW degree taken at SSW automatically count toward track or free electives in the STH MDiv degree.
- 9 units must be taken at STH that count both as an MDiv requirement and an SSW elective. A list of courses that will work for both degrees is available on the STH website.
- A minimum of 58 of the 75 STH MDiv requirements must be taken at STH.
Interfaith Leadership Track
This track is appropriate for students pursuing vocations in interfaith leadership, interreligious dialogue, and the study of world religions. As with all MDiv tracks at STH, the track requires a substantial core of coursework in Christian history, theology, and ethics, and in the study of the New Testament and the Hebrew Bible. Building on that core, the track invites students to study other religious traditions and their scriptures, to seek out a contextual education placement in an interfaith ministry site and to prepare themselves with coursework that will increase interfaith understanding, dialogue, peacebuilding, and other forms of interreligious engagement.
MDiv Core (see above) |
32 units |
Free Electives (see above) |
15 units |
Hebrew Bible II Elective (STH TO 704 is a prerequisite)—Any TO course may be taken |
3 units |
New Testament II Elective (STH TN 721 is a prerequisite)—Any TN course may be taken |
3 units |
Cluster 1—Texts and Traditions
Any two courses from Cluster 1, at least one of which the student and their advisor agree is relevant to the work of interfaith leadership. The other course may be taken outside STH within BU or the BTI. |
6 units |
Cluster 2—Engaging Contemporary Contexts
Any two courses from Cluster 2, at least one of which the student and their advisor agree is relevant to the work of interfaith leadership. The other course may be taken outside STH within BU or the BTI. |
6 units |
Cluster 3—Theories and Practices of Leadership
Any two courses from Cluster 3, at least one of which the student student and their advisor agree is relevant to the work of interfaith leadership. The other course may be taken outside STH within BU or the BTI.
|
6 units |
Track-Specific Elective
Students in this track are required to take either Interfaith Leadership or another course approved by their advisor that focuses on interfaith leadership and ministry. |
3 units |
Total Units |
74 units |
Organizational Management Track
This track serves students preparing for forms of religious leadership that call upon a robust set of organizational and financial management skills. The track is appropriate for those pursuing vocations in contexts where creative new models of ministry are required both inside and outside traditional parish structures. For some, it may mean managing complex religious organizations or offering entrepreneurial leadership to faith-based nonprofits, community organizations, and social ministries. In some settings, new faith communities are emerging in the context of bakeries, bars, pubs, or corner coffee houses, supported by income from new and creative forms of outreach. Still others will find themselves in bi-vocational situations that require ministry skills but also other professional managerial training.
MDiv Core (see above) |
32 units |
Hebrew Bible II Elective (STH TO 704 is a prerequisite)—Any TO course may be taken |
3 units |
New Testament II Elective (STH TN 721 is a prerequisite)—Any TN course may be taken |
3 units |
Cluster 1—Texts and Traditions
Any two courses from Cluster 1, chosen with advisor. One course may be taken outside STH within BU or the BTI. |
6 units |
Cluster 2 and Cluster 3 requirements are satisfied with the following three required 4-unit SHA courses. The fourth SHA course satisfies a free elective (see below).
Note: All four SHA courses must be taken in one term (typically fall of year 2):
- SHA HF 711 Hospitality Financial Management (4 units)
- SHA HF 733 Hospitality Organizational Leadership (4 units)
- SHA HF 762 Hospitality Marketing and Branding (4 units)
|
12 units |
Track-Specific Elective
Take any one of the following courses in nonprofit management or fundraising:
- MET AR 550 Raising Funds and Grant Writing for Nonprofit Organizations
- MET AR 711 Capital Campaigns
- MET AR 723 Individual Fundraising
- MET AR 750 Financial Management for Nonprofits
- Pardee IR 426/626 NGOs and the Practice of Development
- QST PL 837 Strategic Fundraising and Corporate Philanthropy
- STH TM 853 NGOs and FBOs
- Other courses may be available within the University by petition to the academic dean
|
3 units |
Free Electives
See above, but must include:
SHA HF 701 Hospitality Operations Analysis (4 units) to be taken with the other three SHA courses in the same term |
15 units |
Total Units |
74 units |