Master of Divinity
Purpose
Because God, through the gospel and by His Spirit, is forming the image of Christ in the followers of Christ within the Church of Christ, in partnership with local churches, Trinity offers the Master of Divinity (MDiv) to individuals as they clarify and cultivate God’s calling on their lives to prepare them for a life of…
- Loving a holy God and caring for people.
- Joyfully learning the way of the Lord through a deep understanding and internalization of God’s word in the evangelical tradition.
- Skillfully shepherding God’s people in the worship of God and obedience to His ways.
- Critically and creatively engaging with the formative power of culture as a crucial element in effective gospel ministry and cross-cultural mission.
Program Outcomes
Students graduating with a Master of Divinity degree will be:
Grounded in Scripture and the Gospel
Graduates will be able to:
- Understand the Gospel and articulate its implications according to Christian orthodoxy and historic evangelical convictions.
- Study the Old and New Testaments in their original languages and with a knowledge of the original context.
- Demonstrate a commitment to Scripture as the ultimate authority by which every realm of human knowledge and endeavor should be measured.
- Appropriate the teaching of Scripture for the challenges faced by themselves, the church, and society.
Growing in Christian Maturity and Faithfulness
Graduates will be able to:
- Account for their humanity and identity in Christ in light of the redemptive story of Scripture.
- Cultivate personal and ecclesial practices for spiritual growth in dependence upon God’s grace.
- Discern how to faithfully live and serve with moral vision in their lives and ministries.
- Demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit in their relationships.
Equipped for Leadership and Pastoral Ministry
Graduates will be able to:
- Articulate a biblical vision for their ministry contexts, engaging the multifaceted challenges of ministry with integrity.
- Care skillfully and compassionately for people, churches, and communities.
- Educate, equip, and lead individuals and churches toward Christian maturity.
- Plan and lead Christian gatherings appropriate to their ministry context.
Able to Engage with a Diverse World for the Sake of the Gospel
Graduates will be able to:
- Partner boldly, yet humbly, in God’s historical-redemptive mission in the world.
- Engage across cultures, critically reflecting on their own biases and seeking to learn from others.
- Understand and assess their context and culture in order to participate in ministry and society with emotional and cultural intelligence.
MDiv Admission Requirements
Students interested in this program should apply via Trinity Western University, see TWU for more information.
MDiv Residency Requirement
There is no residency requirement for the MDiv. However, remote learners are strongly encouraged to spend time on campus by way of modular in-person courses in order to have a fuller Trinity experience.
The final 8 units of coursework must be taken through Trinity.
MDiv Statute of Limitation
All Master of Divinity program requirements must be completed within eight years of matriculation into the program. Petition to extend the statute of limitation may be made.
MDiv Candidacy Requirements
Admission to the Master of Divinity program must be followed by achievement of candidacy for the degree. The candidacy process is designed to encourage active student learning and development, as well as assess the appropriateness of the student’s vocational goals in light of evident character, gifts, and abilities. The process is as follows:
- During the first semester of studies, students should contact the MDiv Program Office to begin working through the candidacy process. Initial requirements include completing a Ministry Track Declaration Form and the 1st Candidacy Interview (the first of two candidacy interviews with their faculty advisor).
- Following the second interview, the Student Formation Committee review the recommendations from candidacy interviews, academic status, and related student files. MDiv candidacy will then either be granted, denied, or deferred.
If candidacy has been deferred, consultation must be made with the Director of the MDiv Program until pending questions related to readiness for candidacy are resolved. Failure to achieve candidacy may result in dismissal from the program or expulsion from the institution.
Should serious concerns regarding a student’s fitness for vocational ministry be raised subsequent to the granting of candidacy, candidacy may be revoked. The Director of the MDiv Program and the Student Formation Committee will investigate grounds for these concerns and provide the student an opportunity to address them. If, upon further consideration, the Student Formation Committee decides to revoke candidacy, appeal may be made to the Academic Dean, whose decision is final.
Suggested MDiv Course Sequence
3-year and 4 years suggested coursework plan guides are available to students through the MDiv Program Office (online at myTIU). The MDiv is designed to be completable within 3 to 4 years for fulltime students. Those needing to complete prerequisites during their program can anticipate approximately four years. Students admitted to the AP MDiv without deficiencies (i.e., having all prerequisites completed) will generally find it feasible to complete the program in six consecutive semesters (including summers).
Upon admission, students are encouraged to consult their Catalog, the Student Handbook, class schedules published in myTIU, the MDiv Program Office (for resources and advisement), their formation group leader, and student colleagues.
MDiv Internship
All MDiv internships must be approved by the Director of Supervised Ministries. Students should contact the Director of Supervised Ministries to plan their internships and receive permission to register into the class.
MDiv Graduation Requirements
The following requirements must be completed to earn the Master of Divinity degree:
- Complete the General Graduation Requirements for all master’s programs.
- Complete 90 units required by the MDiv program (or 76 units plus any required deficiencies in the AP MDiv) with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0. No coursework below a “C-” will be applicable to the degree.
- Complete all internship requirements.
- Complete all requirements for MDiv candidacy.
- Exemplify the character, emotional stability, maturity, and leadership ability that are essential to effective service in Christian ministry.
Master of Divinity
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Biblical Languages | 9 | |
| BNT 501 & BNT 502 & BNT 601 | Introductory Biblical Greek I and Introductory Biblical Greek II and Greek Exegesis 1 | 9 |
| or BOT 501 & BOT 502 & BOT 601 | Introductory Biblical Hebrew I and Introductory Biblical Hebrew II and Hebrew Exegesis | |
| Biblical Studies | 9 | |
| BNT 620 & BNT 655 & BNT 681 | Advanced Exposition: Synoptics and Acts and Advanced Exposition: Pauline Epistles and Hebrews and Advanced Exposition: Johannine Literature and General Epistles 1 | 9 |
| or BOT 620 & BOT 651 & BOT 655 | Advanced Exposition: Pentateuch and Advanced Exposition: Prophets and Advanced Exposition: Wisdom Literature | |
| Biblical Theology | 3 | |
| BIB 505 | Biblical Theology and Interpretation | 3 |
| History | 6 | |
| HIS 540 | History of Christianity I | 3 |
| HIS 541 | History of Christianity II | 3 |
| Pastoral Leadership | 27 | |
| CHM 505 | Educational Ministries and Leadership | 3 |
| INT 510 | Field Education | 0 |
| INT 601 | Practicum I | 3 |
| INT 602 | Practicum II | 3 |
| PTH 518 | Mission and Culture | 3 |
| PTH 550 & 550 & 550 & 550 | Formation Group and Formation Group and Formation Group and Formation Group 3 | 0 |
| PTH 600 | Pastoral Theology and Practice | 3 |
| PTH 603 | Introduction to Preaching | 3 |
| PTH 605 | Pastoral Counselling | 3 |
| PTH 613 | Evangelism and Faith Formation | 3 |
| PTH 696 | Preaching in Context | 3 |
| Research Strategies | 1 | |
| RES 502 | Research Strategies | 1 |
| Theology | 9 | |
| THS 571 | Theology I | 3 |
| THS 572 | Theology II | 3 |
| THS 602 | Theological Ethics and Christian Life | 3 |
| TRACKS | Select one of the two Tracks below | 18 |
| Total Units | 82 | |
- 1
Choose the same testament (BOT or BNT) for Biblical Languages and Biblical Studies.
- 2
Experiential course to be taken either with TEDS@TWU or with the student's preferred denomination.
- 3
PTH 550 is repeated for 4 total semesters.
Exegetical Studies Track
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BNT 501 & BNT 502 & BNT 601 | Introductory Biblical Greek I and Introductory Biblical Greek II and Greek Exegesis 1 | 9 |
| or BOT 501 & BOT 502 & BOT 601 | Introductory Biblical Hebrew I and Introductory Biblical Hebrew II and Hebrew Exegesis | |
| BNT 620 & BNT 655 & BNT 681 | Advanced Exposition: Synoptics and Acts and Advanced Exposition: Pauline Epistles and Hebrews and Advanced Exposition: Johannine Literature and General Epistles 2 | 9 |
| or BOT 620 & BOT 651 & BOT 655 | Advanced Exposition: Pentateuch and Advanced Exposition: Prophets and Advanced Exposition: Wisdom Literature | |
| Total Units | 18 | |
- 1
Select the language not studied for the Biblical Languages core requirement.
- 2
Select the sequence not studeid for the Biblical Studies core requirement.
Theological Studies Track
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BNT 520 & BNT 555 | Exposition: Gospel and Acts and Exposition: New Testament Epistles 1 | 6 |
| or BOT 520 & BOT 550 | Exposition:Pentateuch and History and Exposition: Prophets and Poetry | |
| BNT/BOT | Biblical Studies Elective 1 | 3 |
| Electives | Theological Studeis 2 | 9 |
| Total Units | 18 | |
- 1
Exposition courses to be taken from the alternate portion of the canon (BOT of BNT) from Biblical Studies core requirement.
- 2
Select from BNT, BOT, CHM, CHP, CLD, HIS, PTH, and/or THS courses.