Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibilityMaster of Divinity (MDiv) - Program Requirements - La Sierra University
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Master of Divinity (MDiv)

For regular admission, applicants must hold a four-year baccalaureate degree or equivalent with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.50 or better (on a 4-point scale) from a regionally or nationally accredited college or university. The Divinity School will consider for provisional admission a limited number of applicants to who do not meet all of these requirements. In such cases, the school may require admitted students to complete undergraduate or graduate courses in addition to the regular requirements.
International applicants must meet the requirements of the university for English-language competence.
Students may normally transfer up to half the number of required program units from an accredited graduate or graduate professional program in another university or seminary.

The following constitute the course requirements for the regular MDiv program, which is designed for students who have little or no undergraduate coursework in religious studies or theology. It includes the foundation courses listed in italics. Students who have an undergraduate degree in religious studies or theology or who have taken the undergraduate equivalent of one or more of the foundation courses or the biblical language courses may qualify for advanced standing in the program. Contact the director of graduate programs for details. Students whose faith tradition differs from that of the Seventh-day Adventist Church may substitute up to two courses from their own tradition with the approval of the director of graduate studies. All courses are 4 quarter units.

General Religious Studies (4 units)

RELG 510 Research and Writing in Religion

One of the following (4 units):

RELG 501 The Study of Religion: Theory & Practice

RELG 511 The Religions of the World

Biblical Languages (8 units)

RELL 504 Linguistic Tools for Pastoral Ministry: Hebrew

RELL 505 Linguistic Tools for Pastoral Ministry: Greek

Biblical Studies (16 units)

RELB 501 The Old Testament & Its Communities

RELB 502 The New Testament & Its Communities

RELB 511 Interpreting OT Texts

RELB 512 Interpreting NT Texts

Christian Ethics (8 units)

RELE 504 Christianity and Culture

RELE 514 Christian Social Ethics

Christian Theology (8 units)

RELT 504 Principles of Christian Theology

RELT 514 Systematic Theology

History of Christianity (8 units)

RELH 504 A Survey History of Christianity

RELH 514 Studies in the History of Christianity

Seventh-day Adventist Studies (8 units)

RELH 506 History of Seventh-day Adventism

RELT 516 Seventh-day Adventist Theology

Pastoral Studies (32 units)

Foundation: one course required*

Praxis (Core): one course required*

Worship & Liturgics: one course required*

Preaching & Homiletics: one course required*

Congregational Care, Counseling & Poimenics: one course required*

Spiritual Formation, Religious Education & Ecumenics: one course required*

Project: one course required*

Fieldwork: RELP 594 Fieldwork in Pastoral Ministry

*Each term the Department of Pastoral Studies publishes a list of any courses that meet this category.

Electives (12 units)

Three courses

Total: 108 units

Other Notes, Requirements, and Regulations

1. Full-time students normally enroll in 3 courses (12 units) per quarter.

2. Students must maintain a grade point average of 3.00 or better, with no individual course grade lower than C counting for credit.

3. As a general, professional theological degree, the MDiv does not typically provide for majors, minors, or concentrations. However, students may choose to informally cluster their elective courses in any of the disciplines that comprise the program.

4. Students who enroll in RELP 594 Fieldwork in Pastoral Ministry will concurrently enroll in RELP 590 (0 credits) during the same term and the next two terms.

5. Before receiving the MDiv degree, students must prepare the Summative Concluding Project as a final, capstone exercise and submit it to the Divinity School Office during the last quarter before graduation. Th e detailed specifications of this project and the deadlines for submission are available from the Divinity School Office.

Contact and Location

divinity@lasierra.edu

951.785.2041
La Sierra Hall, Room 205

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