The Master of Divinity Degree

The Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree at AGTS is a leading edge program designed to enable:

• A deep grasp of God’s mission in the world and its development throughout history to the present
• Skills for interpreting the Scriptures
  
• Appreciation for and experience of the empowering of God’s Spirit in transformation and ministry
  
• Rigorous reflection on Christian truths
• Holistic leadership for engaging contemporary challenges
• Effective evangelism, disciple-making and meeting of community needs
  
• Practical competencies needed for ministry

At AGTS, the M.Div. degree requires 78 credits of study. It has been streamlined to enable students to begin or resume full-time ministry one semester sooner than traditional 90 credit programs. Course options in fulfilling requirements enable students to customize their program to fit their needs and interests. Twelve concentrations allow students to specialize in a particular area, if they wish.

AGTS offers a distinctive two-track M.Div.: one for those who have graduated from a secular college and another for those who have had substantial undergraduate work in Bible, theology and/or ministry. The first track eliminates the frustration of keeping up with students who already have a background in theological studies. The second track eliminates the frustration of repeating courses already taken in undergraduate studies, and allows students to take more advanced courses.

The M.Div. combines the biblical-theological emphasis of the M.A. in Theological Studies with the ministry relevance of the M.A. in Christian Ministries. It more thoroughly equips students for ministry, and—for those interested—future studies such as the D.Min. or Ph.D.

Overview of Curriculum

Mission of God & World Christianity	12
Bible & Theology	27
Practical Theology	24
Electivesr	12
Field Education & Research Project	3
Total	78

Students planning to enter a Ph.D. program may profit from taking an additional 12 credits in their field of interest.

Those with limited experience in ministry leadership must take at least one practicum as part of their electives.

M.Div. Degree Components and Requirements

1. All Core Courses are required.
2. If a Core Course has been successfully completed with a grade of C or higher as an undergraduate, the student may substitute an Alternative Course. (Several Core Courses define our educational vision and do not have alternatives.)
3. Alternative Courses may be freely taken in the place of Advanced Courses.
4. Six credits, two semesters, of introductory Greek is a prerequisite for the M.Div. degree. If not taken previously, students must take Greek IA and IB (BGR 530 and BGR 531) during their first twelve months of studies at AGTS. Greek IA and IB are prerequisites for Greek exegesis courses and will enhance the students’ study of the New Testament. If the student is unable to take Greek IA and IB through regular classes, the courses are also offered as Distance Learning Courses on DVD.

Mission of God and World Christianity (12 credits)

Bible and Theology (27 credits)

* Prerequisite: BGR 530 Greek IA and BGR 531 Greek IB
** Prerequisite: BGR 530 and 531 and BGR 611 and 612.
*** Prerequisite: BHE 530 Hebrew IA and BHE 531 Hebrew IB

Practical Theology (24 credits)

Core Courses		Alternatives
PTH 544	Spiritual Formation of the Leader
PTH 553	Personal Dynamics of Leadership
PTH 653	Leadership in Ministry	PTH 625 Effective Leadership
		PTH 528 Vision-Centered Leadership
HOM 529	Communicating the Message I	HOM 633 Communicating the Message II
HOM 633	Communicating the Message II	Expository Preaching course
		PTH Elective
Advanced Courses		Alternatives
PTH 554	Relational Dynamics of Leadership	PTH 623 Effective Relationships in Ministry PTH/PCP 520 Contemporary Family Ministry PCP 550 Interpersonal Techniques in Helping Relationships
PTH 551	Effective Evangelism and Assimilation	PTH 622 Communicating Christian Faith in a Pluralistic Society PTH 530 Church Planting (Establishing New Churches) PTH 620 Ministry in Emerging Culture
PTH 650	Building a Disciple-Making Ministry

Electives (12 credits)

Electives in Bible/Theology, Global Missions and/or Practical Theology

Field Education and Research Project (3 credits)

PTH 556 Field Education Research Project¹
This summative course should be taken during the last year of study.

*See Biblical Language Requirements.
1. See Field Education Research Manual.

Concentrations (Optional)

Concentrations are not required. Students may pursue electives of their choice instead. If students desire a concentration, they will assume responsibility for taking the needed courses through their requirements and electives. These concentrations will not appear on the student audit since students often change them during the course of their studies. If the needed courses have been taken and brought to the registrar’s attention, at graduation the concentration will appear on a student’s transcript. Depending on the concentration, four or five courses are needed.

• Biblical Languages and Exegesis
• Expository Preaching
• Evangelism
• Leadership
• Military and Institutional Chaplaincy
• Pastoral Care
• Community Development and Justice*
• Intercultural Ministries
• Islamic Studies
• New Testament
• Old Testament
• Theology
• Pentecostal and Charismatic Studies

* Courses required for concentration will appear at a later date.

Distance Learning

A limited number of courses may be taken through directed research or distance learning.

Graduation Requirements

In addition to the general requirements for graduation, a Field Education Research Project course will be required toward the close of the student’s course work.

Biblical Language Requirements

The M.Div. degree program requires that six credits of advanced biblical languages be taken at AGTS. Introductory coursework in NT Greek is a prerequisite for M.Div. students and cannot be applied to the degree. To satisfy the biblical language requirement, students who have not taken any biblical Greek language study in their undergraduate programs must complete six credits of 500-level Greek (BGR 530 and BGR 531) within the first 12 months of enrollment at AGTS. Beyond Greek IA and IB, students must take Inductive Studies in the Greek New Testament (BGR 611 and BGR 612) or six credits of any biblical languages, as long as they follow the required prerequisite sequences.

Updated: Thursday, December 15, 2011 11:10 AM