The Master of Divinity (M.DIV.)
The Master of Divinity is the first professional, theological degree for persons who expect to engage in some form of ordained ministry. The course work consists of 78 credit hours and requires at least three years of study. There are two tracks available to the M.Div. degree: the Pastoral Leadership track designed primarily for those seeking denominational ordination, and the Adaptive Leadership track that offers significant flexibility for those with different ministry callings. These two tracks share 60 credits of core, foundational courses, with the Pastoral Leadership track having an additional 15 core credits. Most courses in the curriculum are 3 credit hour courses that meet for 3 hours once a week over a 14-week semester.
Work schedules, attempts to keep down commuting time and costs, and various other factors may prevent a student from taking the core courses in the recommended order. However, there is a strong rationale for the following sequence, and students are urged to take these courses as close to that order as possible. By doing so, students may avoid scheduling problems as they approach the end of a degree program. An overall undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.5 is normally required for admission to the M.Div. program. The maximum time allowance for completion of the degree requirements is ten academic years.
Graduation Requirements
To be recommended for the M.Div. degree, the candidate must:
- Satisfactorily earn 78 credit hours, including all of the prescribed course requirements, plus fulfillment of financial and library obligations.
- Maintain at least a 2.0 grade point average for the total course of studies.
- Formulate a satisfactory statement of personal Christian faith and a theology of ministry and mission.
- Satisfactorily complete INTG 510 A Guide to Seminary Writing, unless testing out of it.
- Give evidence of readiness for ministry, including such attributes as satisfactory character, moral and spiritual maturity, and emotional stability.
Graduation and Ordination
The M.Div. program is intended to prepare persons for ordained ministry, but granting the degree does not imply endorsement for ordination. While this degree from Palmer Theological Seminary normally meets the educational requirements for ordination in most denominations, some may require additional work in denominationally-specific areas. More importantly, churches and other appropriate bodies ultimately determine whether a graduate will be ordained.
M.DIV. Core Curriculum
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 Courses | ||
| INTG 510 | A Guide to Seminary Writing 1 | 3 |
| SFRM 505 | Nurturing Spiritual Life & Character I: Introduction to Spiritual Formation | 3 |
| BIBL 501 | Old Testament Study I | 3 |
| BIBL 503 | New Testament Study I | 3 |
| BIBL 513 | Biblical Interpretation for Ministry | 3 |
| CHHM 510 | The Church in Mission Through History | 3 |
| PRMN 510 | Foundations of Pastoral Care and Counseling | 3 |
| THLE 510 | Theology and Ethics of Congregational Life | 3 |
| Level 2 Courses | ||
| SFRM 506 | Nurturing Spiritual Life & Character II Journey to Wholeness | 3 |
| BIBL 502 | Old Testament Study II | 3 |
| BIBL 504 | New Testament Study II | 3 |
| THLE 520 | Syst.Theo.& Ethics: Vision of Community | 3 |
| THLE 521 | Syst.Theo.& Ethics: Reign of God | 3 |
| PRMN 520 | Introduction to Homiletics | 3 |
| SUPV 525 & SUPV 526 | Theological Field Education 1A and Theological Field Education 1B | 3 |
| Select one of the following: 2 | 3 | |
| Biblical Hebrew | ||
| New Testament Greek | ||
| Select one of the following: 2 | 3 | |
| Hebrew Exegesis | ||
| New Testament Greek Exegesis | ||
| PRMN 521 | Preaching Practicum 2 | 3 |
| Level 3 Courses | ||
| SFRM 507 | Nurturing Spiritual Life & Character III The Christian Leader | 3 |
| INTG 524 | Church Renewal & Evangelism | 3 |
| CHHM 530 | Christian World Mission | 3 |
| PRMN 540 | Organizational Management and Leadership | 3 |
| PRMN 530D | Teaching the Faith | 3 |
| INTG 531 | Theology & Practice of Worship 2 | 3 |
| Select one of the following: 2 | 3 | |
| Clinical Pastoral Care Practicum (cpc) | ||
| Clinical Pastoral Education | ||
| Electives 3 | 3-18 | |
- 1
Students can test out of this course.
- 2
Required only for Pastoral Leadership track.
- 3
3 credit hours for Pastoral Leadership Track
18 credit hours for Adaptive Leadership (Customized) Track
Required Electives
Successful completion of three credit hours of elective coursework for the Pastoral Leadership track and 18 for the Adaptive Leadership (Customized) track are required from additional Seminary or Eastern University graduate courses. Up to nine credit hours of elective coursework may be taken from non-M.Div. program courses based on a clear justification for doing so. Courses satisfying these required electives are offered either in the regular semester or in a concentrated ‘intensive’ format during the summer terms.
Denominationally Specific Requirements
Denominational coursework is not required by Palmer for the M.Div. degree, but may be required by student’s particular denomination; the student should consult his or her denominational body to determine its specific requirements.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| DNOM 510 | Baptist Emphases & Polity | 3 |
| DNOM 513 | Presbyterian Polity & Sacraments | 3 |
| DNOM 514 | Theology in the Reformed Tradition | 3 |
| DNOM 520 | United Methodist Doctrine and Polity | 3 |
| DNOM 521 | United Methodist History & Mission | 3 |
Theological Field Education
The Seminary’s motto establishes a strong motivation to provide supervised pastoral experience, so that whole persons are prepared to respond to the Gospel imperative to minister to the varied challenges of our changing world. Field education students engage in internships 10 to 12 hours per week in churches or church-related agencies under the guidance of experienced supervisors and lay committees. The year of theological field education occurs in a setting where the seminarian engages in a broad spectrum of ministerial responsibilities. Students are challenged to grow personally, relationally, and professionally. In addition to their field placement, students participate in a weekly faculty-led seminar groups that foster personal sharing and theological reflection on their pastoral experiences and vocational identity formation.
Completion of at least one year of Theological Field Education is required for the M.Div. degree. During their first year in Seminary, M.Div. students are encouraged to meet with the Supervised Ministries staff for orientation in preparation for interviewing for internships. Other forms of theological field education may be taken as electives in any academic term (Fall, Spring, Summer). These include supervised ministry in parishes, denominational agencies, summer camps, and national parks as well as in various other urban or rural settings.