Master of Divinity

Aims of the Program

THE MASTER OF DIVINITY DEGREE IS OFFERED AS A FIRST-LEVEL MASTER'S THEOLOGICAL DEGREE FOR THOSE WHO SEEK TO SERVE AS PASTORS, PROPHETS, EVANGELISTS, TEACHERS, AND OTHER LEADERS OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST

The curriculum offered to MDiv students emerges from the seminary’s identity as a community of memory and hope.

Claiming memory, the seminary finds its identity as part of the people of God stretching back thousands of years. Resting in that identity, it leads students to a fresh and critical appropriation of the Christian tradition for themselves and for the sake of those to and with whom they minister.

Claiming hope, Columbia finds its identity in the promises of God, in the world that God will bring about, and in the opportunities still ahead for the work of the Church in the midst of the work of God.

In all this, the MDiv curriculum draws upon the rich resources of the Church’s memory to nurture students’ hope and engage their imaginations for mission in the Church and world.

The Christian ministry needs persons who are possessed with a deep, informed, and personal faith and who are equipped with skills and imagination to lead the people of God in acts of compassion, proclamation, praise, confession, celebration, justice, reconciliation, and healing. Teaching and learning at Columbia equip and form the people who equip the saints to engage in the work of ministry.

ONCE A STUDENT HAS COMPLETED THE DEGREE PROGRAM, THE STUDENT IS EXPECTED TO BE ABLE TO:

• Provide effective leadership in corporate worship and the public arena. • Integrate personal experience with the history and theology of the Christian Church in a way that clarifies call. • Interpret particular ministry contexts. • Respond to the challenges and opportunities • of the contemporary Church, the world, and creation by engaging biblical, historical, doctrinal, and practical theological resources. • Interpret God’s changing world and respond with imagination and resilience.

These are the student learning outcomes for the Master of Divinity degree program.

Length of Program

The MDiv curriculum is designed so that a full-time student can complete the requirements for the degree in three full years and is comprised of 90 semester hour credits. A student’s program may be lengthened by a variety of factors, including participation in internships or taking a reduced load in any given semester. All students must complete their work within six years from the date of matriculation.

Advising

In theological education, students integrate their studies with their own lives. Faculty members aid this process of integration by serving as advisors, assisting students in their course selections each term. As a result of conversations with their advisors, students make course selections that take into account areas of past experience, identified interests and weaknesses, and the assessments of teachers and ministry supervisors. Early in the first year of studies, students undergo an individual supervised ministry assessment with the director of contextual education who makes a recommendation to the student about ways to optimize the student’s contextual education experience while at CTS.

Academic work for the MDiv is offered throughout the year. Two semester-length terms, in the fall and in the spring, anchor the academic year. Half-term courses are also offered during these terms. The calendar also includes an intensive term in January and a summer term designed primarily for language study and supervised ministry experiences. Each semester-length term consists of 6 weeks of classes, a midterm exam and assessment period, another 6 weeks of classes, and a final exam week. The exam days enable students to complete the work for halfterm courses.

All credit is awarded in standard semester hours. Courses that meet for the whole term are assigned 3 credit hours. Those meeting for half the term are given 1.5 credit hours. The half-term courses allow students to take more subjects in a given term without increasing the number of classes they will carry simultaneously.

Candidacy Discernment Consultation

A student’s admission to candidacy for the degree emerges from the Candidacy Discernment Consultation (CDC) and must be approved by the faculty. The CDC is a major review of the student’s work in the MDiv degree and the student’s potential for ministry and includes conversation with a small group of selected faculty and fellow students. It occurs after the student has completed at least thirty-nine credit hours of the degree requirements and three hours of a contextual education experience. At the CDC, questions of spiritual and vocational growth and other issues are addressed. Any recommendations or stipulations that arise from the consultation are reviewed by the faculty before they award the MDiv degree.

Components of the Curriculum (beginning in 2017)

REQUIRED COURSES (11 COURSES/33 CREDITS):

Each of these courses must be successfully completed to earn the MDiv degree: • Imagination and Resilience in God’s Changing

World (1 course/3 credits) • Old Testament Interpretation I & II (2 courses/6 credits) • New Testament Interpretation (1 course/3 credits) • Christian Theology I & II (2 courses/6 credits) • Introduction to Pastoral Care (1 course/3 credits) • Cultural Immersions (1 course/3 credits) • Supervised Ministry (1 course/6 credits) • Cross/Roads (1 course/3 credits) • Scripture Reading Practicum (1 course/0 credits)

DISTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS (11 COURSES/36 CREDITS):

One course from among a specified set of elective courses in each of the following areas must be successfully completed to earn the MDiv degree: • Biblical language (Greek or Hebrew) (3 credits) • Biblical exegesis using Greek or Hebrew (3 credits) • American Religious History (3 credits) • Christian ethics (3 credits) • History of Christianities (3 credits) • World Christianities (3 credits) • Christian education (3 credits) • Christian leadership (3 credits) • Preaching (3 credits) • Worship (3 credits) • Advanced Supervised Ministry or Practica courses (courses with significant practice components) (6 credits)

GENERAL ELECTIVES (21 CREDITS)

TOTAL OF 90 CREDITS

Requirements For The Master of Divinity Degree

To be eligible for graduation with the Master of Divinity degree, students are required to: • Have on file with the seminary a complete and official transcript of credits showing graduation with a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college of liberal arts and sciences (unless admitted by special action of the faculty), a completed health form, and any required standardized test results; • Be tested for and achieve competency in English writing and speech; • Be admitted to degree candidacy through the successful completion of the Candidacy

Discernment Consultation; • Satisfactorily complete all the requirements of the degree with a total of 90 credit hours within six years of the date of matriculation, 48 of which must be completed at Columbia (excluding cross-registration courses); • Successfully complete the Scripture Reading

Practicum, a not-for-credit transcripted requirement; • Maintain a minimum overall grade point average of 2.30; • Lead community worship at least as once after having completed 66 credit hours (This requirement is suspended for those graduating in 2023); • Be in residence for at least four semesters (residency is defined as enrollment as a degree-seeking student and registered for classes); • Demonstrate to the faculty that they have sustained a sound moral and religious character in seminary life and give promise of useful service in the ministry or related vocations; and • Pay all bills to Columbia and give assurance that all open accounts in the community and elsewhere have been satisfied. Students with education loans must agree to make prompt and regular payments.

Further Theological Study beyond the Master’s Degree

Although the Master of Divinity program does not equip graduates with everything they will need for effective and faithful ministry, they are equipped with initial and essential tools for their ministries. Because the search for faithful answers to the challenges of the Christian life today requires an ethic of learning for the faith, many graduates return to this and other places of group learning for regular additional formal study. Further knowledge, additional insight into the life of faith, and strengthened practice for faithful leadership result when graduates engage in regular, disciplined theological study at various stages in their ministries.

Admission to the Master of Divinity Program

Admission to the Master of Divinity program requires a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale. All prospective students are strongly encouraged to apply regardless of their GPA or prior area of academic focus; all applications will be thoroughly reviewed and considered for admission.

Offers of admission to the Master of Divinity program are made are made on a rolling basis between November 15 and June 30. Applications that are completed by November 15 will receive an admissions decision by December 15. Students who also submit their FAFSA by November 15 will also receive a preliminary scholarship decision. Additional scholarship review for the Seminary’s largest scholarships and fellowships will begin on January 15. Applications received after January 15 will be considered for scholarships as funds are available. In order to enroll at the Seminary in the fall semester, applications must be completed by June 15.

Students who are unable to matriculate during the semester for which they were admitted may defer their admissions decision for up to one academic year. Deferral requests must be submitted in writing to admissions@ctsnet.edu. Incomplete applications and/or admitted students that do not matriculate and do not submit a deferral request will be administratively withdrawn from the admissions process with Columbia retaining application materials for at least one academic year. After one academic year, applicants may be required to submit new application materials to be considered for admission.

Application Requirements

The application process in entirely online. Applicants can apply by visiting https://ctsnet.edu/apply.

To be considered for admission to the Master of Divinity program, an applicant must submit to the admissions office the following materials: • Online application for admission • $50 nonrefundable application fee • Resume / CV • Autobiographical Statement: three-four pages, typed, double-spaced autobiographical statement serves as an introduction to the admissions team. Applicants should carefully write their statement considering content, style, grammar, and organization. Ordinarily, applicants write about their personal life, sense of vocation/call, academic interests, and their reason for applying to Seminary/Columbia. A guiding document for the autobiographical statement can be obtained online or by emailing admissions@ctsnet.edu. • Academic Writing Sample: this should be a recent sample of the applicant’s writing that clearly demonstrates ability to write and critically engage an argument. Recent is defined as having been written in the last 3-5 years. If a recent sample is not available, the applicant may choose to submit an alternative writing assignment for which a prompt can be found online. Students seeking guidance concerning the academic

writing sample or alternate writing assignment should email admissions@ctsnet.edu. • Official Transcript(s): applicants must submit transcripts from all colleges, universities, seminaries, and graduate schools attended by the applicant for at least one course whether or not a degree was granted. Official transcripts should be sent directly from the institution to Columbia

Theological Seminary. If an applicant is currently enrolled in a degree program, the applicant should send an official transcript that includes all work to-date. Such applicants will be admitted provisionally contingent upon receipt of the final transcript post-graduation. • Three Letters of Recommendation: may be academic, pastoral, or professional. At least one letter must be provided by a pastor or pastoral equivalent (e.g., campus minister). Students are strongly encouraged to submit at least one academic reference. Applicants seeking ordination are strongly encouraged to obtain appropriate recommendations from the appropriate congregational and/or denominational representatives.

Additional Requirements

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS | TOEFL REQUIREMENT

English Language Learners (ELL) and persons whose first language is not English are required to submit recent test scores, ordinarily taken within the last two years, from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). In most cases, students accepted to Columbia’s first-level master’s degree programs submit a TOEFL score of 84 or higher on the internet-based TOEFL (iBT, iBT Home Edition, or Paper-delivered) with a minimum score of 21 in each of the skill sections. TOEFL scores should be submitted by TOEFL directly to Columbia (Institutional Code: 5118). All test fees are the responsibility of the applicant.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS | I-20S AND FINANCIAL CERTIFICATION

All international students are required to complete Columbia’s financial certification process upon admission and prior to applying for a visa. The process will ensure the student has adequate financial resources to cover tuition, fees, travel, and living expenses for the duration of their study in the United States. The I-20 will not be issued until the financial certification process has been completed. For fall enrollment, the certification process must take place by May 30 for those living abroad, and no later than June 30 for those currently in the United States who are transferring from another institution.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS | HEALTH INSURANCE REQUIREMENT

International students will automatically be billed for health insurance unless they can meet the insurance requirements outlined by the seminary with an alternative provider.

TRANSFER STUDENTS | LETTER OF GOOD STANDING

Students transferring from another seminary or graduate school are required to submit a letter of good standing that certifies the student will leave their current school in good standing with the institution – academic, financial, and otherwise.

CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK

After admission and prior to enrollment, all admitted students must complete a background check that will be conducted via a Columbiaapproved third-party. All admissions decisions are contingent upon the successful completion of the criminal background check.

TITLE IX TRAINING BY EVERFI

All admitted students are required to complete an All admitted students are required to complete an online Title IX training provided by Columbia prior to matriculation. The training will familiarize students with matters related to Title IX, sexual misconduct, and reporting.

ADMISSIONS DEPOSIT

A nonrefundable admissions deposit of $250 is required of all students enrolling at Columbia Theological Seminary. The deposit is due within thirty (30) days of a student’s admission decision and no later than July 30, in order to confirm the student’s place in the program.

GRE TEST SCORES

The Columbia Admissions Office welcomes the submission of Graduate Record Exam (GRE) test scores. However, this is not required to be considered for admission.

Transfer Credit

Students in good standing in other accredited seminaries may be admitted after transcripts have been evaluated and their applications approved by the Admissions Committee. Such students must secure a letter from their academic dean indicating that they are students in good standing. Students in the MDiv degree program may receive no more than 45 credit hours for work completed at another Association of Theological Schools (ATS) accredited institution within the past five years. Transfer credit will only be given for courses passed with a grade of B or higher. A student who has completed a Master of Arts (MA) degree from an ATS accredited institution may transfer in up to half of the MA degree toward Columbia’s MDiv degree. The determination of whether or not particular courses taken at other institutions receive credit is made by the Office of Academic Affairs, which also determines whether the credits will fulfill either required or elective credit hours. All petitions for transfer credit and advanced standing must be made by the end of the student’s first academic year.

Master of Divinity

The Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree is a basic theological degree for those who seek to serve as the pastors, prophets, evangelists, teachers, and other leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ.

COMPONENTS OF THE CURRICULUM

Required Courses

11 COURSES · 33 CREDITS Each of these courses must be successfully completed to earn the MDiv degree: · Old Testament Interpretation I & II (6 credits) · New Testament Interpretation (3 credits) · Christian Theology I & II (6 credits) · Pastoral Care (3 credits) · Imagination & Resilience in God’s Changing World (3 credits) · Explorations (3 credits) · Cross/Roads (3 credits) · Supervised Ministry (6 credits) · Scripture Reading Practicum

General Electives

7 COURSES · 21 CREDITS

Distribution Requirements

11 COURSES · 36 CREDITS One course from among a specified set of courses in each of the following areas must be successfully completed to earn the MDiv degree: · Biblical Greek OR Biblical Hebrew (3 credits) · Biblical exegesis using Greek or Hebrew (3 credits) · History of Christianities (3 credits) · American Religious History (3 credits) · World Christianities (3 credits) · Christian ethics (3 credits) · Christian education (3 credits) · Christian leadership (3 credits) · Preaching (3 credits) · Worship (3 credits) · Advanced Supervised Ministry or Practica courses (courses with significant practice components) (6 credits)

TOTAL: 90 CREDITS

As an accredited theological school of the Presbyterian Church (USA), we engage students with some of the best faculty anywhere! We host a large table for people from all denominations and backgrounds. For full descriptions of our graduate degree programs and academics, please visit our website, CTSnet.edu.

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