196:"The formal preparation of clergy began in the 16th century when the Roman Catholic Church created a new environment for the formation of priests called the seminary, which literally means “seedbed.” At the Council of Trent (1545–1563), the Roman Catholic Church officially adopted the term for a place where spiritual leaders would be developed. As education grew in Roman Catholic seminaries, they were later developed by Protestant denominations through universities. When Harvard College was founded in 1636, it was the first seminary prototype in North America. The goal of Puritan theological education at Harvard was to produce a pastor-theologian, or “learned clergy.” This has remained the goal of seminaries to this day. Most of these universities offered a bachelor of divinity degree as the primary degree for clergy preparation. In 1808, the first seminary to prepare Congregationalist clergy was the Andover Theological Seminary. Andover’s founders fashioned the essential seminary experience for the next two centuries, which included a professional specialized faculty and a sizeable library. The 3-year curriculum focused on three areas of study: (1) the Bible, (2) church history, and (3) theology. In 1809, the Presbyterians in New Jersey established Princeton Seminary."
187:, one of the largest Protestant Christian denominations in the US, whose students in 2014 made up nine percent of all MDiv students enrolled in schools accredited by the Association of Theological Schools, requires candidates for ordination as elder to earn an MDiv and requires candidates for ordination as deacon to earn either an MDiv or a master's degree in another field with additional theological studies.
301:, they constituted only approximately 29 percent of all MDiv students in the same schools in that year. The group with the most parity in MDiv enrollment numbers between men and women at those schools in that time period were African American students, among whom enrollment numbers were almost equal between genders.
87:
degree but this is only an honorary degree in most countries. This is why the Master of
Divinity is considered a terminal degree to become a pastor or minister, with the Ph.D. only being used for academic purposes and the Doctor of Ministry degree related more to the practical theology of ministry.
200:
In 2022, The
Association of Theological Schools reported that the Master of Divinity degree has seen a steady decline in enrollment. In comparison to 2021, the percentage dropped by 4% and declined 9% since 2018. While the percentage of enrollment in Theological Seminaries have Master of Divinity
82:
of study (72 being the minimum determined by academic accrediting agencies, and 106 being on the upper end of certain schools that wish to ensure a broader study of the related disciplines.) After the completion of the Master of
Divinity degree, students can continue further and get their
253:
thus requires seven or eight years of education past high school: the first four in undergraduate studies leading to a bachelor's degree (which may or may not be in a related field) and then three or four years of seminary or divinity school education leading to the MDiv.
104:
established the standard that all accredited MDiv programs should include the following four content areas: Religious
Heritage, Cultural Context, Personal and Spiritual Formation, and Capacity for Ministerial and Public Leadership. Coursework usually includes studies in
244:
hours, as opposed to the 30 to 48 semester hours typical of most master's degrees, or the approximately 60 semester hours typical of mental health counseling or entry-level social work master's degrees. Ordination in most
77:
and in some other religions, the degree is the standard prerequisite for ordination or licensing to professional ministry. At accredited seminaries in the United States, this degree requires between 72 and 106
230:
404:
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Although in 2014 women made up approximately 53 percent of all students enrolled in ministerial non-MDiv degree programs at US schools accredited by the
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studies. The requirements for an MDiv take between three and four years, and include practical experience like most professional terminal degrees.
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degrees as the majority enrollment, the decline from 43% to 35% in a decade indicate a concern for professionals in the field.
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previously was and remains a prerequisite for entrance into graduate divinity programs. The
Commission on Accrediting of the
706:. Table 4.1 Average Tuition and Fees Charged for Selected Degree Programs by Full-Time Equivalent Enrollment. p. 83
265:(MTS), the usual academic degrees in the subject (which tend not to include "pastoral" or "practical" courses), and the
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101:
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614: Maddix. (2016). Master of Divinity Degree Programs. In The SAGE Encyclopedia of Online Education (pp. 722–725).
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For the 2022-2023 academic year, the average cost per year for MDiv tuition and fees at a school accredited by the
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in North
America often award both the MDiv and STB at the same time after a three-year period of graduate studies.
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accredits most
Christian schools in North America and approves the degree programs they offer, including the MDiv.
663:. Table 2.12-B Head Count Enrollment by Race or Ethnic Group, Degree, and Gender, 2014 United States. p. 37
506:. Table 2.16 Church/Denominational Affiliation of Students Currently Enrolled, 2014 United States. p. 54
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The MDiv is a significantly more extensive program than most taught (as opposed to research-based)
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580:(2012 ed.). Section VII ¶330: The United Methodist Publishing House. 2012. p. 248.
370:. Table 2.10-B Head Count Enrollment by Degree Category and Program United States. p. 31
217:, since the former title implied in the American academic system that it was on a par with a
542:(2012 ed.). Section IX ¶335: The United Methodist Publishing House. 2012. p. 260.
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Professional and terminal graduate degree in the study of theology and pastoral studies
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405:"Reflections of an 'Investigative Journalist' on the Four Content Areas of the MDiv"
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The MDiv is a requirement for ordination in many denominations. For example, the
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240:. In the United States, the degree typically consists of approximately 90
626:"Theological schools report continued drop in master of divinity degrees"
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97:
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59:
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Association of
Theological Schools in the United States and Canada
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was $ 16,488.67 in the United States and $ 10,765.50 in Canada.
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43:
343:"Alphabetical List - The Association of Theological Schools"
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285:(MRel), which are also academic degrees. Schools with
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The Book of
Discipline of the United Methodist Church
540:
The Book of
Discipline of the United Methodist Church
96:
Christian MDiv programs generally include studies in
418:(1). The Association of Theological Schools: 1–2.
30:For graduate-level theological institutions, the
737:
475:Pew Research Center Religion & Public Life
443:For an example of an MDiv degree outline see
402:
471:"Fifteen Largest Protestant Denominations"
446:"Master of Divinity (MDiv) Degree Outline"
213:in most United States seminaries as the
209:The Master of Divinity has replaced the
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704:The Association of Theological Schools
661:The Association of Theological Schools
504:The Association of Theological Schools
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293:Enrollment differences between genders
176:. The degree may or may not include a
136:Many programs also contain courses in
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643:
623:
100:ministry and theology. In 1996, the
257:The MDiv stands in contrast to the
70:were enrolled in an MDiv program).
24:
624:Post, Kathryn (December 2, 2022).
477:. Pew Research Center. May 7, 2015
311:Association of Theological Schools
299:Association of Theological Schools
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247:mainline Protestant denominations
697:"2022 - 2023 Annual Data Tables"
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271:Licentiate in Sacred Theology
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403:O'Gorman, Robert T. (2007).
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450:Fuller Theological Seminary
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267:Bachelor of Sacred Theology
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261:(MA) in theology and
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107:New Testament Greek
323:Doctor of Divinity
283:Master of Religion
275:Master of Theology
205:Contemporary usage
158:liturgical studies
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708:. Retrieved
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372:. Retrieved
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142:ecclesiology
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123:Hebrew Bible
109:, theology,
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80:credit hours
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35:
31:
29:
635:December 3,
347:www.ats.edu
281:(STM), and
277:(MTh/ThM),
740:Categories
329:References
174:patristics
146:evangelism
111:philosophy
60:seminaries
710:22 August
596:cite book
558:cite book
424:0040-5620
170:canon law
98:Christian
46:) is the
720:cite web
677:cite web
520:cite web
384:cite web
317:See also
249:and the
242:semester
92:Overview
73:In many
273:(STL),
269:(STB),
191:History
129:), and
584:
546:
422:
178:thesis
172:, and
166:Hebrew
18:M.Div.
700:(PDF)
657:(PDF)
500:(PDF)
408:(PDF)
364:(PDF)
162:Latin
44:Latin
726:link
712:2023
683:link
669:2015
637:2022
602:link
582:ISBN
564:link
544:ISBN
526:link
512:2015
483:2015
457:2015
431:2015
420:ISSN
390:link
376:2015
305:Cost
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