Bethel Seminary St. Paul
Master of Divinity
The Master of Divinity program is designed to provide a balanced background of studies, with courses taken from each of the departments of study. The aim of the program is to guide students in a process of growth through cognitive studies, skill courses and experiences, self-assessment measures, counseling, and community life that leads to self-understanding and spiritual maturity. Such preparation should also develop an attitude that learning and growth are a lifelong process.
The M.Div. degree is designed to prepare persons for professional ministry in the church (e.g., pastor, missionary, chaplain, denominational minister, parachurch leader). It seeks to graduate people who have knowledge and experience of the Christian faith, who give evidence of emotional and spiritual maturity, who relate to others with integrity, who possess skills for ministry, and who meet the educational requirements for ordination. Specifically, it seeks to develop leaders who:
- understand the contents of the Old and New Testaments, and have the ability to interpret the Scriptures using appropriate methods;
- have knowledge of the history and theology of the church;
- are able to formulate their own theological positions with awareness of past and present alternatives;
- are committed to the evangelism and discipleship of all peoples within those peoples’ own cultural contexts;
- are sensitive to ethical problems and oppose social injustice;
- understand and are skilled in preaching, evangelism, teaching, and counseling;
- are able to develop, administer, and evaluate programs and ministries;
- model the practice of prayer, worship, a servant attitude, and personal discipleship; and
- are able to function as lifelong learners.
The seminary confers a Master of Divinity degree upon students who complete the prescribed sequence of courses and the senior requirements. However, graduation is not automatic when academic requirements have been met. Since the seminary aims to graduate men and women who qualify as Christian leaders, the faculty and administration will evaluate a student’s qualifications in terms of spiritual, doctrinal, and professional standards as well as academic standards.
For graduation with a Master of Divinity degree, a student must complete a minimum of 144 credits and maintain at least a C (2.0) average. In addition, the following requirements must be met by all candidates for a degree. Failure to meet the deadlines indicated in the calendar will incur forfeiture of candidacy for a year. Candidates must:
- participate in covenant groups;
- complete supervised ministry requirements including the three-year assessment and evaluation program;
- write a personal statement of faith acceptable to the faculty;
- present a clearance of financial accounts; and
- participate in graduation ceremonies unless approval has been given by the Academic Programs Assessment and Accreditation Committee to graduate in absentia.
The Master of Divinity with a Concentration in Christian Thought
A concentration in Christian Thought serves students whose sense of leading points toward teaching, evangelism, discipleship, and apologetics within a pastoral context. In supplementing the broader ministry preparation provided by the M.Div., this concentration gives students a systemic grasp of the Christian worldview. The program may appeal to those who approach church life with a passion for reaching people with the gospel and for strengthening believers by helping them know the reasons for faith.
The M.Div. requires at least three academic years. The seminary’s regular course offerings mean students may fulfill academic requirements during the regular terms. Students in this concentration will also have opportunities to study with outstanding visiting scholars in philosophy of religion during intensives scheduled in June and September.
All M.Div. students participate in internships with the department of supervised ministry. Those who sense a call to outreach or discipleship ministry using the concentration in Christian Thought may develop their internships with those ministries in view. The department of supervised ministry handles the details of this process.
The Master of Divinity with a Concentration in Marriage and Family Studies
Designed to prepare persons who wish to provide pastoral leadership, this program prepares students to understand family systems, to teach, to preach, and to administer programs in ways that are sensitive to family issues and to understand systemic dynamics of congregational life.
The M.Div. portion of the program (including the Marriage and Family concentration courses) takes three academic years.
Marriage and Family courses meet during the day on Mondays and Tuesdays. Biblical, theological, historical, and applied ministry courses are taken as part of the present seminary offerings in the daytime or evening. This schedule gives both predictability and flexibility.
The Post-Graduate Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy is designed for Master of Divinity graduates with concentrations in Marriage and Family Studies. Certificate requirements include four additional MF courses and a nine-month practicum. A separate application process is required for ad-mission to the certificate sequence. See Post-Graduate Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy for additional information.
Students completing the licensure preparation sequence meet the academic requirements for licensure as a marriage and family therapist in most states, but additional supervised clinical practice and the taking of a licensing examination would typically be needed to obtain actual licensure.
The InMinistry Master of Divinity Program
Master of Divinity Modular Format (SemPM)
Master of Divinity Language Tracks
Preaching the biblical gospel is central to Christian ministry. Therefore, Bethel’s faculty believes that Master of Divinity students should learn the biblical languages. All M.Div. students are required to take a biblical language track. Students enrolled in the M.Div. in marriage and family studies are encouraged to take the Hebrew track, though they may instead choose the Greek track.
In the Greek language track students come to seminary with one year of college Greek completed or plans to take two quarters of Elementary Greek in the first year of study. Upon successfully passing the Greek qualifying examination, the student registers for the New Testament 110, 111, and 112 series in which Greek exegesis is required. Students who wish to expedite their programs may choose to enroll in Greek language study prior to their first quarter of enrollment.
The Hebrew language track is offered for students pursuing a concentration in one of the applied areas for which Hebrew language study is preferable to Greek language study. Both elementary and intermediate courses in Hebrew are required. Exegetical methods of study will be covered in the language courses. After completing two Hebrew language courses, students will enter the Old Testament 111, 112, and 113 series.
Students desiring proficiency in both biblical languages may elect the Greek and Hebrew language track. Students will complete elementary Greek, pass the qualifying exam, and continue with the New Testament 100-level courses that require Greek exegesis. Hebrew language courses are taken the year after elementary Greek, and are followed by the Old Testament 100-level courses that require Hebrew exegesis.
For students in the non-traditional delivery systems (SemPM and InMinistry), a variety of accommodations have been made to allow students to pursue language study. See the program directors for further information.
Supervised Ministry
All Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Christian Education students must participate in supervised ministry throughout their degree programs. Click here for details about supervised ministry.
Degree Requirements
Master of Divinity—Greek/Hebrew Track
Required Courses
| BT501 | Hermeneutics | 4 |
| CP501 | Introduction to Preaching | 4 |
| CP551 | Preaching Practicum A & B | 4 |
| DC501 | Discipleship in Community | 4 |
| GC501 | Intro. to Global & Contextual Ministries | 4 |
| GC505 | Evangelism for Discipleship | 4 |
| HS501 | Early Church to Reformation | 4 |
| HS502 | Church in the Modern World | 4 |
| ML513 | Transformational Leadership | 4 |
| NT521 | Elementary Greek I | 4 |
| NT522 | Elementary Greek II | 4 |
| NT531 | Intermediate Greek | 4 |
| NT551 | The Gospels | 4 |
| NT552 | Acts and Pauline Letters | 4 |
| OT521 | Hebrew Language I | 4 |
| OT522 | Hebrew Language II | 4 |
| OT551 | Genesis - Ruth | 4 |
| OT552 | I Samuel - Song of Songs | 4 |
| OT553 | Isaiah - Malachi | 4 |
| PC501 | Introduction to Pastoral Care | 4 |
| SP500 | SPF: Foundations and Traditions | 4 |
| SP600 | SPF: Self in Community | 4 |
| SP700 | Integration Seminar | 4 |
| TL501 | Culture and Ministry | 4 |
| TS501 | Systematic Theology I | 4 |
| TS502 | Systematic Theology II | 4 |
| TS503 | Systematic Theology III | 4 |
| TS505 | Christian Social Ethics | 4 |
| Concentration Courses and Electives | 28 |
Supervised Ministry and Other Requirements
| TL551 | Field Education Practicum | 0 |
| TL552 | Professional Internship | 4 |
| SP001 | Formation Assessments | 0 |
| TL001 | Vocational Assessments |
0 |
| Transformational Church Series |
0 |
|
| Senior Statement of Faith |
0 |
Master of Divinity—Greek Track
Required Courses
| BT501 | Hermeneutics | 4 |
| CP501 | Introduction to Preaching | 4 |
| CP551 | Preaching Practicum A & B | 2 |
| DC501 | Discipleship in Community | 4 |
| GC501 | Intro. to Global & Contextual Ministries | 4 |
| GC505 | Evangelism for Discipleship | 4 |
| HS501 | Early Church to Reformation | 4 |
| HS502 | Church in the Modern World | 4 |
| ML513 | Transformational Leadership | 4 |
| NT521 | Elementary Greek I | 4 |
| NT522 | Elementary Greek II | 4 |
| NT531 | Intermediate Greek Grammar | 4 |
| NT551 | The Gospels | 4 |
| NT552 | Acts and Pauline Letters | 4 |
| OT501 | Genesis - Ruth | 4 |
| OT502 | I Samuel - Song of Songs | 4 |
| OT503 | Isaiah - Malachi | 4 |
| PC501 | Introduction to Pastoral Care | 4 |
| SP500 | SPF: Foundations and Traditions | 4 |
| SP600 | SPF: Self in Community | 4 |
| SP700 | SPF: Integration Seminar | 4 |
| TL501 | Culture and Ministry | 4 |
| TS501 | Systematic Theology I | 4 |
| TS502 | Systematic Theology II | 4 |
| TS503 | Systematic Theology III | 4 |
| TS505 | Christian Social Ethics | 4 |
|
Concentration Courses and Electives |
36 |
Supervised Ministry and Other Requirements
| TL551 | Field Education Practicum | 0 |
| TL552 | Professional Internship | 4 |
| SP001 | Formation Assessments | 0 |
| TL001 | Vocational Assessments | 0 |
| Transformational Church Series |
0 |
|
| Senior Statement of Faith |
0 |
Master of Divinity—Hebrew Track
Required Courses
| BT501 | Hermeneutics | 4 |
| CP501 | Introduction to Preaching | 4 |
| CP551 | Preaching Practicum A & B | 4 |
| DC501 | Discipleship in Community | 4 |
| GC501 | Intro. to Global & Contextual Ministries | 4 |
| GC505 | Evangelism for Discipleship | 4 |
| HS501 | Early Church to Reformation | 4 |
| HS502 | Church in the Modern World | 4 |
| ML513 | Transformational Leadership | 4 |
| NT501 | The Gospels | 4 |
| NT502 | Acts and Pauline Letters | 4 |
| NT503 | Hebrews through Revelation | 4 |
| OT521 | Hebrew Language I | 4 |
| OT522 | Hebrew Language II | 4 |
| OT551 | Genesis - Ruth | 4 |
| OT552 | I Samuel - Song of Songs | 4 |
| OT553 | Isaiah - Malachi | 4 |
| PC501 | Introduction to Pastoral Care | 4 |
| SP500 | SPF: Foundations and Traditions | 4 |
| SP600 | SPF: Self in Community | 4 |
| SP700 | SPF: Integration Seminar | 4 |
| TL501 | Culture and Ministry | 4 |
| TS501 | Systematic Theology I | 4 |
| TS502 | Systematic Theology II | 4 |
| TS503 | Systematic Theology III | 4 |
| TS505 | Christian Social Ethics | 4 |
| Concentration Courses and Electives | 36 |
Supervised Ministry and Formation
| TL551 | Field Education Practicum | 0 |
| TL552 | Professional Internship | 4 |
| SP001 | Formation Assessments | 0 |
| TL001 | Vocational Assessments | 0 |
| Transformational Church Series |
0 |
|
| Senior Statement of Faith |
0 |
A minimum of 144 quarter credits is required for graduation in the M.Div. program. Concentration courses must be taken at the advanced level. Electives must be taken from all three centers; see individual guidesheets for further information. The student is responsible to meet all graduation deadlines and requirements.
The Bethel Seminary Catalog is provided online as a convenience for those who desire course information in electronic form. The printed version of the Bethel Seminary catalog is the official version, and it will be treated as the document of record in all seminary business.