Mission Statement
The Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree is the standard degree in American theological education. The M.Div. provides a solid foundation for ministry service by leading students through a wide range of disciplines, including Biblical studies, theology, history, philosophy, pastoral ministry, preaching, evangelism and more. The degree program will be appropriate for a variety of persons, including recent college graduates entering ministry and those already in ministry who are ready for advanced study.
Master of Divinity and Master of Ministry Personnel
Dr. Michael Duduit, Dean, College of Christian Studies and Clamp Divinity School,
Dr. Kristopher K. Barnett, Associate Dean, Clamp Divinity School and Assistant Professor of Christian Ministry
Dr. Bryan Cribb, Associate Professor of Christian Studies
Dr. Channing Crisler, Assistant Professor of Christian Studies
Dr. Charles W. Fuller, Assistant Professor of Christian Studies
Dr. Tim McKnight, Assistant Professor of Christian Studies
Dr. Ryan Neal, Associate Professor of Christian Studies
Ms. Kelli Strickland, Administrative Assistant
BA + MDiv Program Overview 173 Cr. Hrs.)
The Master of Divinity degree offered by most seminaries and divinity schools in the U.S., is typically a three-year program, which follows four years of undergraduate study. The Fast Track BA + M.Div. allow students to apply 30 hours of their undergraduate biblical, theological and ministry courses toward the MDiv program. This leaves them only 45 hours to complete the second degree, saving time and money in preparing for ministry.
Students in the BA + MDIV begin in the undergraduate Christian Studies degree like any other degree-seeking undergraduate student. The student has the option to elect to complete concentrations to their Christian Studies degree such as Youth Ministry, Pastoral Ministry, Preaching, Missions, Apologetics, or Biblical Studies.
During the sophomore year, a Christian Studies student who has earned a 3.0 GPA and presents a recommendation from a pastor at the church they attend, can apply to begin taking Fast Track courses. Although the student is still considered an undergraduate student, Fast Track courses are master level courses and include master-level requirements.
When the student completes 128 credits hours required for the undergraduate degree, he or she will graduate as any other undergraduate student.
Following the completion of the undergraduate degree, the Fast Track Course credits will be applied toward the M.Div. degree program. If a student has successfully completed 30 hours of Fast Track courses, he or she will only have 45 graduate credit hours left to complete to earn the M.Div. The graduate requirements, including those taken in Fast Track, include 36 credit hours of Biblical and Theological Studies and 39 credit hours of Ministry Study.
Master of Divinity Degree Requirements
In order to be awarded the Master of Divinity degree, the student must successfully complete the 75-hour curriculum of courses.
Classroom and online courses are off ered in traditional 15-week and accelerated 8-week terms in the fall and spring semesters. A four-week May term is off ered in a hybrid format, with the course meeting one night per week (Tuesday or Thursday) and the balance of content delivered online. Two Intensive courses are off ered during the summer, with classes meeting Monday through Friday from 9 am until noon, and 1 pm until 5. Evening classroom courses for the Anderson campus will meet one evening per week from 6:00 until 10:00 pm. Online courses will meet interactively online one evening per week from 7:00 until 8:00 pm. (All times are Eastern. Students unable to participate live in the weekly class sessions may seek permission to substitute viewing of archived class sessions.) In addition, online students will receive a major portion of course content via video recordings (primarily streaming video), to be viewed prior to each week’s class session.
Transfer of Credits
Anderson University recognizes appropriate course work completed at other seminaries, universities and colleges that have been accredited by one of the six regional accrediting bodies in the U.S. (Acceptance of credit from a non-regionally accredited institution will be made on a case by case basis, depending on the institution.) Transfer courses must be appropriate for the degree program, and have commensurate academic content and expectations to the course being substituted, with a grade of “B” or higher. Transfer hours are posted on the official transcript as credit earned with no grade. The maximum amount of transfer credit for the Master of Divinity degree is 24 hours.
