Master of Divinity
For graduate-level theological institutions, the Master of Divinity (MDiv, magister divinitatis in
In many
Overview
Christian MDiv programs generally include studies in
Many programs also contain courses in
.The MDiv is a requirement for ordination in many denominations. For example, the United Methodist Church, one of the largest Protestant Christian denominations in the US,[5] whose students in 2014 made up nine percent of all MDiv students enrolled in schools accredited by the Association of Theological Schools,[6] requires candidates for ordination as elder to earn an MDiv[7] and requires candidates for ordination as deacon to earn either an MDiv or a master's degree in another field with additional theological studies.[8]
History
"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."[9]
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 degrees as the majority enrollment, the decline from 43% to 35% in a decade indicate a concern for professionals in the field. [10]
Contemporary usage
The Master of Divinity has replaced the
The MDiv is a significantly more extensive program than most taught (as opposed to research-based)
The MDiv stands in contrast to the
Enrollment differences between genders
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
Cost
For the 2022-2023 academic year the average cost per year for MDiv tuition and fees at a school accredited by the
See also
References
- ^ "Alphabetical List - The Association of Theological Schools". www.ats.edu.
- ^ "2014 - 2015 Annual Data Tables" (PDF). The Association of Theological Schools. Table 2.10-B Head Count Enrollment by Degree Category and Program United States. p. 31. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
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: CS1 maint: location (link) - ISSN 0040-5620. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
- ^ For an example of an MDiv degree outline see "Master of Divinity (MDiv) Degree Outline". Fuller Theological Seminary. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
- ^ "Fifteen Largest Protestant Denominations". Pew Research Center Religion & Public Life. Pew Research Center. May 7, 2015. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
- ^ "2014 - 2015 Annual Data Tables" (PDF). The Association of Theological Schools. Table 2.16 Church/Denominational Affiliation of Students Currently Enrolled, 2014 United States. p. 54. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
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: CS1 maint: location (link) - ISBN 978-1-426-71812-0.)
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: CS1 maint: location (link - ^ Maddix. (2016). Master of Divinity Degree Programs. In The SAGE Encyclopedia of Online Education (pp. 722–725).
- ^ Post, Kathryn (December 2, 2022). "Theological schools report continued drop in master of divinity degrees". Religion News Service. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
- ^ a b "2014 - 2015 Annual Data Tables" (PDF). The Association of Theological Schools. Table 2.12-B Head Count Enrollment by Race or Ethnic Group, Degree, and Gender, 2014 United States. p. 37. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
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: CS1 maint: location (link) - ^ "2022 - 2023 Annual Data Tables" (PDF). The Association of Theological Schools. Table 4.1 Average Tuition and Fees Charged for Selected Degree Programs by Full-Time Equivalent Enrollment. p. 83. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
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