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Master of Divinity

Application Deadlines:

• Fall – July 15
• Spring – October 1 (International Students) & December 1 (Domestic Students)

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Admission Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, or from an equivalent overseas institution.

• Transcripts for all academic study beyond secondary school.

• Statement of purpose by the applicant explaining the reasons and goals for pursuing the Master of Divinity degree.

• Two letters of reference with at least one coming from a religious leader

CONTACT INFORMATION

Office of Graduate Admissions

36 Madison Avenue Madison, NJ

973-408-3111

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Answer the Call

The Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree is a 78-credit degree program that provides professional graduate education for those seeking to be:

  • Ordained pastors or deacons
  • Congregational leaders
  • Community organizers or activists
  • Chaplains in hospital, university or prison settings

Rooted in the long tradition of Wesleyan and Methodist commitment to higher education, Drew’s MDiv prepares a learned Christian leadership in and for the world. Whether in full-time or bi-vocational ministry, graduates of this flexible and innovative program will be rooted in the Christian story and traditions, capable of effective and creative leadership and spiritually and socially resourceful for cultivating the radical gospel of Jesus Christ in, with and for the world.

Learn Together and Where You Are

At Drew we know that learning happens everywhere. This degree is designed to connect your learning in a ministry context, at Seminary Hall, in online video conference classrooms and in off-campus immersions. It can be completed in a combination of in-person and online learning organized in a mix of semester-long and intensive schedules. Although 3 years remains the most common timing for an MDiv, this degree can be completed in as little as 2 ½ years or can be taken part-time over 4 years.

United Methodist students do not need to relocate to New Jersey to get a Drew degree! Because of our flexible hybrid program, you can complete the 26-credit UMC residency requirement by coming to campus for as few as four intensive weeks over three years. For more information, contact [email protected]

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Program of Study: Missional. Vocational. Adaptive.

The program consists of a gateway year, a vocational pathway and experimental and experiential learning that develops and deepens adaptive leadership skills.

Missional (18 credits)

Six required missional and multidisciplinary courses ground all students in religious heritage, theological and spiritual depth, moral integrity, pastoral practice and peace with neighbors. They have been designed by Drew’s renowned faculty in different fields and are grounded in classical theological disciplines and infused with pastoral practices, community partnerships and gospel values.

  • Transforming Theologies
  • Bible and Its Interpreters
  • Christian Communities in Contexts
  • Gospel Living and Social Transformation
  • Global Faith and the Earth
  • Identity, Spirituality, and Vocation

Vocational (27 credits)

You will choose one of four flexible vocational pathways to build the skills that best suit your needs and passions.

  • Congregational Ministries
  • United Methodist Congregational Ministries
  • Social Justice Advocacy
  • Chaplaincy Ministries

Adaptive (11 credits)

You will engage in experimental and experiential learning to help you develop adaptive leadership skills. In this sequence, students engage real-world contexts and challenges and test and adapt solutions:

  • Search for the Good community courses
  • Problem-solving learning labs
  • Vocationally-relevant internships and apprenticeships
  • Study abroad intercultural immersion experience
  • Organizational leadership course
  • Capacities portfolio

Electives (22 credits)

You can choose elective courses from either the Theological School or the Caspersen School for Graduate Studies course listings pending advisor approval. Through these electives, you may also gain an optional concentration by completing four course within one of the following categories:

  • Africana and African American Religion (AFAM)
  • Religion and Ecology (ECO)
  • Religion and Social Justice (RSJ)
  • Women’s and Gender Studies (WMST)
  • Conflict Resolution (CRES)

United Methodist Course Requirements for Ordination

According to the Book of Discipline, Master of Divinity students who plan to seek ordination in the United Methodist Church must complete one third of their classes on Drew’s campus in Madison, New Jersey.

Many Drew students can do this by taking at least nine regular 3-credit courses on campus any time during their program.

United Methodist students who are not within easy commuting distance of Drew’s campus can also fulfill this requirement by taking their courses in a hybrid format and coming to campus for one week at a time.

Every semester, there are at least two courses that Master of Divinity students can take in an intensive format. You can plan your visits to campus for your entire program from the beginning of your studies. These one week intensive courses are offered during semester breaks (fall break is mid-October, and spring break is early March) and in summer sessions.

If you intend to complete your residency credits entirely using intensives, you will need to come to Drew’s campus for a minimum of 4 weeks: two in summer and two in the fall or spring breaks to reach 26 credits.

This schedule is current and was last reviewed in July 2022 by the office of Theological Academic Affairs.