Mentored Master of Divinity


Description

The Master of Divinity (MDiv) Degree is a three-year program enabling students to develop their ministerial leadership identity and skills. To provide guidance in this endeavor, the Faculty has identified six broad objectives for students pursuing the MDiv degree and has refined these objectives in specific required courses and the stated course objectives for each. Achieving these degree and course objectives is also designed to set students on a trajectory of life-long personal, spiritual, and professional growth in the arenas detailed in the Essential Leadership Characteristics identified by the Faculty.

The Mentored MDiv includes all of the required course work of the on-campus MDiv, but utilizes the student's ministry setting to enhance the educational experience.
The program features extensive use of certified field mentors, peer reflection groups including other students directly involved in active ministry, faculty with extensive ministry experience, online learning in the ministry context, church-based, practitioner-led course work, and degree completion that does not require students to leave their ministry setting. 

With the Mentored MDiv students may earn up to 16 hours of academic credit focused on ministry experience supervised by a certified Field Mentor.
The configuration of the course work is flexible, incorporating a learning covenant agreed upon by the student and the Seminary. The ministry site may be student-selected. GGBTS provides training for designated field mentors. While taking P1111, P1121, P1122, P2121 and P1116 (see course descriptions below), students will participate in online peer-reflection groups to broaden their educational experience beyond that provided by their personal ministry activities.

In the Mentored MDiv, field education can play a role throughout a student's Seminary career.
A first-semester course, P1111 - Foundations for Ministry (available online and on all campuses), sets the stage for field education by increasing the student's self-awareness, sense of call and sense of personal growth needs. Theological Field Education (TFE) activities in P1121, P1122 and P2121 guide and provide feedback to students as they engage in ministry. TFE activities are guided by a field mentor and occur in the ministry setting designated in the student's learning covenant. Where peer reflection groups are required, they meet online. A last-semester course, P1116 - Integration in Ministry (available online and on all campuses), serves as a capstone activity, guiding the student to reflect on lessons learned, plan for future ministry and anticipate continuing education needs. (See the course descriptions below.)
P1111 Foundations for Ministry (2 hours)
An entry course using a seminar format designed to assist students in beginning to build the necessary foundation - personally, spiritually, and professionally - for lifelong ministry. The course should be taken in the student's first or second semester.

P1121 - P1122 Leadership in Ministry Practicum (2 hours each semester - available for variable credit)
This course offers two consecutive semesters of experiential learning in leadership, ministry skills, and personal growth through field education and classroom reflection offered in a fall-spring sequence only. Students design their own learning goals for the course through negotiating a covenant of learning with their field mentor and peer reflection group leader. The student serves a minimum of 10 hours per week for 35 consecutive weeks in an approved ministry setting (church, ministry, or agency), with an approved & trained field mentor, spiritual formation mentor, and ministry reflection group. Students may contract for more credit through serving more hours per week in their approved setting. The class meets weekly as a peer reflection group. The course if offered for variable credit: 10+ hours of ministry per week: 2 hours per semester; 20+ hours of ministry per week: 3 hours per semester; 30+ hours of ministry per week: 4 hours per semester. Credit hours requested must be contracted and specified in the TFE application. Prerequisites: P1111 or E1111. Students may not enroll in this course until the TFE Director/Regional Campus Coordinator has approved their TFE application. Approved substitutions include: P1121-P1122 Online Leadership in Ministry Practicum, I2361-62 Church Planting Internship, and P2553 Clinical Pastoral Education.

P2121 Advanced Leadership in Ministry Practicum (2 hours - may be repeated for credit up to four times)
This practicum course offers a semester of advanced experiential learning in leadership, ministry skills, and personal growth through field education and classroom reflection. Students design their own learning goals for the course through negotiating a covenant of learning with their field mentor and peer reflection group leader. The student serves a minimum of 10 hours per week for 15 weeks as the primary leader or director of a ministry assignment in an approved ministry setting (church, ministry, or agency), with an approved and trained field mentor and spiritual formation mentor. Students meet weekly in a P2121 or P1121-22 peer reflection group. The practicum includes a site assessment of the student’s field setting by the peer reflection group leader. This practicum may be repeated for a maximum of up to four semesters (8 hours of seminary credit). Prerequisites: P1121-22 and application approval from the TFE Director/Regional Campus Coordinator.

P1116 Integration into Ministry
(2 hours)
An exit course designed to assist students in assessing the various components of their seminary career, including learning effectiveness, ministry preparedness, personal growth and development toward ministry. The course also seeks help the student in building a vision for post graduation ministry and for lifelong learning and development. The course may be taken in the last or next to last semester only. (pass/fail)

The Mentored MDiv allows students a path to degree completion that does not require leaving their ministry setting.
All courses required in the Mentored MDiv are available as field experiences and/or completely online. Learners can apply lessons learned immediately to their ministry and bring experiences, feedback and questions back into their online peer groups the next week. Students may progress rapidly, or may take as long as 10 years to complete the degree. Students seeking more face-to-face instruction and/or seeking to make more rapid progress toward degree completion may opt to maximize their schedule by taking classes on campus. All courses required in the Mentored MDiv are available at all of the Seminary's physical locations.

The Mentored MDiv provides church-based course work to the maximum degree possible.
Field mentors and other ministry professionals often hold credentials that allow them to serve as GGBTS adjunct professors. In such situations and when an appropriate number of students are identified in a given locale, GGBTS can organize and offer courses at a local church, association or other ministry setting throughout the western US.

Mentored MDiv students have the option of attending one-week courses at any of the five GGBTS campuses.
Students admitted to GGBTS may register for any course appropriate to their degree level at any GGBTS campus in the San Francisco, Denver, Phoenix, Los Angeles and Portland areas. Those living at a distance from a GGBTS campus often find January and Summer intensive courses attractive. Intensive courses are typically organized to include one week of contact time blended with helpful individual, outside-class activities.

The Mentored MDiv program is also developing mentored-online course work.
GGBTS continues to innovate, seeking new ways to deliver quality theological education. Mentored-online courses will offer "classroom" instruction by GGBTS faculty online, with some courses configured to include work supervised by a local ministry professional.

Vocational Roles

The MDiv Curriculum is designed to provide preparation for the following occupational roles: Pastor, Associate Pastor, Missional Strategist, Church Planter, Chaplain, Student or Collegiate Minister, Director of Missions, Denominational Worker, Evangelist, Social Work Minister, Parachurch Ministry Leader, Minister of Counseling or Outreach and Visitation, or Minister of Education.

Prerequisites

An appropriate accredited bachelor’s degree or its equivalent is required.

Course Requirements

This section is designed to help you keep a record of courses taken and courses needed to complete your 90-hour MDIV degree.

School of Theology Course # Hours
Old Testament Introduction I S1112 3
Old Testament Introduction II S1113 3
Introduction to Biblical Hebrew I S1213 2
Introduction to Biblical Hebrew II 1214 2
New Testament Introduction I S1312 3
New Testament Introduction II S1313 3
Introduction to Biblical Greek I S1413 2
Introduction to Biblical Greek II S1414 2
Biblical Hermeneutics S2521 2
Church History I L1111 3
Church History II L1112 3
Baptist Heritage and Practice L1113 2
Christian Theology I L1211 3
Christian Theology II L1212 3
Christian Ethics L1411 2

School of Christian Leadership
Foundations for Ministry P1111 2
Integration into Ministry P1116 2
Leadership in Ministry Practicum I* P1121 2
Leadership in Ministry Practicum II* P1122 2
Principles & Approaches to Bible Teaching E1113 3
Ministry Leadership E1312 2
Administration and Church Growth E1314 2
Worship & Music in the Faith Community P1916 3
Spiritual Formation P1115 2
Introduction to Preaching or Introduction to Public Speaking P1411 or E1211 3
Pastoral Ministry P1511 2
Christian Counseling P1512 3

School of Global Missions
Intercultural Communication I1113 3
Introduction to Missions I1211 3
Basic Evangelism I1311 2
Free Electives 16
Minimum hours to graduate 90

*P1121 & P1122 (TFE) must be taken in two consecutive terms. A total of 4 semester-hours credit for the courses will be given at the end of the second term unless a higher credit-hour arrangement is contracted through the TFE office. No credit is earned if both courses are not completed. Students must remain in the same Peer Reflection Group for the two terms. Hours earned through TFE beyond the 4 designated above or through P2121 -- Advanced TFE will be credited to the degree as electives.

For full-time student verification, students must be registered for 9 semester hours in any given semester and 24 hours for the year. VA students, please see Registrar for full-time student verification and additional information.