Master of Divinity (M.Div.)

The Southwestern M.Div. prepares students for the broadest range of Christian ministries. Students receive training in classical theological disciplines such as Old Testament, New Testament, church history and historical theology, systematic theology, ethics, and philosophy, as well as applied disciplines such as pastoral ministry, preaching, evangelism, and missions. In addition, students may use elective hours to pursue concentrations in any school at Southwestern in accordance with their ministry goals and academic interests. The M.Div. is the only approved first master's degree for a student preparing for a pastoral or preaching ministry, as well as any other ministry largely comprised of biblical teaching.

Master of Divinity with Concentrations in Evangelism, Missions, or Islamic Studies

Prerequisite

The student must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.

¹Elementary Greek I and II (GREEK 3313 and 3323, 3 hours each; or GREEK3356, 6 hours) are prerequisite for the degree. Students who have completed equivalent courses should contact the New Testament Department to determine the necessity of completing the courses.

²Students will be enrolled in these practicums automatically when registering for the parent course above them in the degree plan.

³Female students should substitute WOMST 4003 Women's Ministries in the Local Church. Students who have completed a 3-hour university-level Christian Ministry course with a minimum grade of "B" may substitute a three-hour Pastoral Ministry elective with prior approval of the Pastoral Studies Department.

⁴Students preparing for a ministry which includes preaching must complete PRCHG 3323. Those who believe their ministry will not include preaching should consult with the Associate Dean for Masters Programs to bypass this course and substitute an elective course.

⁵Students seeking a concentration take specific courses in lieu of elective hours.

Concentrations in Evangelism, Missions, and Islamic Studies

Students obtain concentrations by completing the following requirements to fulfill a portion of the "Concentration and Free Electives" section of the M.Div. Upon completion of a concentration, students will receive a certificate for their work.

Evangelism

Missions

Islamic Studies

Additional Resources

The following links provide suggestions for how a student may plan to take the courses required for the M.Div. with concentrations in Evangelism, Missions, or Islamic Studies.

Master of Divinity with a Concentration in International Church Planting

Purpose

The Master of Divinity with a concentration in International Church Planting provides a solid foundation of classical studies and an international missions focus on church planting. This concentration equips students to start and develop churches abroad. The uniqueness of this degree allows students to complete their course of study while serving off-campus. The church planting experience occurs under the auspices of the Southern Baptist Convention International Mission Board's Journeyman program, International Service Corps program, or Career Apprentice program. The first-hand ministry experience acquired off-campus fulfills requirements for missionary candidates with SBC mission boards.

Entrance Requirements

The student must fulfill the requirements for admission in the Master of Divinity degree and obtain the approval of the designated faculty advisor (IMB) to be officially admitted in the Church Planting Concentration. Successful completion of the degree presupposes successful appointment by the International Mission Board to do the field portion of the degree.

Educational Method

This Concentration combines a strong theoretical emphasis with practical field-based learning. After completing basic Master of Divinity courses on campus, students complete the field-based portion of the degree, while serving on a two or three-year off-campus field assignment abroad under the supervision of a veteran missionary or church planter.

Students will complete a maximum of 24 hours of field based study during the two or three-year field assignment.

Church Planting Experience

Students must meet the requirements for missionary appointment and be appointed by the IMB. The appointment must involve a minimum of two years of service. The placement in most cases must include: (1) direct involvement with starting new congregations, developing a strategy for a people group, or promoting a church planting movement of multiple congregations, and (2) a carefully monitored supervisory relationship with a veteran church planter or missionary. Students should apply for appointment at least two years before the proposed beginning date of missionary service and should carefully plan the sequence of courses in order to coordinate with the proposed beginning date of missionary service.

Modular Courses

During the student's field assignment under the auspices of the International Mission Board of the SBC, they are required to take four modular courses taught in the midst of the field learning experience and crafted to be directly relevant to the student's field ministry.  Modular courses are offered as a set of two courses each year in rotation at a selected site overseas. 

The four field-based modular classes emphasize the cross-cultural applications of ethical decision making, nurturing the home in cross-cultural settings and modeling the home in host cultural settings where the Christian home is a new concept, and understanding the religio-social context(s) where students are living.

"Jump Start 2+2/3"

This option allows graduating students from the College at Southwestern to “Jump Start” into the M.Div. International Church Planting program at the beginning of their two to three year appointment with the International Mission Board. These students will complete the field-based portion of the degree before the campus based portion. At the end of the two to three years on the field, students will transition to the SWBTS campus to finalize their M.Div. requirements.  Click here for more information on the "Jump Start 2+2/3".

¹Because of the necessity of spending only two years on the Southwestern campus, completion of both biblical languages, while crucially important for Bible study and teaching, poses a significant challenge. Accordingly, the student may, with the permission of the Dean of the Roy Fish School of Evangelism and Missions, complete either four semesters of Greek or three semesters of Hebrew. As incentive and assistance extended to church planters to take both biblical languages using summers and inter term opportunities, Southwestern extends to any student who takes both biblical languages a scholarship to cover the second language plus a scholarship to cover an additional twelve hours of field-based requirements. If the GREEK ONLY option is chosen, then students will add 9 hours of missions electives to their degree plan to equal 92 hours total for the degree. If the HEBREW ONLY option is chosen, students will add 6 hours of missions electives to their degree plan to equal 92 hours total for the degree.

²Elementary Greek is a required pre-requisite. It is considered level Greek. Thus, if a student is admitted who is deficient in this prerequisite, it will be necessary to take first year Greek in addition to the requirements stated here for no graduate level credit. So functionally, the program would entail 92 graduate hours plus 6 non-credit prerequisite hours. 68 hours plus the 6 hours of noncredit Greek are taken PRIOR to field departure. Students are advised to plan carefully and use one of the summer sessions (either before first year of between first and second years) to take the first year of non-credit, prerequisite Greek. If students enter with a year of undergraduate Greek in college, then these classes will not be necessary.

³Students will be enrolled in these practicums automatically when registering for the parent course above them in the degree plan.

⁴A Regional Study course that is specific to the area in which the student will live & work may be taken in lieu of MISSN 3373.

Additional Resources

The following links provide suggestions for how a student may plan to take the courses required for the M.Div. International Church Planting with Greek only, Hebrew only, or both Greek and Hebrew. 

Students interested in more complete information regarding the program should contact the World Missions Center at (817) 923-1921 extension 7500 or email InternationalCP@swbts.edu.

Master of Divinity with a Concentration in North American Church Planting

Purpose

The Southwestern M.Div. degree concentration in North American church planting provides a solid foundation of classical studies and specific training in church planting. The degree equips students to start and develop effective churches in the many contexts of North America. This outstanding degree allows students to complete their course of study while serving off-campus as a church starter. The church planting experience occurs under the auspices of a partnership between the North American Mission Board and Baptist state conventions cooperating with the Southern Baptist Convention. Often, the planter deploys under the Nehemiah Project for Church Planting, a two-year, mentored field experience with specific support components designed to ensure maximum learning and success in planting a new church.

Entrance Requirements

Students must fulfill the requirements for admission into the Southwestern M.Div. degree program and obtain approval from the designated faculty advisor to be officially admitted into the North American Church Planting concentration.

Educational Method

This concentration combines a strong theoretical emphasis with practical, field-based learning. After completing the basic master of divinity core on campus, students complete the field-based portion of the degree, including mentorship courses, while serving a two-year or three-year field assignment in North America under the supervision of a veteran missionary or church planter.

Students may complete a maximum of 23 hours of study (including mentorships) during the two or three-year field assignment.

Church Planting Experience

Students in most cases must meet the requirements for missionary appointment and be appointed by NAMB, or be approved by the faculty advisor for an equivalent supervised ministry experience. The appointment must involve a minimum of two years of service. The placement in most cases must include: (1) direct involvement with starting a new congregation, developing a strategy for a people group, or promoting a church planting movement of multiple congregations, and (2) a carefully monitored supervisory relationship with a veteran church planter or missionary. Students should apply for appointment at least two years before the proposed beginning date of church planting service and should carefully plan the sequence of courses in order to coordinate with the proposed beginning date of their church planting assignment.

"Jump Start 2+2/3"

This option allows graduating students from the College at Southwestern to “Jump Start” into the M.Div. North American Church Planting program at the beginning of their two year appointment with the North American Mission Board. These students will complete the field-based portion of the degree before the campus based portion. At the end of the two years on the field, students will transition to the SWBTS campus to finalize their M.Div. requirements.  Click here for more information on the "Jump Start 2+2/3".

Non 2+2 Track

Some students may opt for a version of this program that is not dependent on appointment with the North American Mission Board.  The M.Div. with North American Church Planting concentration may be completed on campus (without the two years of field mentorship) by following the Non 2+2 Track listed below.

¹Greek 3313 and 3323 (3 hours each) or Greek 3356 (6 hours) are prerequisite for the degree. Greek 3356 (6 hours) may be taken in lieu of the two 3 hour courses. Students who have completed equivalent courses should contact the New Testament Department to determine the necessity of completing the courses.

²Students will be enrolled in these practicums automatically when registering for the parent course above them in the degree plan.

³Female students should substitute WOMST 4003 Women's Ministries in the Local Church. Students who have completed a 3-hour university-level Christian Ministry course with a minimum grade of "B" may substitute a three-hour Pastoral Ministry elective with prior approval of the Pastoral Studies Department.

⁴Students normally take MISSN 3000 during the semester immediately preceding the beginning of the missionary assignment. The course is a non-credit prerequisite for MISSN 5602

⁵The NAMB requires MISSN 4393 and MISSN 5353 for students serving in the Nehemiah Project church planting program.

⁶Non 2+2 students are required to take both MISSN 3373 and MISSN 4373.

⁷Students preparing for a ministry which includes preaching must complete PRCHG 3323. Those who believe their ministry will not include preaching should consult with the Associate Dean for Masters Programs to bypass this course and substitute an elective course.

Additional Resources

The following links provide suggestions for how a student may plan to take the courses required for the M.Div. North American Church Planting with the NAMB 2+2 Track or with the Non 2+2 Track.

Students interested in more complete information regarding the program should contact the Scarborough Institute for Church Planting at 817-923-1921 extension 6677.

Advanced Master of Divinity with a Concentration in the Fish School (Adv. M.Div)

The Advanced Master of Divinity allows students to build upon undergraduate theological training by taking elective courses in place of the introductory courses in the regular Master of Divinity curriculum.  Students may complete an Advanced Master of Divinity with any of the above listed concentrations in the Roy Fish School of Evangelism and Missions.

For further information, please see the expanded explanation and degree plan for the Advanced Master of Divinity listed under the School of Theology, or contact 817-923-1921, ext 7030.

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