D-DIV-MDV - Master of Divinity (Residential)

The Basic Curriculum General Description

Graduation requirements for the master of divinity degree consist of satisfactory completion of twenty-four courses (units), with an overall grade point average of C (2.0) or better: nine foundational courses or their equivalent; five limited electives; ten electives; two units of approved field education; and three evaluations.

The basic curriculum provides for core courses in biblical, historical, theological, and ministerial studies representative of the tradition and regarded as indispensable background for subsequent elective work and individual program information. These required courses total nine of the twenty-four courses necessary for graduation. They are OLDTEST 752 and 753, NEWTEST 754, CHURHST 750 and 751, AMXTIAN 756, XTIANTHE 755, XTIANETH 757, and PREACHNG 758. The opportunity of advanced standing adds further variability to the academic program, depending on the nature and quality of the student’s undergraduate academic work.

At least one course must be elected from each of five designated lists of offerings in advanced Church Ministry, Black Church Studies, World Christianity, New Testament exegesis, and Practicing Theology in Ministry. Ten courses are available for working out an individualized program of studies leading to specialized preparation in academic depth and to professional ministerial competence.

Required courses may be staffed by one or more instructors and are planned to treat subject matter both in scope and depth at the graduate level.

The formulation of the student’s course of studies is guided by certain broad but normative recommendations for area distribution of courses and by the advice and counsel of appointed academic advisors or authorized directors. Students and advisors are directed to read diligently the paragraphs on elective studies and professional aims and distribution of elective studies in the section on Administration of the Curriculum.

All academic programs are subject to review and emendation by the dean and the academic dean for the fulfillment of the aims of the curriculum. The declared vocational and professional objective of the student is of central importance both to the student and to the academic advisor in planning the student’s comprehensive study program.

Six semesters of residential study are ordinarily required for the completion of the degree. With permission of the academic dean, certified nonresidential study, generally not exceeding the equivalent of four courses, may be permitted to a candidate for the basic degree. The normal academic load is four courses (units) per semester. A student with demonstrated competence may, with the consent of the academic advisor and the academic dean, enroll for an additional course as an overload. To be eligible for an overload, typically a student must have completed one semester, have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 or higher, and not be in an academic year field education placement. Students are allowed three course overloads. No student may have more than three course overloads.

General Features of the Basic Curriculum

The following is a brief summary of the basic curriculum:

• Twenty-four courses (units) and six or more semesters of residency are required for graduation. A normal academic load is four courses per semester.

• Students who have any employment, family, or other commitments may seek a flexible pathway to complete their degree over four years. Students should elect this at application or can seek it anytime during their academic career via consultation with the Office of Academic Programs.

• Each student is required to complete two approved assignments in field education (with or without remuneration) under supervision. Such assignments might include an internship, a summer of full-time work, two semesters of part-time work, or involvement in church or community service. The essential criteria for graduation credits are that the amount and quality of supervision be approved by the Office of Field Education, and that the student be required to evaluate and correlate the experience directly.

• Each student is required to attend and participate in an approved spiritual formation program during their first year of study; and

• The completion of assessment portfolios to be reviewed by academic advisors at the mid-point of study and just before graduation.

Admission to candidacy for the master of divinity degree is admission to the regular program of studies. The recommended paradigm defines the normal sequence of the student’s developing program. Students enrolled for less than three courses (units) are considered part-time and are not eligible for institutional financial aid.

Evaluation/Self-Evaluation

The successful completion of the residential MDiv degree program rests upon four components: (1) grades; (2) spiritual formation; (3) field education; and (4) advisor evaluations of the student portfolio. Grades are assigned for each course credit and are explained in more detail in an earlier section. Evaluation of spiritual formation and field education begin with self-evaluations by each student. A self-evaluation prepared by the student is considered by the spiritual formation leader and field education supervisor/lay committee. An evaluation of the student’s learning is then completed by the spiritual formation leader and field education supervisor and lay supervision committee. The self-evaluations and evaluations are included in the fourth component of the evaluation process.

The fourth component of the evaluation process, academic advisor evaluations of the student portfolio, occurs twice during the MDiv degree program. The middler review of the student portfolio follows the first year of study (or completion of eight course credits, spiritual formation, and at least one field education unit). The senior review of the student portfolio occurs during the winter of the third year (or completion of sixteen to twenty course credits, spiritual formation, and two field education units). The advisor evaluations consider the student’s portfolio in light of the curricular aims. The student’s portfolio is compiled over the duration of the degree program and includes self-evaluations, sample writing assignments and evaluations from spiritual formation, field education, and coursework.

Sample student portfolios along with other direct and indirect means of discernment are considered annually by the curriculum committee and faculty of Duke Divinity School for the purpose of assessing and revising degree programs. For further information and guidelines related to the plans for assessment of degree programs, see the website at divinity.duke.edu/academics.

Information from the portfolio is protected by the statutes concerning privacy and confidentiality. Only aggregate and summarized information is shared by the Divinity School to any extra-university party. The evaluation is a graduation requirement that must be satisfied as any other requirement. Students who require significant additional work as judged by the evaluator will have to complete that work prior to graduation.

Student Pastors (MDV4)

Students in candidacy for the master of divinity degree who serve as full-time pastors or who have a comparable workload or commitments outside the Divinity School and are approved as a student pastor are advised that their degree program will require a fourth academic term. They are classified in Duke Hub as MDV4 with a SP subplan.

For student pastors, modification of a four-year schedule requires the approval of the academic dean on recommendation of the director of field education. The following are policies and procedures pertaining to student pastors:

• Students with pastoral charges or comparable extracurricular responsibilities ordinarily will enroll for no more than three courses.

• Students who accept pastoral charges in their middler or senior year are required to have the prior approval of the director of field education. Such students will be required to restrict their coursework in accordance with the regulation above.

• Modifications of these regulations will be scrupulously administered. Academic achievement, normally a B average, must be demonstrated before any modification of these requirements is allowed. Because adequate indication of the student’s academic proficiency is not available before the completion of the first academic year, no modification of the first regulation above is possible for junior students.

• Students who secure minor employment outside the channels of the Office of Field Education are required to inform the director of field education. Students carrying outside employment will be advised to limit their academic load.

• Ordinarily a student may not commute more than fifty miles (one way). Students living farther away than this will be required to stay in Durham, North Carolina, during the academic week.

• Student assistant pastors (not pastors-in-charge) may enroll for a full academic load if they are not on limited program, if their work is under the supervision of the director of field education, and if their field duties involve no more than fifteen hours per week.

Continuation Requirements

The progress of all students is reviewed at the end of every semester by the Academic Policies Committee. The following are the continuation requirements for students enrolled in the residential MDiv degree program:

• The student must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.0. If a student falls below this level, the student may, at the discretion of the academic dean, be dismissed, placed on an involuntary leave of absence, or asked to participate in a limited program. This means that the student may enroll in no more than three courses.

• At the end of the second semester the student on limited program who does not attain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 is dismissed. In exceptional cases a student who shows substantial improvement the second semester but does not quite attain a GPA of 2.0 may be given a third semester to do so.

• The student must demonstrate progress in the program by completing courses. A student who has three or more unresolved incompletes or a pattern of multiple withdrawals or leave may, at the discretion of the academic dean, be dismissed, placed on an involuntary leave of absence until the incomplete work is resolved, or asked to participate in a limited program.

The residential MDiv degree must be completed within six years (twelve semesters). The minimum time in which a degree can be completed is three years (six semesters).

To be classified as full-time, a student must be enrolled in three or more courses in a semester.

Study Abroad

Study abroad, with transferable credit toward graduation, may be allowed for a candidate for the master of divinity degree by approval of the academic dean. A strong academic record is a prerequisite. Ordinarily, permission for such study may be granted to students who have completed the work of the middler year. Both the institution abroad and a specific course of study proposed must have the prior approval of the academic dean. Required courses and the two field education units should usually be completed at Duke.

Ordination Requirements

Students preparing for ordination are strongly advised to ascertain early in their seminary program the precise ordination requirements of their denomination.

United Methodist students must fulfill educational requirements in the discipline by completing the year-long course on Methodist doctrine, history, and polity (PARISH 707/777 and 708/778);  one course in worship (LTS 730); plus one course in evangelism and one course in mission. Some annual conferences also require one or more courses in preaching, pastoral care, and/or clinical pastoral education.

Students from other denominations should consult with their appropriate church bodies for specific requirements, which may include biblical languages. Polity courses for certain other denominations may be offered from time to time by faculty members or local clergy on prior request.

Recommended Curricular Paradigms

Although tailored to meet the needs and requirements of residential MDiv students with different trajectories (e.g., Methodists and student pastors), the following paradigms all share the same core requirements (listed in bold): OLDTEST 752 and 753, NEWTEST 754, CHURHST 750 and 751, AMXTIAN 756, XTIANTHE 755, XTIANETH 757, and PREACHNG 758; and the same limited electives (listed in italics): one church ministry course, one Black Church studies course, one New Testament exegesis course, one world Christianity course, and one practicing theology in ministry course (courses offered under the rubric of this elective will focus on the practice of theology in today’s contemporary setting: i.e., on the reflective application or embodiment of theology in shaping communities of faith).

Although it is not required, students are encouraged to take the Greek and Hebrew language sequences (NEWTEST 760, 761; OLDTEST 760, 761) and a Greek or Hebrew exegesis course.

All MDiv students are also required to complete Spiritual Formation requirements in their first year, as well as two units of approved field education either during the academic year or in the summer. (For student pastors this requirement is satisfied in student pastorates.)

The Master of Divinity and Master of Social Work Dual Degree Program

Requirements for the MDiv

In the dual degree program, four courses (twelve credit hours) are shared between the two degrees, reducing the number of courses required for the master of divinity degree from twenty-four to twenty (sixty credit hours)—nineteen for the advanced standing program. Because of these reduced required hours and the addition of two integrative electives unique to the dual degree, the dual degree allows for only six true MDiv electives (and only one or none for Methodists). Students who are seeking ordination must receive permission from their respective judicatories to enroll in the dual degree program.

The core requirements for the MDiv portion of the dual degree are the same as those for the regular MDiv degree, with the following exception: the MDiv/MSW integrative capstone elective serves as the required practicing theology in ministry limited elective. Also, one of the two required field education placements must be in a congregational setting. More detailed information regarding requirements for the MDiv/MSW degree is available on the Duke Divinity School website, under Forms and Paradigms.

Requirements for the MSW

For information related to the requirements of the MSW degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, interested dual degree students should contact the University of North Carolina School of Social Work. More detailed information is available at ssw.unc.edu/academics/dual-degree-programs/dual-degree-program-divinity.

MDiv/MSW Curricular Paradigm

Efficiency of the dual degree requires strict adherence to course sequence and the curriculum as designed. The program cannot be shortened significantly by taking courses in summer session at either school. If students wish to pursue a biblical language as part of their MDiv degree, they must take the language in the summer.