Master of Divinity

The Master of Divinity program has a theologically diverse atmosphere where all perspectives are welcome. Your peers in this program will be from various faith denominations, with a wide variety of reasons for pursuing the degree centered around leadership roles. Central students have diverse backgrounds and come from a wide variety of global cultures and languages, which provides a healthy environment for learning and acceptance.

Central is fully accredited by both the Higher Learning Commission and Association of Theological Schools. Accreditation ensures that Central Seminary is held to a high standard of academic standard. Many ministries and businesses require candidates to come from an accredited university.

Central Seminary is an innovative online education provider since 2010.

The online Master of Divinity program is available with capabilities to make your experience as rich as an in-person program. Online MDiv programs provide interaction with peers and professors, remote classroom technology, and all the skills necessary for leadership traditionally found within the Master of Divinity program.

Central has an excellent low tuition rate and 100% of degree-seeking students are eligible for scholarships. Individualized payment plans are also available to make your education affordable or you can choose to participate in a pay-as-you-go plan.

A Master of Divinity (MDiv) differs from a Master of Arts Theological Studies (MATS) in a number of ways. The first is the length of the program. The MDiv is 72 credits and the MATS 36 credits. While the MATS provides a solid foundation for Bible, theology, and Christian heritage, the MDiv provides a much more in-depth study of all those areas, combined with numerous courses designed for practical ministry applications such as biblical interpretation, preaching and leadership, as well as an opportunity for hands-on ministry experience through contextualized education.

The Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree is a traditional and flagship program of many seminaries in the preparation of clergy. However, ministry work goes beyond the pulpit. Central’s innovative Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree program is designed to help you craft a ministry that is unique to your calling, either as chaplain, full-time clergy, bi-vocational minister, lay leader, non-profit sector leader, or as a professional in any number of leadership roles.

The MDiv is a professional degree that combines the most rigorous and comprehensive curriculum to prepare students for the greatest number of career options. Many churches and denominations require an MDiv for ordination, and many institutions including the military required the MDiv for chaplaincy positions. While it is the longest program in terms of credit hours, it will also be the best preparation for the diversity of career options that one will encounter throughout their career.

Contextual education is a hands-on learning experience, similar to an internship where students will be serving/leading in a ministry context. At Central, this experience is separated into three courses plus a capstone. Experience occurs in Formation, Cross-Cultural and Public Practice and challenges learners to apply pastoral care/compassion skills to a contextual setting.

The short answer is, maybe. Check with your church or denomination to figure out the rules for ordination or ministering in your setting. In some traditions, local churches may ordain with little to no theological education. In other traditions, prospective pastors may be required to complete an MDiv program and then proceed through another ordination process.

Yes, 100% of your coursework can be completed online. Your contextual education courses may require in-person work.

There is always a need for gifted individuals willing to serve the congregation. To have the most opportunity, when possible, prospective pastors should be open to various pastoral positions including associate level, children or youth positions, pastoral care positions and even part-time positions.

While there are many full-time pastors or ministry professionals, there are a growing number that are splitting their time between two or more roles, one of which being pastoral or ministry. Read more about bi-vocational ministry and some Central alums working in the field here (link to Voice article).

Full-time students can expect to take 4 years to complete the MDiv degree.  Part-time students require 6+ years to finish degree requirements.

Tuition: $375 per credit before scholarships (scholarships and tuition assistance available for all degree-seeking students)

Registration fee: $250 per term

Graduation fee: $250

Payment plans are available. (Amounts shown are for the academic year 2022-2023 and only represent basic costs. Consult the current academic catalog for complete financial information.)

The seminary offers a range of scholarships depending on need and donor criteria. Students are highly encouraged to seek outside scholarships to help with costs.  There are a number of organizations in addition to churches and denominations that offer aid to theology students.  You can begin to investigate your options through our financial aid page.

The seminary does not participate in the federal loan program currently.  Instead, we work hard to keep our costs low and help students avoid the burden of additional loans.

The MDiv at Central Seminary can be a good fit for students who want to develop a deeper knowledge of theological studies while seeking personal growth and mastering applied ministry skills.

After completing the degree program, students should be able to perform effective ministry functions using the competencies gained through the four main pillars of the program: interpretation, contextualization, performance, and formation.

The Master of Divinity program places an emphasis on helping students improve the way they perform, communicate, and practice with integrity. As a result, students can translate their knowledge and personal spiritual journey into a ministry that is engaging and results in positive, life-giving outcomes.

Becoming theologically articulate is one of the essential components of effective ministry-based work. Having comprehensive biblical knowledge and a strong understanding of Christian heritage is at the core of your ministry practice.

The curricula will guide you through understanding and interpreting the Bible and Christian ethics in ways you can apply to modern ministry. Students also take courses that cover media, creativity, innovation, and leadership topics that help them contextualize their knowledge to improve their ministry performance.

A Master of Divinity degree allows graduates to immediately start looking for professional jobs, although some wish to continue and pursue a Doctorate. Some of the fields you can begin applying for directly after graduation include pastor or minister, religious education teacher, chaplain, missionary, activist, or non-profit professional.

For the online programs, students will only need a desktop or laptop computer with strong internet access. Software commonly used include tools like Zoom, Microsoft Office, Google Docs, and Outlook.