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2024-25 Academic Catalog

Master of Divinity

Overview

The Master of Divinity (MDiv) program is a 72-credit-hour degree designed for the purpose of preparing women and men for roles as pastors, missionaries, chaplains, or other ministry leaders. The MDiv curriculum is designed to enable students to prepare for ordination, licensing, or recording.*

The MDiv program utlizes a hybrid, cohort-based delivery model, comprised of regular synchronous video conferencing sessions, asynchronous online coursework, and three in-person BridgeWeek intensive experiences. 

The MDiv curriculum is developed around biblical studies and language resources, theological and historical foundation courses, leadership and pastoral studies courses, and spiritual formation courses. The MDiv Program will equip and form students to think with clarity like Christ, live with integrity in Christ, and serve with the heart of God for Christ. 

*While the seminary provides training, denominations provide the process of ordination, licensure, or recording.

Degree Outcomes

Students will be equipped and formed to think with clarity as they:

  • Engage Christian Scriptures in their historical and literary contexts using a variety of hermeneutical approaches and language resources in order to articulate them in faithful practices. 
  • Examine Christian historical and theological developments by investigating practices and beliefs of Christian traditions in order to enable faithful practices within diverse contemporary contexts.

Students will be equipped and formed to live with integrity as they:

  • Deepen awareness of God, self, and others through formative practices in preparation for life-long personal and vocational flourishing. 
  • Cultivate their own healing in order to companion individuals and communities towards wholeness.

Students will be equipped and formed to serve with the heart of God as they:

  • Develop theologically-informed leadership skills necessary to lead in diverse settings.
  • Learn to order the life of the church through effective preaching and worship, pastoral care, and equipping God’s people for ministries of compassion and justice.

Admission Requirements

Applicants seeking admission to the MDiv program must hold a four-year baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university,† with a minimum GPA of 3.0. In addition, applicants must complete the following to be considered for admission to the program:

  • Submit Portland Seminary application and application fee
  • Submit one official transcript from each college/university attended
  • Resumé
  • Personal mission statement and statement of faith
  • Three letters of reference (as specified in admissions materials)
  • An interview may be required in some instances

†Applicants who do not hold a four-year baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university may apply to the seminary and will be required to submit additional documentation to be considered for admission.

Transfer Credit

Transfer of up to 36 hours of credit is allowed toward the MDiv program from ATS-accredited graduate schools. Students must have earned a grade of B or better for a course to be considered for transfer. Transferability of credits earned at this institution and transferred to another is at the discretion of the receiving institution.

Residence Requirements

Residence, as described in this section of the catalog, does not refer to the time a student spends on campus. It refers to the portion of a degree program that students are required to earn with Portland Seminary, as compared to transfer credits and credit applied as advanced standing. With regard to the MDiv program, students are required to complete half of the degree (36 semester hours) directly with Portland Seminary. A leave of absence is valid for up to one year, after which the student must reapply to the program. Reinstatement to the program after withdrawal requires Admissions Committee action and may subject the student to additional requirements for the degree.

Course Requirements

The MDiv program is generally three to four years in length, with 72 semester hours of coursework required as a minimum for graduation. Of those hours, 15 are in biblical studies courses, 3 in biblical languages, 18 in Christian history and theology, 12 in spiritual formation, 9 in pastoral studies, 9 in leadership, and 6 hours in professional development. Professional development hours will be used towards preparing for chaplaincy or continued ministry development.

The program requires participation in three ‘Bridgeweek’ face-to-face intensives.

Graduation Requirements

In order to graduate with the MDiv degree, students must:

  • Satisfactorily complete a minimum of 72 semester hours with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above
  • Achieve no grade lower than a C- in all courses. If a grade lower than a C- is received, that course must be retaken (for more specific information, please refer to the student handbook).
  • Fully participate in all required ‘Bridgeweek’ intensives. 
  • Successfully complete each milestone.
  • Be recommended by the seminary faculty for graduation from Portland Seminary of George Fox University.

Other Degree Requirements

Students are required to complete coaching in the final year of the program. The seminary assigns each student a coach from an approved pool. They meet with the coach three times each Fall and Spring Semester. The coach provides the seminary documentation of student progress. Coaching expenses are covered by a fee attached to SPDV 550 Stewarding Leadership I and SPDV 560 Clinical Pastoral Education: Applying to Programs and Best Practices.

Curriculum Plan

Complete the following:
This course introduces students to the literature of the Old Testament in its socio-historical, literary, and theological contexts. Students will explore the contents of the Old Testament, the history of ancient Israel, historical geography, and interpretive approaches that explore the literary features of the Old Testament and its historical and cultural contexts.
This course introduces students to the literature of the New Testament in its socio-historical, literary, and theological contexts. This course will discuss the history that leads up to the New Testament; the voices in early Christianities represented in the Gospels, Pauline, and other letters, and the churches and/or persons who first received them; as well as the voices of those who read them today. Besides introducing the general information on each book, this course will also highlight different themes in the books of the New Testament.
This course introduces a variety of analytical and critical approaches, from the development of biblical exegesis and hermeneutics in early Jewish and Christian tradition to modern-day readings of the Bible. Topics include: textual witnesses, reception history, issues of translation, historical-criticism, reader-response criticism, canonical analysis; postcolonial, feminist, womanist, intersectional, and other minority readings. Additional course fees may be required.
This course applies the interpretive skills developed in SBIS 510 and 530, with special attention on the exegetical issues of the designated Old Testament book or a special theme in the Old Testament. Prerequisite: SBIS 510 and 530 or permission of instructor. Additional course fees may be required.
This course applies the interpretive skills developed in SBIS 520 and 530, with special attention on the exegetical issues of the designated New Testament book or a special theme in the New Testament. Prerequisite: SBIS 520 and 530 or permission of instructor.
Complete the following:
This course introduces a basic knowledge of biblical Hebrew and Greek with an emphasis on equipping the students to use commentaries, lexica, Bible software, and other language resources. Additional course fees may be required.
Choose from the following:
"Examines historical and theological developments in the Christian tradition during the early period and the Middle Ages. "
Examines historical and theological developments in early modern Christianity, with particular attention to the Protestant and Catholic Reformations and the early Methodist movement.
This course offers a comprehensive examination of how Christian beliefs, practices, and traditions intersect with, respond to, and influence contemporary societal, cultural, and global trends. Through a combination of theological, historical, sociological, and anthropological perspectives, students will gain a deeper understanding of the complex interplay between Christian faith and the ever-changing tapestry of human cultures.
Examines how Christianity developed in North America from the 15th to the 21st centuries. Special attention will be paid to the role of evangelicalism in American churches, the creative ways that Americans contextualize Christianity, and the contributions that American religious innovators make to global theological conversations.
Discusses the historical development and contemporary global expressions of core Christian beliefs and their relation to Christian practices. The course enables a well-informed, lifelong creative engagement with theology, whether through studying, teaching, preaching, writing, or counseling.
Examines key theories, methods, and concepts in Christian ethics. Discusses select historical sources influential in the development of theological ethics, with particular attention to its Protestant expressions. Evaluates major contemporary issues and competing moral claims in Christian ethics.
Complete the following:
In the realm of leadership, both inside and outside Christian communities, numerous models are seeking to bring lasting change in systems or organizations. This course will not only look at the varying models of leadership, noting their strengths and limitations, but students will also develop a theologically formed definition of leadership that is embodied, incarnational, and contextually driven.
Builds the capacity of women and men to effectively develop cultural humility and leadership skills for an increasingly globalized and diverse world. This course will explore methods for curating sacred spaces in diverse contexts, responding to justice concerns both personally and communally, and understanding how to engage and manage conflict.
Designed to assist leaders and their communities in understanding and engaging in the faithful transformation of the cultures, systems, and structures of their context. The course follows a practical and theological approach, engaging in description, theological evaluation, and transformational practice while drawing insights from various disciplines to help discern effective and faithful change in a cultural system.
Complete the following:
This course explores the ministry of pastoral care and how clergy, spiritual directors, chaplains and other spiritual care providers can respond to various needs that arise in ministry settings. Students will engage in a theologically informed relational paradigm that supports a framework for conceptualizing pastoral care responses. Recognizing that pastoral care is an embodied and contextual practice, students will also examine how the self and community enact care as a vessel for mutual healing and justice.
Often worship and preaching have been seen as two separate components of the spiritual life of a congregation. This course will explore how the two must be connected for a more holistic and formative experience for a congregation. Students will examine the purposes of worship and its biblical, theological, and historical roots. It also focuses on evaluating current trends in worship, learning how to plan and lead worship, including overseeing the sacraments/ordinances, and planning weddings and funerals. Students will also be introduced to the theology of preaching and to the principles of sermon construction and delivery, as well as the various sermon types and communication techniques used to convey the timeless message of Scripture within a contemporary setting.
Administration and Communications (3 hours). Pastoral leaders are tasked with overseeing the administrative and accountability structures of a congregation. This course will explore the theological and philosophical foundations of church administration, as well as the principles and practices of administration for ministry organizations covering finances (including non-traditional revenue streams, planned giving, endowments, and donor relations), buildings, staff and personnel relations, legal and safety concerns, information and communication systems, management of daily operations, and elder/board relations.
Complete the following:
This course is facilitated by a Formation Guide and is designed to provide students an opportunity to develop awareness of self-in-connection as a pathway to explore the triune God’s presence in their preparation for vocational flourishing. Students will reflect critically and constructively on their identity, spiritual histories, sociocultural contexts of formation, and sites of (un)belonging. Reflective practices and discernment skills will help students sift through their interior and exterior experiences to explore their origin and the movement of the Spirit for an increased awareness of shared humanity as a sacred site of God’s transforming work in the world. Additional course fees may be required.
A Formation Guide facilitates this course and invites students to deepen their awareness of God and self through the prayer practices of the Great Tradition of the Church. Students will explore the Christian faith’s contemplative, liturgical, and sacramental dimensions as pathways for experiencing the sacred in the ordinary. Recognizing that spiritual practices hold meaning in varied ways, this course will be an opportunity to assess how prayer originates from the context of the one who prays. Finally, students will engage with the rich heritage of historic Christian spirituality, drawing insights from Scripture and the mystics from around the world and across the centuries to consider how their images of God can expand and enrich a life of prayer.
This course is facilitated by a Formation Guide and invites students to explore God’s transformative action and desire for restorative justice and Shalom through ancient and contemporary voices. Students will broaden their awareness of unjust systems while considering their personal participation in oppressive structures. Theological and reflective discussion will invite students to recognize formational postures and narratives as an invitation to actively join with God in truth-telling and compassion that seeks to extend God’s hospitality and restore the imago dei within all. Additional course fees may be required.
A Formation Guide facilitates this course and invites students to explore Christian ministry as the giving of an integrated self. Reflecting on the polarities of woundedness and healing, presence and absence, self-owning and self-giving, students will grow in awareness of healthy and unhealthy behaviors and mindsets. By owning and naming this process, students will explore how to cultivate healing for spiritual meaning-making within the life stories of the persons and communities they are called to serve.

Students will take either the professional development courses or chaplaincy preparation courses.

Choose one of the following:

Professional Development Courses:

This course will prepare the student for lifelong practices of self-awareness/self-management and engaging a constellation of mentors for lifelong growth. Through apprenticeship, coaching, assessments, and 360 feedback each student will gain a mindset and resources for a lifestyle of continued growth as an adaptive leader. Additional course fees may be required.
This course continues preparing the student for lifelong practices of self-awareness/self-management and engaging a constellation of mentors for lifelong growth. Through apprenticeship, coaching, assessments, and 360 feedback each student will gain a mindset and resources for a lifestyle of continued growth as an adaptive leader. Additional course fees may be required.

Chaplaincy Preparation Courses:

"This course provides an overview of the application process for Clinical Pastoral Education and for Board Certification with the Association of Professional Chaplains. Students will learn about accredited CPE sites, the various types of programs, and how to prepare an application. Exploring best practices. nurturing a chaplaincy-oriented mindset and sensibility, and engaging theological reflection will help students acclimate to the expectations of the CPE learning experience and the role of the chaplain. "
Completion of this course on the basis of 'Credit by Exam' indicates that all requirements of a CPE unit have been met and necessary documents have been submitted.*

*Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) brings seminary students into supervised ministry with people in crisis. The heart of CPE is a ministry with people and learning from that ministry through reflection, discussion, and evaluation with other students and a certified CPE supervisor. CPE training centers are usually located in hospitals and medical centers.