Master of Divinity Curriculum

The following list includes the requirements for completing the academic coursework toward a master of divinity degree. Course offerings will vary from year to year; please consult the current academic course calendars for planning information. You may also find the suggested MDiv course sequence helpful as you plan.

Bible: 27 credit hours

Along with foundational Old and New Testament bible courses, biblical languages are important tools for effective pastoral ministry. Six semester hours of both Greek and Hebrew required for the MDiv degree. North Park offers these languages as intensive summer courses, as well as during the academic year.

Before enrolling in Introduction to Greek Exegesis, anyone who has not had a passing grade in two terms of beginning Greek within one year prior must pass a proficiency exam. Each person in the MDiv program must satisfactorily complete the Greek and Hebrew sequences or demonstrate comparable proficiency in the judgment of the biblical field faculty prior to the beginning of the final year of studies.

These courses are required for all MDiv students:

BIBL 5109 New Testament Greek I
BIBL 5110 New Testament Greek II
BIBL 5111 New Testament Greek Exegesis
BIBL 5150 Interpreting the New Testament I
BIBL 5151 Interpreting the New Testament II
BIBL 6100 Biblical Hebrew I
BIBL 6101 Biblical Hebrew II
BIBL 6120 Interpreting the Old Testament I
BIBL 6121 Interpreting the Old Testament II

History: 9 credit hours

These courses are required for all MDiv students:

HSTY 5200 Christian Heritage I: The Early and Medieval Church
HSTY 5201 Christian Heritage II: The Reformation and Modern Church
HSTY 7300 History and Theology of the Covenant Church
Students from a denomination other than the Evangelical Covenant Church will substitute a course in their home denomination’s history, theology, and polity for HSTY 7300, which may be taken through cross-registration at another school in the Association of Chicago Theological Schools, or as a directed study with North Park faculty

Theology: 12 credit hours

These courses are required for all MDiv students:

THEO 6330 Christian Theology
THEO 7203 Christian Worship
THEO 7220 Christian Ethics
THEO 7350 Doctrinal Topic

Spiritual Formation: 5 credit hours

The spiritual formation sequence seeks to integrate the ongoing spiritual and academic dimensions of the seminary experience in order to facilitate conscious growth in personal and corporate spiritual life. The sequence includes five, one-credit courses which focus on the critical issues and practices for spiritual growth, including prayer, reflection, spiritual direction, and service in the church:

SPFM 5201 Spiritual Journey
SPFM 5202 Spiritual Practices
SPFM 6303 Embodiment
SPFM 6304 Spiritual Direction and Solitude
SPFM 7205 Hostility to Hospitality

Ministry: 9 credit hours

These courses are required for all MDiv students:

MNST 5212 Introduction to Preaching
MNST 6122 Introduction to Pastoral Care and Counseling
MNST 6274 Living Responsibly in the Realm of God

Christian Formation Area: 3 credit hours

Students may select any three-credit course with the prefix CEDF.

Leadership Area: 3 credit hours

Students will select one course from the following:

CEDF 6228 Management Issues in Youth Ministry
MNST 5171 Rural Church and Culture
MNST 6150 Pastoring the Missional Church
MNST 6266 Church Planting
MNST 7361 Leadership and Empowering the Laity for Church Growth
On occasion, a 7190 Topics course which is not offered on a regular basis will fulfill an area requirement

Evangelism Area: 3 credit hours

Students will select one course from the following:

MNST 5152 Mission Strategy and Methodology
MNST 6264 Communicating the Faith in the Contemporary World
MNST 6266 Church Planting
MNST 7306 Evangelism and Discipleship
On occasion, a 7190 Topics course which is not offered on a regular basis will fulfill an area requirement

Church and World Area: 3 credit hours

Students select one course from the following.

MNST 5156 Mission and Ministry in Latin America
MNST 5157 Mission and Ministry in Asia
MNST 5158 Mission and Ministry in Africa
MNST 5175 Global Partnership: Practicing Biblical Koinonia
MNST 6127 Pastoral Care and Counseling in Urban Contexts
MNST 6150 Pastoring the Missional Church
MNST 6151 Cultural Dimensions of Mission
MNST 6224 Pastoral Care and Community Justice
MNST 6264 Communicating the Faith in the Contemporary World
MNST 6277 Religions and Cultures
MNST 6401 Sankofa: Racial Righteousness and Reconciliation
MNST 7140 God’s Global Vision: Biblical Foundations of Mission
On occasion, a 7190 Topics course which is not offered on a regular basis will fulfill an area requirement

Interdisciplinary Core Elective: 3 credit hours

Students may select any three credit elective course taught by at least two professors in separate fields of study
Enrollment in BIBL 6262 in conjunction with the North Park Symposium on the Theological Interpretation of Scripture may fulfill this requirement

General Elective: 15 credit hours

Total Credit Hours for the Degree: 92 credit hours

Students are required to take 30 credit hours in residence at the main campus.

Field Education

In addition to these academic requirements, students must complete 11 credits of field education. See Field Education Requirements for details.