M.DIV - Master of Divinity

A Master of Divinity degree  prepare students for Church ordination, or pursue other professional ministries where knowledge of theology and advanced leadership skills are essential, or provide executive leadership in other non-profit service orientated industries. Those  include congregational pastor, healthcare and military chaplaincy, campus ministry, spiritual direction, pastoral counseling, not-for-profit executive leadership, global missions and NGOs, religious education, private school educators, and other community-based services. Unlike some master’s programs, the M.Div. combines academic disciplines: Biblical studies, theology, history, homiletics, liturgics, counseling, Christian spirituality, applied ethics, chaplaincy, religious education, and field education. The program fulfills the education requirements of most major denominations. Core M.Div. courses are typically taught in San Anselmo, but many elective and upper-level courses are offered in Berkeley at other GTU schools.

Joint MA/M.Div.

The Graduate Theological Union, of which SFTS is a founding member, offers a Master of Arts degree in various disciplines supported by the member schools’ faculties.  Both the academic MA and the professional M.Div. may be pursued concurrently at SFTS through a joint degree program.  SFTS administers the M.Div. program, while the MA is governed by the policies of the GTU Common MA program.  The Joint M.Div./GTU MA programs involve application to and matriculation through two (2) separate programs, and successful completion results in two (2) separate degrees. 

 M.Div. students wishing to enroll in the joint program must apply to the MA Program through the GTU Admissions Office.  The student may apply at any time but will only be converted into an active MA student once they have completed the requirements of the M.Div. (including internship) and graduate from that program.  A new student may apply to both programs at the same time, then defer the MA Program for up to two years while working on the M.Div.

 Matriculation in the Joint MA/M.Div. program can only be done sequentially (first the M.Div. and then the MA).  However, a student must apply and be admitted to the second program the year before completing the requirements of the first.  All coursework specific to the M.Div. must be completed prior to the final year, which should be dedicated exclusively to the MA. 

 To make sure that the requirements of both programs are completed, the student is encouraged to talk to their advisor and the GTU Associate Dean of Students as soon as possible to plan the coursework from the M.Div. that is pertinent to the MA as well as plan the coursework and thesis writing for the final year.