Grand Canyon University has expanded its College of Theology offerings with a new master of divinity (M.Div.) program.
The M.Div. degree, along with two additional emphases, is a program designed for bachelor’s-prepared individuals who feel led to serve in local churches, Christian organizations or the mission field. The online program includes three unique residencies designed to deepen understanding through peer interaction.
“The M.Div. is truly the essential graduate degree for anyone who feels called to a career in ministry,” said Dr. Jason Hiles, dean of GCU’s College of Theology. “Many churches expect a pastoral candidate to hold this degree – some even require it for ordination. Being able to bring this degree to our students has always been a priority for GCU and the College of Theology.”
In addition to preparing students for pastoral ministry, the M.Div. program offers emphases in worship leadership and global ministry. The pastorally oriented curriculum of these degrees emphasizes several key areas, including the centrality of the Gospel, the significance of the church, and the pressing need to advance the kingdom of God through missions.
“We have intentionally designed the M.Div. to teach students to rightly interpret Scripture and to apply biblical truth in everyday situations,” Hiles said. “Guiding students from the biblical text to real-life context is what lies at the heart of the entire curriculum. It’s about effectively communicating the right message and becoming the right kind of messenger.”
GCU’s interdenominational program is relevant to a variety of evangelical traditions and consists of a denominationally diverse faculty and student body, which cultivates unity on the essentials of faith and charity in all other doctrines.
The M.Div. is a 90-credit-hour program that will take most students three to four years to complete. For additional information, visit www.gcu.edu/mdiv.
