The following academic requirements apply to both Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Religion programs:

1. Twelve credit hours during a semester, or three credit hours during the winter term, is the minimum program for a full-time student. No student may take more than 20 credit hours during a semester without the permission of the faculty. Not more than five credit hours may be taken during the winter term.
2. Master of Arts in Religion students, and Master of Divinity students who have obtained credit for 24 hours of the curriculum or give evidence of possessing exceptional qualifications, may elect advanced level courses at another institution (Master of Theology and Doctor of Philosophy) for transfer to Redeemer. A student must apply for admission to such courses at another institution. These courses carry three hours of elective credit. Such students shall have maintained a general average of 3.20 or its equivalent for the preceding academic year, whether in this institution or elsewhere.
3. No student will be granted a degree who lacks the equivalent of the courses in the original languages of Scripture, or whose cumulative academic average at the completion of the program is lower than 1.80. A student who has completed requirements by the end of the winter term of the year of graduation may receive the degree in absentia.
4. Entering international students with a TOEFL score of between 570 and 640, and any students whom, during the course of studies, faculty members identify as having weak writing skills, are required to pass the course PT 031p or PT 033p English Writing Skills. See the course description for further requirements.
5. International students must be full- time each semester; see the Director of Admissions for the number of semesters allowed to complete the degree program. International students should always allow three years to complete an M.A.R. and four years to complete an M.Div. due to Greek and Hebrew requirements.
6. See academic requirements regarding Registration and Attendance, Withdrawal/ Reinstatement, and Academic Standing in the Academic Catalog.
7. Students who already possess a M. A. R. degree may receive an M. Div. by completing the following:
   • all of the course requirements for the M. Div. (many of which will have been met in the M. A. R. program);
   • the M. Div. Mentored Ministry requirements;
   • a total of at least 120 semester hours of academic work at the M.A.R./M.Div. level, not including Hebrew and Greek, or a total of at least 140 semester hours of academic work at the M.A.R./M.Div. level, including Hebrew and Greek.

Instruction in the Bible presupposes a knowledge of Greek and Hebrew, and students are strongly advised to acquire such knowledge during their college course. However, a student is not required to have previous training in Greek or Hebrew to begin the program. Those who have had Greek or Hebrew before entrance should contact the Registrar about taking the Greek or Hebrew placement exam. A total of at least 92 credit hours plus required Hebrew and Greek courses is required for the Master of Divinity degree.

The M.Div. degree at Redeemer Seminary follows the pattern of the M.Div. General Ministries Track shown in the Westminster Theological Seminary Academic Catalog, though the second and third year courses may be scheduled in different semesters than shown in the M.Div. General Ministries chart.

A student who holds a baccalaureate degree from an approved institution receives the degree of Master of Divinity (M.Div.) on the completion of the prescribed program of study. The purpose of this program is twofold: (1) to prepare men for the pastoral ministry and to equip them to meet ecclesiastical requirements for ordination (2) to train men and women for gospel ministries of a more specialized sort. Such ministries might include counseling, Christian education, youth work, college and university student ministries, and urban service.

Students planning to seek ordination for pastoral ministry should be aware that completion of the M.Div. degree in a General Ministries Track may not satisfy the requirements for ordination of certain denominations. This is particularly the case if the sequence of courses in preaching is not included. One should check with the appropriate denominational judicatory.

Successful completion of a program of Mentored Ministry is required for the degree. Students should contact the Mentored Ministry Office at the beginning of the second semester of their first year in order to arrange for completing their required four units of ministry.

Courses in the M.Div. sample schedule plan are arranged to provide for orderly progress within the work of each department and for coherence within each semester of study. All of the programs require at least three years of full-time study (16-17 hours per semester, plus winter term) for completion. Note that in order to complete the program in the minimum time, the student must begin with the summer term and complete the courses in sequence. (Students who cannot carry a full course load as indicated, because of employment or other reasons, usually must extend the length of their seminary program.)

The Registrar and Dean of Students are available for counsel concerning individual student needs.

A biblical understanding of wisdom prevents us from separating knowing and doing, learning and practice. Wisdom unites the facets of knowledge, character, and skill. It results from academic learning and practical experience when accompanied by supervision and self-examination. Candidates for the M.Div. degree are therefore required to participate in mentored field experience in ministry. All arrangements for Mentored Ministry requirements are handled through the Mentored Ministry Office.

The M.Div. academic curriculum (except the M.Div. – Counseling) includes the required two-hour course, PT 111 Orientation to Ministry. This course introduces Mentored Ministry and is a prerequisite for any approved field experience.

The M.Div. candidate must complete four units of Mentored Ministry to qualify for the degree. The four units must be completed before the end of December in the academic year the student expects to graduate. Several formats are available. The units may be taken concurrently with the academic year or during summer or year-long internships. It is strongly recommended that at least one unit be completed in a cultural setting different from the student’s own.

The M.Div. student must participate in at least two integration seminars. These are semester-long weekly sessions of one hour each in which no more than 12 students meet with faculty to analyze and discuss the actual ministry experience of the participants. The seminars are offered each semester and are not assigned academic credit. However, each student must participate in two seminars to complete the requirements of Mentored Ministry.

Each student must participate in a final evaluation/interview held during the final year. Fieldwork appraisals are a part of the final year evaluation. The purpose of the evaluation is to assess the student’s gifts, strengths, and weaknesses, as well as overall readiness for ministry. The resulting assessment in no way can jeopardize the granting of the M.Div. degree if the student completes all Mentored Ministry units and academic requirements.

One unit of Mentored Ministry credit is received for 100-120 hours of mentored field experience under an approved mentor. Units of Mentored Ministry are not assigned credit hours and no grades are given. Approval for any unit may be withheld by the Director of Mentored Ministry if ministry proposals are not fulfilled or if evaluations and other requirements are not completed by prescribed dates.

No credit may be given for ministry experience prior to matriculation at Redeemer. Transfer credit for up to two units of Mentored Ministry may be given to students who transfer from other seminaries with approved programs of mentored field experience.

M.Div. candidates are strongly encouraged to take Evangelism Explosion training for one unit of credit in the Mentored Ministry program. One unit of credit in the program also can be given for successful completion of the Sonship course available through World Harvest Mission. Also, one credit unit can be received by serving on campus as a Mentored Ministry Partner to incoming international students. At completion the student must submit a statement reflecting on the implications of this program for ministry in the church and in the world. The Mentored Ministry Office will seek to make such training accessible.

The M.Div. degree is designed as a fulltime three-year or four-year program. Three years is the minimum amount of time (without transfer credit) it will take to complete the degree. Frequently, students take four years to complete the degree, in order that they may take Greek and Hebrew in different years.

Students who are taking courses on a part-time basis should adjust their course work plans and time limits according to their individual needs.

• English Bible Exam 0 hrs
• Library Orientation 0 hrs
• 3 hrs AP101 Introduction to Apologetics
• 3 hrs AP213 Christian Apologetics
• 2 hrs CH211 Ancient Church
• 2 hrs CH223 Medieval Church
• 3 hrs CH311 Reformation Church
• 4 hrs CH323 Modern Church
• 1 hrs NT101 Text of the NT
• 2 hrs NT111 General Introduction to the NT
• 4 hrs NT123 Hermeneutics
• 4 hrs NT211 Gospels
• 4 hrs NT223 Acts & Pauline Epistles
• 2 hrs NT311 General Epistles & Revelation
• 3 hrs OT113 OT Introduction
• 3 hrs OT211 OT History & Theology I
• 3 hrs OT223 OT History & Theology II
• 3 hrs OT311 Prophets
• 2 hrs OT323 Poets
• 0 hrs PT021/3 Mentored Ministry Seminar (2 req)
• 2 hrs PT111 Orientation to Ministry
• 2 hrs PT123 Gospel Communication
• 2 hrs PT211 Doctrine of the Church
• 2 hrs PT363 Pastoral Counseling
• 2 hrs ST101 Intro Systematic Theology
• 2 hrs ST113 Doctrine of God
• 2 hrs ST211 Doctrine of Man
• 3 hrs ST223 Salvation I
• 4 hrs ST313 Salvation II
• 4 hrs ST323 Christian Ethics

73 hrs Subtotal of core hours

9 hrs Hebrew I,II,III or exam

10 hrs Greek I,II,III or exam

19 hrs Electives total

___Elective 12 hrs from PT department

___Elective 7 hrs from any department

M.Div. total semester hours required

Total 111

Plus Mentored Ministry 400 clock hours

(Hours in required Elements of Hebrew and Greek General Studies Emphasis (Suggested Three-Year Schedule) courses are not included in this 92 hours total.)

First Year
Summer Term: Greek I, II, III: 10 hrs

Fall Semester

• NT 111 NT Intro 2 hrs OT 211 OT Hist Theo I 3 hrs OT 311 Prophetical Books 3 hrs
• ST 101 Intro Sys Theo 2 hrs NT101 Text of NT 1 hr NT 311 Epistles and Rev 2 hrs
• AP 101 Intro Apolog 3 hrs NT 211 The Gospels 4 hrs CH 311 Reformation CH 3 hrs
• PT 111 Orient Ministry** 2 hrs CH 211 Ancient CH 2 hrs CH 321 Modern Age CH 4 hrs
• Hebrew I 3 hrs ST 211 Doc Man 2 hrs Elective* 4 hrs
• PT 211 Doc Church 2 hrs Elective* 2 hrs

Winter Term Winter Term Winter Term
Hebrew II 2hrs
Total 2 hrs Total

Spring Semester Spring Semester Spring Semester

• OT 113 OT Intro 3 hrs OT 223 OT Hist Theol II 3 hrs OT 323 Poetry Wisdom 2hrs
• NT 123 Hermeneutics 4 hrs NT 223 Acts Paul Epis 4 hrs ST 313 Doc Salvation II 4 hrs
• ST 113 Doc God 2 hrs CH 223 Medieval CH 2 hrs ST 323 Chr Ethics 4 hrs
• PT 123 Gospel Comm 2 hrs ST 223 Doc Salvation I 3 hrs PT 363 Pastoral Couns 4 hrs
• Hebrew III 4 hrs AP 213 Chr Apolog 3 hrs Electives* 5 hrs
• Elective* 2 hrs

**All students must enroll in two semesters of PT 021P, 023P Mentored Ministry Integration Seminar anytime after completion of PT 111.