Grace Theological Seminary Launches New, More Affordable MDiv Degree and DMin Degrees

Grace Theological Seminary will offer new and more affordable Master of Divinity (MDiv Degree) and Doctor of Ministry (DMin Degree) programs beginning this fall semester. The seminary has modified the required credit hours for these degrees to save students time and money. Additionally, more concentrations are available for students to hone in on specific areas of interest.

“We are taking some big steps forward this year as a seminary. We’ve condensed the credit hours and decreased the cost of these degrees while keeping the academic rigor and applied ministry experience,” said Dr. Freddy Cardoza, dean of Grace Theological Seminary. “Finding excellent advanced ministry degrees at an affordable price is rare. But at Grace, we made it possible,” said Cardoza.

The MDiv degree, which previously required 90 credit hours, is now a 75-credit hour program. The degree also has new concentrations available in chaplaincy, Christian ministry, exegetical studies, general studies, intercultural studies, pastoral counseling, pastoral studies and women’s leadership.

“The MDiv Degree has always been considered ‘the pastor’s degree’ and is a staple of any seminary. It is crucial to the health of the church because it equips pastors to confidently exegete Scripture,” said Cardoza. “With the added concentrations, we will develop leaders with sound theology and great competency in hermeneutics in a variety of ministry-related areas,” he said.

Students enrolled in Grace’s undergraduate School of Ministry Studies are able to begin their MDiv degree in their junior year as part of the seminary’s accelerated degree program. This enables them to complete two degrees in five years.

For ministry leaders who already have a MDiv or at least 72 hours of theological training, the DMin is now a 30-hour program that can be completed in three years at Grace.

“The DMin degree can take as long as five years at other institutions, but at Grace, you can complete your coursework and your dissertation all within three years,” said Professor of Pastoral Studies Dr. Rock LaGioia. “I especially love this program because it uniquely equips leaders with opportunities for relationship-building and networking which is invaluable in ministry. Pastors need encouragement and accountability from other pastors who understand what they’re going through,” he added.

The DMin program added the following concentrations for this fall: interdisciplinary studies, advanced expository preaching, intercultural studies and pastoral studies.

For more information about these programs and Grace Theological Seminary, visit seminary@grace.edu. To learn more about the MDiv or DMin degrees, contact Rob Neufer at robert.neufer@grace.edu. For any questions about the accelerated program, contact John Sloat at sloatjs@grace.edu.