Degree Guide

What Is a Master of Divinity (M.Div.)?

Degrees & Programs · 6 min read

The Master of Divinity (M.Div.) is the standard professional degree for pastoral ministry — a comprehensive graduate program covering the biblical languages, theology, church history, and the practical work of shepherding a congregation. It is the most comprehensive of the master’s-level seminary degrees and the one most commonly expected of those pursuing ordination. At New Geneva Theological Seminary, the M.Div. is a 100-credit-hour, fully online degree anchored in historic Reformed theology and the Westminster Standards, designed to equip individuals for the pastorate and other gospel ministries.

What does an M.Div. prepare you for?

The M.Div. is built to form ministers, not merely to inform them. Graduates commonly pursue:

The pastorateOrdination in Reformed and evangelical churches
ChaplaincyMilitary, hospital, and institutional ministry
MissionsCross-cultural and church-planting work
Further studyA prerequisite for a Th.M. or Ph.D.

At New Geneva, the M.Div. is designed for aspiring pastors seeking ordination in Reformed and evangelical denominations — including the PCA, OPC, and RCUS — as well as chaplains and future scholars.

What is in an M.Div. curriculum?

An M.Div. is comprehensive by design. New Geneva’s 100 hours span five areas: Old Testament (including Hebrew), New Testament (including Greek), Systematic & Historical Theology, Pastoral Theology & Missions (preaching, counseling, leadership, worship), and History / Religion & Society. Unlike shorter ministry degrees, a true M.Div. trains you in the original biblical languages and the full arc of systematic theology — the reason it is the longest and most comprehensive of the master’s-level seminary degrees.

M.Div. vs. other seminary degrees

How the M.Div. compares to the other master’s-level paths at New Geneva:

M.Div.
Comprehensive · ordination track · languages
100 cr
M.A. in Christian Ministry
For lay leaders · no languages required
48 cr
Th.M.
Advanced scholarship · post-M.Div.
30 cr
Certificate (CBS)
Foundational · introductory
26 cr

The M.Div. is the fullest of these — the standard track for those preparing to preach and pastor. Explore each on the degree programs page.

The M.Div. at New Geneva Theological Seminary

New Geneva’s M.Div. is delivered entirely online for students who cannot relocate or leave their current ministry context, with live Zoom sessions and on-demand coursework. It is uncompromisingly Reformed — rooted in Scripture and the Westminster Standards, taught with a redemptive-historical method that trains you to preach Christ from all of Scripture. Tuition is $300 per credit hour, so the full 100-credit degree is $30,000 — one of the most affordable Westminster-confessional M.Div. programs available online.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Master of Divinity (M.Div.) is the standard professional degree for pastoral ministry. It is a comprehensive graduate program covering the biblical languages, systematic theology, church history, and pastoral practice, and it is the seminary degree most commonly expected of those seeking ordination. New Geneva’s M.Div. is a 100-credit-hour, fully online, Reformed program.

An M.Div. prepares graduates for the pastorate and ordination, for chaplaincy (military, hospital, and institutional), for missions and church planting, and for further academic study — it is a prerequisite for advanced degrees such as a Th.M. or Ph.D.

The M.Div. is the comprehensive, ordination-track degree (100 credit hours at New Geneva, including Hebrew and Greek). The M.A. in Christian Ministry (MACM) is a shorter 48-credit degree for lay leaders and does not require the biblical languages. Both are Reformed; the M.Div. is the fuller preparation for preaching and pastoral ministry.

Requirements vary by denomination. Many Reformed and Presbyterian bodies expect an M.Div. or its equivalent for ordination to the pastorate, which is why it is the most common seminary degree for pastoral candidates. New Geneva’s M.Div. is designed for aspiring pastors seeking ordination in denominations such as the PCA, OPC, and RCUS.

Yes. New Geneva’s M.Div. is delivered entirely online, with live Zoom sessions and on-demand coursework, for students who cannot relocate or leave their current ministry context. The full 100-credit degree is $300 per credit hour, or $30,000 at standard tuition.

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