Master of Divinity (MDiv)

Purpose

The Master of Divinity (MDiv) is a 94-credit hour program designed to equip men and women through classes and experiences that will develop students for the multifaceted needs of Christian ministry. It is EAST’s most robust degree program. The curriculum grows students’ ability to:

deeply understand and teach the Scriptures
relate the tenants of the Christian faith to the needs of the multicultural ministry fields of Asia in contextually appropriate ways
practice servant leadership
mature in their personal walk with God and character development.

Target Group

EAST’s MDiv is designed as a practitioner’s degree for students who plan to enter into ministry upon graduation. The degree will prepare students who desire to enter into:

pastoral ministry
cross-cultural missions
church planting
ministry in fields of justice and mercy
further theological studies

Concentrations

EAST’s MDiv allows students to study in a broad range of areas that will prepare students for a number of Christian ministries. Those who do not choose to declare a concentration may select additional courses related to their interests. However, some students may desire to focus their MDiv studies in one specific area more tailored to their ministry needs. Therefore, EAST offers optional MDiv concentrations in which students can choose their curriculum to meet the specific needs of the ministry field in which they plan to enter. These four concentrations are in Biblical studies, intercultural studies, theological studies, and leadership studies.

The Biblical Studies concentration provides a foundation for those who wish to go for further studies in Bible Exposition, Old Testament studies, or New Testament studies. This concentration offers focused preparation for roles in preaching, teaching, and Christian education settings. It is designed for students who envision a future ministry that involves knowledge of the Scriptures and a level of proficiency in biblical Hebrew and Greek.

The Intercultural Studies concentration is designed for students who will serve in a cross-cultural context, a multi-cultural context, or mobilize others to serve cross-culturally. It is suitable for roles such as missionaries, tentmakers, mission mobilizers, lay ministers, and ministers to emerging generations.

The Leadership Studies concentration is ideal for students seeking focused training in critical leadership skills, preparing them to think theologically and lead effectively in various aspects of ministry. This concentration provides enhanced preparation for roles as pastors, parachurch ministry leaders, and organisational leaders.

The Theological Studies concentration is best suited for those seeking to relate Christian doctrines and practices to contemporary life and society. It is designed for those who seek to present the Gospel and explain the Christian faith in a relevant and compelling manner in a variety of contexts and to various audiences.

Admissions Requirements

The individual applying for the MDiv must follow the usual EAST application process and meet the MDiv admissions standards. Both of these are stated in the “Admissions” section of this Prospectus. Additional admissions information for international students is explained in the “International Students” section of the Prospectus.

EAST Aleph (Summer)	AD500 Orientation to Theological Studies	NC
EAST Aleph (Summer)	AD501 Evangelism Seminar	NC

1^st Year	1^st Semester		2^nd Semester
	AD510 Academic Research & Writing	2	AD503 Introduction to Turabian^[1]	NC
	BS510 Inductive Bible Study Method	3	BS511 Biblical Hermeneutics	3
	IS520 Contextualisation & Worldview	3	IS510 World Missions	2
			OT510 Old Testament Narratives	3
			IS580 Cross-Cultural Team Internship 1	1
	TS532 Spiritual Life & Transformation	3	EF521 Marriage & Ministry OR Alternate Marriage / Family / Relationship Course^[2]	1
	OT501 Elementary Hebrew OR NT501 Biblical Greek 1: Elementary Greek	3	OT502 Intermediate Hebrew Grammar & Introduction to Exegesis OR NT502 Biblical Greek 2: Exegesis Using Tools	3
	AD530 Mentoring Group 1	1	AD530 Mentoring Group 2	1
	IS504 Evangelism & Discipleship – one credit per semester			2
	TOTAL	16	TOTAL	15
[1] This course is required only for students matriculating in January, and will be enrolled in their first semester i.e. 1st year, 2nd semester. [2] Married Students select EF521 Marriage & Ministry (1 credit) to be completed along with their spouse. It is recommended that engaged students enroll in EF521 Marriage & Ministry (1 credit) course along with their fiance. Single students may select a 1-credit seminar/workshop of interest related to marriage, family, or singleness.
Summer	IS581 Cross-Cultural Team Internship 2	2

2^nd Year	1^st Semester		2^nd Semester
	NT510 New Testament Narratives	3	NT511 New Testament Epistles & Revelation	3
	EF501 Teaching & Learning 1 OR EF511 Expository Preaching 1	2	TS500 Global Church History 1	3
	Wholistic Leadership Formation Course	3	EF520 Christian Marriage, Family, & Singleness	2
	OT501 Elementary Hebrew OR NT501 Biblical Greek 1: Elementary Greek	3	OT502 Intermediate Hebrew Grammar & Introduction to Exegesis OR NT502 Biblical Greek 2: Exegesis Using Tools	3
	Concentration Course	2	Concentration Course	3
	AD530 Mentoring Group 3	1	AD530 Mentoring Group 4	1
	AD520 Field Practicum & FIRM 1– one credit per semester			2
	TOTAL	15	TOTAL	16

3^rd Year	1^st Semester		2^nd Semester
	OT511 Old Testament Poets, Wisdom & Prophets	3	AD515 Summative Learning Portfolio	1
	TS510 Theology 1	3	TS511 Theology 2	3
	Select one: LD510 Transforming Leadership OR EF530 Biblical Counselling in Ministry OR IS502/TS584 Apologetics	3	IS560/TS561 Church & Society	3
	EF501 Teaching & Learning 1 OR EF511 Expository Preaching 1	2	EF502 Teaching & Learning 2 OR EF512 Expository Preaching 2	3
	Concentration Course	2	Concentration Course	3
	AD530 Mentoring Group 5	1	AD530 Mentoring Group 6	1
	Concentration Course: AD521 MDiv Concentration Practicum & FIRM 2 – one credit per semester			2
	TOTAL	15	TOTAL	15

MDiv Concentration Courses

AD521 MDiv Concentration Practicum & FIRM 2 (2 credits)

In addition to the above, the student selects ten (10) additional credits of concentration courses based on an area of interest.

Biblical Studies Concentration

Required Concentration Courses:

OT503 Advanced Hebrew Grammar & Exegesis of Poetic Literature (3 credits)

NT503 Biblical Greek 3: Intermediate Grammar & Exegesis (3 credits)

In addition to the above, the student selects four (4) credits of Biblical Studies (BS, OT, NT) courses.

Intercultural Studies Concentration

The student selects ten (10) credits of Intercultural Studies (IS) courses.

Leadership Studies Concentration

Required Concentration Courses:

LD510 Transforming Leadership (3 credits)

LD522 Pastoral Leadership (3 credits)

LD536 Organisational Change (2 credits)

In addition to the above, the student selects three (2) credits of Leadership Studies (LD) courses.

Theological Studies Concentration

Required Concentration Course:

TS563 Ethics (3 credits)

In addition to the above, the student selects seven (7) credits of Theological Studies (TS) courses.

Wholistic Leadership Formation Cluster Courses

The student selects three (3) credits from courses, such as:

EF570/BS570 A Life of Prayer: Biblical Portraits & Spiritual Practices (3 credits)

EF572 Christian Spiritual Formation (3 credits)

EF574 Discipleship, Soul Care, & Growth (3 credits)

EF576/LD512 Christian Virtue Development in a Pluralistic World (3 credits)

LD500 Christian Leadership Foundations (3 credits)

Course Description Information

For further information and description of each of the MDiv courses, refer to the appropriate section of the “Course Descriptions” section of this Prospectus.

Distribution Requirements

Academic Studies (AD) AD500, AD501, AD510, AD515, AD520, AD530	11 credits
Biblical Studies (BS, OT, NT) BS510, BS511, OT501, OT5O2, OT510, OT511, NT501, NT502, NT510, NT511	30 credits
Intercultural Studies (IS) IS504, IS510, IS520, IS580, IS581	10 credits
Education & Formation Studies (EF) EF501, EF511, EF502 or EF512, EF520, EF521	10 credits
Theological Studies (TS) TS500, TS510, TS511, TS532	12 credits
LD / EF / IS / TS Select one: LD510, or EF530, or IS502/ TS584* Select one: IS560 or TS561	6 credits
Wholistic Leadership Formation Course	3 credits
Concentration Courses	12 credits
	94 credits