Objectives – Students in the Master of Arts (Biblical Studies) program can expect to develop the following competencies during studies at the divinity school:

• Spiritual Competence – will enable the student to demonstrate growth in the life of the Spirit.
• Biblical Competence – will enable the student to summarize the development and content of the two testaments and to interpret their texts using the methodological approaches available to expositors and scholars.
• Theological Competence – will enable the student to outline the theological teachings of the scriptures and to identify key persons and periods in the development of Christian theology.
• Theoretical Competence – will enable the student to select a biblical discipline, learn its theories, and develop the skills required by the discipline.

Requirements – As outlined below, each Master of Arts program is comprised of twenty-seven (27) semester hours of required courses.

Graduation – Students who plan to complete the Master of Arts (Biblical Studies) at Carolina Graduate School of Divinity must…

• Participate in the spiritual and community life of the divinity school.
• Complete sixteen (16) courses (48 semester hours) with a 3.0 or higher grade point average within the four (4) year time limit.
• Submit the Graduation Application and Graduation Fee by the stipulated deadline.
• Be cleared by the Business Office for graduation.

Objectives – Students in the Master of Arts in Ministry program can expect to develop the following competencies during studies at the divinity school:

• Spiritual Competence – will enable the student to demonstrate growth in the life of the Spirit.
• Biblical Competence – will enable the student to summarize the development and content of the two testaments and to interpret their texts using the methodological approaches available to expositors and scholars.
• Theological Competence – will enable the student to outline the theological teachings of the scriptures and to identify key persons and periods in the development of Christian theology.
• Vocational Competence – will enable the student to select a ministry discipline, learn its theories, and develop the skills required by the discipline.

Requirements – As outlined below, each Master of Arts program is comprised of twenty-seven (27) semester hours of required courses.

Graduation – Students who plan to complete the Master of Arts in Ministry at Carolina Graduate School of Divinity must…

• Participate in the spiritual and community life of the divinity school.
• Complete sixteen (16) courses (48 semester hours) with a 3.0 or higher grade point average within the four (4) year time limit.
• Submit the Graduation Application and Graduation Fee by the stipulated deadline.
  Be cleared by the Business Office for graduation.

 

Master of Divinity

 

The faculty at CGSD believes the Master of Divinity degree to be the preferred course of study for students preparing to serve the church in leadership roles. This belief is based on three considerations:

• The M.Div. provides the most comprehensive and balanced ministry preparation available on the graduate level.
• The M.Div. is required for ordination by many denominational groups.
• The M.Div. is considered the foundational degree by all recognized accrediting associations for admission into the professional Doctor of Ministry program.

Objectives – Students in the Master of Divinity program can expect to develop the following competencies during studies at the divinity school:

• Spiritual Competence - will enable the student to demonstrate growth in the life of the Spirit.
• Biblical Competence - will enable the student to summarize the development and content of the two testaments and to interpret their texts using the methodological approaches available to expositors and scholars.
• Theological Competence - will enable the student to outline the theological teachings of the scriptures and to identify key persons and periods in the development of Christian theology.
• Historical Competence - will enable the student to tell the story of Christianity’s growth from a small sect in the first century to the fastest growing religion in the third millennium.
• Global Competence - will enable the student to interact critically and constructively with the cultures and religions of the world community.
• Vocational Competence - will enable the student to select a ministry discipline, learn its theories, and develop the skills required by the discipline.

Concentrations – The Master of Divinity program at CGSD has two (2) concentrations from which to choose: Biblical Studies and Pastoral Leadership. Within the Biblical Studies concentration, students may choose to focus on Old Testament (language required), New Testament (language required), or English Bible.

 

Requirements – As outlined below, each Master of Divinity program is comprised of sixty-three (63) semester hours of required courses and twenty-one (21) semester hours in the chosen concentration.

 

Graduation – Students who plan to complete the Master of Divinity at Carolina Graduate School of Divinity must…

• Participate in the spiritual and community life of the divinity school.
• Complete twenty-eight (28) courses (84 semester hours) with a 2.5 or higher grade point average within the six (6) year time limit.
• Submit the Graduation Application and Graduation Fee by the stipulated deadline.
  Be cleared by the Business Office for graduation.

Doctor of Ministry

The Doctor of Ministry is an advanced degree program designed to equip the student for ministry at a high level of professional competence.

 

Objectives – The Doctor of Ministry program at Carolina Graduate School of Divinity is designed to assist the student upgrade four (4) pastoral related competencies:

• Homiletical competence will enable the student to understand the text as it was intended by the original author and present a message understood and applied by a congregation in the 21st century.
• Formational competence will encourage the student to deepen personal commitment to the spiritual disciplines and to serve as spiritual guide for those learning to live in the Spirit.
• Congregational competence will equip the student to assess the health of a local congregation and provide leadership which stimulates vibrant ministry throughout the congregation.
• Global competence will engage the student in the growth of the church around the world and provide opportunities for his/her congregation to immerse itself in that growth.

Admission – In addition to the general admission requirements of the divinity school, Doctor of Ministry applicants must also:

• Hold the Master of Divinity or its equivalent from an accredited theological seminary. CGSD defines equivalency as…
  • The completion of seventy-two (72) graduate hours in theological studies which has culminated in the awarding of at least one masters degree. Deficiencies must be satisfied prior to matriculation into the doctoral program.
  • The completion of two (2) graduate theological degrees with one (1) of the degrees having a concentration in Christian ministry.
  • The completion of a graduate theological degree and sufficient units of supervised Clinical Pastoral Education at a site accredited by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education to total seventy-two (72) graduate hours.
• Demonstrate the ability to do doctoral work by earning a 3.0 or higher grade point average on all previous graduate study.
• Have three (3) years of ministry experience subsequent to the completion of the first theological degree.
• Take the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) if the applicant’s grade point average is below 3.5 for all previous graduate study.
• Engage in a recognized ministry at the time of application and throughout his/her studies at the divinity school.

Components – Each Doctor of Ministry module is comprised of three (3) separate but integrated components:

• Pre-residency – Preliminary reading (2,000 pages per course) and other assignments chosen by the professor.
• Residency – One (1) week interactive teaching module on campus or a site chosen by the Director of Doctoral Studies.
• Post-residency – Integrative ministry and/or writing project which draws from assigned readings, classroom presentations and interaction, as well as additional research. Post-residency projects are due sixty (60) days from the final day of the residency component.

Requirements – As outlined below, the Doctor of Ministry program is comprised of fifteen (15) semester hours of required courses and fifteen (12) semester hours of electives.

 

 

Limitations – Course requirements for the Doctor of Ministry degree are met over three (3) years with up to two (2) additional years for the professional project so the student has sufficient time to integrate theory and practice within the context of his/her ministry setting. Nine (9) years is the maximum allowed for the completion of all degree requirements. Continuous enrollment (with fee) must be maintained after the fifth year or the student is withdrawn from the degree program.

 

Graduation – Graduation from the Doctor of Ministry program requires:

• Completion of all coursework (24 semester hours) with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher (4.0 scale).
• Acceptance of the student’s Professional Doctoral Project (6 semester hours) by the Doctor of Ministry Committee after a successful defense of the project by the student.
• Recommendation for graduation by the faculty to the Board of Trustees.
• Removal of all financial obligations to the divinity school. Students who have outstanding account balances will not be considered for graduation by the Doctor of Ministry Committee.
• Participation in the commencement ceremonies by candidates living within a two hundred (200) mile radius of the divinity school.

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