Master of Divinity (MDiv)
Christ-centered formation for ministry leadership & chaplaincy
At A Glance
Accreditation
ATS (Association of Theological Schools), NWCCU
Format
Hybrid (online courses with three annual BridgeWeek intensives in Portland each September)
Tuition Cost for Entire Program
$45,936* (plus $1,600 per BridgeWeek intensive)
Workload
Three courses per semester for a total of 30 hours of work per week
Cohort Model
Take courses for two years of the four-year program with the same group of
Application Deadlines
Rolling application deadline; apply now for the next fall cohort
* Based on taking 9 semester credit hours of study per term in the fall and spring semesters.
** All stated financial information is subject to change. Financial aid available.
For those called to be Christian leaders, it is essential to have a firm understanding of Christian heritage and theology as well as the wisdom to apply one’s knowledge in love and service.
As a Master of Divinity graduate, you will be prepared to take on the role of church planter, pastor, chaplain or nonprofit leader. This is the program for you if you’re looking to be both listened to and challenged so that you might in turn inspire personal and social change in your ministry context.
At the heart of Portland Seminary is a commitment to the spiritual formation of each student. Formation into Christlikeness prepares us to engage the world for the sake of Christ, and no matter what program you pursue, you will engage in an intentionally designed spiritual formation curriculum.
Chaplaincy Specialization
If you have a heart to help others process a crisis, find meaning, and companion those who feel alone and isolated, consider the chaplaincy specialization as a part of your MDiv.
Chaplaincy is a pathway toward a ministry of presence. Chaplains work in a wide range of settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, law enforcement, military and prisons.
What Will I Experience?
- Interact with Christian Scripture, history and theology to analyze, interpret and express findings faithfully
- Pursue an ever-deepening sense of the reality of Jesus Christ through spiritual formation
- Learn how to relate to others as people created in God's image
- Support the transformation of societies through personal and social holiness motivated by love
- Engage in spiritual formation that involves the intersection of Scripture, theology, psychology, biology and social-cultural factors
- Exercise pastoral care, preach, equip, and lead the diverse and local church body and Christian communities at large
- Practice classic spiritual disciplines as well as intentional holistic awareness
- Be held accountable by a cohort community to continue practicing what is taught in the academic environment
Program Experiences
- WaterFront is a required two-day online orientation for new students every August.
- BridgeWeek is the fourth week of each fall semester every year, when all students come to Portland for a face-to-face experiential intensive. Special events are offered throughout the week.
Flexible Format
Our standard Master of Divinity program comprises three courses per semester and takes four years to complete. You also can finish the MDiv in three years (four courses per semester) or six years (two courses per semester).
Our hybrid format blends online learning with an intensive in-person experience each year, allowing you to connect deeply with diverse faculty and cohort peers.
What does a hybrid format look like?
- You'll join your cohort and instructor weekly on Monday for a Zoom conversation and engage in online forum discussions throughout the week.
- Attend a five-day BridgeWeek intensive in person every September (fourth week of fall classes).
The Word Must Become Flesh
For Joel Sommer, pastor of vision and formation at Access Covenant Church, a multi-ethnic and multilingual congregation in Southeast Portland, the challenge of impacting a community and seeing lives transformed begins with a simple premise: “The Word must become flesh.”
In short, trite greetings and feel-good sermons don’t get the job done.
“We are a community that emphasizes contemplation and Scripture, so it’s key for us to allow the Word and Spirit to lead us to action in the place we live,” says Sommer, a 2011 graduate of Portland Seminary’s Master of Divinity program who founded the church in 2013.
Questions?
Haley Holman
Admissions Counselor, Portland Seminary
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