Concordia Lutheran Seminary

Programs

Master of Divinity

For admissions information, click here.

The Master of Divinity program is a four-year full-time course of study primarily designed for candidates who seek to serve in the pastoral ministry of LCC. Members of other church bodies are welcome to enroll in the program, with the understanding that they will be studying Lutheran theology. A maximum of 30 credits may be taken as an Open Studies student, full time or part time, prior to entering the Master of Divinity program. Those who desire to prepare for the holy ministry in LCC must ordinarily have been active members of an LCC or partner church congregation for two years. Candidates must enjoy satisfactory health and demonstrate good character, commitment to Christian ministry, and pastoral suitability.

Degree Requirements

The Master of Divinity degree requires satisfactory mastery* of 100 credit hours according to the following distribution, as well as satisfactory completion of 600 Co-curricular Units (CCUs)

*When a D or F is earned for a required course, the course must be repeated.

Exegetical Theology (minimum 18 credits)

  • Core Courses
    • EXE 100 Introduction to the Study of Scripture
  • Two Old Testament Exegetical courses selected from:
    • EXE 210 The Pentateuch
    • EXE 220 The Prophets
    • EXE 230 The Writings
  • Two New Testament Exegetical courses selected from:
    • EXE 250 Jesus and the Gospels
    • EXE 260 Paul and His Writings
    • EXE 270 The Rest of the NT
  • Three or more additional credits in the area of Old Testament or New Testament Exegetical Theology

Systematic Theology (minimum 15 credits)

  • Core Courses
    • SYS 100 Theological Method
    • SYS 110 God, Creation, and Anthropology
    • SYS 220 Christ and Salvation
    • SYS 430 Faith, Life, and Ethics
    • SYS 440 Church, Sacraments, and Hope

Historical Theology (minimum 9 credits)

  • Core Courses
    • HIS 110 Apostolic Fathers through the 7th Ecumenical Council
    • HIS 120 Middle Ages and Reformation
  • One or more of the following  Historical Theology courses
    • HIS 250 The Rise of World Lutheranism
    • HIS 251 The Lutheran Church in North America

Theology in Praxis (minimum 49 credits)

  • Core Courses
    • PRX 100 Ministering in Context
    • PRX 101 Pastor: Person and Work
    • PRX 110 Worship 1
    • PRX 120 Communicating the Gospel
    • PRX 121 Preaching 1
    • PRX 160/161/260/261/460/461 Lectionary Seminar
    • PRX 210 Worship 2
    • PRX 220 Preaching 2
    • PRX 230 Teaching the Faith
    • PRX 240 Christian Care and Counselling
    • PRX 250 Spirituality
    • PRX 251 Christianity and World Religions
    • PRX 255 Theology of Missions and Evangelism
    • PRX 400 Pastoral Ministry Seminar
  • Vicarage
    • PRX 300 Vicarage

Other (minimum 9 credits)

  • Free Electives
    • 9 credits in any area

Co-curricular Units (minimum 600 units)

In recognition that the Master of Divinity degree is preparation for the vocation of pastoral ministry, a practical component of the degree is required of all students.  This component comprises the earning of co-curricular units (CCUs).  For LCC students, CCUs also partially fulfill the requirements of the Theological Diploma. 

CCUs are not academic credits and are calculated and awarded differently.  Whereas academic credits are awarded based upon a strict formula relating to hours spent in class, generally speaking CCUs are awarded at the rate of 1 unit per hour of activity, though some activities are weighted more heavily than others. 

CCUs are awarded for experiences and activities that foster personal and vocational growth.  Thus, most field education experiences will be eligible to be counted as CCUs.  Field education and the development of pastoral skills is just one component of the CCUs (for a fuller description of the various types of units, contact the Director of Field Education) . 

For LCC students, CCUs are intended to foster the ability to function effectively with a Lutheran mindset and within a Lutheran context.  It is expected that CCU experiences will also enrich and permeate each student’s academic work and the collective educational atmosphere of the classroom.  Students are encouraged to reflect upon every CCU experience in order to assess both the uniqueness of its context and those aspects which can be applied to other contexts.  They should be prepared to discuss their observations with the faculty, field education pastor and fellow students. 

CCUs  focus on three areas:

  • Personal Growth 
    • Character formation
    • Health and life skills
    • Servant-leadership
    • Aesthetic sensitivity
  • Pastoral Skills
    • Social & cultural issues
    • Specialized ministry contexts (history, theology, praxis)
    • Worship-leading (at fieldwork congregation and in CLS chapel)
    •  Other pastoral skills
  • Uniquely Lutheran Contexts

For students not seeking ordination or seeking certification in other church bodies, the total number of required CCUs – as  well as the minimum requirements in each category – are developed by the Director of Field Ed. in consultation with an appropriate representative from that particular church body.