The Master of Divinity degree, more commonly known as the M.Div., is the most respected and comprehensive degree for leadership within a church, para-church or faith-based non- profit organization. This degree combines a traditional classroom experience with supervised ministry experience outside of the classroom to prepare you to serve with theological conviction and practical leadership skills.
Highlights
- Purposeful community of learners and leaders
- experienced and published faculty
- theologically diverse student body
- MFT and ministry students integrated in foundational courses
- Option to study in Israel each summer
- Option to attend the Hispanic Summer Program
- Diverse practicum opportunities
- Online courses available
- Fully accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
Career opportunities
We have skilled graduates serving locally and abroad as lead pastors, executive pastors, student ministry pastors, military chaplains, fire and law enforcement chaplains, pastoral counselors and community developers. Our graduates plant churches in areas where churches are scarce, lead teams of people in unconventional and very creative ministries, and in general bring life transformation into areas with desperate need.
Program director
Brian Ross, D.Min.
Faculty
Mark Baker, Ph.D.
Tim Geddert, Ph.D.
Lynn Jost, Ph.D.
Valerie Rempel, Ph.D.
Admission requirements
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited University
- Minimum GPA of 2.5
- Completion of FPBS application materials
Course listing
Required Courses (90 Units)
Foundations
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BIB 720 | The Church and God's Mission in the World * | 3 |
| BIB 725 | Biblical Interpretation I *** | 3 |
| HIST 712 | History of Christianity | 3 |
| MIN 705 | Mentoring/Connecting * | 1 |
| MIN 750A or MIN 750D | Cross-Cultural Encounter: Los Angeles * or Cross-Cultural Encounter: San Francisco * | 1.5 or 1.5 |
| MIN 750B or MIN 750C | Cross-Cultural Encounter: Fresno * or Cross-Cultural Encounter: International * | 1.5 or 1.5 |
| THEO 705 | Christian Thought *** | 3 |
Expanding the Base
Choose one set
Students may petition to substitute biblical language requirements (9 units) with BIB 722 - Biblical Language Tools (3) and (6) units of Bible content courses. Interested students should discuss this option with their faculty advisor.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BIB 711 and BIB 710 or BIB 716 and BIB 715 | Elementary Greek II and Elementary Greek I or Elementary Hebrew II and Elementary Hebrew I | 6 or 6 |
| BIB 750 | Biblical Theology I *** ** | 3 |
| BIB 752 | Biblical Theology II *** ** | 3 |
| COUN 724 | Interpersonal Communication *** | 2 |
| MIN 710 | Spiritual Formation | 2 |
| MIN 720 | Personal Evangelism | 1 |
Testing the Theory
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BIB 712 or BIB 717 | Intermediate Greek Exegesis or Intermediate Hebrew Exegesis | 3 or 3 |
| MIN 793A | Supervised Ministry Experience I * | 1.5 |
| MIN 793B | Supervised Ministry Experience II * | 1.5 |
| MIN 793C | Supervised Ministry Experience III * | 1.5 |
| THEO 730 | Discipleship and Ethics * | 2 |
Choose one of the following
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| HIST 716 or HIST 718 or THEO 760 | The Evangelical Anabaptist Story or North American Religious History or Evangelical Anabaptist Confessions of Faith | 3 or 3 or 3 |
Practicing the Theory
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MIN 740 or MIN 742 | Preaching I or Preaching for Contemporary Listeners | 3 or 3 |
| MIN 744 | Pastoral Care and Counseling | 3 |
| MIN 746 | Christian Worship *** | 3 |
| PACS 700 | Basic Institute in Conflict Management And Mediation *** | 2 |
Capstone Learning
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MIN 793D | Supervised Ministry Experience IV | 1.5 |
| BIB 790 or MIN 799 | Senior Seminar or Thesis *** | 3 or 6 |
| MIN 748 | Pastoral Leadership | 3 |
| MIN 770 | Ministry Discernment | 0 |
Electives
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| New Testament or Old Testament Bible content courses | 5-6 | |
| Practical studies | 3 | |
| MFT course | 1.5 | |
| Free electives | 12.5-15.5 |
* Must be FPU Biblical Seminary course.
** At least one biblical theology course must be an FPU Biblical Seminary course.
*** Course must be taken as number of units listed here