Masters in Divinity (MDiv) and Masters in Theology (MTS) Program Outcomes
Graduates will be characterized by appropriate levels of achievement in areas of knowledge, praxis, and personal and professional character
Masters in Divinity (MDiv) Program Outcomes
Combine Biblical and theological grounding with hands-on experience for ministry or personal/professional development. MDivs help you prepare for ministry with concentration in Missional Congregational Leadership, Church Planting, Urban Leadership, Biblical Studies, Theological Studies, Reformed Studies, Anglican Studies, or Pastoral Care:
- KNOWLEDGE: Graduates will have attained:
- Thorough knowledge of the content of the Old and New Testaments, including chronology, canonical shaping, and major themes, graduates will be able to:
- Demonstrate factual knowledge of biblical persons, institutions, dates, ad geography
- Identify the content, structure, and themes of biblical books
- Engage with current issues in biblical scholarship and their impact upon interpretation
- Familiarity with ancient and modern Christian approaches to the interpretation of Scripture:
- Exegete biblical texts, paying appropriate attention to:
- the situation of the author and first readers and
- literary structure and canonical context
- Evaluate theological issues in biblical texts and discern their historic and contemporary implications
- Exegete biblical texts, paying appropriate attention to:
- Thorough knowledge of the Nicene faith, including its relation to Scripture, its doctrinal articulation and coherence, and its soteriological relevance
- Offer an informed and articulate discussion of central theme in the Nicene faith, including its soteriological significance
- Accurately synthesize knowledge of central themes in Nicene faith in a critically aware manner
- Familiarity with key eras, episodes, ecclesial traditions, cultural contexts, movements, and figures in church history:
- Analyze primary sources in depth, critically evaluating their contributions to our understanding of events and issues
- Identify and contextualize historical events, individuals, movements, places, and ideas
- Critical awareness of the diverse cultural and theological expressions of ecumenical faith of the church, and of the key differences among Christian traditions:
- Articulate and evaluate issues of interpretation relating to episodes from which different Christian traditions emerged
- Produce fair and sympathetic portrays of figures or movements from traditions other than their own
- Familiarity with and critical appreciation of the basis and history of Christian mission in relation to God's activity in the world and to diverse social and cultural realities of human life:
- Articulate the nature of Christian mission on the basis of key Biblical and theological themes (Creation, Christ, gospel, faith, kingdom, church)
- Provide critical perspective on contemporary Christian mission in the context of the history of Christian missions
- Thorough knowledge of the content of the Old and New Testaments, including chronology, canonical shaping, and major themes, graduates will be able to:
- PRAXIS: Graduates will have developed:
- Competence in the process of theological reasoning with due attention paid to diverse and cultural realities:
- Make informed theological judgements on complex issues, with due attention to social and cultural context
- Engage in theologically informed case-study analysis and discussion of a specific problem, issue, or situation
- Read texts critically and charitably
- Clear and effective communication skills in both oral and written forms:
- Give a presentation characterized by clarity, both verbally and in the structure of the argument
- Write a formal research paper, containing a well-structured logical argument supported by appropriate types of evidence
- Write a formal research paper of the required length; displaying excellent grammar and spelling, and using correct and consistent citations and bibliographical formats
- An appropriate level of competence in a range of pastoral skills, taking into account personal strengths and weaknesses
- Prepare and preach sermons based on thorough scriptural exegesis pastorally applied to the needs of a congregation, while effectively proclaiming the gospel
- Plan and lead worship that is theologically coherent in a manner that is attentive to the situation of a local church
- Provide leadership in initiatives of evangelism and Christian formation
- Delineate Christ-centred effective and ethical pastoral care practices
- Facility with the elements of effective congregational leadership:
- Identify and understand the history, social dynamics, and demographic character of a congregation in its larger community context
- Identify contributing elements of parish conflict and strategies for conflict resolution
- Articulate key elements in cultivating lay leadership and ministry
- Articulate an understanding of change management and its application in pastoral settings
- Competence in the process of theological reasoning with due attention paid to diverse and cultural realities:
- CHARACTER: Graduates will have demonstrated:
- A Christ-like character marked by a love for God and dependence on the Holy Spirit:
- Develop appropriate patterns of spiritual disciplines conducive to spiritual growth and wellbeing
- Reflect critically upon their vocational journey, including their sense of calling by God and desire to serve the church
- A character marked by personal integrity, responsibility and health:
- Demonstrate healthy self-awareness and accurate self-understanding, recognizing both strengths and weaknesses
- Demonstrate the maintenance of appropriate boundaries, the achievement of a balance between personal, familial, and professional responsibilities, and attention to self-care
- Demonstrate an ability to receive and respond to criticism in constructive ways
- A character marked by positive and effective relationships with others:
- Work in a constructive and collegial manner with others
- Develop relationships of accountability, advice, and support
- A Christ-like character marked by a love for God and dependence on the Holy Spirit:
Masters in Theology (MTS) Program Outcomes
Broaden your knowledge and deepen your faith with our most flexible and customizable master's program, while gaining a theologically rich perspective that will enrich your faith, life, and work:
- KNOWLEDGE: Graduates will have attained:
- Bible: Familiarity with the content of the Old and New Testaments, and with ancient and modern Christian approaches to the interpretation of Scripture:
- Demonstrate factual knowledge of Biblical persons, institutions, dates, and geography
- Identify the content, structure, and themes of Biblical books
- Engage with current issues in Biblical scholarship and their impact upon interpretation
- Exegete Biblical texts, paying appropriate attention to:
- the situation of the author and first readers;
- literary structure and canonical context.
- Evaluate theological issues in Biblical texts and discern their historic and contemporary implications
- Theology: Familiarity with the Nicene faith, including its relation to Scripture, its doctrinal articulation and coherence, and its soteriological relevance:
- Offer an informed and articulate discussion of a central theme in Nicene faith, including its soteriological significance
- Accurately synthesize knowledge of central themes in Nicene faith in a critically aware manner
- History of Christianity: Familiarity with key eras, diverse cultural expressions, episodes, and figures in church history, and with the emergence of the main ecclesial traditions:
- Analyze primary sources in depth, critically evaluating their contribution to our understanding of events and issues
- Identify and contextualize historical events, individuals, movements, places, and ideas
- Produce fair and sympathetic portrays of figures or movements from traditions other than their own
- Mission: Familiarity with and critical appreciation of the basis and history of Christian mission in relation both to God's activity in the world and to the diverse social and cultural realities of human life:
- Articulate the nature of Christian mission on the basis of key Biblical and theological themes (Creation, Christ, gospel, faith, kingdom, church)
- Provide critical perspective on contemporary Christian mission in the context of the history of Christian missions
- Specialized Knowledge: More thorough knowledge of a focused area within the theological disciplines, or some specialized interdisciplinary knowledge:
- In a defined area of knowledge within the theological disciplines, demonstrate both the capacity to engage with primary sources in depth and excellent knowledge of issues and literature in relevant scholarship
- Bible: Familiarity with the content of the Old and New Testaments, and with ancient and modern Christian approaches to the interpretation of Scripture:
- PRAXIS: Graduates will have developed:
- Application of Fundamental Knowledge: Capacities to apply foundational knowledge, tools, and skills in the processes of theological reasoning:
- Make informed theological judgments of complex issues, with due attention to social and cultural context
- Engage in a theologically informed case-study analysis and discussion of a specific problem, issue, or situation
- Read texts critically and charitably
- Research and Scholarship: Competence with the academic skills that are necessary for the application of foundational knowledge:
- Produce an approved, formal written proposal for the capstone project (summative exercise or thesis)
- Write formal research papers and a capstone project containing well-structured logical argument supported by appropriate types of evidence
- Use library and information resources to construct an appropriate bibliography for a capstone project at both proposal and submission stages
- Produce research papers and a capstone project of the required length; displaying excellent grammar and spelling; and using correct and consistent citational and bibliographical formats
- Application of Fundamental Knowledge: Capacities to apply foundational knowledge, tools, and skills in the processes of theological reasoning:
- CHARACTER: Graduates will have demonstrated
- Awareness of Limits: An appreciation of the limits of their own knowledge, the breadth of the Christian movement, the complexity of theological discourse, and the need for life-long learning:
- Provide fair and sympathetic portrayal of positions different from their own
- Exercise charity in intellectual discussion
- Engage in self-directed learning
- Personal and Professional Integrity: A recognition of the importance of integrating theological study with personal development (intellectual, emotional, spiritual) and a sense of social responsibility:
- Engage in self-critical reflection on how their MTS studies have fostered intellectual, emotional, and spiritual growth
- Demonstrate ethical and responsible behaviour in the classroom, in their research, and in their other educational activities
- Vocation: A readiness to use their theological studies for the benefit of the Church and its mission
- Reflect on how their MTS studies have shaped directions for current and future ministry
- Awareness of Limits: An appreciation of the limits of their own knowledge, the breadth of the Christian movement, the complexity of theological discourse, and the need for life-long learning:
