So you’re looking for a challenging and thorough preparation for God’s calling to ministry? The Master of Divinity degree (MDiv) at North Greenville University will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need for the broadest range of Christian ministry positions, especially in local churches, although the program is also helpful for military students looking to fulfill service requirements as chaplains for branches of the armed services. NGU's Graduate School of Christian Ministry faculty members are prepared and willing to help you succeed in impacting the world for Christ as a Christian minister.
QUICK FACTS
- 75 – Credit hours in the MDiv degree at NGU
- 36 – Months to complete your degree
- 16 – Weeks per on-campus term
- 8 – Weeks per online term
- 5 – Start dates throughout the year
- 3 – Formats for your study: on-campus, online, or hybrid
- 0 – Years of ministry experience required
DEGREE DESCRIPTION
The 75-hour MDiv program at NGU is designed to develop trained and skilled leaders who make a difference. The degree sets students apart by providing training in classical theological and biblical disciplines such as Old Testament, New Testament, and biblical interpretation, as well as in applied disciplines such as evangelism, missions, discipleship, and spiritual formation. At NGU, we don’t pit the academic against the practical; instead, we strive to make our curriculum an integrated tool for shaping ministers of the gospel.
In the MDiv program at NGU, you’ll learn the knowledge and skills required for various ministry positions you may want to pursue, including the following:
- Effective evangelism
- Leadership skills
- Principles of biblical interpretation
- Principles of spiritual growth
- Relational discipleship
- Theological framework for effective ministry
- World missions
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Demonstrate the ability to apply theoretical concepts to actual ministry situations and utilize critical thinking skills to identify, analyze, and develop practical solutions to problems related to Christian ministry in an increasingly diverse and postmodern world.
- Express ideas clearly, concisely, and logically through effective skills in oral, written, and interpersonal human relation skills.
- Develop an understanding of the moral and ethical dimensions of Christian ministry.
- Formulate programs and strategic plans (related to the student’s ministry responsibilities) that demonstrate facility with modern practices of worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry, and missions.
- Qualify for an extended range of ministry positions.
TRACKS / CONCENTRATIONS
- Church Health and Revitalization
- Discipleship and Spiritual Formation
- Missions and Evangelism
- Pastoral Ministry
Career Opportunities
- Associate Pastor
- Camp Minister
- Chaplain
- Children’s Minister
- Christian School Teacher
- Church Planter
- Director of Missions
- Discipleship Pastor
- Family Pastor
- Missionary
- Parachurch Minister
- Pastor
- Student Pastor
- Worship Leader
EMPLOYERS
- International Mission Board
- North American Mission Board
- South Carolina Baptist Convention
- Southern Baptist Convention
- United States Army
- United States Navy
- YMCA
To apply to NGU’s MDiv program, complete the following steps:
- Fill in the online graduate school application.
- Send the following documents to NGU’s Office of Adult and Graduate Admissions at 405 Lancaster Ave., Greer, SC 29650:
- A self-reflective essay of 500 words, explaining why you want to pursue a degree at NGU’s graduate school
- A $30 check for the application fee
- Download, print, fill in, and share the required reference forms:
- Contact the registrar for all previous colleges or universities you've attended and have them send your official transcripts directly to the Tim Brashier Campus at 405 Lancaster Ave. Greer, SC 29650.
Curriculum Structure
The curriculum for NGU’s MDiv degree consists of seven core courses. Students are encouraged to complete five of these courses in the beginning of their study. Following this completion, students can focus on taking the elective courses required for each ministry area within the program; students must take four to five courses from within each area for degree completion. The program ends with the Integration Project serving as the final capstone course.
This 75-hour degree is comprised of study areas necessary for effective ministry leadership. The program offers rolling enrollment, with five 8-week online terms and two 16-week on-campus terms available per year. Students may choose to enroll fully online or fully onsite, or they can even select a hybrid combination of the two formats.
Example Course Sequence
If you would like to complete your MDiv degree in the suggested timeframe of 36 months, then we recommend taking a full-time load of courses each term in the following order:
- Core Courses – Complete five out of the six initial core courses.
- Specialized Electives – Choose four to five from each ministry area.
- Capstone Course – Finish the program by taking the capstone course (CM 6390) last of all.
Core Courses
Begin by choosing five of the following core courses:
BI 5300 Biblical Interpretation (3 credit hours)
CM 5000 Spiritual Formation (3 credit hours)
CM 5305 Personal Evangelism (3 credit hours)
NT 5300 NT Research and Application (3 credit hours)
OT 5300 OT Research and Application (3 credit hours)
TH 5300 Christian Theology (3 credit hours)
CM 6390 Integration Project (3 credit hours) Note: Take this capstone course last, after you have completed your core courses and elective requirements.
Specialized Electives
After completing your core courses, you can choose from among the elective courses required for each ministry area within the program:
Church Growth and Revitalization
Choose four of the following courses:
CM 5315 Church Growth and Renewal (3 credit hours)
CM 5316 Church Revitalization (3 credit hours)
CM 5330 Christian Education in the Local Congregation: Building a Great Commission Sunday School (3 credit hours)
CM 5334 Practicum in the Southern Baptist Convention (3 credit hours)
CM 5335 Contemporary Issues in Church Growth (3 credit hours)
CM 5337 Spiritual Gifts (3 credit hours)
Discipleship and Spiritual Formation
Choose five of the following courses:
CM 5005 Theology of the Christian Life (3 credit hours)
CM 5006 Angelology and Spiritual Warfare (3 credit hours)
CM 5007 Psalms and Christian Spirituality (3 credit hours)
CM 5008 Contemporary Evangelical Spirituality (3 credit hours)
CM 5010 Devotional Classics of the Christian Faith (3 credit hours)
CM 5312 Prayer and Spiritual Awakening (3 credit hours)
CM 5331 Discipleship (3 credit hours)
Missions and Evangelism
Choose five of the following courses:
CM 5306 Contemporary Issues in Evangelism (3 credit hours)
CM 5310 Evangelism and Church Planting (3 credit hours)
CM 5311 Effective Evangelism in the Local Church (3 credit hours)
CM 5345 Introduction to Christian Missions (3 credit hours)
CM 5347 Christian Faith and World Religions (3 credit hours)
CM 5355 Practicum in International Missions (3 credit hours)
CM 5356 Practicum in North American Missions (3 credit hours)
Pastoral Ministry
Choose four of the following courses:
CM 5320 Introduction to Biblical Preaching (3 credit hours)
CM 5332 Leadership Development (3 credit hours)
CM 5333 Pastoral Ministry in the Local Congregation (3 credit hours)
CM 5336 Pastoral Theology (3 credit hours)
CO 5300 Basic Pastoral Counseling (3 credit hours)
CO 5310 Minister as Pastoral Care Leader (3 credit hours)
CO 5320 Pre-Marital and Marriage Counseling (3 credit hours)
Course Descriptions
These are the MDiv courses offered at NGU and their respective course descriptions, listed alphabetically:
BI 5300 Biblical Interpretation (3 credit hours) – A study of the principles and methods of biblical exegesis and interpretation with an emphasis on the problem of communicating the biblical message in the modern world.
CM 5000 Spiritual Formation (3 credit hours) – An intensive process to encourage spiritual growth through the study of Christian spirituality and disciplines based on the teaching of the Bible.
CM 5305 Personal Evangelism (3 credit hours) – A study of the nature and practice of evangelism, with emphasis on its biblical, theological, and historical roots. Special attention will be given to the rationale and context for evangelization.
CM 6390 Integration Project (3 credit hours) – Planned with the student’s advisor, the goal of this experience is to integrate the student’s coursework, personal experience, and goals in a “Theology of Ministry” that will further define the student’s view of self in the ministry. The written project plan, literature search, and analysis of results is the capstone experience in the Master of Christian Ministry. (Prerequisite: 30 credit hours in the MDiv program)
NT 5300 NT Research and Application (3 credit hours) – A study of the exegetical issues involved in understanding the New Testament including historical, linguistic, and cultural backgrounds, as well as the nature of the New Testament texts, canon, and text and versions. Includes an introduction to the books of the New Testament by groups and individual texts with a discussion of the meaning of the different passages in their original settings and potential applications for contemporary society.
OT 5300 OT Research and Application (3 credit hours) – A study of the exegetical issues involved in studying the Old Testament including historical, linguistic, and cultural backgrounds, as well as the nature of the Old Testament texts, canon, and text and versions. Includes an introduction to the books of the Old Testament by groups and individual texts with a discussion of the application of their message for their day and today.
TH 5300 Christian Theology (3 credit hours) – A systematic survey of the major theological teachings of Christianity regarding God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, revelation, humanity, sin, salvation, the church, and eschatology. Special attention will be given to 1) the Biblical basis of these doctrines, 2) theological methodology, 3) how philosophical and cultural influences have shaped these doctrines, 4) how these doctrines have changed and been held at different periods in church history, and 5) how these doctrines are relevant to contemporary belief and practice.
For more information on our upcoming terms, course offerings, and the textbooks you’ll need, follow the links below:
Graduate School of Christian Ministry
Larry S. McDonald, D.Min., Ph.D.
Dean of the Graduate School of Christian Ministry
Director of the Doctor of Ministry Studies
Professor of Christian Spirituality
Dr. Larry McDonald has served North Greenville University since 2008. McDonald holds a doctorate from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Reformed Theological Seminary. In addition to almost 20 years of pastoral ministry, McDonald previously served as a Christian studies professor at Truett-McConnell College, adjunct professor at Southeastern Seminary, and a visiting professor at Tyndale Theological Seminary (Netherlands) and Uganda Baptist Seminary. A native Mississippian, McDonald was recognized for his leadership abilities by Leadership Jackson of the Metro Jackson Chamber of Commerce and Leadership Mississippi of the Mississippi Economic Council. He and his wife have three adult children and two granddaughters.
William "Bill" Cashion, D.Min.
Professor of Missions and Evangelism
Bill Cashion, a veteran missionary and pastor, served almost 20 years with the International Mission Board as a missionary in Venezuela and as missions administrator, overseeing volunteers in missions, world hunger emphasis, and crisis management procedures. He also served as a pastor for 20 years, most recently at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Clarkesville, Ga.; taught at Truett-McConnell College as visiting professor of missions for six years; and served as a visiting missions professor at seven Baptist seminaries. Cashion holds a Master of Divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry in missiology from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. Cashion truly seeks to live out his belief that “a disciple should never allow his world to be smaller than the one Jesus died to save.”
All Graduate School of Christian Ministry faculty members at NGU hold doctoral degrees in various biblical, theological, or ministry areas. Additionally, faculty members are experienced ministers who are seasoned leaders in many areas of Christian ministry.
Students in NGU’s MDiv program are taught and mentored by these highly credentialed faculty, who not only possess years of experience in their respective fields of study, but also enable students to think critically and develop into more effective and impactful ministers.
Maria A. Kithcart, ABD
Graduate Admissions Counselor
Local: 864-663-7522
Toll Free: 1-844-333-4566
maria.kithcart@ngu.edu