M.Div. students have the option of designating concentrations within the M.Div. program. The possible concentrations include Biblical Studies, Theological Studies, and Church History, shown below. In selecting a concentration, the M.Div. student may also choose a professional ministry concentration: Pastoral Care, Congregational Education, Congregational Worship and Music, Church and Its Mission, Christian Faith and Conflict Transformation, Christian Spiritual Formation, or Pastoral Counseling. With the exception of Pastoral Counseling (described below), these concentrations are described in the MACL section of the catalog. M.Div. students also have the option of using the 17-21 elective hours as open electives rather than designating a concentration. A student will be assigned an advisor based on which concentration is selected.

The following concentrations are for M.Div. students. Students may also select professional ministry concentrations listed in the MACL degree program section.

Biblical Studies

This concentration will include 8-9 SH beyond M.Div. core requirements for the primary language track. These 8-9 SH will include: two additional biblical book studies and Biblical Theology which will involve a senior level capstone research project. The two additional biblical book studies can be Readings and Exegesis in the language not already covered in the primary track. The advisor for a student in this concentration will be one of the biblical studies professors.

Theological Studies

This concentration will include three of the courses listed below and an additional senior level capstone seminar in theology negotiated as a directed study, for 12 SH beyond the M.Div. core requirements. For students who are Anabaptist one of the three courses will be Anabaptism Today: Learning with Yoder and Hauerwas. The advisor for a student in this concentration will be one of the theology professors.

• Biblical Theology (3 SH)
• Anabaptist Theology (3 SH)
• Contemporary Theological Issues (3 SH)
• Anabaptism Today: Learning with Yoder and Hauerwas (3 SH)
• Dietrich Bonhoeffer (3 SH)
• Biblical Foundations for Peacemaking (3 SH)
• Human Sexuality in Theological Perspective (3 SH)

Church History

This concentration will include three of the courses listed below and an additional senior level capstone seminar in Church History negotiated as a directed study, for 12 SH beyond M.Div. core requirements. The advisor for a student in this concentration will be the church history professor.

• Mennonite History (3 SH)
• Topics in the History of Christianity (3 SH)
• Prayer in the Christian Tradition (3 SH)
• Christian Encounters with the Religious “Other” (3 SH)
• The Believers Church (3 SH)

Pastoral Counseling

Students doing the Pastoral Counseling Concentration complete the M.Div. core requirements with the exception of two biblical studies courses. Of the biblical studies courses required it is expected that they will complete: Old Testament: Text and Context, New Testament: Text and Context, Basics of Biblical Language, Interpreting the Biblical Text, and one biblical book study. In addition to the M.Div. core, students will complete these courses:

• Pastoral Counseling I (3 SH)
• Pastoral Assessment (3 SH)
• Pastoral Counseling II (3 SH)
• Marriage and Family Counseling (3 SH)
• Clinical Pastoral Education (in summer session) (6 SH)

Recommended electives beyond these requirements is: Psychology of Religious Experience

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