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Master of Divinity (MDiv)

Deepen your Biblical knowledge.

Learn to value God’s Word, interpret it knowledgeably, articulate it clearly, obey it faithfully, and share its truth appropriately. The Master of Divinity at LCU’s Seminary will enrich your relationship with Christ and your understanding of God’s Word, enable you to lead effectively, and equip you to embody Christ in your ministry.

Specializations:

  • Bible:
    • Biblical Languages
    • General Bible
    • New Testament
    • Old Testament
  • Theology and Philosophy:
    • Church History/Historical Theology
    • Philosophy & Apologetics
    • Theology
  • Christian Ministries
    • Preaching Ministry
    • Christian Education
    • Leadership Studies
    • Worship Studies
    • Pastoral Care & Counseling
    • Intercultural Studies (Missions)
  • Students also have the option to choose “No Specialization”

Our program is designed to be flexible. You can take a variety of electives, or you can focus your studies by selecting an area of specialization. Where and when you study is flexible, too. Whether you want the full on-campus experience or are looking for less traditional options, our program works to fit your lifestyle. You can choose between two options: Take up to two-thirds of your classes online and finish the other third in week-long intensives, or take full-semester courses. This hybrid approach allows you to tailor your education to fit the needs of your life and ministry, and it results in more productive in-class time and engaged learning.

Whichever path you choose, our 75-hour program will help you comprehend Scripture and the value of theological tradition, understand yourself, engage your ministry context effectively, and implement the skills necessary for Christian ministry.

Sample Course List

Some of the classes you'll take while pursuing your...
BI 810
Biblical Interpretation for Ministry
This team-taught course is designed to equip students who have knowledge of Hebrew and Greek with the skills and tools necessary for proper interpretation of the Bible. An assessment of current methods of Biblical criticism and special principles of interpretation to be applied to the study of various genres will be the focus of the course.
CH 600
Christianity Through the Ages
A comprehensive overview of Christianity from its beginning to the present day. The course, which includes discussion of the theological implications of the philosophy of history, introduces students to the church’s history and theology, preparing them to face contemporary concerns in preaching, teaching, and evangelism.
CH 801
History and Theology of the Stone-Campbell Movement
History and theology of the movement begun in America in the late 18th century to promote world evangelism by practicing unity in the Church based upon the restoration of biblical authority and of the essential elements of New Testament Christianity. Special attention will be given to understanding and implementing key principles of the movement, to critical points in its development, to ideological differences within it, and to currently developing issues.
LS 602
Theology of Leadership for Christian Ministry
This course seeks to help the student develop a Biblical theology of leadership to inform both the theory and the practice of leadership. Primary Biblical themes and metaphors will be explored to see how they impact one’s approach to leadership. Such leadership concepts and competencies as strategic planning, organizing, group process and team development, communication and conflict-resolution skills, and leading through change will be emphasized.
TH 710
Understanding Contemporary Mindsets
An analysis of the development, nature, and “spiritual disposition” of contemporary mindsets, whether they be more philosophical in nature (e.g., Modernism or Postmodernism) or more cultural in nature (e.g., Pluralism, Secularism, and different mindsets influenced by historical era, geographical location, subcultural affiliation, age, education, science, technology, gender, race, politics, economic status). Providing historical context since the 17th century, this class involves an extensive “audience-analysis” of today’s world as foundation to communicating effectively the basic truths of the Christian faith.

Faculty

Meet the professionals who will be teaching your classes:
Dr. Dinelle Frankland
Professor of Worship Studies
Dr. Steve Cone
Associate Professor of Theology
Dr. James Estep
Professor-at-Large
Dr. Rochelle L. Scheuermann
Vice President of Academics and Associate Professor of Intercultural Studies
Dr. Richard Knopp
Professor and Program Director of Philosophy and Christian Apologetics
Dr. Paul Kissling
Professor of Old Testament
Dr. Robert Kurka
Professor of Theology and Church in Culture
Dr. Robert Rea
Professor and Program Director of Church History/Historical Theology
Dr. Nolan Thomas
Associate Professor of Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Student Testimonials

Hear from students who've earned a...
  • The scholarship here is excellent. The help that you can get if you go and ask for it, you will get more than what you could ever need. It's like a family, it's a holistic approach, they're not going to just let you walk away—they're going to challenge you.
    — Tim Earle,MDiv, Class of 2014
  • My experience studying philosophy and theology at LCU exceeded my highest expectations. Opportunities to learn under exceptional teacher-scholars gave me an intellectual foundation comparable to those of [my] Marquette colleagues who studied at larger, better known institutions.
    — Joseph K. Gordon,MDiv, Class of 2011, PhD Candidate at Marquette University
  • Specializing in the Old Testament opened my eyes to the grand narrative of the Bible, and how God has constantly been pursuing the restoration of his people. Now, I am able to more fully understand the passion with which God has sought after humanity, and the great lengths to which he would go to reconcile us to himself.
    — Matt Termeer,MDiv, Class of 2014
  • The years I spent [at] Lincoln allowed me both the freedom and the direction to explore the Christian theological and philosophical tradition and to find in it a vision of life and thought worth making my own. In my subsequent years of graduate study, I have found my formation to have been as or more rigorous than that of peers from some of the most elite American universities. The combination of outstanding faculty and a culture of collegiality between students and professors make the life of learning at LCU both rich and rare.
    — Ryan T. Hemmer,MDiv, Class of 2012, PhD student in Systematic Theology and Ethics at Marquette University
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