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Master of Divinity (Pastoral and General Ministries)

Talbot School of Theology

Overview

The Master of Divinity with a concentration in Pastoral and General Ministries — offered on campus, fully online or in a hybrid format — is designed to give you in-depth, wide-ranging preparation for pastoral leadership.

The most popular of Talbot’s MDiv concentrations, this program provides broad academic and practical training to equip you for a professional position in a variety of roles, whether as a pastor, a church ministry leader, or as an educator at the undergraduate or graduate and seminary level. Throughout the program, you’ll be equipped to communicate biblical truth accurately and relevantly, to organize and lead congregations in worship, to develop a love and commitment to God’s people by serving both the body and individuals, and to engage in personal and corporate evangelism.

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Why Study Pastoral Ministry at Talbot?

  • Prepare to Provide Pastoral Leadership. The Master of Divinity with a concentration in Pastoral and General Ministries provides a broad-based seminary education that prepares you in every way to teach and preach the Word of God, to offer pastoral counseling, to help believers apply the truth of God’s Word in their daily lives and to evangelize.
  • Communicate Biblical Truth with Accuracy and Relevance. Much of your training involves digging into the Word of God and understanding the biblical authors’ intended meaning. You’ll gain the necessary skills and tools to exegete the Bible by learning Scripture’s original languages, Greek and Hebrew. Then, you’ll practice applying the knowledge you’ve gained in exegesis and interpretation in your preaching classes. This is what you need to communicate God’s Word to people today — faithfully, clearly and relevantly.
  • Learn on the Job with Guidance from Mentors. There’s no greater learning experience than what you learn on the job. That’s why Talbot’s M.Div. programs require field education and internships, giving you the opportunity to continue serving at your church or other place of ministry, or a new ministry you’ve been wanting to explore. Many of Talbot’s professors also serve in their local churches — some as pastors and elders — so they are eager to share wisdom and insights with you on life and serving in ministry.

For more reasons to choose Talbot School of Theology for your education, see the Why Talbot? page.


What Will I Study?

Each of Talbot School of Theology’s Master of Divinity programs include a core of biblical and theological foundation courses, the Spiritual Formation Core, a sequence of Hebrew and Greek, training in preaching and counseling, and an area of ministry specialization.

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3–5 years
Standard Duration
This indicates the standard duration of this program. Completion time may vary depending on transferred coursework and preferred courseload.
79
Total Program Credits
Every program at Biola University features rigorous academics, biblically integrated curriculum and vocational preparation.
WSCUC / ATS
Accreditation
Biola University is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission. Additional accreditations may apply to specific programs.