Advanced Master of Divinity—School of Theology

The Advanced Master of Divinity in the School of Theology is an accelerated professional degree program for students who meet the following criteria:

Earned a baccalaureate or Master of Arts degree in religion or biblical studies.
Applicants must submit an academic paper of 12-15 pages in length written during undergraduate study as a research and writing sample.
Students applying to the Advanced Master of Divinity are required to pass Greek and Hebrew placement exams. These exams cover Southern’s Elementary Greek & Hebrew language courses & can be completed at a distance with a proctor. To make arrangements for these placement tests, contact the Office of Student Success, academicadvising@sbts.edu or call 502-897-4680 and let them know you are interested in completing language placement tests. The tests must be completed before applicants will be granted an admissions decision.
Advanced M.Div. applicants must have a minimum of a 3.3 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale. Additionally, students must have completed at least 12 hours in biblical studies, 12 hours in history & theology, and 12 hours in biblical, ministerial, theological, or related electives at the undergraduate level. Only courses in which a grade of “B” or higher was achieved will be recognized.
Students are also encouraged to have completed 3 hours each in ethics, philosophy, hermeneutics, preaching, elementary Hebrew, and elementary Greek.
- If students do not have these credits, they may complete them as prerequisites while enrolled in the Adv. M.Div. program.
- Only courses with a “B” or higher will be accepted for these requirements.

Remedial/Pre-requisite Courses
31980	Written Communication (if required)¹	(2)

Biblical and Theological Studies		36
20440	Hebrew Syntax and Exegesis	3
22440	Greek Syntax and Exegesis	3
26100	History of the Baptists	3
26200	Southern Baptist Heritage and Mission	3
27800	Theology of the Old Testament	3
27820	Theology of the New Testament	3
	Hebrew Exegesis Elective	3
	Greek Exegesis Elective	3
	Church History Elective	3
	Systematic Theology Elective	3
	Theology and Tradition Electives	6

Worldview and Culture		9
	Philosophy Elective	3
	Ethics Elective	3
	Worldview and Culture Elective	3

Mission, Evangelism, and Ministry		22
32100	Personal Evangelism	3
32960	Introduction to Missiology	3
34300	Introduction to Biblical Counseling	3
40150	Personal Spiritual Disciplines	3
40301	Pastoral Ministry² or	3
40800	Christian Leadership
44910	Applied Ministry: Theology	1
45260	Discipleship and Family Ministry	3
	Preaching Elective³	3

Research and Elective Studies		6-7
40375	Advanced M.Div. Thesis Writing⁴ or	2
	Free Elective	3
44560	Supervised Research Experience	2
81020	Graduate Research Seminar	2

Total Advanced M.Div. Requirements (Thesis Concentration)		73

Total Advanced M.Div. Requirements (Non-thesis Concentration)		74
Written Communication (if required)		+2

¹See Written Communication Requirement here.

²Pastoral Ministry (40301) is reserved for men. Women will substitute Christian Leadership (40080).

³If a student takes Christian Preaching (30000) because of an entrance deficiency, then that student must take Preaching Practicum (30020) to fulfill the preaching elective requirement. Christian Preaching (30000) is reserved for men. Women will substitute Christian Teaching (45400). Preaching Practicum (30020) is reserved for men. Women will substitute The Worshiping Church (40200).

⁴A two-track Adv. M.Div. option is offered: 1) Track One is a thesis track. The student will take Graduate Research Seminar (81020) in the term prior to Supervised Research Experience (44560) which must be taken prior to Thesis Writing (40375) which will be taken in the last semester of study. The student will write a 12,000 to 15,000 word thesis. 2) Track Two is a non-thesis track. The student will take a three-hour elective in place of the two-hour Thesis Writing Course.