Program Overview
Master of Divinity (MDiv) Program
The Master of Divinity (MDiv) program at Loyola University Chicago is a comprehensive degree designed to meet the educational needs of persons called to professional ministerial leadership. This program prepares students for pastoral ministry, enabling them to join in the adventure of discerning their gifts and preparing themselves for a life of religious leadership in an evolving church and society.
Program Overview
The MDiv program is available online and on campus, allowing students to pursue the degree in a format that suits their needs. Full-time students typically complete the program in three to four years, while part-time students take five to six years. The program consists of 72 credit hours, comprising academic coursework, pastoral formation, and ministerial skills.
Curriculum
The MDiv curriculum recognizes that professional ministerial leadership emerges from faith-filled ministerial practice, seeking reflective critical understanding to prepare graduates to know, serve, and love practically. The curriculum is divided into three interconnected components:
- Faith Formation
- Reflective Critical Understanding
- Ministerial Practice
The program includes a range of courses, such as:
- Human Person and Psychological Development
- Social Context of Ministry
- Introduction to the Old Testament
- Introduction to New Testament
- Christian Doctrine
- Church and Mission
- Moral Theology and Christian Ethics
- Liturgy and Christian Sacraments
- The Foundations of Christian Spirituality
Contextual Education
Contextual Education is an essential part of the MDiv program, providing students with the opportunity to acquire knowledge for the sake of religious transformation. This component involves four movements:
- Describing the community's practice
- Analyzing this practice historically
- Systematically relating life themes in the practice to the religious traditions
- Establishing the norms and strategies of ministerial response to the practice
Clinical Pastoral Education
Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is an interfaith method of theological education that enables students to develop pastoral skills within a context of ministerial relationships to people. CPE is typically completed before application to candidacy and provides a learning situation for ministerial students to develop awareness of theological and psycho-social concerns of persons in crisis.
MDiv Midpoint Review
When students reach the halfway point in their coursework, they begin preparing for contextual education. As part of this preparation process, students will also undergo a Midpoint Review, which involves writing a brief statement on their vocational identity, vision, and practice. This statement is approved by the Faculty Coordinator for Contextual Education and submitted to the student's advisor for discussion.
Faith Formation
Faith formation is a critical component of the MDiv program, enabling students to deepen their relationship with God through reflection and discernment. The program includes opportunities for spiritual direction and pastoral counseling, which are recognized as essential for personal growth and integration.
Learning Outcomes
By completing the Master of Divinity program, students will be able to demonstrate:
- The ability to interpret pastoral circumstances in relation to scripture, tradition, and human sciences
- The ability to engage, transform, and/or critique social, economic, political, and ecclesial realities of our day
- The ability to engage the relevant dimensions of Christian faith, discipleship, and ministry with interpersonal, spiritual, and ecclesial maturity
- The ability to be present to the person and community's condition and environments by developing skills to discern and describe the ministry required
- The ability to construct ministerial vision and formulate ministerial strategies to effect personal and community transformation
Accreditation
The Institute of Pastoral Studies at Loyola University Chicago is accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools. The Board of Commissioners of the Association of Theological Schools granted full accreditation to the Institute on June 10, 2019. The following degree programs are approved by the Commission on Accrediting: Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Christian Spirituality, Master of Arts in Counseling for Ministry, Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling, and the Master of Arts in Social Justice.