Master of Divinity

The Master of Divinity Program is designed primarily, but not exclusively, for persons preparing for ordained or professional ministry. It is not a requirement for this degree that the student be a candidate for ordination. The Master of Divinity Degree requires 30 single semester credits earned over a period of between three (full-time) and seven (part-time) years.  An initial cluster of ‘Foundation Courses’ in Scripture, Theology, Pastoral Studies and Worship inaugurate the course of study.  Supervised Field Education placements are made in the first two years of the program.

In the final year of study, the Graduate Project and Seminar in the Practice of Ministry enables students to design and undertake significant pastoral research in conjunction with a self-selected field setting.  The remainder of the program – roughly two-thirds of the total number of courses – consists of electives.  Distribution requirements together with cyclical patterns of course offerings will ensure that students encounter and wrestle with critical bodies of knowledge and develop skill sets in each of the pastoral, theological and scriptural fields of study. 

Opportunities for Clinical Pastoral Education, the study of biblical languages, and completion of a thesis, as well as regular denominational formation programs, may be accommodated within this program of study.

On-Campus – Three Years

Pursued in this format, you can complete the requirements of the degree in three years of full-time study.  (The MDiv Program may also be completed on a part-time basis.)  On-campus study will see you working closely with a cadre of other students and will also regularly engage you in supervised field placements in local congregations, and/or social agencies.  Most, though by no means all, who pursue the degree in this format are preparing for ordained ministry.  You need not be a candidate for ordination to pursue the Master of Divinity.

Admission Requirements

The academic requirement for admission to the MDiv program is a Bachelor's degree (or its educational equivalent) from an accredited university with a minimum of a 70% or ‘B’ grade average (or grade point average equivalent) in their undergraduate program.  Applicants to the MDiv Program should possess interests, aptitudes, and personal objectives which correspond with the MDiv Program's purposes.

Application Deadline: May 1 to commence the program in the Fall Term. Applications received in full after May 1 may be treated as applications to the Graduate Certificate Program in Theological Studies and admitted by the Dean on that basis to register for courses in the Summer or Fall Terms. (During the Fall Term, late MDiv applications will be reviewed for admission to the program for the Winter Term. Courses completed as a GCTS student may be brought forward to the MDiv program at AST, subject to program requirements.)

For more information please contact our Recruitment Coordinator: astinfo@astheology.ns.ca

For an application to the MDiv Degree, please see our Applications page.