ACTS Master of Divinity Degree

About Degree  | Admission Requirements  | Courses  | Advanced Standing with Credit Form  | AMF Survey

 

The Master of Divinity is one of the most comprehensive programs in the ACTS curriculum.

The MDiv degree combines biblical studies and theology to help equip you to help fill the growing need for professional Christian leaders in Canada and around the world. You will be prepared to energetically strengthen, revitalize and multiply communities of believers.

The program's centerpiece, the Christian Leadership Development (CLD) sequence, puts you in touch with current concepts in leadership through a creative cohort weekend process and significant hands-on learning. You will work closely with a dedicated team of faculty and mentors in the field to build character, knowledge, and experience. Electives allow you to choose a specialization of your choice. The MDiv is customizable for specific denominational needs.

Mission:

The purpose of the degree is to develop godly leaders who will have a love and compassion for others growing out of their strong commitment to Jesus Christ and the Bible. A combination of classroom and church-based environment is used to equip graduates with spiritual maturity, biblical understanding, theological knowledge and practical skills. Graduates are equipped to plant, develop and lead healthy churches.

Candidacy Requirements:

Candidacy is approved by the MDiv committee based on evaluations gathered from the student’s faculty and pastoral mentors, as well as, from a professor of the student’s choice. Every attempt will be made to communicate clearly with the student throughout this process.

Candidacy takes place during the student’s first year and second semester of CLD. A grade will not be recorded for this course until a determination of candidacy is complete. Failure to achieve candidacy may mean that the student will be advised to do remedial work, consider a change of program, or a redirection of the student's academic priorities. Candidacy requires a minimum B grade for her or his first two CLD courses.

Advanced Standing with Credit:

Students, with undergraduate majors in Bible, Theology or Religious Studies, from accredited universities or Bible Colleges, may apply for Advanced Standing with Credit towards the ACTS MDiv degree. A typical student, who meets the criteria, may receive 1 semester of graduate credit (9-12 sem hrs). An an exceptionally well-prepared individual may receive up to 14 sem hrs of credit, reducing their program length to as low as 75 sem hrs.

Applications for Advanced Standing with Credit are made through the Registrar’s office and evaluated by the MDiv program committee. Prospective students are encouraged to apply as part of their initial application to the MDiv program. Approved Advanced Standing with Credit courses will appear on academic transcripts with a “P” (for “pass”) mark.

Advanced Standing with Credit is granted where it can be demonstrated that a student has broad competence in the subject area as a result of undergraduate training, with substantial content overlap between courses already taken and the proposed graduate course. Applicants must demonstrate that they meet these criteria by submitting appropriate documentation to the ACTS Registrar, who will forward documents to the MDiv committee for evaluation. This documentation must include:

  • A copy of the student’s undergraduate transcript. Students must have received a mark of “B” for a course to be eligible for Advanced Standing with Credit review.
  • Syllabi from at least two courses (300-400 level only) that provide overlapping content coverage with the ACTS graduate course. To strengthen the case for credit, students may also provide a sample quality research paper from the courses under review or additional overlapping syllabi. Bible language exception: undergrad Elementary Hebrew or Greek may be accepted directly for graduate credit on the basis of only 1 course, but students are encouraged to submit ALL undergrad biblical language syllabi for Advanced Standing with Credit for Biblical language reviews.
  • A copy of the syllabus of the ACTS course for which Advanced Standing with Credit is being requested. ACTS syllabi may be downloaded from Acts Archived Syllabi.

A cover letter explaining exactly how the upper level undergraduate courses adequately cover the content of the related ACTS graduate course.

Restrictions:

  • Advanced Standing with Credit is only available for first year graduate courses (500 level).
  • Only 1 of these 2 courses may be given Advanced Standing with Credit: HIS 540 or HIS 541.
  • The following courses at ACTS are not eligible for Advanced Standing with Credit: Christian Leadership Development (CLD); Believer’s Church Theology (THS 571)

Examples of ACTS courses that may be considered for Advanced Standing with Credit:

  • BIE 500: Introduction to the Bible (2 sem. hrs.)
  • BIE 505: Introduction to Biblical Hermeneutics (3 sem. hrs.)
  • BIL 500: Greek I (3 sem. hrs.)
  • BIL 501: Greek II (3 sem. hrs.)
  • BIL 503: Hebrew Tools (3 sem. hrs.)
  • CAPS 560: Challenges to Christianity (3 sem. hrs.)
  • HIS 540: Church History I or HIS 541: Church History II (one only)
  • THS 500: Introduction to Theology (2 sem. hrs.)

If you wish to apply, please fill out the Advanced Standing with Credit Application and send form with attachments to the ACTS registrar’s office.

Graduation Requirements:

The graduation requirements for the Master of Divinity degree include:

  • Minimum GPA of 2.50;
  • Completion of all course and internship requirements (89 semester hours);
  • Completion of at least 45 semester hours of study at ACTS towards completion of the MDV;
  • Give evidence of consistent Christian character, conduct, and biblical faith and recommendation accordingly by the faculty.

Students may apply up to 15 semester hours of credits to the MDiv earned through the ACTS Graduate Guided Distance Education Courses.

Vocational Outcomes:

ACTS seeks to stand behind its graduates. Graduates have found placement in areas such as: pastoral ministry; adult and youth ministries; para-counselling/recovery ministries; religious education; publishing; health and welfare ministries; chaplaincy; teaching; administration; and communications.

Randy Wollf




Randy Wollf, Ph. D.
Master of Divinity Program Chair;
Assistant Professor of Practical Theology and Leadership Studies;
Email: randy.wollf@twu.ca