The faculty of Duke Divinity School views the curriculum as not static but dynamic; constantly endeavors to review the curriculum as a whole and to tailor individual courses to meet the needs of a rapidly changing world; and periodically commits itself to overall curricular change. Major curricular revisions were instituted in 1948, 1959, 1967, 1987, and 2005.

This degree program is structured to elicit a positive response to (1) the challenge to provide an adequate professional education for ministry; (2) the needed variability of ministries in today’s complex world; (3) the norms of university education; and (4) Christian traditions.

Aims of the Curriculum

The aims of the basic degree program are to instill in students a specific set of skills, which should be strongly advanced during the seminary years, including the ability to:

read scripture and the great texts of Christian traditions with attentiveness, nuanced understanding, humility, and a lively imagination;
think theologically, in a way that is both faithful to these traditions and responsive to the challenges of our time;
think critically, both about the practices of the church and about the world in which the church finds itself—and to be agents of transformation in both;
think ecumenically and globally, with sensitivity to insights that churches in the wider world can share with churches in North America;
teach and preach the gospel with clarity, power, and reverence;
minister in context—to act with compassion and effectiveness in order to provide leadership for the church’s ministry of worship, service, and transformation in the world; and
sustain a commitment to living a life ordered toward holiness, justice, peace, and reconciliation.

Of course, goals of such scope cannot be neatly programmed in any curriculum, and the degree of achievement (in seminary and beyond) will vary with individuals and their own motives and incentives.

Through study and engagement within this program, students will be able to the following:

Read and exegete Scripture and the great texts of the Christian tradition for the purpose of preaching and teaching the gospel with clarity, power, and reverence.
Think theologically and critically about the doctrines and practices of the church and about the world in which the church finds itself, in ways that are both faithful historically to the tradition and responsive to the challenges of our time.
Gain clarity on vocational aspirations as they relate to serving the church, academy, and world.
Cultivate habits of spiritual disciplines to sustain a Christian life ordered toward holiness, justice, peace, and reconciliation.
Act with compassion and effectiveness in leading Christian ministries of worship, preaching, education, and formation in service to and transformation of the world.

The Master of Divinity and Master of Social Work Dual Degree Program

For full-time students, the program can be completed in four continuous years of full-time study (instead of five years) and leads to a master of divinity degree conferred by Duke University and a master of social work degree conferred by The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. For distance education students at the School of Social Work, the program can be completed in five years instead of six. Completion of the dual degree requires strict adherence to course sequence and curriculum design. The program cannot be shortened significantly by taking courses in summer session at either school.

A customized course of study allows students to start the program at either school, with slightly different paradigms governing the course of study in each case. The core curriculum of each degree must be completed at each institution. Students will be expected to be full-time during this program. Students may not transfer credits from other seminaries toward the master of divinity portion of this program. Students who are enrolled in either program may apply to the dual degree program after they have started at either school. MDiv students interested in pursuing the MDiv/MSW dual degree after matriculating into the MDiv program must make application, receive acceptance, and declare their participation in the MDiv/MSW dual degree program by April 1 of their first year.

The program is designed to prepare individuals for positions of leadership and service in the social agencies of the church and the community at large. The program equips graduates for various forms of ministry and service in which clinical and administrative skills in social work and theology are critical.

Two integrative seminars (Pastoral Care 761 and 809) offered at Duke Divinity School are taken in the first and final year of study. The capstone course in the final year is co-led by a member of the University of North Carolina Social Work faculty and a member of the Duke Divinity School faculty. These seminars enable the student to integrate theological, biblical, theoretical, ethical, pastoral, social justice, empirical, and practical dimensions of social work. Additionally, students receive intentional formation in MDiv/MSW group gatherings multiple times throughout the academic year.

Academic Advisors

A dual degree student is assigned an academic advisor in each school who also serves as a program advisor for academic/ administrative needs of the program. It is expected that on-going collaboration will occur between academic advisors in the two schools.

To that end, students will sign a FERPA release form to allow the sharing of educational records between Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Accreditation

Duke Divinity School is accredited by the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools. The UNC School of Social Work is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

The Master of Divinity and Master of Public Policy Dual Degree Program

The MDiv/MPP degree is designed to prepare individuals for positions of leadership, service, and advocacy in nonprofit organizations, government, and in the wider community. The program equips graduates to serve as influencers of positive change on pressing issues around the globe. The MDiv/MPP program can be completed in four continuous years of full-time study (instead of five years) and leads to a master of divinity degree from Duke Divinity School and a master of public policy degree at Duke’s Sanford School of Public Policy. Those interested in dual-degree programs are required to pursue admission to each school independently, and upon successful admission to both programs, are enrolled as dual-degree students. The core curriculum of each degree must be completed at each institution. Students spend the first two years at Duke Divinity School and the third year at the Sanford School of Public Policy. The final year is a blended year at both schools.

Website: divinity.duke.edu/academics/mdiv

D-DIV-MDV - Master of Divinity (Residential)

Download as PDF

Program Summary

Requirements

Degree Designation

Type

Overview

Bulletin Links