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2018-2019 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Master of Divinity/Master of Arts, Communication Dual Degree MDiv/MA

Andrews University has chosen to establish a collaborative program between the Master of Divinity Program of the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary and the Department of Communication in the College of Arts and Sciences. Students can potentially complete the two degrees in less than 3½ years; 2 years in the Theological Seminary and 1 to 1½ years in the Department of Communication.

It will also prepare MDiv students for service in occupations where Communication—and in particular, media-related Communication—intersects with the pastoral mission of the church. Pastors today are challenged to minister and serve in ever-widening fields and increasingly diverse audience groups, and being able to do so effectively through a variety of mediums is becoming more important than ever before. Likewise, there are benefits to understanding the how and why of communication and what it takes to be an effective communicator on all levels outside of the pulpit. Furthermore, this collaboration allows for widened employment opportunities including television and radio, public relations, corporate communications, advertising, management, healthcare communications, and more.

General Information

Andrews University has formed a collaborative program between the Master of Divinity Program of the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary and the Department of Visual Arts, Communication and Design in the College of Arts and Sciences. Students can potentially complete the two degrees in less than 3½ years; 2 years in the Theological Seminary and 1 to 1½ years in the Communication Program.

This dual degree program will also prepare students for service in occupations where Communication—and in particular, media-related Communication—intersects with the pastoral mission of the church. Pastors today are challenged to minister and serve in ever-widening fields and increasingly diverse audience groups, and being able to do so effectively through a variety of mediums is becoming more important than ever before. Likewise, there are benefits to understanding the how and why of communication and what it takes to be an effective communicator on all levels outside of the pulpit. Furthermore, this collaboration allows for widened employment opportunities including television and radio, public relations, corporate communications, advertising, management, healthcare communications, and more.

Since both the MA Communications and MDiv programs share certain cognate courses to achieve a more streamlined and efficient program, both degrees must be conferred simultaneously in order to fulfill the requirements of either degree.  In the event that one degree was completed prior to enrollment for the dual degree program, the cognate requirements for the other degree will be adjusted as shown below. A dual student cannot march in graduation or March-without-Completion if both halves of the dual degree are not completed.

Total Credits: 100

Credits for Each Program

MDiv: Graduation requirements consist of the satisfactory completion of 100 semester credits with an overall grade point average of 2.75 or better. 67 credits are MDiv credits, and 33 credits are Communication credits. 

11 of these credits are shared between the MDiv and Communication programs:

Master of Divinity (MDiv)

MDiv General Information

For information regarding: Program Overview, Application, Policies and other entrance requirements - Click Here .

MDiv Degree Prerequisites

MDiv Degree Requirements: 67 (plus 5-12 additional MDiv credits shared with Comm)

Seminary New Student Orientation

Students must attend and register for the Fall semester 0 credit orientation as a graduation requirement.

Divinity Core

Interdisciplinary Credits: 2

Great Controversy, Covenant, Law, Sabbath Course Requirement

Each student must take a “Great Controversy, Covenant, Law, Sabbath” course from their choice of the Theology, New Testament, Old Testament or Church History departments. At least one of these courses will be offered each semester.

Colloquia

Brief 0 Credit colloquia on a variety of ministry topics will be offered each semester for MDiv students.

  • On-campus students are required to attend at least 5 of these colloquia during their MDiv experience.
  • Colloquia requirements for transfer students or those completing part of their MDiv off-campus will be one colloquium for each semester that they are on the main campus.
  • Students from previous bulletins who petition into the 2018-19 bulletin will take 1 colloquium per semester for the remaining semesters of their program.

Christian Ministry Credits: 17

Discipleship and Religious Education Credits: 9

Church History Credits: 7

World Missions Credits: 6

Theology Credits: 13

New Testament Credits: 8

Before registering for New Testament courses, check the course description for Greek Language and/or other course prerequisites.

Old Testament Credits: 8

Before registering for Old Testament courses, check the course description for Hebrew Language and/or other course prerequisites.

Communication Degree Requirements: 33

Degree Core: 12

Concentration: 12

Interdisciplinary

  • Six Master of Divinity (non-media) electives
  • Six Communication credits
  • Plus competency in 2 of 3 areas: writing, speaking, and visual communication

Program Electives: 6

Choose a total of 6 credits of electives from the following classes. Must take CHMN543 Christian Leadership in a Changing World (2 Cr) then choose 4 credits from the list below.

Culminating Experience: 3

Admission Requirements

Master of Divinity

All MDiv applicants must meet the Graduate Programs Admission Requirements applicable to all graduate students and the general seminary requirements.

  • Hold a baccalaureate degree: A four-year degree from an accredited United States institution, or its equivalent from an institution outside the U.S.
  • Minimum of 2.5 Undergraduate GPA
  • Normally hold membership in the Seventh-day Adventist Church inasmuch as the MDiv program is specifically designed for Adventist ministers and is sponsored and financed by the Adventist church.
  • Represent high moral integrity with a character, lifestyle, and spiritual commitment reflective of the beliefs and practices of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and show promise of usefulness for Adventist ministry through personal maturity and adequate experience in the Church. (Persons of other faiths who are willing to live in harmony with these standards are welcome to apply.)
  • Submit an autobiographical history and a 350+ word statement of purpose reflecting the applicant’s family and spiritual development, sense of calling to ministry, experience in church work, and future goals in relationship to the MDiv program. A guideline is provided in the admissions package.
  • If married, the spouse of the applicant is also asked to complete a statement in regard to his or her feelings and relationship to the partner’s aspirations for future ministry.
  • Background Check. Applicants to all Seminary programs are required to undergo a criminal background check and to make the results of the check available to the Seminary. The cost of the criminal background check is the responsibility of the applicant.  Details about this requirement may be obtained from the MDiv office.
  • An interview with a representative of the MDiv program may be required, either by personal contact, telephone, or video.
  • Complete and return the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire as directed.
  • Pre-admission Conduct Disclosure Statement - Applicants to all Seminary programs are required to complete and submit to the Seminary the “Pre-Admission Conduct Disclosure Statement.”
  • Recommendations
    • Church board where the applicant is a member
    • Church administrator, pastor, or elder
    • General Recommendation from: College teacher or advisor, recent employer, or some other non-family member

English Language Requirements

Students whose language of education is not English must submit one of the following tests and minimum scores:

TOEFL Paper-based - 565
TOEFL Internet-based - 85
MELAB - 81
IELTS - 6.5
PTE - 58

Master of Arts In Communication

Please note, MA can be taken consecutively or concurrently with M. Div.

  1. Baccalaureate Degree: A four-year degree from an accredited United States institution, or its equivalent from an institution outside the U.S.
  2. Undergraduate GPA: A minimum GPA same as general university standards for graduate admittance.
  3. Recommendations from the church board where the applicant is a member; College teacher/advisor, and church administrator, pastor, or recent employer.
  4. Undergraduate coursework: 12 semester credits in communication and/or related areas
  5. Other:
    • Satisfy the admission requirements of the School of Graduate Studies & Research
    • Present a resume of current experience
    • Submit a statement of purpose which explains how the relevant disciplines will be integrated to meet his/her career and academic goals
    • Complete any deficiencies at the beginning of the program

English Language Requirements

Students whose language of education is not English must submit one of the following tests and minimum scores:

TOEFL Paper-based - 565
TOEFL Internet-based - 85
MELAB - 81
IELTS - 6.5
PTE - 58

Exceptions to these requirements may be granted by the Department of Visual Art, Communication and Design on an individual basis.

Program Outcomes

  1. To enable students to integrate both theological and communication-savvy approaches to reaching expanded audiences with increased levels of effectiveness and efficiency, thereby enhancing their usefulness as instruments of the Holy Spirit.
  2. To prepare students for various forms of ministry in which communication (in particular, media) skills/experience and theology are needed.
  3. To sensitize students to nontraditional ministry opportunities by exposing them to theoretical knowledge and practical skills that will increase their options for spreading the gospel.