[MTM programs are available]
[M.Div. programs will be available in 2007]

The Pavel Florensky School of the Theology and Ministry at Euclid University Extension offers two types of Master's degrees:

• the MTM (Th. M.) (Master of Theology and Ministry)
• the M. Div. (Master of Divinity)

The M. Div., discussed on this page, is the common professional degree among theological seminaries and is considered by many denominations as the minimum academic requirement for ordination into pastoral ministry. It usually contains studies in biblical Greek, theology, philosophy, church history, pastoral theology, and Old and New Testament studies. Many courses also contain specializations such as church growth, evangelism, systematic theology, Christian education, liturgical studies, etc.

In many circles, the title Master of Divinity has replaced the Bachelor of Divinity since the latter title would imply that it is on a par level with a Bachelor of Arts.

The M. Div. is significantly larger than many graduate degrees consisting often of 80-100 (or more) credit hours.

Euclid's M. Div. program prepares students for:

Chaplaincy work, with the option to pursue Board Certification
Pastoral Work as ordained ministers *
Pastoral Work as lay ministers
Further studies, such as Euclid's PF/STM doctoral programs

* If ordination is the goal, prospective students should work with his denomination to ensure that his Euclid degree will be accepted or to integrate denominational requirements in the degree roadmap.

M. Div Specialties

Euclid Curriculum - Protestant Evangelical *
Euclid Curriculum - (Eastern) Orthodox + *

[* Enrollment may not always be available due to faculty limitations]

[ + Assigned faculty is an Orthodox priest of the Patriarchate of Constantinople ]

Note: PF/STM does not offer a M. Div. with a Roman Catholic speciality. An M. Th. should be considered instead.

Admissions Requirements

To enter the M. Div. program at Euclid's Pavel Florensky School of Theology and Ministry, a student must normally have the Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree or the Bachelor of Science (BS) degree from an accredited college or university. The School does not prescribe a specific program of pre-theological studies, but it does encourage potential students to gain a broad liberal arts education while in college. Studies in the humanities and the natural and social sciences should prepare the student to speak and write correctly, to think clearly, and to understand not only the world of today but also the cultures of the past. Also useful are studies in languages, particularly in Greek. Applicants whose previous studies have been narrowly technical or vocational in nature may be required to do remedial work on a non-credit basis.

Home Page of the Pavel Florensky School of the Theology and Ministry

Credit Transfers and Advanced Standing

Credit for work done in other accredited seminaries and graduate institutions may be accepted at full value on a transfer basis if it parallels courses in the PF/STM M. Div. program and is otherwise compatible with the objectives of that program. Except for courses taken on a pass/fail basis, only courses in which the student has earned a grade of 2.3 (C+) or higher will be considered for transfer credit.

Graduate-level work done in unaccredited institutions may qualify a student for advanced standing in subjects in which he or she shows proficiency.

Requests for acceptance of transfer credits or advanced standing should be directed to the Admissions Officer, who in turn submits them to the assigned faculty member for consideration and approval.

No advanced standing can be given for undergraduate-level courses or for graduate-level courses applied toward an undergraduate degree. At the same time, students whose undergraduate studies have given them a particularly strong background in a given subject may, upon recommendation of the instructor, be exempted from lower-level courses in that subject and permitted to substitute higher-level courses in the same subject.

Denominational Requirements

This degree of Master of Divinity does not make a student automatically eligible for ordination in any denomination.

Eastern Orthodox students should remember that in questions of ordination, the various Orthodox ecclesiastical jurisdictions are governed first of all by the universal canons of the Church. In addition, each jurisdiction may set further requirements which must be met by its candidates for holy orders. While the School may recommend a seminary graduate for ordination, the final decision rests exclusively with the hierarchy of the Church.

Also, some denominations may require their students to complete certain studies not otherwise required for the M. Div. degree. In order to serve these denominations more effectively, and in close cooperation with them, the School may create or incorporate appropriate courses in these areas. Some, but not all of such course work may be credited toward the degree.

ATS accreditation considerations

In the United States, most theological schools are accredited by ATS - and the ATS has made it impossible to obtain a Master's of Divinity through off-campus studies.

In fact, the ATS guidelines require that the last year of the studies be completed on-campus and that most credits be acquired on campus and with the same school.

Euclid University Extension, a non-US, non-ATS distance program, is pleased to be among the first distance-learning institution to offer an M. Div. program that conforms to general ATS curriculum guidelines and offers creative ways to incorporate real-life pastoral experience in your program.

Please note that the Euclid M. Div. is not an ATS accredited program. If your denomination or career plan specifically requires ATS accreditation, please visit their web site for a list of schools that will meet your needs.