Master of Divinity (MDiv)
Daniel Klawitter
Email: dklawitter@iliff.edu
Phone: 303-765-3118
Who should pursue a Master of Divinity from Iliff?
Those interested in serving in professional ministry leadership, including pastoral and congregational ministry, chaplaincy, advocacy, or nonprofit leadership, the Master of Divinity might be the right degree for you. The MDiv is the primary degree essential for meeting the educational requirements for those seeking ordination in most traditions and is often required for chaplaincy positions.
MDiv Graduates Lead In
- Pastoral and congregational leadership – senior pastors, associate pastors, local church pastors, ordained clergy, youth and young adult ministers, religious educators
- Chaplaincy – spiritual caregivers in hospitals, hospice care, prisons, military, corporate environments
- Advocacy, Public Sector and Nonprofit Leadership – executive directors, diversity officers, community organizers, entrepreneurs, social justice policy makers, and development officers
- Higher Education – campus chaplains and ministers, directors of programs, senior level administration, student affairs, admissions officers
- Meet our students
Additional Choices
Master of Social Work Cooperative Program
A cooperative arrangement between Iliff School of Theology and The Graduate School of Social Work at the University of Denver allows qualified students to pursue concurrently the Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Pastoral and Spiritual Care, Master of Arts in Social Justice and Ethics, or Master of Theological Studies with the Master of Social Work degree. The cooperative degree program offers students the opportunity to apply theological learning to social service settings. Each school allows students to transfer a predetermined number of credits from one degree program into the other, which allows students to complete both degrees in a shorter amount of time. Details are listed in the Student Handbook.
Degree Requirements
The MDiv offers an opportunity to engage in a full array of theological studies, including an internship and personal and professional formation. Students must meet the requirements as specified in the Student Handbook of their year of matriculation. Degree requirements for previous years can be found at the bottom of the online Student Handbook main page. For specific denominational requirements, click here.
Requirements for Specific Denominations
Whatever denomination you belong to or whether you belong to a faith tradition or not, Iliff welcomes you to our community. Specific requirements and decisions regarding ordination or other certifications are managed by each of their denominations. Students are encouraged to learn their denominational processes and requirements and to use this knowledge in selecting their degree program and courses. Visit our Denominational Relationships, Ordination, and Certification page to find out more.
Requirements Include
- First Year Interdisciplinary Seminar (4 Credits)
- Core Areas (48 Credits) 2 courses from each of the six curricular areas
- Personal and Professional Formation Courses (4 Credits)
- Internship (12 Credits)
- Other/Elective Courses (52 Credits)
Core Areas
- Comparative Religious Traditions
- Sacred Texts
- Social/Ethical Analysis
- Historical Development/Exploration of Religious Traditions
- Constructive Theology
- Theology and Religious Practices
Example Classes in the MDiv Program
- Hebrew Bible and New Testament Literature
- Practical Theology
- Feminist Theology
- Media, Religion, and Culture
- Preacher as Self: Cultivating an Authentic Voice
- Ancient and Emerging Practices
- More information – Student Handbook