Master of Divinity (M.Div.)
The Master of Divinity (MDiv) program is a professional graduate degree designed to equip those entering Christian ministries such as pastors, denominational leaders, instructors in Bible colleges/seminaries, or principals of secondary schools.
This 90 hour (minimum) academic program draws from various theological and educational disciplines: theology, Church history, Biblical studies in the original languages, missiology, exegesis and expository preaching, teaching competence and develops ministry skills such as evangelism, counseling and administration. It also offers studies in educational psychology, teaching methodology, school administration and management and counseling. The program provides the opportunity for concentration in one area of specialization.
The program provides the opportunity for concentration in one of two emphases: Pastoral and Theological Studies (PTS), with or without biblical languages, and Educational Leadership and Ministries (ELM).
Specialization in your calling
For students training in the ELM track, the program also offers studies in educational psychology, teaching methodology, children/youth ministry, and leadership. The PTS track offers opportunities for study in pastoral ministry, preaching, counseling, discipleship, and church planting.
Both PTS and ELM emphases also require a minimum of one semester of internship under the supervision of a competent senior church or ministry leader and the writing of a master’s thesis or final project.
For more information about our MDIV program, see the ESWA Catalog and Student Handbook.
Mode of Operation
Mix of Modular & Traditional Scheduling
The ESWA MDIV program runs on a mix of a modular system and a traditional schedule.
Modular Courses
Most modular courses are offered as two-or-three- week intensives with lectures usually held Monday to Friday from 3:00-6:00 pm. For these intensive modular courses, additional weeks will be devoted to individual research, study, reading and other assignments required by the professor. Assignments will be due as mandated by the professor or instructor’s syllabus deadlines.
Some Traditional Course Scheduling
Some courses, however, will meet on a more traditional semester schedule. The nonmodular more traditional schedule may consist of courses where classes meet for up to 15 weeks throughout the semester. Depending on the number of contact hours needed for the course credit hour requirement, these nonmodular courses will either meet once, twice, or three times per week. Assignments for these courses will be due throughout the semester per the professor or instructor’s syllabus deadlines.
Accreditation
The Evangelical Seminary of West Africa (ESWA) is accredited by the National Commission on Higher Education (NCHE) of Liberia for granting the Master of Divinity degree with emphases in Pastoral & Theological Studies and Educational Leadership & Ministries.
Affiliation
The Seminary enjoys affiliation with Dallas Theological Seminary of Dallas, Texas, USA. The seminary also has partnerships with SIM-Liberia, the Evangelical Church of Liberia (ECOL), the Evangelical Free Church of Africa (EFCA), the United Liberia Inland Church (ULIC), and the Koinonia Baptist Association.
