Nashotah House offers a variety of degree and certificate programs aimed at training clergy and lay leaders for ministries in the Church:

• Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree
• Transfer Students
• Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE)
• Field Education
• Teaching Parishes Program and Cross-cultural Ministry Experience
• Master of Theological Studies (M.T.S.) degree
• Master of Sacred Theology (S.T.M.) degree
• Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) degree
• Master of Arts in Ministry (M.A.) degree
• Certificate in Anglican Studies

The M.Div., M.T.S., S.T.M., M.A. in Ministry, and D.Min. Degrees are Accredited by The Association of Theological Schools.

Click here for a printable list of degree programs and descriptions.

Master of Divinity (M.Div.)   The Master of Divinity degree program is the primary degree for those who are seeking ordination. It is normally a three year program. Candidates for this degree must hold a Bachelor of Arts degree, or the equivalent, from an accredited college or university. The program seeks to educate persons in the basic knowledge and skills appropriate to ordained ministry, thus serving as a basis for lifelong theological education. Academic studies, field work, corporate worship, spiritual formation and involvement in the life of the community are all important components of this program. Students in this program undertake required courses in biblical studies (including Hebrew and Greek), Church history, historical and systematic theology, liturgics and church music, pastoral theology, ethics and moral theology, homiletics and spirituality. In addition, a minimum of nine (9) credit hours in elective courses (pass/fail courses may be included) are required to complete the curriculum. Students in this program must successfully complete a minimum of ninety-six (96) credit hours of work, exclusive of credits earned during Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE).

Transfer Students. The normal time in residence for the Master of Divinity degree is three years. However this requirement may be reduced to as little as one year by the Dean and Faculty in cases where the student is transferring from another seminary. Students who transfer to Nashotah House with fewer than sixty hours of credit will have their credits evaluated for transfer and complete the requirements for the Three-Year M.Div. program. Students who transfer to Nashotah House with sixty (60) or more hours of approved transfer credits may complete their degrees by taking the "One-Year M.Div. curriculum" for their senior year of seminary. This curriculum is essentially the same as the Anglican Studies Certificate program and assumes that the transfer student needs a program of study that stresses Anglican distinctives.

Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is normally undertaken in the summer after the Junior year. The purpose of CPE is to give students an opportunity to grow in self-understanding in the context of a clinical setting which fosters integration of theory and practice in ministry.

Field Education — In order to gain experience in the practice of ministry during the course of their studies, students in the Master of Divinity program engage in three semesters of supervised work in a parish, usually near the seminary. Field education is not taken for credit; but certification of completion of Field Education is required for graduation.

Teaching Parishes Program – Cross-Cultural Ministry Experience — During one of the summers in Seminary (usually the second summer) or during an Epiphany (January) Term, students may undertake project that involves significant ministry experience in a parish setting or ministry setting that involves exposure to a culture other than that from which the student comes. Depending on the extent or length of time involved in the project, the student may register for three or six semster hours of credit with the approval of the Director of Field Education.

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Master of Theological Studies (M.T.S.)   The Master of Theological Studies degree program is intended for persons who wish to obtain a basic first professional degree in theological studies. This program is normally of two years duration. Candidates for the M.T.S. must hold a Bachelor of Arts degree, or the equivalent, from an accredited college or university.

Students in the M.T.S. program must successfully complete a minimum of sixty credit hours of works, six of which may consist of thesis research and preparation. The two-year program has five possible foci or majors: Anglican Studies; Biblical Studies and Church History; Biblical Studies and Theology; Pastoral Studies, Liturgy and Spirituality; or General Studies. All of these foci incorporate core courses from the M.Div. curriculum. Courses in the second year of the program depend on the which focus a candidate chooses.

Students in the M.T.S. program may choose to write a thesis as part of their studies. If a student selects the Thesis Option, six credit hours of the second year of the M.T.S. curriculum will be registered as “Thesis Research and Preparation”.

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Master of Sacred Theology (S.T.M.)   The Master of Sacred Theology program is an advanced degree, beyond the M.Div., intended primarily as continuing education for those who are already ordained. The STM is an interdisciplinary degree in Anglican Studies with two separate tracks. Applicants must select a thesis option or a non-thesis option. To be considered for acceptance into the STM program, applicants must hold the first professional theological degree (B.D., M.Div., or the equivalent) from an accredited seminary or university.

The Thesis Track is intended for persons contemplating an academic career and provides an opportunity to test such a vocation before making a commitment to a doctoral program. The thesis track requires a minimum residency of three (3) Petertide terms in the summer STM program. (The Petertide term is generally the month of July.)

The Non-Thesis Track offers opportunity to candidates for extending and deepening theological understanding in the light of their pastoral experience; it is generally considered to be a terminal degree. The non-thesis track requires a minimum residency of three (3) Petertide terms. The curriculum for this track includes a minimum of twenty-four (24) credit hours, at least half of which must be in the 200 - 299 series. The actual course of studies is planned by candidates in consultation with their faculty advisor.

In lieu of a thesis, the Faculty appoints primary and secondary examiners from the faculty who arrange a two-hour oral comprehensive examination with the student. The exam will cover the courses taken for the STM program.

For the current course offerings and registration information, click here.

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Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.)   The Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) program is intended for clergy and others in positions of leadership who are seeking a terminal professional degree through advanced studies in specific areas of ministry. The emphasis in this program is on developing and improving one’s skills in congregational and ministerial leadership. studies. There are four tracks in the D.Min. program, allowing students to major in the areas of liturgy, spirituality, biblical exposition (combining both biblical exegesis and homiletics), and congregational development.

The primary purpose of the program is to enhance the study and practice of ministry for those persons already holding the M.Div. degree and who also have ministry experience. The program seeks to further develop both the intellectual and practical components that are typically exercised in ministry. As a professional degree, the D.Min. stresses the practical aspects of ministry through biblical, historical and theological reflection and application.

During the month of July, distinguished visiting scholars join the full-time faculty of the House to offer seminars in this program.

For the current course offerings and registration information, click here.

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Certificate in Anglican Studies   The Certificate in Anglican Studies is a one year program designed to acquaint the student with the essential elements of theological study in the Anglican tradition. The program is primarily designed for those who have received their theological training in another tradition or in a non-denominational seminary, and who are seeking to be ordained in the Anglican tradition. The courses for this program are drawn from Nashotah House's M.Div. program, with a particular concentration on Anglican liturgy, theology, history and spirituality.

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Below are some sample curricula from the Master of Divinity (M.Div.), Master of Theological Studies (M.T.S.) and Certificate in Anglican Studies programs. These are only sample curricula. Actual curricula are worked out according to the current catalog in consultation with the Director of Admissions or a Faculty Advisor.

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