MDiv CONCENTRATIONS

MDiv students can choose a concentration as part of their program to be equipped for ministry in specific contexts: The Black Church (UTI) Concentration, The Interfaith Studies Concentration, The Latino Concentration, The Metropolitan/Urban Ministry Concentration, and The Multicultural Ministry/Mission Concentration.

The Black Church (UTI) Concentration

A concentration within the MDiv degree program to equip persons for ministry in a Black Church context. Leads to an Urban Theological Institute (UTI) Certificate of Black Church Ministry at graduation for those completing the requirements. Oversight is provided by the Director of the UTI. See also the UTI program pages.

Interested students should apply for admission to the concentration no later than January Term of the first year for full-time students or upon completion of 4.0 course units by part-time students.  Submit the application to Dr. Quintin Robertson, Director of the Urban Theological Institute.  For more information, contact Dr. Robertson.

Requirements of the Concentration

Five course units as negotiated with the Director, which may include the following:

• One Bible course designated for the concentration (suffixed “B”)
• HCH232B, African American Church History (also fulfills American Religious History requirement for students in concentration)
• HTH335B, African American Theology
• ICA150B, Worship in the Black Church (also fulfills Christian Assembly 1 requirement for non-ELCA students in concentration)
• ICA320B, Preaching in Black Church Contexts
• Other courses as designated by the Director

 The Interfaith Studies Concentration

A concentration within the MDiv degree program to equip persons for ministry in multi-faith contexts leads to a Certificate of Interfaith Studies at graduation for those completing the requirements.  The concentration utilizes the resources of the multi-faith milieu of the Philadelphia metropolitan area.

Interested students should apply for admission to the concentration no later than January Term of the first year for full-time students or upon completion of 4.0 course units by part-time students.  Submit the application to Dr. J Paul Rajashekar, Director of the Institute for Ecumenical and Interreligious Dialogue.  For more information, contact Dr. Rajashekar. 

Requirements of the Concentration

Two quarters of supervised field education in a context in which there is significant opportunity for interfaith engagement; or two to four quarters of supervised field work with an affiliated interfaith organization, above the normally required MDiv field education.

Five course units from among the following:

• HCH311, New Religious Movements in America
• HCH326, Lutherans and Jews
• HTH360, World Religions

• HTH362, Christian Encounters with Other Faiths
• HTH363, Issues in Interreligious Dialogue
• HTH364, Scriptures of the World
• HTH367, Theology of Religions
• HTH371, Jewish-Christian Relations
• HTH373, Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations
• HTH374, Jesus in the Islamic Tradition
• HTH378, Christian Engagement with Asian Religions
• ICS512, The Church and the Holocaust
• SGN152, Global Travel Seminar with a significant interfaith component
• One course at either Reconstructionist Rabbinical College or Temple University Religious Studies Department
• Other courses as designated by the Director

The Latino Concentration

A concentration within the MDiv degree program to equip persons for ministry in a Latino context. Leads to a Certificate of Latino Ministry at graduation for those completing the requirements. Oversight is provided by the Director of the Instituto de Teología y Pastoral. See also the Latino Concentration program pages.

Interested students should meet with the Director of the Instituto as early as possible in their programs, preferably in advance of entrance. Application for admission to the concentration is filed with the Director no later than January Term of the first year for full-time students or upon completion of 4.0 course units by part-time students. The sole criterion is proficiency in the Spanish language as determined by the Director.  For more information or to apply, contact Dr. Nelson Rivera, Director of the concentration.

Requirements of the Concentration

Two quarters of field education in a Latino context or an internship in a Latino or urban context.

Two core course units from among the following:

• HTH328L, U.S. Latino/a Theology and Ministry

• HTH315L, Latin American Theology
• HTH209L, Readings in Christology (Latino)

Three units selected from among the following: HTH209L, HTH315L, SIS300L (an independent study proposed in consultation with the Director), one course from among the offerings of the Metropolitan/Urban Concentration (suffixed “C”), or any other new courses which might be designated from time to time.

The Metropolitan/Urban Ministry Concentration

The Metropolitan/Urban Ministry concentration is for those students within the MDiv program who are interested in specializing in metropolitan or urban ministry. It leads to a Certificate of Metropolitan/Urban Ministry at graduation for those completing the requirements. See also the Metropolitan/Urban program page.

The goals of this concentration are:

• to introduce students to the wide variety of gifts and challenges for ministry that the city offers;
• to teach theological and practical skills for an metropolitan/urban vocation; and
• to provide creative and effective models of mission.

The criteria for admission include a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or better and the support of one's synod (or denomination). Application to the concentration is filed with the program advisor, Dr. Katie Day, in the first year of study.

Requirements of the Concentration

Students work with the faculty advisor of the program to devise an individual learning contract, which normally includes:

• First-year field education via the rotation model and participation in the attendant ministry reflection group;
• Subsequent metropolitan/urban placements in field education, CPE (or its community equivalent), and internship;
• One ten-day training event;
• Any two of the following core courses: ICS250C, The Church in the City; ICS251C, Understanding the City; ICS252C, Models of Urban Ministry;
• Two additional courses in consultation with the program advisor, which may include offerings of the Latino concentration (suffixed “L”) or the Black Church (UTI) Concentration (suffixed “B”); and
• ICS520C, Issues in Urban Ministry, a half-credit course for seniors.

The Multicultural Ministry/Mission Concentration

A concentration within the MDiv degree program to equip persons for ministry in a multicultural congregational (African/African American, Asian or Latino) and/or multicultural locational context. Leads to a Certificate of Multicultural Ministry and Mission at graduation for those completing the requirements. Oversight is provided by the Director of the Multicultural Mission Resource Center (MMRC), Dr. J. Jayakiran Sebastian. See also the MMRC program pages.

Interested students should meet with the Director of the MMRC as early as possible in their programs, preferably in advance of entrance. Application for admission to the concentration is filed with the Director no later than January Term of the first year for full-time students or upon completion of 4.0 course units by part-time students. Previous exposure, experience and engagement in a multicultural situation is desirable but not mandatory. For more information, contact Dr. Sebastian.

Requirements of the Concentration

• Two quarters of field education in a multicultural context or an internship in a multicultural context;
• ICS323, The Challenge of Race in Church and Society, or an equivalent course, as determined by the Director;
• HCH235, World Christianity or another course in mission and cultures; 
• A course in Black, African American, Asian, or Latino Theology; and
• Two additional courses selected in consultation with the student’s faculty advisor and the Director of the MMRC.