The accelerated program can be completed in five years.
That’s only one year in addition to the 4-year undergraduate degree!

The newly established Welch Divinity School offers an accelerated BA-to-M.Div. track for exceptional undergraduate students who wish to pursue the Master of Divinity degree. The accelerative program can be completed in five years. That’s only one year in addition to the 4-year undergraduate degree! Traditional M.Div. programs require at least three years following the four-year undergraduate degree to complete. The Welch Divinity accelerated program allows you to get into full-time ministry quicker and reduces the cost to you by trimming off at least two years. The chart below illustrates the point:

Students wishing to enroll in the accelerated B.A.–M.Div. program must first enroll in an appropriate Welch College undergraduate program.

Students enrolled in the accelerated B.A.–M.Div. track may apply to the Divinity School for formal entrance into the M.Div. prior to the end of the sophomore year in accordance with the admission requirements outlined below. Upon successful admission to the Divinity School, M.Div. students may begin registering for graduate-level courses.

Welch Divinity School will also count up to 25 hours of credit from other undergraduate programs in theology, biblical studies, or ministry.

Objectives of the Master of Divinity (M.Div) Degree

Scripture and Interpretation:

Understanding and application of the exegetical principles necessary for the study of the text of the Old and New Testaments, evidenced by a working knowledge of the biblical languages for the purposes of scriptural interpretation.

Historical and Systematic Theology:

An understanding of Christian historical and theological thought with a view toward: (a) critical engagement with a wide scope of theological systems and worldviews from the perspective of a presuppositional apologetic; (b) the heritage of evangelical orthodoxy traced through the patristic, Reformation, and post-Reformation eras; and (c) Free Will Baptist history and theological distinctives, as found in the Reformed Arminian branch of Protestant orthodoxy.

Pastoral Leadership and Mission:

Understanding of a biblical philosophy of church leadership, including: (a) the leader’s personal spiritual formation and interpersonal relationships; (b) Christian worship; (c) principles of pastoral care in ministering to people’s spiritual, psychological, relational, and material needs; (d) organic models of church growth grounded in biblical principles of evangelism and discipleship, and (e) missiological principles of international evangelization and church planting.

Worldview and Culture:

Application of rigorous theological critique informed by a Christian worldview toward the assessment of: (a) trends, issues, and ethical concerns in the secular culture; and (b) current movements and trajectories within the church culture.

Tuition and Scholarships

The tuition rate for the M.Div. is $450 per credit hour. However, owing to the generosity of donors, the net cost of a Welch Divinity School education will be among the lowest of any accredited M.Div. program in the country. The institutional scholarships available for M.Div. students include the following, though additional scholarship aid will be tailored to the individual financial needs and backgrounds of students:

Academic Merit Scholarship – $75 per credit hour

This scholarship, which reduces the tuition rate by $75 per credit hour, is available for students who have an undergraduate GPA of 3.5 or better.

Free Will Baptist Scholarship – $40 per credit hour

This scholarship, which reduces the tuition rate by $40 per credit hour, is available for students who have a current membership in a Free Will Baptist church.

Free Will Baptist Ministry Scholarship – $30 per credit hour

This scholarship, which reduces the tuition rate by $30 per credit hour, is available for licensed and ordained Free Will Baptist ministers.

Other Scholarships

Various other scholarships tailored to the individual needs and backgrounds of students will further bring down the cost of the Welch M.Div.

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