Earning a Second Degree

Earning the M.Div. Degree Following the M.A. Degree

Students occasionally decide to earn an M.Div. degree after graduating with an M.A. degree. The student begins the return-to-active-status process through the office of admissions. Depending on whether the student wishes to surrender the M.A. for the M.Div. or keep both degrees, the remaining process differs.

Surrendering the M.A. for the M.Div. (80 credits): Students work with an academic advisor to identify a degree completion plan that utilizes the 44 credits earned in the M.A. degree, meets M.Div. course requirements, and fulfills the 80 credit degree—normally this requires an additional 36 credits beyond the M.A. Once the M.Div. requirements are completed, the M.A. credits are recorded on the student’s M.Div. transcript. Upon completion of the M.Div., the M.A. degree is surrendered by the student to the registration office with “a surrendered on [date].”
Keeping both degrees (102 credits): Students work with an academic advisor to identify a degree completion plan that utilizes 50 percent of the credits earned in the M.A. degree, meets M.Div. course requirements, and fulfills the 80 credit degree. The student MUST meet the course-specific requirements for BOTH degrees; this includes the capstone courses--Theological Research required for M.A. and Integration Seminar required for M.Div.