Online Master of Divinity Degree
Master of Divinity (MDiv)
Credits
75
Avg. Completion Time
2-3½ yrs (full-time)
Delivery Method
Online
Why Earn an MDiv through LBC?
Lancaster Bible College’s online Master of Divinity (MDiv) program offers a comprehensive theological education combined with ministry leadership training. By the time you graduate, you will have cultivated advanced skills in biblical study, leadership, and discipleship under the mentorship of a highly experienced and diverse team of reflective practitioners.
This immersive learning journey integrates biblical, theological, and ministry studies, equipping students with the wisdom and character essential for addressing the pressing questions facing the Church today. LBC’s MDiv program prepares graduates to faithfully lead and serve in diverse ministry contexts, tackling contemporary challenges while upholding the enduring truth of God’s Word.
What Makes Our Program Different?
LBC’s Master of Divinity program stands out due to its flexibility, customization, and focus on practical ministry preparation. Here’s what makes our program unique:
Flexible Online Format
The program allows students to take one or two online courses per eight-week session, providing flexibility to balance studies with personal and professional commitments. Depending on the pace students set and whether they receive advanced standing, the program can be completed in as little as two years or up to three and a half years.
Customizable Tracks
The MDiv program offers three distinct tracks, enabling students to tailor their education to their unique vocational goals:
- Master of Divinity with a Concentration. This option allows students to select from several concentrations (12 credits) to develop specialized skills and knowledge. Through electives, students can explore unique learning opportunities such as field experience, travel-learning trips, and pre-doctoral research.
- Master of Divinity: Christian Care Specialization. Designed for those seeking advanced training in pastoral care, this specialization equips students to address the emotional and spiritual needs of individuals and communities.
- Master of Divinity: Formational Leadership Specialization. This track focuses on developing leadership skills for spiritual formation and discipleship, preparing students to guide others in their faith journeys effectively.
At LBC, we are committed to helping you become a faithful and effective servant-leader who is well-equipped to meet the challenges of ministry in today’s world. Start your journey with us and prepare to make a lasting impact in your community and beyond.
Course Length
8 weeks, 4 language courses are 16 weeks
Residency Requirement
no residency requirements
Highly Customizable
Choose from 8 concentrations and 2 specializations to design a unique program that meets your educational goals.
Program Cost & Financial Aid
Advancement Standing
Receive up to 12 credits of advanced standing
Transfer Agreement
Transfer up to 50% of a degree from an outside institution
Divinity Program Plan
Master of Divinity (MDiv) (75 Credits)
Biblical and Theological Foundations Courses 18 Credits
Ministry Leadership Foundations Courses 12 Credits
Biblical Skills Development Courses 15 Credits
Ministry Skills Development Courses 12 Credits
Concentration Courses 12 Credits
Electives Courses 6 Credits
View the Academic Catalog for the complete curriculum plan, course descriptions and complete program details.
Schedule a Time to Chat
Want to learn more about this master’s degree or LBC’s graduate school? Consider scheduling an appointment to talk virtually or in person with an Admissions Counselor who will be glad to answer all your questions about earning a graduate degree online.
Program Distinctive - What makes LBC's program unique?
Intentional Formation
We recognize that ministry leaders are motivated by who they are as well as who they are becoming. Therefore, LBC is committed to integrating healthy spiritual formation to develop spiritual, emotional and physical health in the personal and professional lives of ministry leaders.
Because of this, the MDiv curriculum:
- Includes several foundational courses focusing on the interior life of the ministry leader.
- Includes aspects of personal spiritual formation in every course.
- Continues to depend on faculty as both disciplers and academic guides.
Reflective Practice
Likewise, ministry leaders need to both think well and do well. To this end, LBC is dedicated to providing students with a solid biblical and theological foundation along with the tools to explore and apply Scripture as lifelong learners. At the same time, LBC commits to preparing students with the knowledge and skills necessary for ministry as leaders, caregivers, teachers and disciple-makers.
Because of this, the MDiv curriculum:
- Builds upon a core of both biblical and ministry foundations along with the related skills for each.
- Seeks to purposefully integrate learning and practice in both sets of courses.
- Seeks to build the critical thinking and theological reflection skills needed to engage cultural issues with grace and truth.
Cultural Awareness
Program leaders know that ministry contexts are diverse and rapidly changing, so developing students who are aware of their context and who can exegete culture and Scripture is crucial.
Because of this, the MDiv curriculum:
- Includes several courses that encourage students to think theologically as they approach contextual challenges and intentionally integrate faith and practice.
- Seeks to intentionally bridge the gap between theory and practice in every course.
- Continues to encourage students to pursue a field experience.
Customizable Options
LBC recognizes that our students are highly diverse by gender, ethnicity, ministry context, and academic ability. Therefore, we commit to providing a sound foundation of biblical and ministry studies while ensuring significant flexibility for students to craft a personalized learning path to accomplish unique needs and goals.
Because of this, the MDiv curriculum:
- Provides a robust set of foundational courses addressing biblical, personal and ministry growth for every leader in the MDiv program.
- Allows students to choose between a tools-based approach or a classical approach to language study.
- Allows students to elect for intensive Bible and theological coursework, intensive ministry praxis coursework, or a balance of both depending on their goals.
Career Paths - What jobs can you get with a master’s in divinity?
The Master of Divinity program will prepare you for a wide range of service and/or ministry contexts. Here’s just a sampling of careers where our MDiv alumni engage:
- Pastoral Roles (Children, Youth, Senior, Executive, Associate)
- Chaplain
- Ministry Leader
- Christian Non-Profit Leader
- Teacher/Professor
- Church Planter
LBC students have interned in these churches:
Program Goals – In this program, students will…
- Apply methods of interpretation, research and biblical languages study to the discovery of biblical truths.
- Articulate and defend sound theology according to historic Christian orthodoxy.
- Construct theological and ethical solutions to challenging questions and problems facing the Church and society.
- Formulate the character and competencies necessary for ethical and authentic servant leadership in the manner of Jesus Christ.
- Plan redemptive spiritual communities built on Christ-like character, authentic servant-leadership and a robust theology and philosophy of ministry.
- Develop ministry skills in areas of evangelism, discipleship, care, administration and communicating biblical truth.
Customize your MDiv Studies with a specialization OR a concentration to better meet your educational goals.
- MDiv + a Specialization, with
- MDiv + a Concentration, with the strategic use of available electives, these concentrations provide students with unique opportunities to gain knowledge and develop skills within specific domains and disciplines.
Students are encouraged to choose a concentration or specialization at the beginning of their program.
Christian Care Specialization
The Christian Care Specialization is a focused area of training in Christian Care that exceeds the scope of the Christian Care concentration. Here is the program plan for this specialization:
| Program Plan | Credits |
| ORI 500 Orientation | 0 |
| Biblical and Theological Foundations Courses | 18 |
| Ministry Leadership Foundations Courses | 9 |
| Biblical Skills Development Courses | 15 |
| Ministry Skills Development Courses | 6 |
| Christian Care Courses | 27 |
| Program Total | 75 |
Students completing a specialization will be awarded a diploma that includes the specialization in the program title.
Formational Leadership Specialization
The Formational Leadership Specialization is a focused area of training in Formational Leadership that exceeds the scope of the Formational Leadership concentration. Here is the program plan for this specialization:
| Program Plan | Credits |
| ORI 500 Orientation | 0 |
| Biblical and Theological Foundations Courses | 18 |
| Ministry Leadership Foundations Courses | 9 |
| Biblical Skills Development Courses | 15 |
| Ministry Skills Development Courses | 6 |
| Christian Care Courses | 27 |
| Program Total | 75 |
Students completing a specialization will be awarded a diploma that includes the specialization in the program title.
Bible Exposition Concentration
This concentration is designed to prepare the Christian minister to both interpret the Word accurately and communicate the Word relevantly. While heavier weight is given to the interpretive journey in the concentration, ample time is dedicated for the communicative journey.
Students choosing to earn a concentration in Bible Exposition will take the following courses:
- BIB 535 Introduction to Biblical Preaching (Required)
- BIB 531 Selected Topics in NT Epistles: Pastoral Epistles (Elective)
- BIB 551 Applied Hermeneutics: Interpretation of Narrative (Elective)
- BIB 563 The Use of the Old Testament in the New Testament (Elective)
Christian Apologetics Concentration
The basis of Christian Apologetics is to know our beliefs intimately and be able to explain and sometimes defend those beliefs to others, which is especially important as our world becomes more secular.
Students choosing to earn a concentration in Christian Apologetics will take the following courses:
- APO 540 Christian Apologetics (Required)
- APO 545 New Testament Issues in Apologetics (Required)
- APO 510 Philosophy for Apologetics (Elective)
- APO 515 Old Testament in Apologetics (Elective)
Christian Care Concentration
Christian ministry is a matter of the heart. It is interacting with people experiencing a variety of issues and concerns who need care and come to you for help. Often, the sincere and compassionate minister is not sufficiently trained to deal with the many personal, relational and spiritual problems of the adults youth and children they serve.
Students choosing to earn a concentration in Christian Care will take the following courses:
- CHC 505 Foundations for Christian Care
- CHC 510 Christian Care of Individuals
- CHC 511 Christian Care of Individuals Lab (will fulfill an open elective slot)
- CHC 515 Christian Care of Families
- CHC 516 Christian Care of Families Lab (will fulfill an available elective slot)
- CHC 520 Christian Care and Group Process
- CHC 525 Training Christian Care Givers
Children & Family Ministry Concentration
This concentration allows students to delve deeper into the much-needed area of Children & Family Ministry as they serve families and work to bring both current and future generations close to Christ.
Students choosing to earn a concentration in Children & Family Ministry will take the following courses:
- CFM 501 Foundations of Children and Family Ministry
- CFM 502 Spiritual Formation of Children and Families
- CFM 503 Missional Families in a Global World
- CFM 504 Global Children’s Ministry
Formational Leadership Concentration
If you’re passionate about learning to lead from a position of deep interior development, leading to the exterior practices of loving your neighbor and participating in the grand narrative of God’s global mission, this is the concentration for you. Taught by long-time pastors and Christian leaders, our curriculum focuses on the soul development of the leader, resulting in a deeply formed leader skilled to live and serve in the digital age.
Students choosing to earn a concentration in Formational Leadership will take the following courses:
- MFL501 Self-Care for the 21st Century Leader
- MFL508 Resilient Teams
- MFL503 Emotional Intelligence & Digital Age Communication
- MFL509 Communication as Story
Leadership Studies Concentration
As part of this concentration, students gain a comprehensive understanding of leadership theory, research and practice from an interdisciplinary perspective, as well as learn how to compare and contrast of leadership procedures within the biblical concept of leadership. Emphasis is placed on character and skills necessary for a servant-leader, group dynamics, supervision and development of other leaders.
Students choosing to earn a concentration in Leadership Studies will take the following courses:
- LSP 501 Leadership Theory & Practice
- LSP 502 Development of Organizational Leadership
- LSP 503 Psychology of Leadership
- LSP 509 Leadership Style Analysis
Pastoral Studies Concentration
LBC’s Pastoral Studies concentration is grounded in the authority of Scripture and places a strong emphasis developing church leaders to become faithful pastors that lead fruitful churches. From a biblical foundation, students learn about the nature of ministry, discipleship and leadership within the context of the local church.
Students choosing to earn a concentration in Pastoral Studies will take the following courses:
- Local Church Revitalization
- Theology, History & Practice of Worship
- Advanced Homiletics
- Designing Strategic Models of Adult Discipleship
Theology Concentration
This concentration enables students to get back to the basics and study the roots of the Christian faith, the nature of God and the systematic development of deeply held beliefs.
Students choosing to earn a concentration in Theology will take the following courses:
- THE 517 Theological Method (Required)
- THE 518 History of Christian Doctrine (Required)
- Two electives from the following or additional options:
- THE 510 Old Testament Theology
- THE 511 New Testament Theology
- THE 520 Selected Topics in Systematic Theology
- THE 531 Theological Classics
Meet the Faculty
Esther Zimmerman, PhD
Program Chair of Undergraduate Ministry Studies; Children & Family Ministry Program Director
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