Master of Divinity (MDiv)
The Master of Divinity (MDiv) program provides both the theoretical and practical tools necessary to prepare for the rewarding and challenging vocation of service. In preparation for parish, institutional and administrative ministries, students take courses in relevant disciplines – theology, biblical studies, counselling, ethics, church history, liturgics and administration.
Program Details
Take a deeper look at what to expect once you enrol as a student, from high-level details to specific skills you'll develop and refine throughout your studies.
Degree Highlights
Here's what you can expect throughout your studies:
- Small class size with discussion and assignment-based format where students are able to examine biblical and theological concepts alongside practical ministry resources.
- Learning alongside classmates from various faith traditions.
- Learning from community organizations and practitioners within multiple faith traditions.
- An option for either placement within a faith tradition or coursework.
- Placement within community organizations such as hospitals or long-term care alongside spiritual care training.
Skills You'll Learn
Students will be engaged in work which:
- Understanding the development of Christian doctrine and ideas, alongside the student's own denominational history, polity, and authoritative documents to engage in constructive theology.
- Identify, respect, engage with and be challenged by a diversity of theological viewpoints and practices within ecumenical, multi-faith, and multicultural contexts.
- Reflect critically on the student's own sense of call to leadership and service alongside an appreciation of the variety of callings and spiritual practices of others.
- Academic and practical competencies in congregational and community leadership, administration, preaching, worship, teaching, communication and technology, collaboration, and spiritual care.
Courses
Get a glimpse of what you will study throughout your degree. See what your first-year classes will look like through sample courses and start exploring what your upper academic years can offer.
Sample Courses
- TH502A Critical Analysis of Biblical Texts: Introduction
- TH530C Introduction to the Spirit and Community
- TH560A Introduction to Worship
- TH560C Introduction to Proclamation and Preaching
- TH560G Foundations of Ethical Community Engagement
- TH645A Intersectionality: Interfaith and Intercultural Perspectives
- TH663A Grief
Program Options
Students in the Master of Divinity program must complete their required courses and indicate, in their first term of study, whether they are participating in the Contextual or Coursework option, which will determine the structure of their degree.
The contextual option is for those preparing for congregational ministry. This option includes congregational placements, community placements and a full-year internship.
- TH681 Internship (1.0 credit)
- TH665I Entry into the Parish
- Two open electives
The coursework option is for those who are either already working in a ministerial setting or are preparing for non-congregational ministry. This choice allows students to take additional electives – in place of the internship and seminars being taken by those in the contextual option – and focus on coursework in areas of particular interest.
- Five open electives
"The MDiv isn't just a degree. It's a formation of heart, mind, and spirit. It's shaped by community and questioning, by learning and unlearning, by grace that meets us where we are. At Luther, I came to a faith that moves with love in action and holds fast to hope for creation's wholeness and healing."
Rachel Urquhart, MA-MDiv '25
Admissions
- Start: Fall (September)
- Format: Full-time or part-time, In-person
- Duration: 2–3 years
Applicants are required to hold an Honours (4 year) Bachelor’s degree from any field, with a minimum GPA of B.
Deadlines are the same for all applicants (full or part time, domestic or international).
The application process and the uploading of supplemental documentation, which includes references, typically takes two weeks. To avoid disappointment, please apply early.
Applications that are missing documents after the Supplemental Documentation due date will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed.
About three to five days after you have submitted your OUAC application, paid the non-refundable application fee, and Laurier has received your application, you'll receive an email from gradadmissions@wlu.ca advising you to login and upload the additional required documents to Laurier's Online Registration and Information System (LORIS).
If you have questions or concerns about any of the required supplemental documents, please review our FAQ.
Upload the following documents to your application on LORIS:
- Application Summary Form
- This PDF is generated after you complete your OUAC application (log back in to OUAC to retrieve it).
- Digital Unofficial Transcripts
- Transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work from universities as well as any degrees or diplomas from colleges, including those at which you were enrolled but did not complete a program. This includes institutions that may appear as transfer credits or exchange programs on your degree transcripts. You must submit a full and complete postsecondary academic history.
- Unofficial transcripts are accepted for the application.
- All transcripts must be dated as having been issued/printed within the last 6 months. You may need to contact your previous school(s) to request updated copies.
- Ensure that each transcript indicates all courses, grades, credit hours, awarding of degree/diploma/degree certificate (if applicable), your full name, student ID number, and full name of the institution.
- Include the grading scale/legend as part of your transcript upload.
- Transcripts must be uploaded as one .pdf file per institution attended.
- Transcripts must be in the original language and include a certified translation if the transcript is not in English.
- Statement of Intent Form
- Please download the form to your device in order to complete it using a document editor. The form will not work in a web-based document editor.
- A resume of your academic and relevant work experience. Include a history of your publication and scholarly paper activity if applicable, and any other information you feel will interest the admissions committee.
- A sample of your scholarly writing (10-20 pages in length). This may be a chapter of your thesis, or a paper written as an assignment at the undergraduate level.
- Completed reference forms. Two academic or professional references are required.
- Reference forms are electronically submitted to Laurier by the referee and do not need to be uploaded.
- Academic references must be from an instructor or supervisor you had at a university.
- Professional references must be from someone who has supervised you at a work or volunteer position.
- We do not accept references from friends or relatives.
Proficiency in written and spoken English is essential to graduate studies at Laurier. Applicants whose language of instruction during their previous postsecondary education was not in English must submit evidence of proficiency in English. If applicable, results from accepted testing services must be uploaded to LORIS.
Please review the Graduate Admissions Toolkit in detail before applying. This resource outlines everything you need to know about: application fees; how to log into LORIS; how to upload the documents for your application; and how to accept an offer if you are admitted to the program.
Step 1: Apply Through OUAC
- Review Step 1 of the Graduate Admissions Toolkit
- Fill out the OUAC application
Step 2: Submitting Documentation
All supplemental documents as noted in the Application Checklist must be uploaded and submitted by the Supplemental Documentation due date.
- Once you have uploaded your documents, please use the "Review" to download a copy of your application and check your documents.
- Ensure your transcripts are legible, documents are facing the right direction, scrutinize for typos, etc.
- Fix and re-upload and document corrections.
- When you are sure everything is correct and you are satisfied with your submission, click on "Submit my application." After this point, changes cannot be made to your application.
- We encourage you to ask your referees to submit by the Step 2 Supplemental Documentation due date. However, we will honour the full 14 days from the date they received the email request to submit the online reference without penalty to the applicant.
- Once your application is submitted, the application is received in real-time and no further confirmation of receipt of application is provided.
- No further updates will be provided on the application until decisions are issued.
A list of required documents is listed in the Application Checklist below. Please visit our Graduate Admissions Toolkit for more information about applying, specific information on supplemental documents, troubleshooting, etc.
Next Steps
Your Career Awaits
It's not only about the journey; it's about the destination. Let us help you get to where you're going. Here are just some examples of our graduates' destinations.
Sample Career Options
- ordained minister/pastor
- chaplain/spiritual care provider
- religious educator
- social service worker
- registered social worker (MDiv-MSW graduates)
Have Questions About the Program?
Explore our Frequently Asked Questions to find quick, clear answers about life at Luther, from academics to admissions. You can also connect with an Academic Advisor by emailing martin@luther.wlu.ca for questions regarding this program.
Tuition and Fees
For information about tuition and fees, please see the Tuition Fees Breakdown.
Scholarships and Bursaries
Full-time students, in addition to being eligible for financial assistance from Laurier, may be eligible for the following bursaries from Luther.
For information about scholarships and bursaries, please see our Financial Resources.
You Belong Here
Think this program might be the perfect fit for you and your future?