Editing Master of Divinity (section)

{{Short description|Professional and terminal graduate degree in the study of theology and pastoral studies}}
[[File:BH Carroll Memorial Building Rotunda (Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, TX).JPG|thumb|[[Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary|Southwestern]] has historically offered one of America's largest MDiv programs.]]
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For graduate-level theological institutions, the '''Master of Divinity''' ('''MDiv''', ''magister divinitatis'' in [[Latin]]) is the [[first professional degree]] of the pastoral profession in [[North America]]. It is the most common [[academic degree]] in [[seminary|seminaries]] and [[divinity school]]s (e.g. in 2014 nearly 44 percent of all US students in schools accredited by the [[Association of Theological Schools]] were enrolled in an MDiv program).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ats.edu/member-schools/member-school-list|title=Alphabetical List - The Association of Theological Schools|website=www.ats.edu}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=2014 - 2015 Annual Data Tables|url=http://www.ats.edu/uploads/resources/institutional-data/annual-data-tables/2014-2015-annual-data-tables.pdf|website=The Association of Theological Schools|access-date=September 17, 2015|location=Table 2.10-B Head Count Enrollment by Degree Category and Program United States|page=31}}</ref>

In many [[Christian denomination]]s and in some other religions, the degree is the standard prerequisite for ordination or licensing to professional ministry. At accredited seminaries in the United States, this degree requires between 72 and 106 [[credit hour]]s of study (72 being the minimum determined by academic accrediting agencies, and 106 being on the upper end of certain schools that wish to ensure a broader study of the related disciplines.) After the completion of the Master of Divinity degree, students can continue further and get their professional [[Doctor of Ministry]] degree but this is only an honorary degree in most countries. This is why the Master of Divinity is considered a terminal degree to become a pastor or minister, with the Ph.D. only being used for academic purposes and the Doctor of Ministry degree related more to the practical theology of ministry.