General Information

[For information on the pre-2002 requirements for the MPS program and a course conversion chart click here.]

The Master of Pastoral Studies program is a 88-unit graduate professional program (two-thirds of the Master of Divinity program) designed to provide students with the opportunity to engage in advanced study in a wide variety of fields within the discipline of pastoral studies. More specifically, the program provides:

1. Advanced professional training for pastoral service.
2. Upgrading for experienced pastors.
3. Training for lay people who are called to lead in their local congregations.

Admission Requirements

1. For regular admission, applicants must hold a four-year baccalaureate degree or equivalent with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.50 or better on a 4-point scale from a regionally or nationally accredited college or university. The School of Religion will consider for provisional admission a limited number of applicants who do not meet all of these requirements. In such cases, the school may require admitted students to complete undergraduate or graduate courses in addition to the regular requirements.
2. International applicants must meet the requirements of the university for English-language competence.
3. Students may transfer up to 44 units from an approved graduate or graduate professional program in another university or seminary.
4. To receive additional information, including an admissions packet, click here.

Course Requirements

Program Notes

1. Students who have completed an undergraduate course in Biblical Hebrew of at least 3 quarter units or equivalent with a grade of B or better will take the 4-unit elective. Those who have completed the last quarter or semester of an undergraduate course in Intermediate New Testament Greek of at least 3 quarter units or equivalent with a grade of B or better will take the 4-unit elective.
2. Students who have completed a comparable undergraduate survey course in this discipline of at least 4 quarter units or equivalent with a grade of B or better will take the 4-unit elective.
3. Students whose faith tradition differs from that of the Seventh-day Adventist Church may substitute 12 units of courses from their own faith tradition with the approval of the director of graduate studies.
4. Those who must take both linguistic tools courses will have no general program elective units. Those who must take one linguistic tools course will have 4 general program elective units. Other will have 8 general program elective units.

Other Requirements and Regulations

1. The director of graduate programs for the School of Religion will assign students their advisors.
2. Full-time students will enroll in 4 courses (16 units) per quarter.
3. Students must maintain a grade point average of 3.00 or better, with no grade lower than C.

Electives

Students choose general program electives from among the the graduate courses offered by the School of Religion that are not required for the MPS program. With the permission of the director of graduate programs, they may fulfill such electives through graduate courses offered by other schools of the university.

To receive additional information, including an admissions packet, click here.

Last edited: 2 Oct. 03