Online Master of Divinity Degree: Choose Your Program Carefully

Step One:
Why do you want an online Master of Divinity degree?

Why are you thinking about getting a divinity master’s?  You may be tempted to skip this step–you’ve thought this out before.  But hear me out.  There’s a lot of confusion regarding graduate level work on topics in religion and faith, and a Master of Divinity program is a huge commitment and investment.  You don’t want to enroll in a program like this just to find it’s not what you wanted at all!

An online Master of  Divinity degree  is almost always undertaken for the purpose of preparing to join the clergy. If that’s not your goal, head back to the drawing board!  There are a lot of other options, and if you don’t want to be a minister, pastor, priest, or rabbi, then an M.Div. is not for you!

Step Two:
Figure out all the requirements–academic and otherwise–you need to fulfill in order to
meet your goal.

For most denominations, a Master of Divinity may seem to be the biggest requirement–as far as paperwork goes, spiritually it’s another matter of course–but that doesn’t mean you should jump into getting your M.Div. first thing.  Before you enroll in an online Master of Divinity program, research all of the requirements.

Step Three:
Meet with an advisor from your denomination.

This may be the most important step in the process.  Meet, in person, with an ordained member of the clergy from your denomination of choice.  It can be as simple as asking your own pastor, or looking in the phone book.  You need someone who is both knowledgeable about the process and not trying to sell you anything.  An advisor can help you decide whether an M.Div is the appropriate step to take, and which programs qualify.