Master of Divinity

The Asian American Ministry concentration is designed for students desiring to minister as Asian Americans, in Asian American contexts, or to Asian Americans. This concentration will equip such students with a sophisticated practical understanding of racial history, cultural engagement, and contextual theology. Sample courses include Asian American Identity and Ministry, Church as Family System, and Asian American Theologies. This concentration prepares students to lead in vocational settings including ethnic-specific or multiracial churches, nonprofit work, multicultural or Asian American parachurch ministries, and the arts.

The Biblical Studies concentration strengthens students’ ability to use and interpret Scripture in various contexts. Sample courses include Old Testament Introduction, Beginning Hebrew and Beginning Greek. This concentration offers focused preparation for roles in preaching, pastoring and teaching, and Christian education settings.

The Black Church Studies concentration equips the next generation of leaders in the Black church and community. Students will have the opportunity to build community around concepts that are immediately applicable to their contexts and are centered on many of their own experiences and narratives. Sample courses include Theology and Hip Hop Culture; African Roots of Black Theology; and Race, Religion and Theology in America. This concentration prepares students for vocational leadership in roles such as ministry and pastoral staff, missions, church planting, community engagement, arts and culture, and education.

The Chaplaincy concentration offers students focused preparation to provide pastoral and spiritual care within chaplaincy settings. Students in this concentration will have the opportunity to pursue Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) within the apprenticeship portion of their degree to better support their vocational goal. Sample courses include Fundamentals of Chaplaincy, Pastoral Ministry, and Introduction to Pastoral Counseling. This concentration prepares students for roles in military, healthcare, prison or hospice chaplaincy.

The Intercultural and Urban Ministry Concentration is designed for students working in or preparing for ministry that requires the integration of social transformation and/or multicultural ministry, including roles such as missionaries, relief and development workers, and ministers to emerging generations.

Learn from committed faculty with deep expertise in these areas and engage with Fuller’s ethnic centers as you develop the ability to apply theological concepts to contextual needs in ministry, gain a deeper awareness of global trends and cultural differences, and increase your own cultural humility and intercultural understanding.

Sample courses include Organizing Urban Communities for Transformation; Globalization, Poverty and Christian Mission; and Creation Care and Sabbath Economics.

The Leadership in Times of Change concentration is ideal for students seeking focused training in critical leadership skills, preparing them to think theologically and lead effectively in times of disruption. Sample courses include Leadership for Transformation and Leadership and Diversity: Gender, Cultures, and Ethnicity. This concentration provides enhanced preparation for roles as pastors, parachurch ministry leaders, and organizational leaders.

The Worship Leadership concentration helps students prepare for the role of worship leader or worship pastor through focused studies exploring the life, ministry, and worship of the church.

Sample courses include: Theology and Hip-Hop Culture; Visual Arts and the Christian; Spiritual Formation Through the Art of the Psalms; The Arts in Worship; Vocation of the Artist; Worship Leadership; Music as Theological Expression; and Worship on the Lord’s Day. Introduction to Preaching and Worship is a required course.

This concentration draws upon the unique resources available through Fuller’s centers, institutes, initiatives, and schools. The William E. Pannell Center for Black Church Studies provides contextualized training in leading worship. The Brehm Center offers creative ways to incorporate the arts in worship. And our School of Psychology and Marriage and Family Therapy helps students explore how worship leaders can cultivate emotionally healthy congregations in and through their worship practices.

The Youth, Family, and Culture concentration prepares students to be better youth ministry pastors/ministers/directors. This concentration is for youth ministry-oriented students who love and desire to advocate for diverse young people, have experience but want to be more prepared and more effective, and/or are drawn to a variety of powerful paths that serve young people (including church, parachurch, counseling, education, social services, community development).

Fuller and the Fuller Youth Institute’s commitment to learning, resourcing, and networking has placed us as one (if not the) most significant schools dedicated to youth and young adult ministry. Our work regularly taps into the expertise of Fuller’s School of Psychology & Marriage and Family Therapy and the School of Mission and Theology faculty. Those who seek to develop their skills and knowledge in youth and young adult ministry look to Fuller and the Fuller Youth Institute.

Students in this concentration will benefit from a supportive community, training to handle ministry in an ever-changing world, and preparation for youth ministry and beyond.

Take courses like Youth, Gender, Race, and Culture; Childhood in Global Perspective: Foundations for Mission with Children at Risk; Youth, Learning, and Digital Culture.