Mapping Out Your Education

Master of Divinity
The following is a typical four-year master of divinity path

Before entering seminary

  • Obtain your bachelor degree (any major).
  • At least a year before beginning seminary study, meet with your synod or judicatory to enter the candidacy process.
  • Consider visiting Luther Seminary.
  • Consider attending a discernment event.
  • Apply to Luther Seminary.
  • Consider taking Greek (prerequisite for all New Testament courses. Available at Luther Seminary summer, fall and January terms).

You've been accepted!

Begin your master of divinity degree. This description of the next four years is a sample. Not every student follows the same path or goes at the same pace. Use this key to help you understand the steps we've described:

non-credit requirement Non-credit requirement
Strongly Encourage Participation
contextual leadership requirement Contextual Learning
Check the academic catalog for more information about contextual learning at Luther Seminary, and visit the Contextual Learning Web site.
there are time options for fulfilling these requirement Optional times
Requirement may be fulfilled at other times during the course of your education.
candidacy requirement Candidacy requirement
For more information about the ELCA candidacy process (required for those who wish to be ordained or rostered in the ELCA), visit www.elca.org/candidacy. To get in touch with your synod, go to www.elca.org/synod.
see catalog See academic catalog

Year One

Year Two

Year Three

  • ELCA students are required to spend contextual leadership initiative requirement candidacy requirement
    one year in a congregation internship.

Year Four