Master of Divinity
Program Overview
Faithful pastoral ministry requires careful preparation. The Church needs pastors who love God, obey His Word, and teach Scripture with clarity and conviction. The Master of Divinity at Heritage is designed to prepare you for this calling by forming you theologically, spiritually, and practically for service in the Church.
The 90‑credit‑hour Master of Divinity equips you for pastoral ministry through rigorous study of Scripture, theological depth, and practical ministry formation. Throughout the program, you are prepared to shepherd God’s people faithfully and to serve the Church for the glory of God.
The Master of Divinity is a professional ministry degree designed to prepare pastors and ministry leaders for the responsibilities of preaching, shepherding, leadership, and care within the local church. It integrates theological study with biblical languages, preaching, pastoral theology, and supervised ministry experience.
Master of Divinity (MDiv) Pathways
Multiple routes. One calling. A strong MDiv foundation.
The Heritage MDiv prepares men and women to handle the Word faithfully, serve the church with conviction, and lead with wisdom. All MDivs have the same 24 core course requirements. The remain six courses can be taken in accordance with a student’s designated ecclesiological tradition. Students can pursue one of the following pathways according to calling and context.
Master of Divinity
The classic Heritage pathway delivered through multiple study options and rooted in Baptist distinctives. Students receive rigorous training in biblical studies, theology, church history, and pastoral formation with a clear focus on the life of the local church.
Master of Divinity in partnership with Heritage College
This pathway enables students to complete a Bachelor of Religious Education – Pre-Seminary at Heritage College and transition seamlessly into the Heritage Seminary MDiv, allowing the degree to be finished in five years rather than in the traditional six. It is designed for students who know they want to pursue a Master’s degree and who are seeking an integrated undergraduate and graduate theological education.
Master of Divinity in partnership with Redeemer
This pathway enables students to complete Redeemer’s Bachelor of Christian Studies (BCS) and transition seamlessly into the Heritage MDiv, allowing the degree to be finished in five years rather than the traditional six. It is designed for students seeking an integrated undergraduate and graduate theological education with a strong foundation in biblical studies, theology, and ministry preparation.
Master of Divinity in partnership with Ryle Seminary
Students in this track take six Anglican specific courses with Ryle to meet denominational orientation expectations. This pathway unites evangelical theological training with Anglican formation.
Program Objectives
Over the course of the Master of Divinity, you will:
- Develop a deep and coherent understanding of the Bible and Christian theology.
- Learn to interpret Scripture faithfully through sound hermeneutical principles.
- Grow in personal holiness, spiritual maturity, and pastoral character.
- Develop competency in biblical Hebrew and Greek in support of preaching and teaching.
- Strengthen skills in expository preaching and the communication of God’s Word.
- Cultivate wisdom for pastoral leadership, shepherding, and care within the local church.
- Integrate theological study with lived ministry through supervised placements and mentorship.
Curriculum Overview
| Course code | Description | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-2026 MDV Required Courses (all courses required) | 75 | |
| BNT500 | New Testament Introduction & Theology | 3 |
| BNT520 | Synoptic Gospels | 3 |
| BOT500 | Old Testament Introduction & Theology | 3 |
| BOT520 | Pentateuch | 3 |
| HOM511 | Expository Preaching I | 3 |
| HOM512 | Expository Preaching II | 3 |
| ICS505 | Essentials of Global Mission | 3 |
| LAN501 | Greek Elements I | 3 |
| LAN502 | Greek Elements II | 3 |
| LAN511 | Hebrew Elements I | 3 |
| LAN512 | Hebrew Elements II | 3 |
| LAN550 | Hermeneutics | 3 |
| LAN601 | Greek Exegesis | 3 |
| LAN611 | Hebrew Exegesis | 3 |
| PAS701 | Pastoral Theology I | 3 |
| PAS702 | Pastoral Theology II | 3 |
| PCS503 | Pastoral Counselling | 3 |
| SME611 | Pastoral Internship I | 3 |
| SME612 | Pastoral Internship II | 3 |
| THH520 | Church History I | 3 |
| THH530 | Church History II | 3 |
| THS501 | Theological Foundations I | 3 |
| THS502 | Theological Foundations II | 3 |
| THS522 | Theology of Church & Ministry | 3 |
| THS530 | Moral Theology | 3 |
| Number Needed | Description | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MDV Either/Or Elective (choose one course) | 3 |
| 4 | MDV Electives | 12 |
Program Outcomes
Further education:
- Pursue advanced theological study, including a Doctor of Ministry or Doctor of Philosophy.
- Continue into other doctoral or postgraduate programs in theology, ministry, or related disciplines.
Career pathways:
- Serve in pastoral ministry within local churches
- Serve as an associate or assistant pastor
- Serve in preaching and teaching ministries
- Serve in chaplaincy or specialized ministry contexts
- Serve in mission or intercultural ministry settings, with further preparation as appropriate
"As a former pastor, I greatly appreciated the personal growth I experienced and the training I received as a seminary student in a MDiv program. The courses that compose Heritage's MDiv have been designed to help prepare students biblically, theologically, spiritually, and practically for pastoral ministry. I love our MDiv degree!"
Dr. Wayne BaxterProfessor of New Testament and Greek
Admission Requirements
Applicants for the Master of Divinity or the Master of Theological Studies degree programs must have a minimum AGPA of 2.3 (C+) in their bachelor’s degree.
Applicants who do not meet these standards or are mature students may apply to the Graduate Certificate of Theological Studies program. Students who successfully complete the certificate may be eligible to enter a master’s degree program.
Mature Students
Mature applicants 28 years of age and over, who do not possess an undergraduate degree, may apply for either the M.Div. or M.T.S. in either one of two ways:
- Apply for admission to the Graduate Certificate of Theological Studies – Track to Degree program. Upon completion of this 30 credit hour program with an AGPA of 2.50 or above, and upon approval of the seminary faculty, the student may enter either the M.Div. or the M.T.S. Courses completed in the GCTS will be used in the new degree program.
- Demonstrate undergraduate degree equivalency. Students who have completed approximately 101 credit hours of studies at the post-secondary level from an accredited institution, or a variety of accredited institutions, may apply directly to the M.Div. or M.T.S. based on degree equivalency. Such applications will be reviewed by the Academic Dean of the seminary. The 101 undergraduate credit hours should consist of a broad variety of interdisciplinary studies as well as courses which required an adequate amount of academic research and writing. The Registrar may require the student to supply course syllabi in order for the Academic Dean to determine undergraduate degree equivalency.
Mature applicants must write a research essay as part of their application to help discern the prospective student’s fit for graduate-level theological education: how well can s/he read, comprehend, analyze, and argue a thesis. The applicant’s essay will be graded by a member of the seminary faculty to make this assessment. This research essay must be submitted as part the application process. An application will not be complete nor processed until this essay has been submitted.
Transfer Students
Students desiring to transfer into Heritage Theological Seminary from another seminary must arrange for a complete, official transcript to be sent from each post-secondary school previously attended. These transcripts must be sent directly to the Assistant Registrar – Seminary, Heritage Theological Seminary, 175 Holiday Inn Drive, Cambridge, Ontario, Canada, N3C 3T2.
Transfer students must have received an honourable dismissal from all other schools and may receive transfer credits from other recognized institutions for equivalent courses in their chosen program provided that they have earned a “C” grade or above. All transfer credits are subject to the discretion of the Registrar in consultation with the Academic Dean.
In order to be eligible to graduate from Heritage Seminary, transfer students must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours at Heritage Seminary, or one-half of the degree, whichever is less.
Advanced Standing
Heritage Seminary considers awarding Advanced Standing to students who have attained an undergraduate degree in Bible, Theology, Religious Education, or Religious Studies (e.g., B.Th., B.R.E., B.R.S.). Advanced Standing means that a student is given credit for previous academic work and is not required to take some of the prescribed courses for a degree. Several factors are weighed when considering whether or not an applicant is eligible for Advanced Standing. These include number of hours completed at the undergraduate level, AGPA, grades in individual courses, and the program to which a student has applied. Please refer to the Seminary Catalogue for more information.
To resume studies, please contact the Registrar’s Office at 1-800-465-1961 for more information.
International Students
IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR 2026-2027:
Heritage College & Seminary has been informed that due to the cap on international study permits that has been instituted by the Government of Canada, study permits will not be granted to international students applying to Heritage College for the 2026-2027 academic year. Students may study from their home country via distance learning (synchronous or asynchronous online).
This information will be reassessed and updated for the 2027-2028 academic year.
Students from the United States of America
Applicants from the U.S.A. must meet the general admissions standards as explained above. Also, American students must have a valid study permit, which can be obtained at a port of entry or at the nearest Canadian Consulate. A student will need an acceptance letter and evidence of sufficient funds/financial support to obtain a study permit. This permit must be presented prior to enrollment. Proof of English language proficiency is not required for American citizens. Applicants should complete the International Student Application. After acceptance, applicants from the U.S.A. must apply for a study permit. To obtain more information on Canadian Immigration policies and procedures, see the Canadian government website at https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada.html.
Students from All Other Countries
Students are advised to apply at least nine months before their planned enrollment date to allow time for processing, acquiring permits and visas, etc. Students are admitted on the basis of graduation from a recognized college, university, or Bible/theological school. Applicants are responsible to provide documentation that verifies the level of their post-secondary training.
Transcripts: Official transcripts must be sent from all schools previously attended. Transcripts that are not written in English must be translated and notarized by an official translating company and sent directly to Heritage. International applicants must also provide a credential evaluation report from World Educational Services (WES) Canada. Applicants must request a “WES ICAP Course-by-Course Evaluation Report” and choose Heritage College & Seminary as the recipient.
English Language Requirements: Proof of English Language proficiency is normally required from all international students with the exception of citizens from Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and countries of the West Indies (except Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Martinique, Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico, and St. Lucia).
Heritage accepts the following language proficiency tests:
1. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
- Students must achieve a minimum score of 80 on the TOEFL iBT, and a minimum score of 20 on each of the four sections. Tests can be booked at https://www.ets.org/toefl/test-takers/. Heritage’s institutional code is: 1498.
2. International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
- Students must achieve a minimum overall band score of 6.0 (6.0 in each band) on the IELTS Academic. Tests can be booked at https://www.ielts.org/for-test-takers/book-a-test.
3. The Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP)
- Students must achieve a minimum level of 7 on the CELPIP-General. Tests can be booked at https://www.celpip.ca/.
Study Permit and Visa: International students must obtain a valid study permit, and in some cases a visa, to study in Canada. To obtain a permit and, if necessary, a visa, international students must apply through Canadian Immigration officials in their home country or online at Immigration Canada’s official website. Students cannot begin their studies until the necessary immigration documents have been approved. To obtain more information on Canadian Immigration policies and procedures, see the Canadian government’s official website at https://www.canada.ca/en/immigrationrefugees-citizenship/services/study-canada.html.
It is strongly recommended that all applicants have a local support network (welcoming church, local agency, relatives, or other significant persons). This will contribute to the strength of an application.
International students are only accepted for fall term registration. Students will not be enrolled in studies unless the funds required for the first term of studies have been paid (tuition, emergency health insurance for one year, and if applicable, residence costs).
For step-by-step instructions for International Students, see the International Students page.
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