About Master’s Program,
Rooted in the Divinity School’s historic commitment to the training of scholarly ministers, today’s program welcomes students of many traditions—Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Jain, Confucian, Christian and humanist—as they prepare for engagement in an ever-increasing variety of contexts alongside students anticipating ordination and traditional vocations in religious community leadership. Coursework in their traditions’ histories, languages and texts, their theologies, philosophies, and ethics, and anthropological studies of living communities deepen students’ understandings of their own commitments and those of the communities they will serve. MDiv-specific cohort courses offered throughout the three-year curriculum invite students to explore and experience the arts of religious leadership and practice in their own traditions and in others, building students’ knowledge and skills and expanding their religious imaginations to equip them for thoughtful and innovative public engagement in our increasingly diverse religious landscape.
Situated in the heart of a major research university, within walking distance of five seminaries and surrounded by Chicago’s diverse neighborhoods, MDiv students may tailor their learning to their anticipated contexts with dual degree programs, interdisciplinary certificate programs, or additional denominational studies at neighboring schools. Whether or not they elect to pursue these compound programs, all MDiv students are encouraged to engage coursework offered by other University departments and professional schools to gain the multidisciplinary sensibilities requisite for skillful and adaptive religious leadership, community-building and meaning-making in complex and multivalent public spaces.
Master’s Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
Applicants must submit a statement of academic purpose with the application and may either upload a document or copy-and-paste the statement below. The purpose of this statement is to introduce yourself and articulate your reasons for applying to the University of Chicago Divinity School. This 1,500-word statement should address the following questions, striving to maintain a balance between broad statements of your interests and specific examples of your work to date and goals for the future.
- Please tell us about yourself: What people, ideas, experiences, or events have led you to pursue an MDiv at the University of Chicago at this time in your life?
- Please tell us how you came to be interested in the academic study of religion. What prompted your intellectual journey? What kinds of questions are you interested in pursuing? What skills have you developed thus far, and what skills and knowledge do you seek to develop in the MDiv program? How do your intellectual interests relate to and inform your philosophy on religious leadership and practice in general, and to your career aspirations in particular.
- Please tell us about your conception of ministry and how you came to develop this framing. What does ministry mean to you? What kinds of work do you see yourself doing and why? What ministry experience have you had thus far, and what experience are you seeking while in the MDiv program?
Why do you want to pursue the MDiv at the University of Chicago? Why is it important to do this work in a multi-religious academic environment? Who do you imagine to be your intellectual interlocutors within the University of Chicago and why? What are your career plans once completing the program? What resources (faculty, programs, library holdings, research centers, etc.) at the University of Chicago do you anticipate being most valuable for your academic and professional development?
Master’s Funding Coverage,
Admission into the MDiv Program is offered on a yearly basis. All applicants are automatically considered for Divinity School scholarships. Scholarships are offered based on the strength of the application materials. Applicants wishing to ensure that they are considered for the full range of funding options should apply by the priority deadline. Scholarships are automatically renewable for the second and third years of the program. Students receive funding for summer language study at the University. MDiv students also receive additional funding when completing field placements.
Tuition is charged on a quarterly basis. Please see the Bursar’s fee schedule for tuition rates.
The Divinity School is committed to making graduate study affordable and accessible. In the last two years, the School has lowered tuition for the MDiv program while increasing funding opportunities for students.
Application Requirement,
- Divinity School Application for Graduate Admission
- Candidate Statement reflecting intellectual influences and professional goals
- Academic Transcripts
- 3 Letters of Recommendation
- Current Resume or CV
- Writing sample, between 15 and 25 pages
- Application fee: $75 (waiver available)
- International students: TOEFL or IELTS score
Application Deadline,
Jan 04, 2025
Application Fee,
