Divinity (academic discipline)

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For other uses of "Divinity", see Divinity (disambiguation).

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Divinity is the academic study of Christian and other theology and religious ministry at a school, divinity school, university, or seminary. The term is often a synonym for theology, but its use usually implies a specifically Christian study which is linked with the professional degrees for ordained ministry or related work.

[edit] Areas and specialisms

Divinity can be divided into several distinct but related disciplines:

• Systematic theology
• Practical theology
• Pastoral theology
• Church history
• Biblical studies
• New Testament Greek
• Biblical Hebrew

[edit] Degrees and schools

Studying Divinity usually leads to the award of an academic degree or a professional degree. Such degrees are prerequisites for ordained ministry in most Christian denominations, students study at a seminary or divinity school.

[edit] List of degrees

The following is a list of the common degrees in Divinity:

• Bachelor of Divinity (B.D. or B.Div.)
• Bachelor of Theology (B.Th; S.T.B.)
• Bachelor of Religious Education (B.R.E.)
• Licentiate in Theology (L.Th.; S.T.L.)
• Master of Divinity (M.Div.)
• Master of Religious Arts (M.R.A.)

Master of Theology (M.Th., Th.M., M.S.T., S.T.M. or M.Theol.)

• Doctor of Theology (Th.D., Dr. Theol., D.Theol., S.T.D.)
• Doctor of Divinity (D.D.)
• Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.)
• Doctor of Sacred Literature (D.S.Litt.)