Master of Divinity/Master of Business Administration, Joint Degree

The Master of Divinity/Master of Business Administration (M.Div./M.B.A.) joint degree is awarded jointly by the School of Christian Studies and the School of Business, but is administered through the School of Christian Studies. The joint degree provides theological training for ministers coupled with an education in business and administration, enabling graduates to serve as executive or administrative ministers in churches or serve as competent leaders in parachurch organizations and not-for-profit ministries.

The M.Div./M.B.A. joint degree is a 90-hour program consisting of 57 hours in ministry and theological studies and 33 hours in business administration. When completed separately, the M.Div. is a 72-hour degree and the M.B.A. is a 48-hour degree. Up to three M.B.A. foundation courses may be waived for applicants who have academic background in business disciplines.

Once admitted to the joint degree, students can enroll in both M.Div. and M.B.A. courses during the same term. No degree is awarded until the student completes the entire program, at which time the joint degree is awarded. The joint degree can be completed fully online or through a combination of face-to-face classes at one of Wayland’s many campuses.

To help students be good stewards of their financial resources, the School of Christian Studies proudly offers an accelerated B.C.M. to M.Div./M.B.A. program for students who apply as undergraduates. The accelerated program can reduce the financial cost for the student by reducing the hours required to complete the two degrees.

Admission Requirements

Applicants for the M.Div./M.B.A. joint degree must have the following:

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
GPA requirements stated for the M.B.A. program, which may require writing sample and admissions interview.
Letter of endorsement from a Christian congregation in which the applicant is actively involved.
Two personal letters of recommendation.

Transfer Credit

Students in the M.Div./M.B.A. joint degree may transfer a total of up to one-half the requirements for the joint degree. Of these transfer hours, no more than 12 graduate credit hours of coursework approved by the School of Business may be transferred for the M.B.A. portion of the joint degree. Students with a completed master’s degree in Christian or religious studies from another institution may transfer up to one-half of the completed degree. Students with a completed master’s degree in Christian ministry, religion, or theological studies from Wayland Baptist University may transfer up to the entire degree subject to the transfer limit of one-half the total joint degree requirements. To transfer credit, the student must have earned a grade of B for M.B.A. courses or C for M.Div. courses.

Academic Requirements of the Joint Degree

A student is placed on academic probation when his or her cumulative GPA falls below 2.5 or a grade of D or F is earned. It is recommended that courses with grades adversely affecting GPA be repeated as soon as possible. In cases where the course that is adversely affecting the GPA is available on a yearly basis, the student will be allowed to continue enrollment in the program with the stipulation that the course be repeated the next time the course is offered. A student who is on probation must raise the cumulative GPA to 2.5 or better within the next 16-week term or the student will be placed on academic suspension unless otherwise stipulated.

Academic suspension occurs when a student’s cumulative GPA remains below 2.5 beyond the period of academic probation or when a second grade of F is earned. In instances where two grades of F are earned in the same term academic suspension will automatically result. In the aforementioned situations, students in the M.Div./M.B.A. joint degree have one of two options:

If the cumulative GPA is above 2.0, students may apply to transfer to the M.Div. degree and continue in that program. In this case, students could not submit a later request to return to the M.Div./M.B.A. joint degree.
If the cumulative GPA is below 2.0 or students with a cumulative GPA above 2.0 wish to remain in the joint degree, the student will be required to sit out one 16-week term.

No coursework which satisfies degree requirements may be more than ten years old at the time of graduation. Student must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 and no more than six (6) credit hours with the letter grade of C earned at Wayland in the M.B.A. courses will be accepted as credit.

Advanced Standing

Applicants to the M.Div./M.B.A. joint degree who have a bachelor’s degree in Christian or religious studies may be granted advanced standing for one or more courses from the M.Div. portion of the joint degree. Advanced standing is defined as a waiver to take advanced coursework in lieu of introductory coursework. For example a student with upper-level baccalaureate work in Old Testament may be allowed to take an Old Testament elective in lieu of Old Testament Foundations. Advanced coursework would be in the same field as the introductory course. Any request for transcript evaluation for advanced standing must be made in writing to the dean of the school.

M.Div./M.B.A. Joint Degree Requirements

Master of Divinity Courses - 57 hrs

Spiritual Formation - 10 hrs

MNST 5301 - Spiritual Formation 3 hrs or THST 5301 - Christian Spirituality 3 hrs
MNST 5323 - Christian Worship 3 hrs
Combination of four courses:
MNST 5160 - The Practice of Spiritual Disciplines 1 hrs (may be repeated as topic varies)
THST 5160 - Readings in Christian Spirituality 1 hrs (may be repeated as topic varies)

Biblical Foundations - 15 hrs

African American Church Leadership Specialization

Wayland Baptist University affirms the significance of the institution known as the African American church and has committed itself to the preparation of church leaders with the knowledge and skills for effective ministry in and with the African American church. Wayland’s African American Church Leadership program seeks to broaden the student’s understanding of African American religious experiences as well as prepare for leadership in the African American church by exploring courses in pastoral care, pastoral leadership, urban ministry and an historical/theological understanding of the Black Church.

Graduates of the M.A. Christian Ministry in African American Church Leadership gain skills necessary to 1) engage cultural exegesis; 2) provide pastoral care in the African American Church context; 3) provide pastoral leadership in the African American Church context; 4) bridge the historical and contemporary Black Church; 5) conduct research in and develop ministerial strategies for African American church leadership.

Students seeking a specialization in African American Church Leadership will complete the following courses:

Hispanic Church Leadership Specialization

Wayland Baptist University affirms the significance of the institution known as the Hispanic-Latinx church and has committed itself to the preparation of church leaders with the knowledge and skills for effective ministry in and with the Hispanic church. Wayland’s Hispanic Church Leadership program seeks to broaden the student’s understanding of Hispanic-Latinx religious experiences as well as prepare for leadership in the Hispanic-Latinx Church by exploring courses in pastoral care, pastoral leadership, urban ministry and an historical/theological understanding of the Hispanic-Latinx Church.

Graduates of the M.A. Christian Ministry in Hispanic Church Leadership gain skills necessary to 1) engage cultural exegesis; 2) provide pastoral care in the Hispanic-Latinx Church context; 3) provide pastoral leadership in the Hispanic-Latinx Church context; 4) bridge the historical and contemporary Hispanic-Latinx Church; 5) conduct research in and develop ministerial strategies for Hispanic-Latinx church leadership.

Students seeking a specialization in Hispanic Church Leadership will complete the following courses:

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