OBU to Launch Master of Divinity Degree in Summer 2025

February 19, 2025

OBU will offer a Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree beginning in the summer of 2025, providing students and ministers in Oklahoma and the surrounding region with new opportunities for ministry education.

The program will be available in several formats, including a five-year Bachelor of Arts in Theology and Ministry / Master of Divinity track, a traditional in-person MDiv, and a fully online option.

The MDiv program aims to serve both current students and active ministers who wish to pursue advanced theological training close to home or while continuing their ministry work in churches and communities.

“I could not be more excited to announce the forthcoming launch of our Master of Divinity,” said Dr. Brandon Smith, chair of the Hobbs School of Theology and Ministry and Graduate Director of Theology and Ministry Programs. “Students and churches in Oklahoma and the surrounding region have been requesting an MDiv from OBU for years and we are happy to serve them in this way.”

Smith said the five-year program will also help OBU provide current and prospective students with a rigorous, well-rounded, highly affordable, and streamlined path toward earning two essential degrees for ministry training and preparation.

A key feature of the OBU MDiv is its blend of subject expertise and practical experience. Faculty experts will partner with seasoned ministry practitioners to ensure students receive a well-rounded education that bridges academic preparation with real-world application.

"OBU is proud to provide a Master of Divinity to our Oklahoma churches, pastors and future ministers,” OBU President Dr. Heath A. Thomas said. “Based on requests from students and ministers, the time is right for OBU to offer our churches an MDiv that is biblically rooted, practically relevant and theologically orthodox. We will prepare real ministers for the real world of ministry, prioritizing local church engagement and gospel advancement. I could not be more excited."

By offering flexible formats and strategic partnerships, OBU’s new Master of Divinity degree seeks to equip a new generation of ministers and church leaders to serve their communities and beyond effectively.

Learn more about the Master of Divinity program.