Program Begins Fall 2025!
Yellowstone Theological Institute is excited to announce the launch of our Master of Divinity in the 2025–2026 academic year! The MDiv has long been considered the standard preparation for formal ministry in the church. Vocational ministry takes place in an intensely communal context and requires deep knowledge of Scripture, theology, and culture, as well as a wide range of skills in communication, organizational leadership, counseling, and discipleship. It further requires the personal growth and spiritual formation of the minister. YTI’s Master of Divinity is designed to meet these demands of vocational ministry, equipping men and women for the work of ministry and edification of the body of Christ. View the MDiv curriculum here.
Because Ministry is an Adventure.
Vocational ministry is an adventure every day — especially in today’s post-everything world. YTI’s fresh new Master of Divinity is designed to equip graduates to serve effectively in the “wilderness” of contemporary culture.
What Will I Study?
The curriculum begins with our sequence of 7 Foundations courses (21 credit hours), which provide a solid introduction to all major areas of study. The Foundations courses are followed by 94 credit hours of upper-level courses in biblical studies, languages, theology, spirituality, communication, ministry, leadership, cultural studies, worship, and adventure. In addition to the classroom study, students are also required to complete a mentored ministry internship at a local church for the duration of at least three terms, or an equivalent (5 credit hours). The curriculum wraps up with a capstone seminar.
Course Length
The YTI MDiv course length is equivalent to 80 semester hours! YTI’s quarter system plots the MDiv at 121 credits, or 80 semester hours. Few MDiv programs can claim to be as thorough and as economical as YTI’s MDiv!
Course Format
Courses meet weekly for the designated number of credit hours (3 in most cases). Most courses are taught in person at the YTI campus in Bozeman, and most may also be attended remotely via live video conference (see course descriptions and term schedules for exceptions).
In addition, because vocational ministry takes place within an intensely communal context, and because learning is best achieved in dialogue, MDiv students are required to participate in a one-hour discussion lab, a “colloquium,” for every 3-credit course they take (except for Foundations courses). These colloquia will meet once per week for one hour each meeting for the duration of the term at a time set up by the instructor of the course. The colloquia will consist of “free discussions” of the material of the course and are intended to give the students further time to process the readings and lectures of the course with each other and their professors. Colloquium hours count toward the total number of credits (e.g., a 3-hour course with a 1-hour colloquium counts for 4 hours). NOTE: MA students may not enroll in the colloquia for credit, but are welcome to attend and participate in the discussions.
Because Ministry is
an Art.
Today’s world is changing faster than ever, and the people of God need to find fresh, creative ways to share the unchanging hope of the gospel. YTI’s new Master of Divinity is designed to equip men and women who see and serve the world with the eyes and hands of a skilled artist.
Start Your Ministry Journey without a Mountain of Debt.
Follow your God-given calling — without a crushing burden of debt! YTI strives to keep our tuition as low as possible — significantly lower than many seminaries, thanks to the generosity of donors. Plus, all incoming students are considered for scholarships!
With Whom Will I Study?
The professors and lecturers at YTI have a combined total of over 100 years of ministry experience. Their academic qualifications, teaching abilities, and publications are of the highest quality.
Start Your Adventure Today!
Start your journey of being equipped for the adventure of ministry in 21st century in the Yellowstone Theological Institute Master of Divinity program. Begin your application today!
YTI’s Hometown — Bozeman, Montana
Bozeman offers residents and students a vibrant mix of urban amenities and abundant outdoor recreation. Located in the heart of the Northern Rockies an easy drive north of Yellowstone National Park, Bozeman is one of the fastest growing communities in the nation. With its vibrant heartbeat, charming and walkable downtown, and a rich tapestry of love for nature and connection to spirituality, it’s no surprise that Bozeman is where we’ve chosen to put down roots.
Other Academic Programs at YTI
Looking for a different program? YTI has a variety of academic offerings to meet your interests, vocational needs, and spiritual journey.
Master of Arts
The Master of Arts is a 55-hour program that provides a solid foundation in the Christian scriptures, theology, and ministry skills, along with the opportunity for specialized study in the student’s chosen field. Concentrations are available in Biblical Studies, Christian Ministries, Christian Studies, Christian Theology, Visionary Leadership, Adventure Studies, and Arts & Theology.
Diploma of Christian Theology
The YTI Diploma provides a broad overview of biblical and theological studies and skills for ministry. Built on the same Foundations courses as our master’s degrees (with appropriately-adjusted requirements), the 30 hour curriculum also allows students to select three elective courses aligned with their interests and goals.
MDiv Curriculum
Course Length: 121 Hours (= 80 Semester Hours)
NOTE: 121 hours on the term system used by YTI is equivalent to 80 credit hours on the semester system used by many seminaries.
Foundations Sequence (21 hours total)
Each relevant Foundations course is the prerequisite for 6000 or 7000 level courses in that subject area.
- BIB 5301Biblical Foundations
The Bible is holy scripture for the Christian and the theological guide for the church. Biblical Foundations is designed to give the student a fundamental understanding of the background, context, and overview of the biblical narrative, as well as basic interpretive skills in order to prepare the student for further study in particular areas of biblical and theological study. BIB 5301 and 5302 are prerequisites to all 6000 -7000 level Biblical studies courses. (3 credit hours)
- BIB 5302Hermeneutics Foundations
As human beings, we automatically interpret many things every moment of every day: gestures, news stories, speeches, actions, novels, music, weather, etc. in order to discover meaning. Hermeneutics is the study of interpretation. BIB 5302 answers the question, “how do we interpret properly?” This course is designed to give students the fundamental principles and processes of interpretation, and how they apply to interpreting the Bible, theology, philosophy, history and contemporary culture. BIB 5301 and 5302 are prerequisites to all 6000 -7000 level Biblical studies courses. (3 credit hours)
- THEO 5301Theological Foundations
Theological Foundations is designed to give the student a fundamental understanding of the principles, nature, and purpose of Christian theology, and to prepare the student for further study in particular areas of theology. (3 credit hours)
- SPR 5301Spiritual Foundations
SPR 5301 is an introduction to spiritual formation and discipleship. It is meant to give the student a basis to begin to reflect on their own spiritual journey and formation as well as consider what practices and actions might further their journey toward being formed into the image of Christ. (3 credit hours)
- CUL 5301Foundations for Culture and Mission
This foundations course examines the nature of the church and its interaction with the world. The vocation of the church will be discussed, especially the mission of the church (missio ecclesia) in light of the mission of God (missio Dei), and the concepts of worldview and cultural hermeneutics will be introduced as means to help understand the culture in which we are immersed as well as the specific individuals around us. Throughout the course, the emphasis will be on how the church as the people of God can effectively engage and bring the life of Christ to bear on its community. (3 credit hours)
- COM 5301Communication and Pastoral Foundations
This course is designed to give students a fundamental understanding of the theological and biblical foundations of homiletics and pastoral ministry and prepare them for further study in practical theology. This course cross-lists as MIN 5301. (3 credit hours)
- LED 5301Leadership Foundations
LED 5301 explores a shared form of leadership, one that combines the servant leadership paradigm modeled in the New Testament with a contemporary approach that considers the various ways in which leaders communicate appropriately with their teams. (3 credit hours)
Upper-Level Courses (94 hours total)
After fulfilling Foundations requirements, MDiv students complete 21 6000- or 7000-level courses along with colloquia (see above for details on the colloquia).
Languages
- LAN 6301Elementary Greek I
LAN 6301 introduces the student to the nature of koine Greek, the Greek of the first century B.C. The course focuses on vocabulary, verb forms, and basic translation. (3 credit hours)
- LAN 6302Elementary Greek II
LAN 6302 continues the student’s educational journey in koine Greek. The course focuses on vocabulary, noun forms, grammatical construction and basic translation. LAN 6301 is a prerequisite for this course. (3 credit hours)
6 hours
Biblical Studies
18 hours + 6 hours colloquia
- BIB 6301Pentateuch
The Pentateuch, consisting of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, is foundational for the rest of the Hebrew scriptures and for the Christian New Testament scriptures. In this course, students will engage these first five books of the Old Testament in deep and intensive reading, learning the basics of biblical, theological, and cultural interpretation. (3 credit hours)
- BIB 6307The Gospels
The New Testament continues and consummates the drama begun in the Old Testament. In particular, it focuses on Jesus of Nazareth as the solution to the cosmic problem originating in Genesis 3. This course focuses on the person, work, and teaching of Jesus provided for us in the four Gospels. (3 credit hours)
2 Old Testament BIB electives
- BIB 6302Old Testament Historical Books
BIB 6302 is a historical, literary, and theological study of the Old Testament historical books, with particular attention given to 1 & 2 Samuel through Nehemiah. The course is intended to facilitate a deep dive into the historical and theological significance of the rise of the kingdom of Israel through its split, into its exile, and to its post-exilic return. (3 credit hours)
- BIB 6303Wisdom Literature
The wisdom literature of the Old Testament provides insight into how the ancient Israelites understood how they were to live unto God in their own time and place, which in turn provides a wealth of resources for contemporary students to think through how we are to live unto God in our time and place. BIB 6303 is designed to lead the student into this treasure house of the past by deep readings of these texts. (3 credit hours)
- BIB 6304The Prophets
The prophets were sent by God as covenant prosecutors, exposing to the Israelites where they had failed to keep the terms of the covenant they had made with their God. They were also sent by God as ambassadors of the saving grace of God, announcing the Messiah who was to come. The prophetic writings of the Old Testament form an integral part of the overarching story of the Israelites and of the economy of God’s salvation in Christ. BIB 6304 is a designed to provide the student with a deep understanding of these Old Testament prophetic writings and their implications for our understanding of the Messiah of God. (3 credit hours)
2 New Testament BIB electives
- BIB 6308The Acts of the Apostles
After his resurrection, Jesus of Nazareth instituted his church to continue his mission of reconciling fallen humanity to God. BIB 6308 focuses on the instituting of the church by the power of the Holy Spirit as recorded in the book of the Acts of the Apostles and their subsequent carrying out of that mission. (3 credit hours)
- BIB 6309Pauline Epistles
The majority of the New Testament was written by the early Christian convert, Saul of Tarsus, who became Paul. The Pauline Epistles not only make up the majority of the New Testament in terms of word count, they also represent some of the most profound and significant theological reflection on the mystery of Christ, God with us, in those first few decades of the Christian church. BIB 6309 takes a deep dive into these writings from Paul. (3 credit hours)
- BIB 6310General Epistles
The General Epistles of the New Testament comprise Christian teaching on God, Christ, the Spirit, Salvation, and the Consummation, as well as practical teaching on church, leadership, Christian living, and more. In BIB 6310, students will engage these important biblical texts, covering their context and content in depth. (3 credit hours)
- BIB 6311The Book of Revelation
The book of Revelation is known for its seemingly obtuse and even fantastical use of imagery and symbols. It has proven to be one of the more difficult of the New Testament books to understand. Yet its title in the Greek, the Apocalypse, indicates an unveiling, specifically, the unveiling of Jesus Christ. In BIB 6311 explore this fascinating book, paying close attention to context, genre, and biblical allusions in order to come to a deeper understanding of the apocalypse of Jesus Christ. (3 credit hours)
- BIB 6300Independent Studies
BIB 6300 provides students with the opportunity to work with a faculty member on a particular topic of biblical studies or biblical theology that is either not covered or not covered in-depth in the other BIB courses. To register for this course, students must fill out the online form, and receive approval from their advisor and from the academic provost. (3 credit hours)
- BIB 7301Advanced Biblical Studies
This course explores advanced topics in biblical studies. The course content changes regularly and is dependent upon the instructor teaching it. (3 credit hours)
Theological Studies
6 hours + 2 hours colloquia
- THEO 6304Contemporary Christian Doctrine
Since its inception, the Church has articulated what it believes in the form of specific confessions or teachings, called “doctrine.” Unlike “dogma,” doctrine is formed in the matrix of scripture, tradition, and culture, with the goal especially of explaining Christian dogma. THEO 6304 discusses the art of theological reflection, pursues the question of the role of doctrine in the church today, and applies these to questions of contemporary Protestant and evangelical theological debate. (3 credit hours)
- THEO 6311Ethics: The Christian Life
THEO 6311 asks the classical question of ethics: What makes for a flourishing human life? This course pursues an answer to this question by engaging primary texts, biblical and theological, from the Christian tradition written in answer to it. Application is made for clergy and lay people. (3 credit hours)
Spirituality
3 hours + 1 hour colloquium
- SPR 6302Transformation
SPR 6302 develops a theology and praxis of the initiation and process of ongoing Christian transformation of individuals and communities by the gospel. The class examines historical models and modern paradigms for personal as well as community growth. (3 credit hours)
Communication Studies
6 hours + 2 hours colloquia
- COM 6301Preaching and Teaching: From Text to Hearer
This course studies preaching from sermon construction to the delivery of the message, with special attention given to preaching context, verbal delivery, and the variety of preaching styles. (3 credit hours)
- COM 6302Advanced Preaching and Teaching
This course will explore advanced preaching styles, including narrative, exegetical, topical, and conversational. Students will learn how to construct sermons that are faithful to the biblical text and relevant to their audience. The course will also emphasize the importance of context and hearers in the preaching process. COM 6301 is a prerequisite for this course. (3 credit hours)
Ministry Studies
9 hours + 3 hours colloquia
- MIN 5302Christian Vocation
MIN 5302 introduces the student to concepts of “ministry calling”, “ministry discernment,” and the nature of vocational ministry. Additionally, the student will discuss the “character of the minister” and the theo-ethical concerns that affect the minister and ministry. (3 credit hours)
- MIN 6302Pastoral Care and Counseling
Introduction to Christian counseling is one aspect of pastoral ministry, including self-evaluation, exploration of human spiritual/emotional frailty, the practice of basic techniques, and understanding movement toward both personal and familial wholeness. (3 credit hours)
- MIN 6303Basic Church Care
MIN 6303 is an introductory course to pastoral ministry through studying its biblical-theological foundations and practical responsibilities. Students will learn how to shepherd and provide effective leadership in a local church or parachurch context. (3 credit hours)
Leadership Studies
6 hours + 2 hours colloquia
- LED 6301Visionary Leadership
LED 6301 explores what it means to be a Christian leader in a postmodern, post-denominational culture. The class explores the latest in contemporary leadership theory with a focus on creative or “visionary” leadership. The class applies these leadership principles in conversation with biblical and theological resources in order to explore the student’s vocation as well as enhance the mission of the contemporary ekklesia. (3 credit hours)
- LED 6302Leading Through Conflict
LED 6302 describes and gives the psychological, ideological, and physical roots of the conflicts and ethical issues a local church leader will encounter. The course uses case studies to help the leader understand and practice how to resolve these conflicts and issues. (3 credit hours)
Cultural Studies
3 hours + 1 hour colloquium
- CUL 6301Commending the Christian Faith
In post-Christian 21st-century Western culture, Jesus and His claims are often dismissed as irrelevant, unethical, and even dangerous. Christianity is perceived by many as condoning historical injustices (e.g., slavery, patriarchy) and as contrary to contemporary mindsets (e.g., individualism, scientism, consumerism, nationalism). This course discusses how Christ-followers can better understand their neighbors and their concerns, while considering caring, biblically-informed responses to those concerns and exploring how to creatively demonstrate through actions and words the goodness, beauty, and truth of Christ. (3 credit hours)
Worship Studies
3 hours + 1 hour colloquium
- WOR 5301Introduction to Worship Ministry
The ancient Latin phrase Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi (the rule of prayer is the rule of belief) implies that how we pray (or worship) the Triune God determines what we believe to be true about him and about ourselves. History has shown that the ways in which the people of God have worshipped have not only reflected faith but also formed (and, at times, malformed) their faith. Therefore, the crafting of corporate worship is a weighty task. Introduction to Worship Ministry provides the foundation for thoughtfully and prayerfully planning and leading Christ’s church into dialogue with her redeemer. (3 credit hours)
Adventure Studies
3 hours + 1 hour colloquium
- ADV 5301Introduction to Adventure Studies
ADV 5301 introduces the student to the fundamental nature of “adventure” ministry or “outdoor” ministry. It defines “adventure,” then touches on the biblical backgrounds for adventure ministry. It investigates the human understanding of adventure and why humans actually need adventure. Finally, the course discusses the physical issues of adventure and how adventure can negatively or positively influence mind and body. (3 credit hours)
Electives
9 hours + 3 hours colloquia
Select 3 electives from any discipline
Capstone Seminar & Ministry Internship
(6 hours total)
Capstone
1 hour
- CSC 5101Research Methods and Prospectus
The art and process of conducting research for a post-graduate degree is an important aspect of the degree program. CSC 5101 is a 1 credit course in which the student will learn the basics of formulating a research program, thesis statement, organization and structuring of the research findings (in the thesis or project report), and how to use databases in research. For guidelines and schedules for the prospectus and thesis, please consult “the Manual for Research Theses and Ministry Project Reports,” which students can attain through their advisor. Required for all MA students. (1 credit hour)
Mentored Ministry Internship
5 hours (150 hours of ministry)
- CSC 7501Mentored Ministry Internship
Equipping MDiv students for vocational ministry requires not only deep knowledge of Scripture, theology, and culture, but also a wide range of skills in communication, organizational leadership, counseling, and discipleship, as well as personal growth and spiritual formation of the student. For this reason, CSC 7501 is designed to assist students in the cultivation of these skills and the development of their spiritual formation in the context of local church ministry under the guidance of a mentor. Students will work with their advisors to set up an internship with a local church, where they will complete 150 hours of ministry. Along with completing the ministry duties assigned to them by their mentor, students and mentors will complete monthly reports to measure the student’s progress. The course concludes with a compilation of the monthly reports and a 3000 word reflection on ministry essay. CSC 7501 is required only for MDiv students. (3 credit hours)
NOTE: Curriculum is subject to revision.
“The most important thing in your life is not what you do; it’s who you become. That’s what you will take into eternity.”
-Dallas Willard
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