The Antiochian House of Studies (AHOS) has been offering programs of theological study in a distance-learning format for over 35 years. The Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree is designed to equip students with comprehensive theological knowledge and train them for various ministries in the Church. It is also intended to prepare qualified Orthodox students and seminarians to be ordained to the priesthood and/or pursue postgraduate degrees. In this professional degree, the Master of Divinity students become well-versed in Orthodox history, Biblical and Patristic writings, and in practical methods that can be applied in priestly practices. The essential value of this degree lies in nurturing students’ spiritual, personal, and vocational formation under the guidance of their professors and spiritual Fathers.
The information below applies to students beginning the MDiv program in fall 2025 or later, or returning to the MDiv program after a Leave of Absence. All others should refer to the Degree Audit feature in their Populi account and contact the Registrar with any questions.
MDiv Courses and Credits (as of fall 2025)
For those who are not under the Antiochian Orthodox jurisdiction, the Master of Divinity (MDiv) program requires completion of 117 total credits. Antiochian students are required to complete an additional two courses (6 credits) in Arabic language, for a total of 123 credits. Western Rite MDiv students are not required to take Arabic, but they also take two additional courses (6 credits), for a total of 123 credits to graduate. The MDiv program takes at least three years to complete; many students will find that a fourth year is necessary to complete course requirements and their thesis. Presented below are both a 3-year and 4-year course sequence. Accepted students may select which program best suits their needs.
Residency Requirement
All Master of Divinity (MDiv) students are required to attend a total of seven (7) weeks of in-person Residency, held at the Antiochian Village Conference Center in western Pennsylvania. There is a two-week in-person MDiv Residency at the START of the first academic year, and another two weeks of Residency at the start of the second and third years of study, with a final week of Residency at the conclusion of the program (7 weeks total). Students are responsible for the cost of attending Residency – including their lodging & meal package, and transportation to and from the Antiochian Village. Residency costs are separate from the Tuition & Fees due to the Antiochian House of Studies.
Practicum Requirement
The MDiv Practicum is the portion of the program where academic principles and theories are put into action within the parish life setting. MDiv students will enroll in one Practicum course each semester (1.5 credits), for a total of six Practicum courses (9 credits total).
Regarding Ordination
While the MDiv program of the Antiochian House of Studies provides preparation for students on a path to ordination, any determination regarding a student’s ordination into Holy Orders lies at the sole discretion of the student’s ruling hierarch. Prospective MDiv applicants who are members of the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese are recommended to read this October 7, 2022 news article regarding the Antiochian Archdiocese policy on applications for ordination, and applications to any MDiv program.
The MDiv program welcomes all applicants, male and female, not necessarily those who are pursuing a path to ordination.
2025 MDiv Courses & Requirements*
The courses and general requirements of the Master of Divinity program differ slightly depending on whether a student is under the Antiochian Orthodox jurisdiction, and when they began their studies in the MDiv program.
Active students who began the MDiv in 2024 or earlier should refer to the Degree Audit feature in their Populi account for any remaining requirements, and contact the Registrar with questions.
Students beginning the MDiv in fall 2025 or later, or who are returning to the MDiv after a Leave of Absence, please select one of the following links to view current (as of fall 2025) MDiv degree requirements:
MDiv Course Sequences
*AHOS reserves the right to make changes to program and degree requirements, and to update the information provided on its website, at any time.
Master of Divinity (MDiv) Practicum
Under the supervision of His Eminence Metropolitan SABA and his auxiliary bishops and AHOS professors, the MDiv Practicum prepares MDiv candidates to provide pastoral care to their congregations in full accord with the Orthodox Christian Theological Tradition.
Practicum Objectives
The objectives of the Practicum are organized around the following three interrelated areas:
- Development of Spiritual Therapeutic Skills
- Contextualization of Pastoral Work within the Antiochian Orthodox Worldview
- Formation of a Personal Priestly and Pastoral Identity
Development Of Spiritual Therapeutic Skills
In this area students will strive to acquire skills specific to providing therapeutic care in response to various pastoral needs and to acquiring the methodological framework that will equip them to continue their pastoral maturation. This purpose implies the following goals:
- To demonstrate the ability to establish a pastoral bond with individuals, couples, groups, and families experiencing spiritual problems,
- To demonstrate basic ministry skills, including listening, empathy, reflection, analysis of problems, conflict resolution, theological reflection, and the demonstration of a critical eye for the examination and evaluation of spiritual illnesses,
- To demonstrate the ability to make pastoral diagnoses in the light of nosology and the central role of the ascetic path in effecting spiritual healing,
- To demonstrate the ability to engage in a helping relationship with persons of different social, cultural, and religious backgrounds,
- To demonstrate the ability to understand and deal with children, preteens, teens, young adults, adults, and the elderly,
- To demonstrate the ability to communicate with individuals, especially among the sick and the suffering, of differing levels of faith commitment, including nominal and lapsed Christians,
- To demonstrate familiarity with the literature and insights of the Orthodox field of pastoral ministry, especially in the area of marriage and family life, in cooperation with the Orthodox Family Center (OFC).
Contextualization Of Pastoral Work Within the Antiochian Orthodox Worldview
In this area students will strive to articulate the Antiochian Orthodox worldview.
Evaluation
At the end of each semester the evaluation will be made by students, spiritual fathers, and preceptors. The director of the MDiv Pastoral Care Practicum shall give to the Academic Dean an annual strategic evaluation report.
Residency
All MDiv students are required to attend seven weeks of intensive MDiv Residency over the course of their studies: two weeks at the start of each of the first three academic years, and a final week of Residency at the end of the last academic year. These take place in late August/early September, and are held at the Antiochian Village Conference & Retreat Center in western Pennsylvania. Residency costs are outlined here, and more Residency details are provided here.
Master’s Thesis
Students who successfully complete the required coursework of the Master of Divinity curriculum may enter the thesis phase, which includes:
- Presentation of a Thesis Proposal (abstract)
- Thesis research and preparation
- Thesis approval process and deadlines
- Completion and defense of the Master’s Thesis.
Please note that the programs of the House of Studies do not guarantee ordination. All policy regarding ordination resides with the student’s respective hierarchy.
