by Dr. Bill Oliverio, Seminary Scholar Advisor
What is the difference between The Master of Divinity (MDiv) and the Master of Arts in Theological Studies (MATS)?
Good reasons for going to seminary include a sense that God is calling you, you want to go deeper in your understanding of Scripture and theological understanding that has shaped the life of the Church, and you are ready to take some next steps in your personal growth and leadership abilities. Seminary is also a great place to make new friends with a common vocational calling and to network for ministry work.
That does not yet answer the question which master’s degree is right for me. LPU Seminary offers two theologically-oriented master’s degree programs (for a third option that is leadership-focused, click here for more information on the Master of Arts in Strategic Leadership) as well as the Doctor of Ministry (if you’re ready and interested in to earn a ministry leadership doctorate, contact our LPU Seminary admissions team).
DMin Cohort at the January 2026 Residency Week
The Master of Divinity (commonly abbreviated as the MDiv, as in em-div) is the classic, full seminary degree that prepares new ministers for church and other ministerial leadership in a robust three-year degree program. The MDiv educationally prepares a ministry with breadth and depth for lifelong ministry. Whether doing a MDiv occurs early on or later in life and ministry, it is a degree for people who are built to last.
LPU Seminary offers the MDiv in its standard 72-credit format, with courses in biblical studies, theological and historical studies, spiritual formation, effective communication, pastoral care, and leadership. The three-year program begins with an intensive residency week at LPU’s campus in San Dimas, where students are introduced to the program and build relationships with others in their cohort. Courses are taught online, with one additional weeklong residency during the program. The MDiv provides a thorough graduate-level education that equips students for senior ministry leadership, whether they are serving now or preparing for the future.
The MDiv is often the best degree choice for those in lead pastor, associate and staff pastor, chaplaincy (hospital, military, prison, marketplace), religious non-profit leadership, denominational leadership, Christian teaching and professorships, authors and speakers, and more. More information about LPU Seminary’s MDiv can be found here.
A MATS session during January 2026 Residency Week
The Master of Arts in Theological Studies (commonly abbreviated as the MATS) is similar to the MDiv but shorter and more focused on the biblical studies, theological and historical studies portions of the graduate-level educational formation. In fact, the MATS and MDiv take the same courses in these areas, while the MDiv will go on to include additional courses in ministry leadership, pastoral care, and communication. The MATS also includes a theological capstone course that allows students to work on a culminating project that integrates the knowledge and skills developed in the program.
The MATS is often the best degree program for those who are focused primarily on learning biblical studies and theology to serve the church and to potentially go on in further academic work in these and related areas. The degree is often the best choice for those who, in all kinds of pastoral ministry, want to focus on teaching the Bible and Christian theology, those who have particular interests in academic scholarship in Bible and theology and related areas, Christian school teachers, and anyone who is simply passionate about understanding and articulating Christian faith to the Church and the world.
Like with the MDiv, the program begins with an intensive week on the LPU campus in San Dimas that is a time of bonding and spiritual formation together as the 48-credit two-year program begins. Students also meet the following year for another intensive week reunion to kick of the second year of the program. More information about LPU Seminary’s MATS can be found here.
Don’t know which to choose from? Like the many students who start an undergraduate degree with uncertainty, the good news is that you don’t really have to for a while (though you do have to declare one or the other to start). The programs start out the same, and it won’t be until later on in the second year that you’ll have to make a decision. So, if you sense that this is the right direction for you, our LPU Seminary admissions team is waiting for you to contact them to answer your questions and get you on your way.
