Joint Degrees

Master of Divinity/Master of Social Work 

To encourage and equip women and men to engage in social work both in and out of the church and to provide opportunities in social work for students who feel a call to practice within a church setting, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Social Work have developed a program offering the Master of Divinity/Master of Social Work Joint Degree.

The joint degree enables students receive both the M.Div. and the MSW in four years of post-baccalaureate study instead of the usual five. Nevertheless, the joint program provides a full course of study in both theology and social work. This is effected by equating certain courses now taught in both schools by making provision for courses taken in one school to count as electives in the other and by developing specialized field placements. The curriculum of the Graduate School of Social Work encompasses studies indirect clinical practice, community organization or social administration.

Candidates for the joint degree who enter the program will concentrate on theological studies during the first two years. Application should be made to the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Social Work during the first term of the second year at the Seminary. The third and fourth years will be spent predominantly at the School of Social Work. Should a student elect to terminate the joint degree program before its completion and seek only one degree, he or she will be required to complete all of the work ordinarily required for that degree.

Brochure

Inquiries regarding the Graduate School of Social Work and requests for Social Work catalogs should be addressed to:
University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work
Admissions Office
2104 Cathedral of Learning
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
412-624-6302
mswinfo@pitt.edu
Website
 

Master of Divinity/Master of Science in Public Policy and Management

The Heinz School of Public Policy Management at Carnegie Mellon University and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary offer a joint degree program leading to the two degrees of Master of Divinity (M.Div.) and Master of Science in Public Policy and Management (MSPPM). The joint degree program seeks to prepare persons as experts in urban policy and management as well as theology in order to establish a group of specialists ready to serve the church as practitioners and consultants through a combination of competencies.

Through the recognition by each institution of work performed in the other institution for advanced standing, the program can be completed in four years. Normal completion of each degree program independently would require five years. Admission is determined separately by each institution.

Brochure

Inquiries concerning the MSPPM portion of the program should be directed to:

Carnegie Mellon University
Heinz School of Public Policy and Management
4800 Forbes Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
412-268-2164
hnzadmit@andrew.cmu.edu
Website
 

Master of Divinity/Juris Doctor

In 1983, the School of Law at Duquesne University and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary established a joint degree program leading to the Master of Divinity and Juris Doctor (J.D.) degrees. Graduates of the program are expected to work in a wide array of professional tasks, such as law firms specializing in serving religious institutions as clients, church boards and agencies, and parish ministries of various kinds.

Due to the nature of the professional requirements of the practice of law and ministry, neither the School of Law nor the Seminary can surrender any of their required courses. However, while separate completion of both degrees would normally take six years, the joint program allows for the completion of both degrees in five years by permitting work done in one institution to count for credit in the other institution. Each school may award elective credits for courses taken at the the other institution.  Admission is determined separately by each institution.

Brochure

Inquiries about the School of Law at Duquesne University should be sent to:
Duquesne University School of Law
600 Forbes Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15282
412-396-6300
lawadmin@duq.edu
Website
 

Contact the Seminary

To learn more about the Seminary's joint degree programs, please contact

admissions@pts.edu
412-924-1380
1-800-451-4194
616 North Highland Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15206

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