Nazarene Theological Seminary announced it will begin offering courses for its Master of Divinity degree on the campus of Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, California, this summer.

PLNU is the fifth Nazarene college or university in the U.S. to become a part of the seminary's Multi-Campus Seminary program.* Current campuses are Southern Nazarene University (Bethany, Oklahoma), Mount Vernon Nazarene University (Mount Vernon, Ohio), Trevecca Nazarene University (Nashville, Tennessee), and Eastern Nazarene College (Quincy, Massachusetts). 

"NTS is providing a great gift and opportunity to ministers in the southwest," said Ron Benefiel, dean of PLNU's School of Theology and Christian Ministry and former NTS president. "By offering NTS courses on the PLNU campus (coupled with online and video conferencing options), NTS is making it possible for students to take all the coursework necessary to complete a solid NTS MDiv right here in San Diego! If students preparing for pastoral ministry are looking for a program that combines academic excellence with accessibility and affordability, this is the program they should consider."

As a part of the MCS program, NTS residential faculty and professors on host campuses teach one-week intensive module courses that are a part of the curriculum for the NTS Master of Divinity degree. These module courses, combined with the seminary's online and video conference course offerings, make it possible for pastors to earn the MDiv without relocating from their current ministry context — and to do so in as few as three or four years. 

"Our Multi-Campus Seminary program is incredibly important," said Carla Sunberg, NTS president. "Not only does it make graduate theological education more accessible to ministers throughout the United States, but it also provides a significant way for many of our Nazarene schools to partner and more effectively serve the Church. It is exciting to be a part of such a gifted team of educators who are committed to preparing leaders for the future of our church."

To learn more about NTS and the Multi-Campus Seminary or to see a list of course offerings at all locations, visit nts.edu/multi-campus-seminary or contact the NTS Recruitment Office at 800-831-3011, ext. 5456 or at recruitment@nts.edu.

*The seminary's accrediting agency has granted NTS approval to offer the complete MDiv degree at four of its multi-campus sites (residential approval pending for location in San Diego, California).
--Nazarene Theological Seminary