Timeline for completing an MDiv.. 3, 4 or 5 years?

[Polanus1561]

I have heard people doing their MDiv in 3 years and wishing they spent an extra year to be able to absorb things better.

I am also confused : some seminaries say their 100+ credit MDivs are to be finished in 3 years (Westminster, RTS, MARS) and some say it is to be finished in 4 years (GPTS, PRTS). Is it because GPTS and PRTS they prefer their curriculum be spread over 4 instead of 3 (for learning benefit)?

What do the faculty here (Dr Strange, Dr Duguid) and current/past students say regarding this?
Assuming that the student is in no rush and not financially burdened to finish the Mdiv in 3 years, should the student take 4 years? So many factors involved I am sure, but kindly chime in.

Some reference: https://www.puritanboard.com/threads/timeframe-of-completing-mdiv.91015/

If any PRTS students can chime in regarding length of an MDiv, it be helpful (for my consideration).

 

[Taylor]

I did not graduate from any of those institutions you mentioned, but I have a thought or two.

I completed my M.Div. in four years. I worked part-time, was very involved in my local church, and was married from the very beginning. My degree added up to 104 credit hours (not including a few zero-credit-hour classes such as internships, etc.), and it still felt like quite a loaded four years, even though I did not have a very loaded life otherwise (again, I only worked part-time).

I did have one friend who completed the M.Div. in two years. I have no idea how he did it (he was not married and, as far as I know, did not work), or whether he feels he missed a lot due to the short length of study.

I personally felt like four years was good for me. I had enough coursework to be challenged intellectually, spiritually, and in terms of effort, but not so much that I felt I had to choose which courses I had to nearly fail in order to survive (which some of my three-year friends had to do).

In the end, it all depends on how you feel once you "dive in."

 

[iainduguid]

I have heard people doing their MDiv in 3 years and wishing they spent an extra year to be able to absorb things better.

I am also confused : some seminaries say their 100+ credit MDivs are to be finished in 3 years (Westminster, RTS, MARS) and some say it is to be finished in 4 years (GPTS, PRTS). Is it because GPTS and PRTS they prefer their curriculum be spread over 4 instead of 3 (for learning benefit)?

What do the faculty here (Dr Strange, Dr Duguid) and current/past students say regarding this?
Assuming that the student is in no rush and not financially burdened to finish the Mdiv in 3 years, should the student take 4 years? So many factors involved I am sure, but kindly chime in.

Some reference: https://www.puritanboard.com/threads/timeframe-of-completing-mdiv.91015/

If any PRTS students can chime in regarding length of an MDiv, it be helpful (for my consideration).

I began intending to complete in three years and switched to four years in the middle of my first year. For a single man, with no family ties and few work or ministry responsibilities it could be completed in three (especially if you come in with Greek and Hebrew, a strong grounding in reformed theology, etc), but for most people four is a more manageable pace. I came in with an undergrad in Electrical Engineering, so the learning curve was steep. I knew all the Greek letters, at least, but I was more used to seeing them in equations than sentences.
Four years also gives you a little flexibility in case faculty are on sabbatical or have health issues and you don't want to take the course with a fill in. More importantly, it gives you time to have a life, friendships and ministry involvement.

 

[bookslover]

I began intending to complete in three years and switched to four years in the middle of my first year. For a single man, with no family ties and few work or ministry responsibilities it could be completed in three (especially if you come in with Greek and Hebrew, a strong grounding in reformed theology, etc), but for most people four is a more manageable pace. I came in with an undergrad in Electrical Engineering, so the learning curve was steep. I knew all the Greek letters, at least, but I was more used to seeing them in equations than sentences.
Four years also gives you a little flexibility in case faculty are on sabbatical or have health issues and you don't want to take the course with a fill in. More importantly, it gives you time to have a life, friendships and ministry involvement.

Were you shocked (see what I did there?) to discover that Paul has nothing to say about electrical engineering? (He may have been absent the day Gamaliel discussed it.) Heh.

 

[greenbaggins]

Although it has been hinted at by others already, I think the main determining factor as to three versus four is your total life circumstances. If you are young, single, and independently wealthy, go for three years. It's a lot of reading, but you should have time to do it, since you will have your evenings free. If you need to work, I would already think about slowing down to four. If you have a family and have to work, and want some good ministry in a local church, then five starts sounding more attractive. As for me, I was single my first year of seminary, and had the money to do the whole first year without much work. So, I took as many classes as I could, so that the following years would be easier. I would up doing it in four, but with family and work, that was difficult, and I know I could have gotten more out of it if I had slowed down to five. The problem would then have been financial, though.