Christian Ministry, MA

Core Requirements: (22 hours)

• BIB 500 - Survey of the Bible 3 Credits.
• Choice of BIB / New Testament elective 3 Credits.
• Choice of BIB / Old Testament elective 3 Credits.
• CHS 501 - Church History I 3 Credits.
• MIN 504 - Spiritual Practices 1 Credits.
• THL 503 - The Vocation of the Seminarian 3 Credits.

•  

• THL 510 - Exploring Theology Across Contexts and Cultures 3 Credits.

• or

• CHS 530 - History and Theology of African American Traditions 3 Credits.

•  

• THL 600 - Introduction to Christian Theology 3 Credits.

Total Credit Hours: 49

* Students may substitute with any approved LED course in the University’s MA in Leadership program.

Degree Outcomes

All graduates of the Master of Christian Ministry (MACM) program will:

• Demonstrate emotional and spiritual maturity and faithful living appropriate to public ministry.
• Demonstrate theologically informed and self-reflective engagement of distinct human cultures and communities.
• Demonstrate competencies necessary to cultivate anti-racist discipleship

Graduates of the MACM Congregational Ministry track will also:

• Analyze Christian scripture and traditions with reference to their original contexts.
• Interpret Christian scripture and traditions in ways that cultivate Christian community and discipleship.
• Demonstrate leadership in areas of pastoral ministry that generate discipleship and positive change in the church and the world.
• Interpret Christian scripture in ways that are life-giving to God’s people.
• Demonstrate pastoral leadership skills for the cultivation of Christian discipleship in others.

Graduates of the Methodist Studies track will also:

• Analyze Methodist traditions with reference to their original contexts.
• Interpret Christian scripture in ways that are life-giving to God’s people and in faithful dialogue with Methodist traditions.

Graduates of the ELCA Deacon track will also:

• Analyze Lutheran traditions with reference to their original contexts.
• Interpret Christian scripture in ways that are life-giving to God’s people and in faithful dialogue with the Lutheran Confessions.

Seminary Degree Program Add-On Options

LTSS students may earn a formal concentration in one of three areas: Biblical Studies, Theology, and Faith Formation. Concentrations consist of nine (9) credit hours in general electives. Courses required by a degree program do not count toward a concentration.

Biblical Studies: Choose 9 hours among BIB electives.

Theology: Choose 9 hours among THL electives. With the approval of the Associate Dean for Academic Programs, a student may apply up to three hours in biblical studies (BIB) or church history (CHS).

Faith Formation: Choose 9 hours among CED electives. With the approval of the Associate Dean for Academic Programs, a student may apply up to six hours in relevant education (EDU) or ministry (MIN) courses.

LTSS students may earn a formal cognate in Leadership. Cognates consist of nine (9) credit hours in general electives. Courses required by a degree program do not count toward a cognate.

Choose 9 hours among the following courses:

• LED 527 Strategic Leadership and Communication  
• LED 537 Leading Change, Innovation, and Agility  
• LED 547 Leading Diverse Teams  
• LED 557 Personal Leadership Development and Ethics  
• MIN 540 Leadership in God’s Mission  

LTSS students may earn a formal cognate in Counseling. Cognates consist of nine (9) credit hours in general electives. Courses required by a degree program do not count toward a cognate. Students enrolled in a counseling cognate will be assigned a secondary advisor from the Counseling program.

Choose 9 hours among the following courses:

• COU 505 Counseling Theories  
• COU 520 Clinical Mental Health Counseling  
• COU 530 Counseling Techniques  
• CPE 500 Clinical Pastoral Education  (6 hours in addition to any CPE degree requirement)
• HCS 505 Theoretical Foundations & History of Human Services  
• Up to 3 hours of MIN electives, pending approval of the Associate Dean for Academic Programs

LTSS students may earn a formal cognate in Sustainability. Cognates consist of nine (9) credit hours in general electives. Courses required by a degree program do not count toward a cognate.

Choose 9 hours among the following courses:

• BUS 535 Sustainability Management & Decision Making  
• POL 525 Environmental Policy  
• SUS 501 Visions of Sustainable Communities  
• SUS 571 Sustainability Behavior, Education, and Communication  
• THL 683  Eating Together Faithfully