Overview
The Master of Arts in Ministry (M.A.Min.) is for persons called to vocational ministry in a role that does not require the Master of Divinity. While the curriculum provides excellent preparation for specialized ministry in the church, it is not designed to provide an abbreviated period of graduate study leading to senior pastoral leadership. Those who want to serve in senior leadership positions are encouraged to enroll in the Seminary’s Master of Divinity program.
The objectives of the program are as follows:
- A comprehensive understanding of biblical content, a discerning approach to biblical interpretation, and theological reflection informed by historical traditions.
- Growth in emotional, spiritual, and relational health resulting in observable love for God and neighbor.
- The capacity and skills for effective ministry practice within the context of a ministry team.
- Intercultural competence as it is lived out in various ministries of the local church, broader community, and the global arena.
- Intentional integration of biblical knowledge and personal and spiritual formation into ministry with diverse populations.
M.A.Min. students are not required to declare a concentration. For those who choose to pursue a concentration, a complete list of all concentrations is available in the "Concentration" section of this program. Students who choose a concentration may need to take independent studies or extend the length of time to degree completion in order to fulfill the requirements of a particular concentration.
The M.A.Min is the seminary degree involved with two special academic programs from other Bethel University schools:
- The Ministry Scholars Program with the College of Arts and Sciences
- The B.A. in Christian Ministries to M.A.Min with the College of Adult and Professional Studies
Degree Requirements
Master of Arts in Ministry
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | ||
| BT 510 | Biblical Hermeneutics | 4 |
| HS 510 | Church History | 4 |
| NT 516 | Reading New Testament Literature | 4 |
| OT 516 | Reading Old Testament Literature | 4 |
| TS 535 | Theology and Ethics I | 4 |
| TS 536 | Theology and Ethics II | 4 |
| Degree Specific Courses | ||
| GC 520 | Mission and Evangelism | 4 |
| GS 780 | Senior Integrative Seminar | 4 |
| ML 540 | Transformational Leadership | 4 |
| SP 540 | Spiritual and Personal Formation | 4 |
| Concentration Courses and Electives | ||
| Electives (CTL or CSPF) 1 | 8 | |
| Supervised Ministry and Other Requirements | ||
| GS 001 | Graduate Research Seminar: Masters Level | 0 |
| SP 001 | Formation Assessments: Masters Level | 0 |
| TL 002A & TL 002B | Professional Internship Assessment and Preparation A and Professional Internship Assessment and Preparation B | 0 |
| TL 568A | Professional Internship for MA in Ministry A | 2 |
| TL 568B | Professional Internship for MA in Ministry B | 2 |
| Total Credits | 52 | |
- 1
CTL Electives are any CF, CP, CM, DC, GC, ML, or TL courses.
CSPF Electives are any MF, MH, PC, or SP courses.
Students may complete a thesis to fulfill a portion of the required elective credits.
No concentration is required for this degree. If a student is earning a concentration, concentration requirements will be taken instead of electives.
A minimum of 52 semester credits is required for graduation from the M.A.Min. program. The student is responsible for meeting all graduation deadlines and requirements.