M.A. in Christian Education (M.A./CE)
Download the M.A. in Christian Education degree plan. (59KB PDF)
Purpose
The program leading to the Master of Arts degree with a major in Christian Education is designed to provide a graduate-level biblical and theological education for men and women who anticipate a vocational ministry as Christian education specialists. This program helps prepare its graduates to assume positions as ministers of Christian education, children’s workers, ministers of youth, parachurch youth leaders, ministers of adults, directors of family life education, administrators or teachers in Christian higher education, Christian school teachers and administrators, or women’s ministry leaders.
Goals
Educational Goals
To enable students to:
- demonstrate a general knowledge of the Bible, including a synthetic understanding of the major books
- evidence an understanding of the historical development of theology, a knowledge of premillennial theology, and an ability to support their theological views and apply them to contemporary issues
- develop a biblical philosophy of and commitment to Christian education in home, church, and school
- verbalize the nature and needs of at least one age-group, state biblical goals for that age-level ministry, and apply appropriate educational principles.
Spiritual Goals
To enable students to:
- evidence an increasing likeness to Christ as manifested in love for God, love for others, and the fruit of the Spirit
- exhibit godly leadership with a team spirit that will lead others into spiritual maturity and help develop them for leadership roles.
Ministry Goals
To enable students to:
- organize, administer, and evaluate an educational program based on stated goals and objectives, working successfully with people in a variety of ministry situations
- communicate effectively in a variety of Christian education ministry settings
- formulate educational programs that are biblically based, educationally accurate, and related to people’s needs
- utilize proper biblical and educational methods and materials for at least one age-level.
Course Requirements
Sixty-five semester hours of course work are required as a minimum for graduation. Of those hours, 22 are in prescribed Bible Exposition courses, 18 are in prescribed Theological courses, 2 are in Spiritual Life, 9 are in prescribed Christian Education courses, 12 are elective Christian Education hours, and 2 hours are in a Field Education course (FE165 Christian Education Internship). No thesis is required.
Each student must select 12 hours in one of the following ten ministry concentrations: (1) church educational leadership, (2) children’s ministry, (3) youth ministry, (4) parachurch ministry (5) adult ministry, (6) family life ministry, (7) educational administration, (8) Christian school administration, (9) college teaching, or (10) women’s ministry.
Church Educational Leadership
Students completing this ministry concentration should be able to design, direct, supervise, and evaluate the overall educational ministry of a local church.
Children’s Ministry
Students completing this ministry concentration should be able to organize and supervise a local church or parachurch ministry to children, including the recruitment and retention of adult staff.
Youth Ministry
Students completing this ministry concentration should be able to organize and supervise an effective church program of youth ministry at the junior high and high school levels.
Parachurch Ministry
Students completing this ministry concentration should be able to organize and supervise various parachurch ministries either in the U.S. or internationally. The concentration is designed with maximum flexibility and comprises courses from the Christian Education and World Missions and Intercultural Studies departments. Courses are selected in consultation with the student’s adviser.
Adult Ministry
Students completing this ministry concentration should be able to organize and lead an adult education program.
Family Life Ministry
Students completing this ministry concentration should be able to develop and direct a church program of family life education including family classes, counseling, and discipleship relationships.
Educational Administration
Students completing this ministry concentration should be able to serve effectively in a leadership role in an educational institution at the elementary, secondary, or higher level. This program does not lead to certification.
Christian School Administration
Students completing this ministry concentration should be able to serve effectively in leadership of a Christian elementary or secondary school. This program does not lead to certification.
College Teaching
Students completing this ministry concentration should be able to teach effectively in a Christian institution of higher learning at the undergraduate or graduate level, assuming other subject matter requirements have been satisfied.
Women’s Ministry
Students completing this ministry concentration should be able to organize and lead a women’s ministry program in a local church or any other area of ministry to women.
Admission Requirements
Admission requirements and application procedures for professional M.A. degree programs are the same as for all programs of study at the Seminary. Students will generally not be admitted into a degree program without goals consistent with the ministries for which the program is designed to equip them.
Transfer Credit
Transfer of some credit is allowed toward the professional M.A. programs from accredited graduate theological schools. Up to 30 hours of credit may be transferred toward the M.A. in Christian Education.
Students must have earned a grade of C or better for a course to be considered in transfer. Transferability of credits earned at this institution and transferred to another is at the discretion of the receiving institution. Consult the Registrar’s Office for information on eligibility for transfer credit.
Spiritual Formation
Because Dallas Seminary values character and spiritual maturity, Th.M. and M.A./CE students are required to register for and participate in Spiritual Formation groups each of their first four semesters of study. Extension students must contact the Spiritual Formation director regarding fulfillment of their Spiritual Formation requirements.
In the Spiritual Formation curriculum small groups (six to eight students) focus on identity, community, integrity, and ministry. The groups also provide an atmosphere for prayer, fellowship, career assessment, and the integration of learning with ministry. Additionally, the groups act as the small group component of all required internships. As courses should be taken consecutively, students are encouraged to arrange their schedules so they may stay in the same group each semester. Spiritual Formation is a noncredit, transcripted experience. The prerequisite for all required internships is SF101 Spiritual Formation I (Identity).
Additional Spiritual Formation courses focusing on leadership may be taken as electives.
