M.A. in Cross-cultural Ministries (M.A./CM)
Download the M.A. in Cross-Cultural Ministries degree plan. (104KB PDF)
Purpose
The program leading to the M.A. degree with a major in Cross-cultural Ministries is designed to provide graduate-level training for people whose ministries include serving in other cultures. Prospective and veteran missionaries from North America and around the world will benefit from this program—it meets the essential academic requirements of most mission agencies and is ideal for those whose anticipated ministries will not include regular preaching.
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
- trace the redemptive purpose of God for the world from Genesis to Revelation
- verbalize principles of effective intercultural ministry
- demonstrate familiarity with essential principles of anthropology, ethnology, sociology, and psychology in relation to missions
- state pertinent data on the contemporary world scene.
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
- evidence a deep commitment to world evangelism
- evidence an awareness of spiritual conflict and the resources in Christ.
Ministry Goals
To enable students to:
- communicate the Bible effectively in an intercultural context
- produce an accurate profile of the chosen country or area of the world
- design an effective strategy for an intercultural ministry.
Course Requirements
Sixty-two semester hours of course work are required as a minimum for graduation. Of those hours, 22 are in prescribed Bible Exposition courses, 18 in prescribed Systematic Theology courses, and 4 in Spiritual Life and Evangelism. There are 12 hours of prescribed World Missions and Intercultural Studies courses. The remaining 6 hours are missions electives. Department professors will assist students in designing the most appropriate program of missions electives for the student’s personal career goals.
Students are required to do an intercultural or missions-related internship as part of their missions electives before completing the program. The acceptability of this experience is determined by the Department of World Missions and Intercultural Studies faculty. Those interested in the TESOL certificate must take TESOL courses in addition to missions electives. This will require an additional 13 hours of course work.
No thesis is required for the M.A./CM degree.
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 Cross-cultural Ministries.
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.
