The Master of Arts in Christian Education

The seminary confers a Master of Arts degree in Christian Education upon students who satisfactorily complete the prescribed program-related requirements. These include the completion of field education, participation in the assessment and evaluation program for two years, participation in covenant groups, the writing of a satisfactory personal statement of faith, achieving a grade point average of C (2.0) or above, financial clearance from the business office, and participation in graduation ceremonies. Graduation is not automatic when academic requirements have been met. Since the seminary aims to graduate men and women who qualify as Christian leaders, the faculty and administration will evaluate a student’s qualifications in terms of spiritual, doctrinal, and professional standards as well as academic standards.

The aim of the program is to provide trained leadership for Christian educational ministries in churches, on missions fields, and in denominational offices. While the curriculum provides excellent preparation for associate roles and educational ministries in the church, it does not provide thorough pastoral training. It is not an abbreviated period of graduate study leading to a senior pastorate. A student may individualize his or her program by testing out of particular competencies.

In the context of an appreciation for the ministry of the church, the student will be expected to demonstrate ability in the following competencies:

1. to model an effective role as teacher and leader and to assist lay people to develop teaching and leadership skills;
2. to enable lay people to worship, witness, teach, minister, motivate, and apply Christian faith in life and to initiate and administer programs in these areas;
3. to communicate to, lead, motivate, manage, and administer people and programs in the discipleship ministries of the church;
4. to develop, evaluate, and administer curriculum in the church discipleship program and to serve as a resource person in the area of curriculum;
5. to function effectively in interpersonal relationships;
6. to develop specialized discipleship ministries to meet unique needs of individuals in various life stages; and
7. to function as a lifelong learner and to apply understanding of the developmental process to facilitate learning among other people.

The curriculum provides a full academic experience in the field of discipleship, yet offers a flexibility that permits some selection of courses according to the need, experience, and interest of the student. Biblical, historical, and theological studies help equip the Christian educator for evaluating objectives, programs, and curriculum materials. The student’s horizons of Christian service are broadened through classroom experiences that lead him or her to see ministry in the world. Personal attitudes and patterns of life are challenged through these encounters. The student will study under most of the teachers on the faculty.

The academic experience is broadened in other directions through the opportunity to take course work in the Graduate School of the University of Minnesota. There is also opportunity for study with students from other seminaries in the Twin Cities.

The curriculum includes supervised ministry experience. During the first year, the student is engaged in an initial church practicum; the second year requires local church leadership and supervisory experience.

Christian education students are involved with students in the Master of Divinity program in many classes. This provides for a healthy experience and interchange, allowing students to develop a better understanding of various ministry rolls. Students pursuing this degree will also take electives with peers who are also focusing on associate staff roles. Students working more than 20 hours a week may prefer to take three years for the program.

The Master of Arts in Christian Education with Youth Ministries Concentration

This concentration is designed for people interested in ministry to young people in a church or parachurch setting.

In addition to courses in family systems, family ministry, and congregational systems, students in the youth ministries concentration also take courses focusing on church and youth, communicating the gospel to teens, pastoral care of youth, and team leadership.

Students in this concentration complete an initial practicum in supervised ministry, followed by a part-time internship that runs concurrently with their classroom studies.

The degree will be awarded upon the completion of the requirements for the Master of Arts in Christian Education/Youth Ministries as stipulated below.

Degree Requirements

Master of Arts in Christian Education

BT501	Hermeneutics	4
DC501	Discipleship in Community	4
GC502	Intro. to Global & Contextual Ministries	2
GC505	Evangelism for Discipleship	4
HS501	Early Church to Reformation or HS502 Church in the Modern World	4
NT501	The Gospels	4
NT502	Acts and Pauline Letters	4
OT501	Genesis - Ruth	4
OT502	I Samuel - Song of Songs	4
OT503	Isaiah - Malachi	4
PC501	Introduction to Pastoral Care
SP505	SPF: Foundations and Traditions	2
TL501	Culture and Ministry	4
TS501	Systematic Theology I	4
TS502	Systematic Theology II	4
TS503	Systematic Theology III	4
TS505	Christian Social Ethics or CP501 Introduction to Preaching	4

Concentration Courses and Electives

DC705	Personal and Ministry Development	4
ML513	Transformational Leadership	4
ML720	Congregational Systems	4
	* 4 DC Electives	16
	* Electives can include CF622 and/or CF651

Supervised Ministry and Other Requirements

TL551	Field Education Practicum	0
TL552	Professional Internship	4
SP001	Formation Assessments	0
	Transformational Church Series	0
	Statement of Faith	0

A minimum of eight courses in DC is required for the degree, including the professional internship. Students must select DC electives from at least two of the three age groups. A minimum of 96 quarter credits is required for graduation from an M.A. program. The student is responsible to meet all graduation deadlines and requirements.

Master of Arts in Christian Education/Youth Ministries

DC501	Discipleship in Community	4
GC502	Intro. to Global & Contextual Ministries	2
GC505	Evangelism for Discipleship	4
HS501 HS502	Early Church to Reformation or Church in the Modern World	4
NT501	The Gospels	4
NT502	Acts and Pauline Letters	4
OT502	Genesis - Ruth	4
OT102	I Samuel - Song of Songs	4
OT503	Isaiah - Malachi	4
PC01	Introduction to Pastoral Care	4
SP505	SPF: Foundations and Traditions	2
TL501	Culture and Ministry	4
TS501	Systematic Theology I	4
TS502	Systematic Theology II	4
TS503	Systematic Theology III	4
TS505	Christian Social Ethics or	4
CP501	Introduction to Preaching

Concentration Courses and Electives

DC635	Foundations of Youth Leadership	4
DC636	Communicating the Gospel to Teens	4
DC661	Team Leadership	2
ML513	Transformational Leadership	4
PC710	Pastoral Care of Youth or	4
PC245	Family Systems or PC242 Min. to Fam.	4
PC222 PC726	Chemical Dependency or Addictive and Compulsive Behavoirs	4
PC745 PC742	Family Systems or Ministering to Families	4
DC205	Personal and Ministry Development	4

Supervised Ministry and Other Requirements

TL551	Field Education Practicum	0
TL552	Professional Internship	4
SP001	Formation Assessments	0
	Transformational Church Series	0
	Senior Statement of Faith	0

A minimum of 96 quarter credits is required for graduation from an M.A. program. The student is responsible to meet all graduation deadlines and requirements.

The Bethel Seminary Catalog is provided online as a convenience for those who desire course information in electronic form. The printed version of the Bethel Seminary catalog is the official version, and it will be treated as the document of record in all seminary business.