Master of Arts - Ministry - Specialization in Pastoral Ministry
Wesley Seminary offers a 42 hour Master of Arts in Ministry degree with a specialization in Pastoral Ministry that provides graduate-level training for working ministry practitioners seeking to satisfy the competencies required for ordination in The Wesleyan Church.
Wesley Seminary strives to promote the following key learning outcomes in the MA program. A student who has completed the MA degree with a major in Ministry and a specialization in Pastoral Ministry should, with graduate-level competency, be able to:
- Integrate Christian History, Scripture, and Theology in the practice of ministry.
- Contextualize the gospel for the purpose of advancing the Kingdom.
- Personalize spiritual formation for sustainable ministry.
- Deploy the basic competencies and skills essential to the work of pastoral ministry.
- Cultivate a faithful and sustainable framework for pastoral ministry.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the Ministry major begins with completing application forms and submitting them with official transcripts and two personal recommendations. The Wesley Seminary shall determine admission status from the completed forms and student file and notify the applicant in writing of the admission status granted. Regular admission to the seminary constitutes admission to candidacy for the master’s degree. The basic criteria for regular admission to the MA program within the seminary are as follows:
- A baccalaureate degree from an institution accredited by a member agency of the International Council for Evangelical Theological Education (ICETE) or by an accrediting agency recognized by both the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
- A minimum grade-point average (GPA) of at least 2.5 from the degree granting institution.
- An official transcript from the degree granting institution.
- Two recommendations including:
- One from a pastor or denominational supervisor.
- A general recommendation.
- A completed Ministry Context Form.
- A three to four page autobiography and statement of ministry purpose. The statement of purpose should reflect one's sense of God's direction in relation to Christian ministry or service.
- A criminal history background check must be completed before acceptance into any Wesley Seminary degree program if a felony was disclosed by the student on the application form.
Transfer Credit
- A maximum of nine hours may be transferred from another accredited master's program, provided it falls within seven years prior to admission.
- Students who have taken equivalent courses in their undergraduate program to BIBL-500 The Bible as Christian Scripture, THEO-500 Introduction to Christian Theology, and CHST-500 Global Christian History will be allowed/encouraged to substitute and an advanced Bible, theology, or church history elective.
Program Requirements
- Students must have completed all required courses before enrolling in the MA Capstone course (MIN-691). Registration in the MA Capstone will be cancelled for any students who fail to satisfactorily complete all required MA courses.
- All requirements for the degree must be completed within ten years of enrollment.
Graduation Requirements
- Completion of core requirements.
- Minimum grade of "C" in each core and elective course.
- Cumulative grade point average of 2.5.
- Successful completion of the Bible Content Exam with a 70% or higher.
- All requirements for the degree must be completed within six years of enrollment.
- Payment of all tuition and fees is required to receive a diploma.
MA Program of Study (42 Hours)
Core Courses
Pastoral Ministry - 3 Hours
Biblical Studies - 3 Hours
| BIBL-500 | The Bible as Christian Scripture | 3 |
Church History - 3 Hours
Theological Studies - 3 Hours
| THEO-500 | Introduction to Christian Theology | 3 |
Intercultural Competency - 3 Hours
Spiritual Formation - 4 Hours
| SPIR-500 | Spiritual Formation: Change & Transformation | 1 |
| SPIR-520 | Spiritual Formation: Self Awareness & Appraisal | 1 |
| SPIR-540 | Spiritual Formation: Goal Setting & Accountability | 1 |
| SPIR-560 | Spiritual Formation: Mentoring & Spiritual Direction | 1 |
Capstone - 2 Hours
Specialization in Pastoral Ministry
Preaching - 3 Hours
Choose one.
| PROC-520 | Transformational Communication | 3 |
| PROC-525 | Effective Communication With Children And Youth | 3 |
| PROC-610 | Narrative Preaching | 3 |
| PROC-615 | Wesleyan Homiletics | 3 |
| PROC-620 | Preaching With Empathy: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Incarnational Homiletics | 3 |
| PROC-630 | Africana Preaching | 3 |
| PROC-650 | Preaching the Life of Christ | 3 |
Pastoral Care - 3 Hours
Choose one.
| PCNS-510 | Introduction to Pastoral Care | 3 |
| PCNS-520 | Crisis Counseling for Ministry | 3 |
| PCNS-610 | Marriage and Family Counseling for Ministry | 3 |
| PCNS-620 | Cross-Cultural Counseling for Ministry | 3 |
Christian Education - 3 Hours
Choose one.
| CONG-520 | Building a Multi-Generational Ministry | 3 |
| CONG-525 | Newcomer Integration | 3 |
| CONG-530 | Family Ministry in the 21st Century | 3 |
| CONG-540 | Programming and Management in Family Ministry | 3 |
| CONG-550 | Child and Adolescent Development | 3 |
| CONG-555 | Diagnosis and Prescription for a Healthy Church | 3 |
| CONG-560 | Church Revitalization Field Study | 3 |
| CONG-570 | Teaching for Transformation | 3 |
Leadership - 3 Hours
Choose one.
| LEAD-510 | Introduction to 21st Century Leadership | 3 |
| LEAD-515 | Leadership and Personhood | 3 |
| LEAD-520 | Communication and Leadership | 3 |
| LEAD-530 | Change Agent | 3 |
| LEAD-540 | Non-Profit Management | 3 |
| LEAD-542 | Modeling and Teaching Personal Finance | 3 |
| LEAD-545 | Strategic Leadership and Management | 3 |
| LEAD-550 | Intergenerational Leadership | 3 |
| LEAD-558 | Missional Growth and Multiplication | 3 |
| LEAD-560 | Power, Change, and Conflict Management | 3 |
| LEAD-565 | Emerging Trends in Church Multiplication | 3 |
Integrated Ministry Topics - 3 Hours
Choose one.
| WSHP-520 | Space and Time in Worship | 3 |
| WSHP-560 | Media and Technology in Worship | 3 |
| THEO-520 | Christmas: the Mystery of the Incarnation | 3 |
| THEO-530 | Easter: The Resurrection of the Crucified | 3 |
| THEO-525 | Theology of Prayer | 3 |
| THEO-545 | Holiness and Christian Ethics | 3 |
| THEO-546 | Popular Culture and Christian Imagination | 3 |
| BIBL-610 | Torah Engagement: The Formation of Worship | 3 |
Wesleyan Church - 6 Hours
Required for ordination.
