The Master of Arts in Ministry program is a two-year professional master’s degree for students preparing for Christian leadership in congregations, non-profit agencies, or ministries beyond the local church. It is approved by the United Methodist Church for those who are preparing for ordination as a deacon in the United Methodist church. (The M. Div. program is the degree designed for those seeking ordination as elders in the United Methodist church and other denominations.) Within the MAM program students may choose a specific area of specialization including but not limited to: camp and retreat ministries, Christian education, ecological ministries, worship, music, and the arts, spirituality, social justice ministries, and ministries beyond the local church.

Program Duration and Location

The program is designed to be completed in two years or four semesters of full time study. All requirements must be completed within five years from the date of initial matriculation. Students may begin this course of study taking some Basic Graduate Theological Courses online. Students must complete a minimum of 30 credits at Drew Theological School. Students with credits earned elsewhere at the graduate professional level and not applied toward another earned degree may apply for a maximum of 15 credits of advanced standing. Transfer credit is not granted for credits earned earlier than 10 years prior to the date of matriculation.

Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, or from an equivalent international institution. Academic work should have been rich in the liberal arts, offering general knowledge of human culture through studies in the humanities, including religion, languages, and the natural and social sciences. Applicants must be able to write clearly and effectively.

Applicants should have demonstrated the capacity to do above average academic work, typically with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above (on a 4.0 scale) in a previous degree program. This capacity may also be indicated by “b” work in a selected group of courses pertinent to theological study. Those whose previous academic performance falls below this level, but who demonstrated compensating strengths, may be admitted on academic probation and limited to 9 credit hours per semester until the probation is removed.

The applicant must present transcripts for all academic study beyond secondary school.

The completed application form must be accompanied by a statement of purpose by the applicant explaining the reasons and goals for pursuing the MA in Ministry degree and by three letters of reference from persons qualified to evaluate the applicant’s intellectual competence and promise as well as personal character and potential for ministry.

Curriculum

Program Curriculum

Each student in the MA in Ministry program must complete 45 credits of course work including the following:

Required courses: (15 credits)

There are 4 broad areas from which course requirements must be selected

  1. Religious heritage (9 credits from the following courses):
    • Bibst 101 Biblical Literature 1
    • Bibst 111 Biblical Literature 2
    • Chist 202 Church History 1
    • Chist 203 Church History 2
    • Theph 301 Systematic Theology
    • Theph 508 Challenge of World Religions and Christian Practice
  2. Cultural Context (3 credits from the following courses):
    • Chsoc 401 Religion and the Social Process
    • Chsoc 400 Christian Ethics
    • Or any of the world religion or cross-cultural courses
  3. Personal and spiritual formation (3 credits from the following courses)
    • Pasth 501a/b Pastoral Formation
    • Pasth 503 Introduction to Educational Ministries
    • Pasth 505 Church at Worship (second semester)
  4. Practicum/Internship (6 credits)
    • Each student will complete six credits in contextual education in an appropriate ministry field. This requirement may be fulfilled through summer and academic year internships.

Elective credits (12 credits)

Optional Area of specialization (12 credits)

Each student, in consultation with an academic advisor, may elect to choose a particular specialization, with 12 credits of course work designated as applying specifically to the area of specialization.

Areas of specialization include (but are not limited to):

  • Christian Education
  • Ecological Ministries
  • Worship, Music and the Arts
  • Camp and Retreat Ministries
  • Social Justice Ministries
  • Spiritual Formation

Example of Specialization – Worship, Music and the Arts Specialization

Worship, music, and the Arts Core Courses (12 credits)

  • Pasth 505 Church at Worship – 3 credits
  • Pasth 566 The Arts of Worship: Performing Arts – 3 credits (Students may enroll in select courses offered in CLA and Caspersen programs with permission.)

1 course from the following:

  • Pasth 628 Writing for Worship – 3 credits
  • New course Imago Christi: The visual arts in worship – 3 credits
  • New course in digital worship (Jan term intensive) – 3 credits

1 courses from the following:

Sacred Music Courses

  • Pasth 556 Church Music of USA – 3 credits
  • Pasth 558 The History of African-American Music – 3 credits
  • Pasth 559 Worship and Music of the Emerging Church – 3 credits
  • Pasth 735 log-on Hymnology – 3 credits
  • Pasth 663 A Musical Study – 3 credits
  • Pasth 669 Music of the World Religions – 3 credits

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

The MA in Ministry program seeks to develop the following abilities in students:

  • The ability to read and interpret scripture and other sacred texts with cultural sensitivity, ethical awareness, and a critical understanding of their histories, interpretations, and applications in church and society
  • The ability to think critically and constructively regarding the area of ministry specialization
  • The ability to work effectively in ministry as evidenced by the successful completion of a field education component
  • The development of communal and personal practices that nourish spiritual and moral well-being

Deacon Track

United Methodist Deacon Track

Students who wish to pursue ordination in the United Methodist Church through the MA in Ministry degree can do so with the following courses:

  • 27 credits of “Basic Graduate Theological Education”
    • Old Testament (3 credits) Bibst 101 Biblical Literature 1
    • New Testament (3 credits) Bibst 111 Biblical Literature 2
    • Church History (3 credits) Chist 202 or 203 Church History 1 or 2
    • Systematic Theology (3 credits) Theph 301 Systematic Theology
    • Worship (3 credits) Pasth 505, Pasth 506, Logon 735 or course on UM Worship
      Summer 2012 Course:
      Pasth 620: United Methodist Worship: Form and Freedom
      Date/Time:  June 30- July 13 , 9 am -12 pm   3 credits
      Instructors:  Rev. Taylor Burton-Edwards, Dr. Heather Elkins, & Dr. Chris Anderson
      (The Rev. Taylor Burton-Edwards is the Director of Worship Resources for the General Board of
      Discipleship of the United Methodist Church)
      This course is designed to enable those in the Methodist tradition to evaluate, plan, and lead worship with theological integrity and creativity. The tradition of Methodist worship is one of form and freedom, involving texts and free prayer, ordained elders and lay preaching, liturgical arts. The goal is to prepare worship leaders of congregations to do their work with theological insight, ecumenical imagination, and pastoral care. This course meets the requirement for PASTH 505 Church at Worship and the UMC Basic Graduate Theological Studies.
    • Mission of the Church (3 credits) Chsoc 401 Religion and the Social Process or another course on mission
    • Evangelism (3 credits) Chist 244 Evangelism in the Methodist Tradition or another evangelism course
    • UM History, Doctrine and Polity (6 credits) Chist 260/261 or Logon 260/261
  • 3 credits in personal and spiritual formation
  • 6 credits in field education/internships

Each UM Deacon candidate will designate an area of specialty as a deacon and take at least six credits of additional course work as well as completing the field education requirement in that area.

UM Deacon candidates may designate one the certification in camp and retreat ministries or the certification in spiritual formation.