Master of Arts in Church Ministries

Course Requirements

COMMON FOUNDATIONAL COURSES AND ELECTIVES

The following courses are required for all tracks of the M.A. in Church Ministries:

INTRODUCTORY COURSES (2 courses)

TH601 Introduction to Theological Study, Research & Writing
Note: This course is normally a pre- or corequisite for other courses in the program; students with prior theological study may petition to waive this course and substitute a free elective.

BS600 Orientation to Biblical Studies (a two-credit course)
Note: This course is normally a pre- or corequisite for most other courses in biblical studies in the program; students with prior academic biblical study may petition to replace this course with a biblical elective.

BIBLICAL STUDIES (3 courses)

BS621 The Literature and Theology of the Hebrew Bible
BS622 The Literature and Theology of the New Testament

One of the following four courses in biblical interpretation:

BS700 Biblical Interpretation in the Church
Note: Required of students affiliated with the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s Division of Ministry Formation and Development, and strongly recommended for students preparing for lay or ordained ministry in the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland

BS/MT739 Ethics in the New Testament
BS/MT756 The Gospels and Social Justice
BS/MT757 Ethics and Social Justice in the Hebrew Bible

MORAL AND SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY (2 courses)

MT600 Fundamentals of Theological Ethics
ST601 Foundations of Systematic Theology

HISTORY (1 course)

One of the following four courses:

H603 Modern Church History
H/ES611 The American Religious Experience
ES/PT718 Christian Worship: History, Principles, and Practice (unless required in the student’s track)
ES740 Ecumenical Relations

PRACTICAL THEOLOGY (1 course)

PT601 Foundations of Christian Ministry

FREE ELECTIVES (2 courses)
Students in this degree program also have two electives, which may be either two courses of the student's choice or courses advised or required by his or her church or denomination.

Note: Students affiliated with the Archdiocese of Baltimore's Division of Ministry Formation and Development are required to take ST690 Perspectives in Roman Catholic Theology and MT/ST691 Contemporary Roman Catholic Ecclesiology and Ethics. Students considering or preparing for ministry in the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland are strongly urged to take H/ST707 The Anglican Tradition and Ethos.