Master of Arts in Christian Education
Degree Overview
Vocational Calling
To serve in educational ministries (including ministry to children, youth, and adults; church administration; social work; ministers of discipleship, assimilation, maturity; and associate pastors) primarily in local churches, as well as missions, denominational agencies, and other related ministries.
Program Outcomes
Students will demonstrate an ability to interpret and teach biblical and theological truths that promote spiritual growth in a local church or ministry.
Students will be able to design, implement, lead and assess a spiritual growth process within a ministry setting.
Students will demonstrate an understanding of foundational principles from the disciplines of human development and philosophy of education.
Students will demonstrate growth in personal and spiritual maturity.
For further information, please contact:
Dr. Adam Hughes (Program Supervisor)
Dr. Randy Stone (Educational Foundations Coordinator/Advisor)
Dr. Jody Dean (Mentoring, Leadership and Administration Coordinator/Advisor)
Dr. Donna Peavey (Children’s Ministry Coordinator/Advisor)
Dr. David Odom (Youth Ministry Coordinator/Advisor)
Dr. Beth Masters (Collegiate Ministry Coordinator/Advisor)
Dr. Joe Sherrer (Adult Ministry Coordinator/Advisor)
Dr. Hal Stewart (Discipleship Ministry Coordinator/Advisor)
Dr. Loretta Rivers (Social Work Coordinator/Advisor)
Dr. Emily Dean (Women’s Ministry Coordinator/Advisor)
Program Requirements
Basic Ministerial Competency Component (33 hours)
Biblical Exposition Competency (9 hours)
course | hours |
|---|---|
Exploring the Old Testament | 3 |
Exploring the New Testament | 3 |
Introduction to Biblical Hermeneutics | 3 |
Christian Theological Heritage Competency (8 hours)
course | hours |
|---|---|
Systematic Theology 1 | 3 |
Systematic Theology 2 | 3 |
Baptist Heritage | 2 |
NOBTS, SBC, and Cooperative Program | + |
+All graduate students must take this course during orientation in their first semester; however, students will not receive a credit hour or be charged for the course.
Disciple Making Competency (6 hours)
course | hours |
|---|---|
Supervised Ministry 1: Personal Evangelism Practicum (M) | 2 |
Discipleship Strategies (M) | 2 |
Introduction to Spiritual Formation (M) | 1 |
Personal Disciple Making (M) | 1 |
Ministry Studies Competency (10 hours)
course | hours |
|---|---|
Church Leadership and Administration (M) | 3 |
Teaching the Bible | 3 |
Teaching Practicum (M) | 2 |
Counseling in Ministry | 2 |
Christian Education Component (21 hours)
Christian Education Core (12 hours)
course | hours |
|---|---|
Foundations of Christian Education | 3 |
Lifespan Development | 3 |
Lifespan Discipleship | 3 |
Disciple Making through Small Group Ministry (M) | 3 |
Ministry Leadership Electives* (9 hours)
course | hours |
|---|---|
Ministry Leadership concentrations | 9 |
Electives Component (6 hours)
course | hours |
|---|---|
Free Electives*** | 6 |
***Social Work students must take these 6 hours from Social Work electives.
Total Required: 60 hours
(M) Indicates course is also available in a mentoring format.
*Ministry Leadership Concentrations
Students may choose to concentrate their study in a particular field of ministry. A concentration consists of at least 6 hours of course work in one area of study and the remaining 3 hours may be Christian Education electives including mentoring, clinical field projects, independent directed studies, or special events. Required concentration courses are listed below. Consultation with a Christian Education professor, especially the lead professor, is suggested when selecting course options.
Required Courses by Concentration
Adult Ministry Leadership
course | hours |
|---|---|
Leading Adult Ministry | 3 |
Leading Family Ministry | 3 |
Children’s Ministry Leadership
course | hours |
|---|---|
Leading Children’s Ministry | 3 |
Children and the Christian Faith | 3 |
Collegiate Ministry Leadership
course | hours |
|---|---|
Leading College Ministry | 3 |
Guiding Collegians in Their Faith Pilgrimage | 3 |
And Two of the Following: | |
The History and Philosophy of Collegiate Ministry | 3 |
Youth and College Culture | 3 |
Special Topic in College Ministry | 3 |
Mentoring in Discipleship Ministry | 3 |
Educational Foundations/Doctoral Studies Preparation
(Choose two from three)
course | hours |
|---|---|
Historical Foundations of Christian Education | 3 |
Foundations in Educational Psychology | 3 |
Introduction to Educational Research and Statistics** | 3 |
**(Required for PhD/EdD Admission)
Leadership and Administration
course | hours |
|---|---|
Leading Team-Based Ministry (M) | 3 |
Risk Management in Christian Ministry | 3 |
Women’s Ministry Leadership
course | hours |
|---|---|
Foundations in Ministry to Women | 3 |
Choose One Course: Contemporary Context for Ministry to Women | 3 OR 3 |
Youth Ministry Leadership
course | hours |
|---|---|
Leading Youth Ministry | 3 |
Disciple Making with Youth and Families | 3 |
Social Work***
Required courses (6 Hours) | hours |
|---|---|
Introduction to Social Work | 3 |
Church Community Ministries | 3 |
Social Work electives (6 hours: choose 2) | hours |
Social Work Practice with Individuals and Families | 3 |
Group Leadership | 3 |
Death, Loss, and Grief | 3 |
Social Work Practice with the Aging and their Families | 3 |
Social Work Practice with Children and Families | 3 |
Total required hours in Social Work: 12 Hours
***Note: Those taking the Social Work concentration also must take 6 hours of Social Work electives in place of their Free Electives listed in the degree plan. The Social Work elective options can be found in the Division of Church Ministry section of this catalog.
NOBTS and the University of Southern Mississippi have partnered to create a unique dual degree program that combines the Master of Social Work degree from USM with the MA in Church and Community Ministries, the MDiv Specialization in Christian Education, or the MA in Christian Education. The MSW from USM prepares students for professional practice and licensure, while the NOBTS degree prepares students for Christian service in churches and community agencies.