Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry (M.A.)

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The M.A. in Pastoral Ministry degree program prepares students to serve in a variety of ministries in the Church and the world. Students can choose to pursue the M.A. in Pastoral Ministry with or without a concentration. Those who do not declare a concentration focus on developing a general understanding of the various arts of pastoral ministry. Those who declare a concentration choose one of the following:

• Church Management
• Religious Education
• Health Care Ministry
• Spirituality and Justice
• Hispanic Ministry
• Spiritual Formation
• Liturgy and Worship
• Youth and Young Adult Faith
• Music Ministry
• Pastoral Care

A student’s program of studies is developed in consultation with an academic advisor with attention to the student’s background and aspirations. The curriculum is composed of seven elements: courses in Theological and Scriptural Foundations, Pastoral Studies for Ministry, Religious Education, Electives, Holistic Formation, Contextual Education, and
Synthesis Project (comprehensives). View Handbook.

The degree requires 35 credits for summer-only students and 44 credits for academic-year students. It may sometimes be necessary, however, to accumulate more than this number of credits to fulfill the degree requirements.

SUMMER INSTITUTE
The M.A. in Pastoral Ministry can be completed entirely through our Summer Institute over the course of five summers. The Summer M.A. in Pastoral Ministry takes a minimum of 35 credits to complete. This is an ideal choice to students who work full-time, but have flexibility during the summer, as well as students from afar that would like to spend a portion of their summer in Boston.

CURRICULUM WORKSHEETS:

• Church Management
• Religious Education
• Health Care Ministry
• Spirituality and Justice
• Hispanic Ministry
• Spiritual Formation
• Liturgy and Worship
• Youth and Young Adult Faith
• Music Ministry
• Pastoral Care
• No Concentration

THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS:
While some concentrations have special theological and scriptural requirements, they usually include one course each in:

• Theological Foundations
• Sacraments
• Ethics
• Christology
• Ecclesiology
• Old Testament
• New Testament

PASTORAL STUDIES FOR MINISTRY:
The M.A. degree prepares the students to be a pastoral generalist. Students who do not declare a concentration take three pastoral electives of the student’s choice. Students who declare a concentration take courses to provide pastoral preparation in the area of their special interest.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION:
All students (except those in the Health Care Ministry and Church Management concentrations) take one course in religious education. This course will help them develop a fuller understanding of the dynamics of education in Christian faith and a richer appreciation for the many ways ministry is likely to affect the ongoing religious and spiritual formation of persons and communities.

CONTEXTUAL EDUCATION (FIELD EDUCATION):
Students in the M.A. program are required to enroll in Contextual Education, a supervised field education experience. The purpose of Contextual Education is to enable students to explore the work of religious education and to develop the skills for theological reflection on that experience.

ELECTIVES:
Students may choose, in consultation with their advisors, courses in theology, scripture, education, or ministry in order pursue particular interests or to round out their program of study.

HOLISTIC FORMATION:
First-year MA students participate in the one-credit TM 730 Holistic Formation program. Small groups, facilitated by faculty members, allow students to integrate their academic work with their spiritual growth in a supportive and prayerful atmosphere. During the academic year the groups meet six times per semester. During the summer, groups meet weekly. To complete the requirement, students also develop a personalized Spiritual Formation Plan during their course of study. More.

SYNTHESIS PROJECTS:
Upon completion of course work, M.A. students write a synthesis project that provides them the opportunity to (1) creatively synthesize their studies in theology, (2) address a question about their particular concentration in pastoral ministry and (3) outline a pastoral program appropriate to their own ministerial context. A subsequent oral examination allows students to discuss their essays with two faculty members.

DUAL DEGREES:
In collaboration with other BC professional schools, the M.A. Pastoral Ministry can be combined with an M.S.W., M.B.A., M.A. Counseling Psychology, and M.S.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• English proficiency. TOEFL exam results with a minimum of 550 on paper based; 213 on the PC based or 79 on new internet based exam if an international applicant from a non-English speaking country

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DEADLINES:
Spring:
November 15

Fall and Summer:
February 15