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This forty-eight credit degree combines the four most effective resources of theological education for ministry.  First, it contains a thorough grounding in sacred scripture and theology with a view toward ministry and faith based service. Second, its courses in pastoral studies provide graduates with the tools to mediate effective ministry in the life of a faith community or in faith-based service.  Third, its contextual education places students in various ministries with experienced supervisors and mentors, to develop the practical arts and reflective skills of ministry.  Fourth, the program's spiritual formation provides access to traditions of prayer and spiritual practices that can sustain a life-long vocation in ecclesial ministry and faith based service.  Graduates with this degree are ideally prepared – theologically, pastorally, and spiritually – to work in varied functions of ecclesial ministry in parish, campus, or health care settings, or to intentionally put their faith to work in contexts of social service. Students have the option of pursuing the Standard Track, the Religious Education Track, or the Hispanic Ministry Track within the degree program.

M.A. in Theology and Ministry Handbook

Standard Track Worksheet

Religious Education Track Worksheet

Hispanic Ministry Track Worksheet

Thesis Project Guidelines

Theology/Scripture Core (21 credits)

• TM644 Theological Foundations in Practical Perspective
• Christology
• Ecclesiology
• Sacraments, or Theology of Ministry, or Theological Anthropology, or Church History
  
• Ethics
• Old Testament
• New Testament

Pastoral Studies for Ministry Core (12 credits)

• Religious Education
• Pastoral Care
• Spirituality
• Practical/Pastoral Theology/Liturgy

Electives (9 credit)

Formation for Ministry (6 credits)

• Spiritual Formation for Ministry (1 credit)
• Contextual Education (5 credits)

CONTEXTUAL EDUCATION (FIELD EDUCATION):
Students in the M.A.T.M. program are required to enroll in Contextual Education, a supervised field education experience. The purpose of Contextual Education is to enable students to concretely explore a specific ministerial context 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.

SPIRITUAL FORMATION:
First-year M.A.T.M. students participate in the one-credit TM 730 Spiritual Formation program. Small groups, led by trained facilitators, 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. To complete the requirement, students also develop a personalized Spiritual Formation Plan during their course of study.

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

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

PREREQUISITES FOR ADMISSION:

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.

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