MA in EDUCATIONAL MINISTRIES
36 credit hours | 2–3 years
Why study for an MA in Educational Ministries Online at TEDS?
Our online degree programs are structured to provide you with a true Trinity community experience, even from the comfort of your own home. The convenience and flexibility of online classes and coursework can be made to work for your unique situation and needs. Let’s work together so that you can study online and benefit from the best that Trinity has to offer!
The MA in EM program will help you reach your ministry goals by focusing your coursework on three themes in educational ministry: Congregational Life (family, age-specific and inter-generational ministry), Collaborative Ministry Engagement (leadership, small groups, teams), and Formational Learning (formational discipleship, teaching, and learning).
Where can this degree take me?
The MA in EM is uniquely designed to turn ministry practitioners into educational leaders who in turn equip others for vibrant church ministries. A degree in Educational Ministries can prepare you for doctoral studies, leadership in parachurch ministries, camps, or teaching in Christian schools.
WHAT ARE THE PREREQUISITES FOR ADMISSION TO THIS PROGRAM?
In addition to the requirements for general admission, you’ll need the following:
- An undergraduate major in educational ministries or its equivalent that includes a minimum of 30 hours in educational ministries, Bible / theology, and social science studies; or
- An undergraduate major or its equivalent with exposure to educational practice in the church, in parachurch / other Christian organizations, or in the public education arena; and
- Leadership experience in educational practice.
Alternatively, some applicants may not meet the above ideal admission requirements, but possess the following and are encouraged to apply to the MA in EM program, or the Educational Ministries Certificate:
- Intensive or extensive life experience with educational practice in the church, parachurch, other Christian organization, or in the public education arena (generally five-plus years of full-time experience)
- Non-formal or informal preparation for theological study in educational ministries at the graduate level (theological education in a church or parachurch environment)
- Demonstrated academic ability through evaluation and interview by the EM Department (personal interview encompassing demonstrable skills, character, knowledge, and critical thinking)
WHAT WILL I STUDY?
Our program will help you by focusing your coursework on three themes in educational ministry: Congregational Life (family, age-specific and inter-generational ministry), Collaborative Ministry Engagement (leadership, small groups, teams), and Formational Learning (formational discipleship, teaching, and learning). You will focus on one or two of these themes in your coursework and capstone projects, but will substantively engage all three themes throughout your degree.
You can take this degree entirely through TEDS Online, in person at Trinity, or through a mixture of both.
| Bible and Theology Core (12-13 Hours) | ||
| Course | Title | Credits |
| ID 5000 | Biblical Theology and Interpretation | 3 hours |
| ST 5201 | Theology I: The God of the Gospel | 3 hours |
| ST 5202 | Theology II: The Gospel of God | 3 hours |
| OT 5000 |
Old Testament Introduction | 4 hours |
| NT 5000 | New Testament Introduction | 3 hours |
| Educational Ministries Core (6 Hours) | ||
| EM 5200 | Educational Ministries (or EM 5100) | 2 hours |
| EM 5125 | Teaching and Learning | 2 hours |
| EM 5210 |
Christian Leadership | 2 hours |
| Congregational Life Focus |
||
| Course | Title | Credits |
| EM 5541 | Youth in the Congregation | |
| EM 5560 | Adults in the Congregation | |
| EM 5576 | Marriage and Family Enrichment | |
| EM 6100 | Intergenerational Ministry in the Church | |
| EM 6270 | Building Community in the Church | |
| ES 7524 | Children in the Congregation | |
| ES 7535 | Nurturing Families in the Church | |
| ES 7550 |
Local Church as System | |
| ES 8211 | Teaching Others to Teach | |
| ES 8235 | Ministry with Aging Adults | |
| Collaborative Ministry Engagement Focus |
||
| Course | Title | Credits |
| EM 6100 | Intergenerational Ministry in the Church | |
| EM 6270 | Building Community in the Church | |
| EM 6275 | Developing Healthy Spiritual Leaders | |
| ES 7550 | Local Church as System | |
| ES 7815 | Change, Power, and Conflict | |
| ES 7830 | Developing Collaborative Teams | |
| ES 8258 | Online TEaching and Learning | |
| ES 8425 | Theological Education | |
| ES 8605 | Historical Religious Educators and the 21st Century | |
| Formational Learning Focus |
||
| Course | Title | Credits |
| EM 5510 | Children Formation and Journey | |
| EM 6260 | Small Group Process in Ministry | |
| EM 6265 | Building Ministry Teams | |
| EM 7550 | Local Church as System | |
| ES 7560 | Program Planning Dynamics in the Local Church | |
| EM 8240 | Intergenerational Education | |
| ES 8255 | Models of Non-Traditional Education | |
| ES 8710 | Social Intelligence and Leadership | |
| ES 8715 | Appreciative Inquiry | |
Participants consult with the EM faculty adviser to focus concentration courses around an educational area of contextual and personal interest.
Throughout your program, you will participate in field-based and collaborative learning community activities in order to develop a robust EM Portfolio, which will culminate in your Capstone experience. Consult with department faculty to determine the nature of your Capstone experience based on your ministry goals and prior experience.
| Course | Title | Credits |
| EM 7465 | MA (Educational Ministries Capstone) | 0–4 hours |
You are encouraged to consider the following courses in other departments that may be applicable to the EM Concentration depending on your area of interest. Work with your advisor to determine which courses are appropriate for your interest area.
| Course | Title | Credits |
| CH 5051 | History of Christianity I | 4 hours |
| CH 5052 | History of Christianity II | 4 hours |
| CM 6510 | Human Growth and Development | 3 hours |
| CO 5210 | Counseling Skills Training | 3 hours |
| CO 6530 | Child & Adolescent Counseling | 2-3 hours |
| CO 6575 | Parent Education | 2 hours |
| HM 5000 | Theology & Methodology of Biblical Preaching | |
| ID 6500 | Understanding the Social and Cultural Contexts of Ministry | |
| ME 5001 | Foundations of Evangelism | 2 hours |
| ME 5175 | Evangelistic Bible Study: Mark | |
| ME 6610 | Anthropology for Ministry | |
| ME 6660 | Christian Community Development | |
| ME 6963 | Principles of Discipleship | |
| ME 7215 | Teaching the Bible in Intercultural Settings | |
| ME 7710 | Contextualization | |
| ME 8215 | Teaching Across Cultures | |
| ME 8815 | Ethnicity: Modes of Inquiry and Analysis | |
| NT 5100 | English Bible (various books) | |
| OT 5100 | English Bible (various books) | |
| OT 5050 | Geography of Bible Lands | |
| PR 5600 | Christian Faith and Contemporary Challenges | |
| PT 5100 | Spiritual Formation for Ministry | |
| PT 6300 | Intro to Chaplain Ministries | 2 hours |
Student Learning Outcomes
The MA in EM will enable participants to:
- Critique educational practices and experiences with renewed theoretical and educational understanding
- Ground their educational thinking in a strong biblical and theoretical base
- Integrate educational theory with Christian character and formation
- Link their educational framework within a contextualized ministry practice
- Identify and articulate a leadership philosophy and implementation strategy within an organizational system
MA in EM Residency and Online Course Delivery
MA in EM courses are available in several modes: on the Deerfield campus in semester long, short-term weekly modular, weekend, and summer formats; online where the entire program may be completed; at approved extension sites; some independent study work; and conference or on-site wrap-a-rounds. Program participants may “mix and match” blending instructional modalities in any fashion accessible to them in consultation with their faculty adviser. Not all courses are available in all modes or during all semesters.
While Deerfield-based course work provides the largest course selection, the MA in Educational Ministries is available entirely online with courses rotating through a two to three-year cycle. All Bible and theology, and educational ministries Core courses are available online, as are an adequate number of EM Concentration courses in order to complete the MA in EM degree. Online participants are encouraged to join the Deerfield campus community for one or two short-term modular or weekend classes as their schedule allows and courses are of interest.
Further, as an Educational Ministries Department we are committed to thoughtful and collaborative delivery of online education. Our intention as an EM Department is to state and practice the following Online Teaching Values:
- We purpose to equip servants for gospel work unable to locate to the home campus
- We facilitate learning among geographically dispersed and diverse program participants
- We intend to maximize a learner’s contextual field experience
- We collaborate learner to learner, faculty to learner, and learner to ministry colleagues
- We endeavor to create a community of learners mutually contributing to the learning of others; each person has a responsibility to the learning community
- We use technology as a tool to enhance and enable and minimize inhibition
Advanced Standing in the Educational Ministries Department
Advanced Standing of not more than nine semester hours may be granted in the MA in Educational Ministries program and not more than three semester hours in the Certificates on the basis of prior academic work in a formal or non-formal context. Such work shall be assessed by the Educational Ministries Department in light of the stated program objectives with evidence of knowledge, competence, and skills aligned with the degree program. Advanced standing with credit is not granted on the basis of ministerial or life experience. After consultation with the EM program adviser, petitions for advanced standing should be submitted to the department chair subsequent to completion of the first program course and prior to enrollment in the third semester. See the EM Department for details.
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MA in Educational Ministries: Core Values
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