MA in Educational Ministries

36 credit hours | 2-3 years

Why study Educational Ministries at TEDS?

The Master of Arts in Educational Ministries (MA/EM) equips men and women in congregational or parachurch leadership for collaborative ministry engagement, and for formational teaching and learning of others. Graduates currently serve as church educators and administrators for all ages, education or staff pastors, church administrators, Christian school teachers, parachurch or university staff persons, or are pursuing doctoral educational studies.

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. 

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

MA in Educational Ministries: Core Values

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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