Pastoral Studies, M.A.

• School of Theology
• C.P. Haggard Graduate School of Theology
• Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies

• About the Program
• Coursework
• Faculty
• Tuition and Aid
• Admission
• Contact

Coursework

• Course Requirements
• Church Leadership and Development Concentration
• Urban Studies Concentration
• Worship Leadership Concentration
• Youth Ministry Concentration
• Biblical Languages
• Advanced Standing
• Transfer Units
• Additional Degree Requirements
• Frequently Asked Questions

Course Requirements

The Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies requires 60 units of coursework: 32 units of core courses, 16 units in a selected concentration of ministry, 4 units of field education, 4 units of elective coursework, and 4 units of a capstone project.

*GBBL 511 is offered as 511A and 511B at some centers.

*Repeated for total of 4 units
^The Youth Ministry Concentration requires six units of field education; this reduces the elective to two units.

Church Leadership and Development Concentration

Today’s hurried, fragmented society calls for healthy, effective ministry leaders. This concentration provides students with education in practical ministry with particular focus on leadership development and spiritual formation, equipping ministers for the broad, multifaceted needs of the contemporary church. Program outcomes build on the graduate school of theology’s core competencies and M.A.P.S. Program outcomes.

Concentration Outcomes

• Synthesize the vital role of healthy church management for the empowerment of the laity.
• Develop vocational proficiency and leadership ability.
• Apply ministry principles of Christ-like formation for lifelong ministry effectiveness and personal growth.

Urban Studies Concentration

The North American church is becoming increasingly urbanized. To prepare students for ministry in the city, this concentration engages students with urban social structures, trends, and ministry strategies. Issues of contextualization, social analysis, and cross-cultural communication will be addressed.

Concentration Outcomes

• Evaluate and apply ministry concepts, theories, and methodologies found in the urban setting.
• Develop cultural awareness and sensitivity for ministry in the urban context.
• Analyze the methods of evangelism and discipleship unique to the city.

Worship Leadership Concentration

The postmodern worship leader combines theology, skill, and heart in order to facilitate the church’s corporate worship experience. This concentration includes worship history, worship planning, development of musical ensembles, and communication and leadership theory.

Concentration Outcomes

• Demonstrate experience in the leading of worship, with an emphasis on strategic worship service design.
• Construct a theology of ministry, worship, and the sacraments based on the development of worship in the history of the Church, including ancient and modern liturgy and postmodern worship styles.

Youth Ministry Concentration

21^st century youth ministry must be rooted in scriptural principles and be able to address the complex challenges facing youth in today’s culture. This concentration trains youth workers for faithful and effective youth ministry. Youth leaders prepare to become active liaisons between youth, parents, schools, and the community.

Concentration Outcomes

• Comprehend youth culture and its implications for ministry.
• Apply experiential learning to 21^st century youth ministry.

Biblical Languages

Master of Divinity (M.Div.) students are required to obtain competence in at least one biblical language for use as an exegetical tool in the study of the Bible. This requirement may be met by the course GBBL 500 (Elements of Greek Exegesis); by transcript evidence of one year of biblical Greek or Hebrew at the undergraduate level; or by GBBL 510, GBBL 520 or GBBL 530, GBBL 540.

It is strongly recommended, however, that students who anticipate further graduate study in theology complete a full-year course in biblical Greek and/or Hebrew. To obtain full benefit from courses in biblical studies, students should enroll in the biblical language course, as well as in GBBL 511 (Seminar in Biblical Interpretation), as early as possible in their academic program.

Advanced Standing

• M.Div. students may petition for up to 15 units of advanced standing from upper-division undergraduate work in religion.
• The number of core courses in any department that may be replaced by advanced standing is limited to two.
• M.A.P.S. students may petition for up to 10 units of advanced standing from upper-division undergraduate work in religion.
• M.A.T.S. students may petition for up to 10 units of advanced standing on the basis of undergraduate biblical language study or upper-division undergraduate coursework in religion.
• M.A.Y.M. students may petition for up to eight units of advanced standing from undergraduate work in religion.
• Prior to formal admission, the Request for Advanced Standing Petition form should be completed.
• All advanced standing examinations are administered in a proctored setting twice a year: the second Friday of October and March.
• Students must pass examinations for advanced standing within 12 months of their admission date. The cost for the exam is $50 per unit. If the student passes the exam(s), then he/she will not be required to pay full tuition for those units.
• A student may repeat advanced standing examinations one time without further charge.
• Courses in which a grade of B-or lower was earned may not be used for advanced standing.
• Students admitted under the exceptional category may not petition for advanced standing units.
• Undergraduate work must be from an accredited college or university.

Transfer Units

A student may petition for up to 45 units for the M.Div., less any advanced standing units (e.g., 30 units transfer and 15 units advanced standing or any other combination totaling 45 units for the M.Div.), 30 units for the M.A.P.S. and M.A.T.S., and up to 24 units for M.A.Y.M., less any advanced standing units, from other regionally or ATS-accredited graduate degree programs. Units transferred are limited to one-third of an earned master’s degree. A minimum of 45 units for the M.Div., 30 units for the M.A.P.S. and M.A.T.S., and 24 units for the M.A.Y.M., must be completed at C.P. Haggard Graduate School of Theology.

Additional Degree Requirements

Advancement to Candidacy

In order to advance toward the Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies, the student must attain candidacy by completing 20 units of coursework, including 2 units of field education, with a grade-point average of 2.7 or better. In addition, the student must comply with three candidacy requirements.

1. A satisfactory evaluation by the professor of field education and field ministry supervisors
2. A satisfactory evaluation of the student’s spiritual and personal growth and skills for ministry development by the faculty
3. Approval for candidacy by C.P. Haggard Graduate School of Theology faculty (The faculty may act to grant candidacy and permission to continue studies, or deny candidacy and recommend that the student be dropped from the program.)

All students in the Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies Program should devote at least 8 hours per week, for the duration of the program, to the practice of some form of supervised ministry in an approved church or parachurch field center.

In order to graduate, a student must maintain at least a 2.7 grade-point average.

Time Limit

The Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies must be completed within eight years from the date of admission. APU coursework completed more than eight years prior to completion of degree requirements is not accepted toward the degree.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many units do I take each quarter/semester?
While there are no minimum or maximum unit requirements, 9 units is considered a full-time schedule.

How long is a semester?
Semesters generally run for 15 weeks.

How many hours does each class session require?
Both once a week classes, which last for 4 hours and 15 minutes, and twice a week classes, which run for 2 hours each, are available.

How many students will there be in my classes?
Most classes will average between 15-18 students.

How many evenings per week do I attend classes?
Classes usually meet once a week, but some are offered twice a week.

Does this program require a thesis, dissertation, or capstone project?
A student’s philosophy of ministry will serve as their master’s thesis.