Admission Requirements

A minimum of 30 semester hours of Bible and Theology at the undergraduate level, or their equivalent, is required before admission will be granted to the Master of Arts (M.A.) degree program with a major in Pastoral Studies, Biblical Studies, or Theological Studies. A grade point average of 3.0 or higher is expected in one’s undergraduate work. This Bible/Theology background is not required for admission to the Master of Arts in Religion or Master of Divinity degree programs.

At least 2 semesters of homiletics and an apprenticeship program should normally have been a part of the undergraduate experience for those entering the M.A. program with a major in Pastoral Studies. This requirement may be waived, at the discretion of the seminary faculty, for those who have at least one year of full-time pastoral experience. Students are permitted to transfer a maximum of 12 acceptable credits into the M.A. programs.

Graduation Requirements

A candidate in any of the M.A. programs must have completed all courses with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 and must have completed all requirements pertaining to the degree program. The M.A. programs require 36 hours of graduate study, at least 18 of which must be in the major field. (The M.A.R. requires only 32 hours.) In addition to completing all classroom work and degree program requirements, the candidate must have evidenced ability in ministry, solidarity of Christian character, and definiteness of purpose to the satisfaction of the faculty.

For course requirements, please see the online catalog (pdf).

Modules

Students may complete the M.A. in residence, or they may complete the M.A. without relocating to the Ankeny area by attending module courses. Students who complete the M.A. by module must take at least three modules that are taught by members of the resident faculty. After completing nine credits, module students must apply to a degree program and be assigned a resident faculty adviser. Students who fail to apply to a degree program will not be allowed to put any additional credits (i.e., credits beyond the nine-credit limit) toward any degree program. It is in the best interest of the students, therefore, to apply to a degree program when or before the nine-credit limit is reached.

Advantages

The Master of Arts programs are designed so that a resident student carrying a full load should be able to complete his or her requirements in a year (with the possible exception of Biblical languages).

• To the missionary on furlough, this program offers spiritual and mental refreshment as well as academic challenges.
• To the pastor, it offers a time of study in which he can consolidate his thinking and improve his ability to serve a church.
• To the Christian teacher, it offers an opportunity for disciplined reflection in a setting designed to encourage study, thinking, and earnest conversation.
• To the lay person, it offers the benefits of careful study of both the Old and New Testaments to impact his or her daily life and ministry by building knowledge, discernment, and the ability to apply God’s Word.