Master of Arts in Christian Education (M.A.)
Are you called to teach and invest in the lives of children in the Christian School or Church environment? Earn your Master of Arts in Christian Education degree.
The Master of Arts in Christian Education is designed to provide advanced training in Biblical principles of Christian Education. This degree prepares one to do educational tasks in a Christian setting. Among these are teaching, supervising, developing, and implementing Christian education programs. The program has been approved by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) for provisional teacher certification. Check with the ACSI branch in your district to be certain of the acceptability. Students desiring state licensure or certification should check with their state authorities before entering the program to ascertain if it is acceptable in their state. The program may be creditable on school salary scales. For those who are already in a school position, check with the administration of the school regarding acceptability.
Courses You'll Complete to Earn Your Degree
CE 501 Church Administration and Leadership
Church Administration and Leadership
A course designed to develop leadership potential in students and to give them a familiarity with the various elements of the administrative process, including: goal setting and achieving, organization, delegation, human relations, group dynamics, supervision and the training of other leaders. Though the principles are universal, the focus of the course is the local church.
Credit Hours: 3
Instructor: Brian van Deventer, D.Min
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CE 503 Advanced Leadership and Administration
Advanced Leadership and Administration
A church leader wears many hats. In this course learners discover how to maximize productivity in the various functions of church leadership. The course examines the biblical foundation and practical functions of administrative leadership in churches and Christian organizations, and focuses on developing successful, biblical attitudes and skills among team leaders. Students will analyze basic leadership principles from secular and evangelical sources, analyzing them through a biblical/theological grid. (This advanced course is built on ITS course CE 501 Church Leadership and Administration. However, CE 501 is not a prerequisite for this course.)
Credit Hours: 3
Instructor: Richard P. Walters, Ph.D.
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CE 504 Adult Ministries in the Church
Adult Ministries in the Church
Students review the principles of andragogy and its application to various adult age levels and special adult groups such as singles, single parents, and families. Students will analyze and synthesize the church's entire ministry to adults.
Credit Hours: 3
Instructor: Rev. Dr. Marilyn E. Weekes
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CE 505 Effective Administrative Leadership
Effective Administrative Leadership
The purpose of this course is to assist in the training of Christian administrative leaders. A helpful balance has been produced in this course with an emphasis on both the biblical information concerning leadership as well as the practical, day-to-day information needed for successful leadership. The goal of this study is for the student to obtain a fresh understanding of the practical application of biblical leadership principles in his/her ministry setting.
Credit Hours: 3
Instructor: Brenda Thomas, M.A.
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ED 500 Philosophy of Christian Education
Philosophy of Christian Education
This course includes a study of the major religious and secular developments in history and education along with a comparison of those developments with biblical principles. The goal is to develop an understanding of the church’s role in education and to develop a personal philosophy of Christian education. The course also teaches introductory concepts related to education in a the local church and Christian School contexts.
Credit Hours: 3
Instructor: Brenda Thomas, M.A.
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ED 600 Primary Christian Education
Primary Christian Education
This course reviews development of infants and children in several dimensions; cognitive, emotional, social, and religious. Parental, family, church, and institutional-agency ministry reviewed with the purpose of encouraging students to develop a starting theology of ministry to persons in this age group and to practice skills fundamental to such ministry.
Credit Hours: 3
Instructor: Sara Reichard, M.Litt., R.N.
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ED 620 Secondary Christian Education
Secondary Christian Education
This course reviews development of teenagers and young adults in several dimensions: cognitive, emotional, social and spiritual. Parental, family, church, and institutional-agency ministry critically reviewed with the purpose of encouraging students to develop a starting theology of ministry to persons in this age group and to practice skills fundamental to such ministry.
Credit Hours: 3
Instructor: Prof. Paul Shotsberger
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ED 650 Curriculum Development in Christian Education
Curriculum Development in Christian Education
This course includes a study of the principles and aims of curriculum development, with an emphasis on selection and creative use of curriculum materials and resources to fulfill the educational task of the church. Students will be presented with various views on the means of knowing God and differing views of Scripture, as well as how each of these views influences development and choice of curriculum. Students will be introduced to the inductive Bible study method, as well as a method of lesson planning known as the HBLT approach. Students will be led through a consideration of how both of these methods can be adapted to teach different age students, including adults, youth, children and pre-schoolers. Students will be presented with Maslow’s and Herzberg’s research on individual needs, along with an instrument for assessing learner’s needs in a classroom setting. Bloom’s Taxonomy will be used to motivate a consideration of the aims of a Bible lesson and the methods available to creative Bible teachers. Students will be exposed to common practices of truly great teachers, factors that motivate learning, and a method for evaluating the teaching-learning process. Throughout the course, students will be encouraged to see the learner as an individual who, depending on age and experience, is motivated in different ways to achieve unique ends.
Credit Hours: 3
Instructor: Prof. Paul Shotsberger
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ED 750 Teaching Methodology
Teaching Methodology
This course is designed as an introduction to basic methods for teaching from a dynamic biblical viewpoint. The purpose of the course is to assist the theology students in understanding the essential elements of effective instruction and learning. Students will be introduced to different genres of writing in the Bible, as well as appropriate methods of interpreting each genre. For any given biblical passage to be taught, students will be encouraged to consider the big idea that needs to be conveyed to students, how to bridge the gap between the world of the Bible and the students� world, and problems that might be encountered at the planning and presentation levels for the lesson. Students will be challenged to think about how their own teaching can be improved in terms of fostering active learning, motivating learning, communicating clearly, personalizing biblical truth, and building a constructive classroom atmosphere. Students will be guided through the process of choosing a lesson topic and theme, leading students to discover the thematic and structural unity of the biblical passage through the method of inductive Bible study, and evaluating the results of instruction and learning.
Credit Hours: 3
Instructor: Prof. Paul Shotsberger
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MT 504 Evangelism in the Local Church
Evangelism in the Local Church
This course is a study of evangelism ministry with special attention paid to the context of a local church setting. Students will be encouraged to make specific applications of the lectures and assignments to the particular setting of their present or intended ministry (e.g., urban core, commuting suburban, rural, single professionals, ethnically diverse, and so forth). The course begins with a study of the biblical and theological foundations for evangelism. On this basis we will study methods of personal and group evangelism, how to equip laity to witness (and why most Christians don't respond to training seminars on evangelism), the use and development of church and para-church structures in evangelism (both on-going and special), the care of new converts and discipleship, and selected current issues in evangelism. Assignments focus on practical application of workable solutions for evangelism in the local church. Those in para-church ministries will find much to relate to their particular and often unique needs.
Credit Hours: 3
Instructor: Rev. Dr. Marilyn E. Weekes
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PT 504 Christian Worldview
Christian Worldview
How do you view reality? What is the source of your knowledge? Do you live what you believe? Such are the questions that a worldview answers. This course examines the nature and function of belief structures, and the value of developing and living a distinctly Christian life. The course develops a Christian worldview from a redemptive history model of Biblical theology, which is then clarified using the philosophical categories of metaphysics, epistemology, and axiology. Learners will gain an understanding of modern and postmodern thought and how to critique them biblically, and are encouraged to develop and apply a Christian worldview to life and ministry.
Credit Hours: 3
Instructor: Richard P. Walters, Ph.D.
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Our Goals for the Degree Program
- To prepare students to oversee the Christian Education program of a local church and to develop lay ministries within the church setting.
- To develop a philosophy of Christian Education which is based upon solid biblical, theological, and educational foundations.
- To equip students to mobilize and motivate lay persons to assist in the teaching ministry of the church.
- To inform students of the latest trends, theories, and creative teaching methods in the field of Christian Education.
- To assist the student in the integration of theory and practice which will result in effective evangelism and Christian nurture within the church.
What You'll Learn When You Earn Your MA in Christian Education Degree
- Understand the foundations of religious education and to conceptualize these understandings in the church educational ministry;
- Communicate to, lead, motivate, manage, and administer people and programs in the educational ministries of the church;
- Develop, evaluate, and administer curriculum in the church educational program and to serve as a resource person in the area of curriculum;
- Model an effective role as teacher and leader and to assist lay people to develop teaching and leadership skills;
- Develop specialized ministries to meet unique needs of individuals in the educational program;
- Enable lay people to worship, witness, teach, minister, motivate, and apply Christian faith in life and to initiate and administer programs in these areas;
- Function effectively in interpersonal relationships;
The twelve courses listed comprise the Master’s degree in Christian Education. Substitutions are subject to the approval of the Academic Dean. Substitution may be made if some of the above courses have already been taken (graduate transcripts of courses must be submitted for evaluation). A Master’s Thesis or Comprehensive Exam based on the course content may be required.
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