New MA Min distance offering

Grace Theological Seminary, Winona Lake, Indiana, a well respected RA school, is now offering an MA in Ministry that can be completed with only two weeks on campus. The program is so new it is not even up on their web site yet.

 

Good luck with your own program. I assume you are doing it via DL methodology.

Welcome to the Forum!

North

 

This program only requires two weeks on campus? I would like to learn more about this, when will information be available? I have been shopping around.


BMAN

 

I found out when I e-mailed admissions and asked if they had any distance learning programs. I've not been to their web site in several weeks, but I'm sure they will be posting the new information soon. It is www.grace.edu

The telephone number is 1-800-54-GRACE.

 

If you go to the website, you'll find a scroll-down menu box on the upper, left-hand side of the screen. Click on the down arrow and scroll down to "Distance Learning-Seminary"; press "go." This will take you to a rather detailed description of the MA Min program. This looks like a neat development for Grace Sem.

By the way, Grace Seminary was very influencial at my alma mater, Liberty University. Several of my professors had earned the ThM and/or the ThD from Grace. Dr. Fink, who was one of my favorite professors, had been a dean (I believe) at Grace prior to coming to Liberty. Also, several books from Grace faculty members served as key texts in many of my Bible classes.

Cory Seibel

 

The information currently posted on the Grace Seminary Web site pertaining to distance learning is old. The new distance MA Min. program does not involve weekly meetings or two-way video conferencing. It is done through correspondence studies and by attending two one-week modular courses on the Grace campus.

 

Sorry--My bad!

Cory Seibel

 

There's nothing to be sorry about. It is rather confusing. One would think that they would be in a hurry to advertise a new program.

 

Would this degree program qualify a person for admission to doctoral studies?

 

This, I think, would depend on the type of doctoral program. I don't think it would get you into a D.Min program.

 

Howard,

What type, then?

Thanks for your reply.

 

Most doctoral programs in ministry or theology require at least an M.Div. However, there are a few accredited schools like Luther Rice (TRACS) and Baptist Bible Seminary- Clarks Summit(RA) that have extended D.Min programs. You can gain admission to those programs with an MA, but then you have to do extra coursework to earn the D.Min. An MA in ministry may also qualify you for entrance into some of the South African PhD programs as well.

 

Rob,

Thanks for your reply.

I'm pretty sure the South African schools would require that an MA have a substantial research component to qualify one for admission to a PhD degree program. Wouldn't you agree?

 

I think that most of the South African schools would require that an MA have a significant research component for entry into a Ph.D. program. However, I think that there may be exceptions. Perhaps, SATS would be one of them. When I was looking into South African programs, I discovered that entrance requirements often varied somewhat depending upon the school or even upon one's proposed course of study.

 

I was in the same boat. I have an MA min. but wanted to go on. Most all schools out their require a MDIV to get into their DMIN programs. Both Luther Rice and American Christian College and Seminary have extended D MIn programs. I am currently at American Christian College and Sem. They are very willing to work with you and i would encourge you to contact them. Greenwich school of Theology is another possiblility for a PHD but again i think they want to see how much research you have done.

Let me know if i can be of help.

Robert

THB Grace Bible Grand Rapids
MA MIn. Moody Grad. School
D MIn ( in progress ACCS)

 

The MA Min might gain one acceptance into a few non-theological PhD programs, such as the PhD in Organizational Leadership at Regent University. This program requires one to be in possession of an accredited master's degree, but, to the best of my knowledge, no discipline-specific background is required. Some Education doctoral programs have similar standards. However, I can say with a fairly high degree of confidence that the MA Min will not be adequate for one to gain acceptance into a credible, accredited PhD program in any theological discipline. It simply is not designed for the purposes of providing a student the adequate level of preparation for PhD work.

Cory Seibel

 

Hey, Cory; how are you?

I thought that was the case, although I also thought that Rob might be right that SATS could be an exception.

I've about decided that if I can't find a theology department that will allow me to do a "creative writing theology degree," I'll settle for a "theological/spiritual creative writing degree" done through an English department. I won't be very happy about it, though, since English is not what I want to teach. I would like to teach worship/liturgy/hymnology and sacred literature.

 

If you want a DMin I would suggest you spend the up front hours for a MDiv and then proceed from there. You could get the MDiv at Liberty, ACC, Luther Rice and several other TRACS programs. If you don't get the MDiv at Liberty you could transfer any of the TRACS programs into the DMin at Liberty.

In essence, you will be required to do the same number of semester hours --- the MDiv requries 90 (usually), but then the DMin is only 30-36. If you do the Masters in Minister (33) then you will be required to do 90-100 for the PhD.

So, look at what you want and then proceed. From what I gather from your postings you really want to stay in the religious field, so don't try to go in through the back door - IMHO, you will be frustrated in the end if you do.

Good Luck.

 

Howard,

Thanks for your reply.

You're right about my preference, but I've also decided that I'm primarily a creative person and therefore am somewhat more interested in producing my own original creative work than only studying the works of others--and I don't mean that to be or sound arrogant. I've already published a book of original poems, and I would like to do more of this. I just don't see why a theology degree could not have a creative component.

At this time I'm considering these possibilities for a creative-oriented theology degree: Australian Catholic University, Charles Sturt University, University of Pretoria, and Cal State, Dominguez Hills--I'm seriously considering Tom Head's suggestion, on another thread, of how I might do the HUX inderdisciplinary concentration.

Of course, I've got to also consider which of these options would be best for getting me into a PhD program.

 

Is there any new information available concerning the MA in Ministry at Grace? Just curious if there was any information in print available yet.

BMAN