The Master of Arts in Christian Ministry is a two-year program focused on the application of the principles of ministry. It consists of 36 semester hours in which four hours may be earned by completing a thesis or advanced ministry project. This curriculum provides opportunities for intensive study in Christian scriptures, theology, and ministry at the graduate level.
All courses are offered online, adding to the convenience of the program. Areas of specialization include Business Leadership, Children’s Ministry, Sports and Recreation Ministry, Spiritual Guidance, Youth Ministry, Theology, and Missions. Students are equipped with the ministry skills necessary to fulfill their calling in the Kingdom of God.
SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION
Scholarship information can be found here.
GRADUATE ADMISSIONS INFORMATION
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Courses
In addition to the general admission requirements, the following prerequisites and requirements are necessary for admission into the Master of Arts in Christian Ministry (MACM):
- Minimum of nine (9) hours in Christian Ministry, Christian Theology, and/or Bible
Leveling Coursework
Any deficiency in hours must be satisfied by taking appropriate undergraduate courses. Substitution and/or equivalency decisions for prerequisite courses or transfer of any graduate hours must receive the approval of the program director and the Dean.
CURRICULUM FOR THE MASTER OF ARTS IN CHRISTIAN MINISTRY
The Master of Arts in Christian Ministry is a two-year program focused on the application of the principles of ministry; it consists of 36 semester hours in which three hours will be earned by completing a thesis, practicum or ministry project. Through a core of courses and a specialization chosen by the student, the program provides specialized instruction as it prepares ministers and lay leaders academically and professionally for Christian ministry leadership and responsibilities in congregations
and other settings.
Core Courses: Twenty-four (24) semester hours:
Scripture and Witness: Nine (9) Hours
SCPT 5301 Biblical Interpretation
Three hours from the following:
SCPT 5321 Old Testament I
SCPT 5322 Old Testament II
Three hours from the following:
SCPT 5331 New Testament I
SCPT 5332 New Testament II
Faith and Heritage Six (6) Hours
Three hours from the following:
FHER 5311 Christian Theology I
FHER 5312 Christian Theology n
Three hours from the following:
FHER 5301 Christian Heritage I
FHER 5302 Christian Heritage II
FHER 5300 The Baptists
Ministry and Formation: Six (6) Hours
CHRM 5350 The Educational Ministry of the Church
Three hours from the following:
CHRM 5355 Spiritual Formation
CHRM 5313 Christian Witness
CHRM 5314 Church Administration
Thesis/Practicum/Supervised Ministry: Three (3) Hours
Choose One
SCPT or FHER or CHRM 5390 Thesis
SCPT or FHER or CHRM 5398 Practicum
SCPT or FHER or CHRM 5399 Supervised Ministry
Specialization: Twelve (12) Hours
Biblical Languages
BILA 5303 OT Hebrew I
BILA 5304 OT Hebrew II
BILA 5313 NT Greek l
BILA 5314 NT Greek II
Business Leadership
CHRM 5326 Christian Servant Leadership
Choose any 9 hours from the Master of Business Administration Specializations
Christian Education
CHRM 5314 Church Administration
FHER 5360 Apologetics
CHRM 5329 Principles of Teaching
CHRM 5328 Educational Psychology
Theology
Three (3) hours from the following:
FHER 5311 Christian Theology I
FHER 5312 Christian Theology II
Three (3) hours from the following:
SCPT 5319 Old Testament Exegesis
SCPT 5309 New Testament Exegesis
Six (6) Hours:
SCPT 5320 Old Testament Theology
SCPT 5330 New Testament Theology
Children's Ministry
CHRM 5326 Christian Servant Leadership
CHRM 5301 Early Childhood Ministry
Cl-IRM 5302 Elementary Children's Ministry
Cl-IRM 5303 Family Ministry
Ministry Studies
Twelve (12) hours 5000-level CHRM, FHER, or SCPT courses.
Missions
CHRM 5355 Spiritual Formation: Scripture, Tradition and Practice
CHRM 5305 Strategies for Missions
CHRM 5304 History of Missions
CHRM 5306 Theology of Missions
Church Administration
CHRM 5326 Christian Servant Leadership
ACCT 5307 Financial Accounting*"'
MGMT 5315 Management of Social Media**
MGMT 5306 Strategic Human Resource Management**
Sports and Recreation Ministry
CHRM 5326 Christian Servant Leadership
KINE 5301 Current Trends and Issues in Spo11s and Exercise Settings
KINE 5304 Sport and Exercise Psych.
KINE 5305 Advanced Human Performance
Counseling
CCOU 5301 Spirituality and Counseling
Nine (9) hours from the following:
COUN 5335 Techniques in Counseling
COUN 5301 Theories in Counseling
COUN 5303 Counseling Children and Adolescents
CCOU 5302 Basic Counseling Ethics
CCQU COUN 5312 Lifespan Development
CCOU 6327 Multicultural Counseling
COUN 6301 Marriage and Family Counseling
COUN 6322 Crisis and Trauma Counseling
COUN 6326 Additions Counseling
Youth Ministry
CHRM 5326 Christian Servant Leadership
CHRM 5307 Youth Evangelism and Discipleship
CHRM 5308 Youth Cultural Issues
CHRM 5303 Family Ministry
Worship
CHRM 5344 Foundations of Christian Worship
CHRM 5345 Worship Planning and Design
CHRM 5346 Worship and Missions
CHRM 5348 Worship Leadership and Technology
*Students with five or more years of ministry experience who are planning to pursue
doctoral studies may substitute COUN 5321 Research and Statistics for SCPT or FHER
or CHRM 5399 Supervised Ministry
**Leveling course(s) or leveling module(s) may be necessary for students without previous business
course work.
To see course descriptions, visit the Academic Catalog.
CURRICULUM FOR THE MASTER OF ARTS IN CHRISTIAN MINISTRY
The Master of Arts in Christian Ministry is a two-year program focused on the application of the principles of ministry; it consists of 36 semester hours in which four hours may be earned by completing a thesis or advanced ministry project. This curriculum provides opportunities for intensive study in Christian scriptures, theology, and ministry at the graduate level. Students may enter the program during any fall or spring term.
Ministry Studies - 6 hours from the following:
CHRM 5101 Leadership of Childhood Ministries
CHRM 5102 Characteristics of Preschoolers and Children
CHRM 5103 Teaching Strategies in Childhood Ministries
CHRM 5301 Early Childhood Ministry
CHRM 5302 Elementary Children’s Ministry
CHRM 5303 Family Ministry
CHRM 5304 History of Missions
CHRM 5305 Strategies for Missions
CHRM 5306 Theology of Missions
CHRM 5307 Youth Evangelism and Discipleship
CHRM 5308 Youth Cultural Issues
CHRM 5312 Understanding the Contemporary Mind and Religion
CHRM 5350 The Educational Ministry of the Church
CHRM 5352 Selected Topics in Ministry
CHRM 5355 Spiritual Formation: Scripture, Tradition, and Practice
Biblical and Theological Studies - 6 hours from the following:
CHRM 5309 New Testament Exegesis
CHRM 5310 The Christian Life in the Letters of Paul
CHRM 5311 Christianity and Contemporary Culture
CHRM 5319 Old Testament Exegesis
CHRM 5320 Old Testament Theology
CHRM 5330 New Testament Theology
CHRM 5331 New Testament Ecclesiology
CHRM 5340 Peoples, Theology, and Literature of the Ancient Near East and Israel
CHRM 5341 The Land and Cities of Ancient Israel
CHRM 5342 Selected Topics in Theology
Christian Traditions - 6 hours:
CHRM 5300 The Baptists
CHRM 5360 World Christianity
Specialization(12-15 hours)
Business Leadership – 12 hours from the following:
HIED 5303 Christian Servant Leadership or MBAE 5301 Entrepreneurial Leadership
Any 9 hours from the Master of Business Administration curriculum other than MBAE 5301
Children’s Ministry - 15 hours from the following:
HIED 5303 Christian Servant Leadership
CHRM 5301 Early Childhood Ministry
CHRM 5302 Elementary Children’s Ministry
CHRM 5303 Family Ministry
CHRM 5350 The Educational Ministry of the Church
Sports and Recreation Ministry – 12 hours from the following:
HIED 5303 Christian Servant Leadership
KINE 5301 Current Trends and Issues in Sports and Exercise Settings
KINE 5304 Sport and Exercise Psychology
KINE 5305 Principles of Advanced Human Performance
Spiritual Guidance – 12 hours from the following:
CHRM 5355 Spiritual Formation: Scripture, Tradition, and Practice
Nine (9) hours from the following:
COUN 5303 Counseling Children and Adolescents
COUN 5304 Professional Orientation in Counseling
COUN 5312 Lifespan Development
COUN 5327 Sociocultural Issues in Counseling
COUN 6301 Marriage and Family Therapy
COUN 6322 Crisis and Trauma Intervention
COUN 6326 Addictions Counseling
COUN 6351 Faith Integration in Counseling
Youth Ministry - 15 hours from the following:
HIED 5303 Christian Servant Leadership
CHRM 5350 The Educational Ministry of the Church
CHRM 5303 Family Ministry
CHRM 5307 Youth Evangelism and Discipleship
CHRM 5308 Youth Cultural Issues
Theology - 15 hours from the following:
CHRM 5309 New Testament Exegesis
CHRM 5310 The Christian Life in the Letters of Paul
CHRM 5311 Christianity and Contemporary Culture
CHRM 5319 Old Testament Exegesis
CHRM 5320 Old Testament Theology
CHRM 5330 New Testament Theology
CHRM 5331 New Testament Ecclesiology
CHRM 5340 Peoples, Theology, and Literature of the Ancient Near East and Israel
CHRM 5342 Selected Topics in Theology
Missions - 15 hours from the following:
HIED 5303 Christian Servant Leadership
CHRM 5355 Spiritual Formation: Scripture, Tradition, and Practice
CHRM 5304 History of Missions
CHRM 5305 Strategies for Missions
CHRM 5306 Theology of Missions
Electives – 3-6 hours from the following (to reach a total of 36 hours depending on the Specialization):
Any Bible and Theology Foundations courses
Any Ministry Foundations courses
MISSION STATEMENT
Through advanced biblical, theological, and practical study, B.H. Carroll Theological Seminary programs seek to equip men and women to become Christian servant leaders who possess the knowledge and skills necessary to fulfill their calling in the Kingdom of God.
STATEMENT OF PHILOSOPHY
The nature of graduate education is to foster an environment with the student as an active participant in the learning process as leader, researcher, and practitioner. Significant time is spent on the review of the literature of the discipline. The activities of the course are writing intensive, engage the biblical text more closely and thoroughly than is typical in an undergraduate course, require careful, detailed analysis of diverse and conflicting interpretations, incorporate reflective thought on the part of the student, include an increased expectation of independent research, and necessitate a search for additional resources to bring to class to inform discussion. At their discretion, students may work in collaborative groups to complete the course goals and objectives, but each student must be prepared to participate personally in seminar discussions and presentations.
ADVANCED TRACK OPTIONS
B. H. Carroll Seminary at ETBU offers Advanced Track options for the Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Christian Ministry, and Master of Arts in Counseling degree programs. These options are available to qualified students who have significant preparation in biblical, theological, or applied Christian studies at the bachelor’s level. Such students may want to customize their academic program in a way that allows them to avoid redundancy and build upon previous learning.
A student may receive up to eighteen (18) hours toward the Master of Divinity Advanced Track; up to six (6)hours, similar to core courses, toward the Master of Arts in Christian Ministry Advanced Track; up to twelve (12) hours toward the Master of Arts in Counseling, Ministry Specialization, and up to eighteen(18)hours toward the Master of Arts in Counseling, Licensure Specialization. There will be no advanced track for the MATS.
The student must meet the standard B. H. Carroll at ETBU admission requirements and have a 3.0 grade point average (GPA) in the undergraduate courses presented to satisfy the Advanced Standing requirements. The application and approval processes requires the student’s submission of a portfolio of course syllabi and assignments representative of the student’s work in previous religion, Bible, and theology courses. If the Seminary has an agreement with a college, submission of course syllabi by the institution will allow students who qualify to move into the advanced track without portfolio submission, as long as they meet the qualifications above.
DISMISSAL FROM CARROLL'S MASTER'S DEGREE PROGRAMS:
Dismissal is the termination of a student’s enrollment in Carroll Seminary at ETBU, imposed by action of the Graduate Programs Council. Bases for dismissal include deficiencies in academic performance, compromise of the principles of academic integrity, serious breach of the regulations established for the health and well-being of the Carroll Seminary at ETBU community, and persistence in a manner of life incompatible with Carroll Seminary at ETBU standards for professional leadership in ministry.
Returning graduate students who did not maintain the academic requirements to stay enrolled in their initial attempt at graduate work will apply to the Graduate Restart Admissions Program for a fresh start to earn a degree in the original program or a different program. A Graduate Restart Application must be submitted to the Office of Graduate Admissions and must be approved by the Program Director, Dean of the school to which the student is applying, and the Director of Graduate Admissions.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
For the Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Theological Studies, Christian Ministry, and Counseling, students will complete all required courses in the program with a grade of “C” or higher and maintain at least a 2.75 grade point average. Students must complete all requirements for the degree within five years of being granted full admission.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. Students will (a) construct a biblical approach to ministry and (b) design a personal philosophy of ministry grounded in Scripture and tailored to his or her calling, personality, and gifting.
2. Students will demonstrate skills in Christian ministry, such as (a) leading devotions on biblical concepts and passages and (b) planning worship services.
3. Students will demonstrate the ability to prepare Bible studies or sermons
4. Students will (a) demonstrate knowledge of the seven pillars of leadership, and/or (b) evaluate models of Christian leadership, and/or (c) demonstrate the ability to apply the principles of Christian servant leadership to ministry situations.
5. Students will apply key principles and strategies used in contemporary global missions.
6. Students will demonstrate skills in using the various methodologies of biblical interpretation in analysis of selected biblical texts.
7. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the significance of major doctrinal themes of the Christian faith, their biblical foundations, and their historical and contemporary expressions.
8. Students will identify and explain the basic contributions to moral philosophy and Christian ethics of key figures of the Western tradition.
9. Students will analyze the strengths and weaknesses of evangelistic methods used worldwide.
10. Students will defend the biblical and theological basis for evangelism and display proficiency in sharing the gospel in a variety of contexts.
GENERAL COURSE SCHEDULE (This schedule is subject to change)
Summer
CHRM 5342 Selected Topics in Theology
CHRM 5352 Selected Topics in Ministry
Fall
CHRM 5300 The Baptists
CHRM 5301 Early Childhood Ministry
CHRM 5306 Theology of Missions
CHRM 5319 Old Testament Exegesis
CHRM 5331 New Testament Ecclesiology
CHRM 5303 Christian Servant Leadership
Spring
CHRM 5304 History of Missions
CHRM 5307 Youth Evangelism and Discipleship
CHRM 5311 Christianity and Contemporary Culture
CHRM 5330 New Testament Theology
CHRM 5350 The Educational Ministry of the Church
Summer
CHRM 5342 Selected Topics in Theology
CHRM 5352 Selected Topics in Ministry
Fall
CHRM 5302 Elementary Children's Ministry
CHRM 5303 Family Ministry
CHRM 5308 Youth Cultural Issues
CHRM 5310 The Christian Life in the Letters of Paul
CHRM 5340 Peoples, Theology, and Literature of the Ancient Near East and Israel
CHRM 5360 World Christianity
Spring
CHRM 5300 The Baptists
CHRM 5305 Strategies for Missions
CHRM 5309 New Testament Exegesis
CHRM 5312 Understanding the Contemporary Mind and Religion
CHRM 5320 Old Testament Theology
CHRM 5355 Spiritual Formation: Scripture, Tradition, and Practice
Summer
CHRM 5342 Selected Topics in Theology
CHRM 5352 Selected Topics in Ministry
Additionally the Thesis/Ministry Project courses [CHRM 6101 and CHRM 6301] will be offered as needed.