The integrated Master of Arts in Christian Ministry (M.A.C.M.) and Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (M.A.C.M.H.C.) program is designed to prepare students to serve in roles requiring both theological education and clinical mental health counseling skills. Examples of such positions include church counseling ministers, Christian school counselors, denomination/associational leaders, and leaders of faith-based service organizations and non-profits.
Pursuing these two degrees separately would require a total of 96 hours of course work. By recognizing 9 hours of the M.A.C.M.H.C. coursework as fulfilling the Spiritual Guidance Specialization requirement in the M.A.C.M, the total coursework for the integrated program is 87 hours.
GRADUATE ADMISSIONS INFORMATION
Cost | Admission Requirements | Transfer of Credit
SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION
Scholarship information can be found here.
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Courses
To see course descriptions, visit the Academic Catalog.
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE INTEGRATED M.A.C.M./M.A.C.M.H.C.
M.A.C.M. Requirements (36 Hours)
(9 hours common to both the M.A.C.M. degree and the M.A.C.M.H.C. degree)
Ministry Studies - 6 hours from the following:
CHRM 5101 Leadership of Christian Ministry
CHRM 5102 Characteristics of Preschoolers & 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
Christian Traditions – 6 hours
CHRM 5300 The Baptists
CHRM 5360 World Christianity
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
Foundations Electives - 6 hours from the following:
Any Ministry Studies core courses
Any Biblical and Theological Studies core courses
Spiritual Guidance Specialization – 12 hours
HIED 5303 Christian Servant Leadership
Any 9 hours from the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling curriculum
NOTE: The 9 hours from the M.A.C.M.H.C. curriculum are common to both degrees.
M.A.C.M.H.C. Requirements (60 hours) 60
(9 hours common to both the M.A.C.M. degree and the M.A.C.M.H.C. degree)
COUN 5301 Theories of Counseling
COUN 4304 Professional Orientation in Counseling
COUN 5305 Group Counseling
COUN 5309 Assessment for Counselors
COUN 5312 Lifespan Development
COUN 5316 Psychopathology and Diagnosis
COUN 5321 Research and Program Evaluation
COUN 5327 Sociocultural Issues in Counseling
COUN 5330 Professional Issues and Ethics for Practice
COUN 5335 Techniques in Counseling
COUN 6301 Marriage and Family Therapy or COUN 5303 Counseling Children and Adolescents
COUN 6305 Career Counseling Across the Lifespan
COUN 6313 Counseling Practicum I
COUN 6320 Psychopharmacology and Treatment
COUN 6322 Crisis and Trauma Intervention
COUN 6324 Advanced Ethics for Professional Practice
COUN 6326 Addictions Counseling
COUN 6350 Counseling Internship I
COUN 6352 Counseling Internship II
Students must complete 3 hours from the following courses:
COUN 5302 Introduction to Play Therapy
COUN 6351 Faith Integration in Counseling
Total: Minimum eighty-seven (87) credit hours for the Integrated M.A.C.M./M.A.C.M.H.
PROGRAM SPECIFIC ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
There are specific admission requirements for each of these programs. Please refer to the webpage for each program to view these requirements.
MISSION STATEMENT
Through advanced biblical, theological, and practical study, the School of Christian Studies graduate 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.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
For the Master of Arts in Religion and the Master of Arts in Christian Ministry, students will complete a total of 36-37 graduate credit hours 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. Read more about the requirements on the Graduation Requirements page.
DISMISSAL FROM PROGRAM
1. Students who fail to achieve full admission after the completion of nine graduate hours will be dismissed from the program.
2. Students who fail to maintain at least a 2.75 grade point average will be placed on probation and will have one semester to raise the grade point average. Following that semester, failure to regain at least a 2.75 grade point average will result in dismissal from the program.
3. Students who earn a grade of “D” or “F” in any one course may be dismissed from the program based on a recommendation from the Program Director and Dean.
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.
Summer 2020
CHRM 5342 Selected Topics in Theology
CHRM 5352 Selected Topics in Ministry
Fall 2020
CHRM 5300 The Baptists
CHRM 5301 Early Childhood Ministry
CHRM 5306 Theology of Missions
CHRM 5319 Old Testament Exegesis
CHRM 5331 New Testament Ecclesiology
HIED 5303 Christian Servant Leadership
Spring 2021
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 2021
CHRM 5342 Selected Topics in Theology
CHRM 5352 Selected Topics in Ministry
Fall 2021
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 2022
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 2022
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.