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Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies

The Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies (MAPS) degree program prepares students for ministerial service in a variety of contexts. Embracing four areas of developmenthuman, spiritual, intellectual, and ministerialthe program guides students in the development of their own pastoral identity through an integrated exploration of theology and pastoral practice.

Overview

Through graduate coursework, focused contextual experiences, and an integration project, students explore and work to develop those personal qualities necessary for faithful service, spiritual practices grounded in God's Trinitarian life, theological knowledge and intellectual skills, and the pastoral abilities appropriate to their gifts and ministerial context.

Curriculum

The traditional curriculum includes courses in scripture, pastoral theology, and ministerial skills, as well as numerous concentrations. The MA in Pastoral Studies forms the basis for the MDiv degree. Students have the option to apply for the MDiv degree at any point during their degree program or upon completion, and all courses will count toward their MDiv degree.

Course List

• Core Courses:
  • IPS 570: Introduction to Theology and Ministry (3 hours)
  • IPS 416: Introduction to New Testament (3 hours)
  • IPS 417: Introduction to the Old Testament (3 hours)
  • IPS 402: Church and Mission (3 hours)
  • IPS 531: Christian Doctrine (3 hours)
  • IPS 541: Liturgy and Christian Sacraments (3 hours)
  • IPS 553: Moral Theology and Christian Ethics (3 hours)
  • IPS 555: Human Person and Psychological Development (3 hours)
• Ministry Electives (9 hours)
• Contextual Education:
  • IPS 578: Contextual Education Preparation (0 hours)
  • IPS 579: Contextual Education Introduction (0 hours)
  • IPS 580: Contextual Education I (3 hours)
• Integration Paper:
  • IPS 593: Integration Project (0 hours)
• Total Hours: 36

Intellectual Development

Intellectual development seeks to expand the pastoral minister's understanding and appreciation of faith through theological studies and other disciplines such as philosophy, the arts, psychology, sociology, culture, and language studies.

Ministerial Development

Ministerial development cultivates the knowledge, attitudes, and skills directly pertaining to effective functioning in the ministry setting. This includes disciplines such as counseling, medical ethics, business administration, leadership, organizational development, and law.

Contextual Development

Contextual development integrates theological, ministerial, personal, and spiritual learnings in the context of lived everyday ministry settings. This involves on-site mentoring, supervision, and peer and faculty reflection sessions.

Human Development

Human development enhances the pastoral minister's human qualities and character, fostering a healthy and well-balanced personality for both human growth and ministerial service.

Spiritual Development

Spiritual development aims to arouse and animate true hunger for holiness, desire for union with God through Christ in the Spirit, and practices of prayer and spirituality.

Integration Project

Students complete the program with the zero-credit Integration Project (IPS 593) in their final year.

Learning Outcomes

By completing the Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies, students will be able to demonstrate:

• A fluency with the theological, ministerial, and interpersonal resources that make successful service to the church and world feasible.
• The capacity to understand and critique the social and cultural contexts in which they will serve.
• The ability to articulate with rhetorical skill and persuasion convincing command of relevant theological and ministerial themes and applications.
• Personal engagement with spiritual and psychological insights and scholarship that will nourish them as they make successful ministerial or academic contributions.