Program Overview

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B.A. in Pastoral Leadership & M.A. in Pastoral Studies

The B.A. in Pastoral Leadership and M.A. in Pastoral Studies is a five-year program designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in pastoral leadership, biblical and theological studies, and practical ministry skills.

Quick Facts

• Degree: Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts
• Time to complete: 5 years (4 undergraduate, 1 graduate)
• Credit Hours: 79 (B.A.), 48 (M.A.)
• Location: Nashville, TN - Main Campus (B.A.), Hybrid - online & in-person (M.A.)
• College/School: Bible & Ministry

Program Overview

The program is designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and character necessary to serve as effective pastoral leaders in a variety of ministry contexts. Students will engage in biblical and theological study, as well as practical training in areas such as conflict management, partnering with civic organizations and nonprofits, and functioning within established systems.

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, students will be awarded a Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Leadership and a Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies. The program is designed to provide students with a strong foundation in biblical and theological studies, as well as practical ministry skills, preparing them for a variety of ministry roles.

Directed Electives

Students in the Pastoral Leadership program have the opportunity to tailor their undergraduate degree to a specific area of interest through four directed elective paths:

• Business as Mission
• Psychology
• Theology & Ministry
• Youth Ministry

Program Foundations

B.A. in Pastoral Leadership

The Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Leadership is offered in-person on the main campus in Nashville. This portion of the program focuses on pastoral leadership development in the context of a peer cohort and mentoring community.

M.A. in Pastoral Studies

The Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies is offered as a hybrid degree with both online and in-person courses. This portion of the program has a core of Bible, theology, and ministry, along with courses in pastoral care, biblical ethics, and congregational dynamics.

Admissions

Students initially entering this program will follow the standard admissions requirements for all undergraduate programs, including an online application, ACT and SAT test scores, a qualified reference letter, and an official high school transcript. For the master's degree, students will apply for acceptance into the Hazelip School of Theology, which requires an application, three letters of recommendation, official transcripts, a bachelor's degree, and a GPA of at least 2.75.

Courses

The Pastoral Leadership program requires an interdisciplinary mix of courses to prepare students for ministry. The Bachelor of Arts in Pastoral Leadership requires 69 hours of coursework, including:

• BI 2083 - Introduction to Mission, Ministry, & Leadership
• BI 2713 - Church History 1 : Early Christianity to Renaissance
• BI 3203 - God, Creation, and New Creation: Introduction to Theology
• BI 3283 - Leadership in Christian Ministry
• BI 3653 - Expository Preaching
• BI 3673 - Teaching Scripture
• BI 3813 - Theology of the Church
• BI 3823 - Christian Spiritual Formation for Community
• BI 4063 - Family & Congregational Systems
• BI 4503 - Old Testament Interpretation
• BI 4513 - New Testament Interpretation
• LJS 3303 - Influencing Change through Civic Engagement
• LJS 3403 - Conflict Management
• BI 1010 - Bible Content 1
• BI 1020 - Bible Content 2
• BI 1030 - Bible Content 3
• BI 1040 - Bible Content 4
• BI 4123 - Practicum in Ministry
• BI 4Dn3 - Bible Text Intensive

The Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies requires 48 hours of coursework, including:

• GB 5083 - Critical Interpretation of the Old Testament
• GB 5093 - Critical Interpretation of the New Testament
• GB 5603 - Introduction to Ministry
• GB 5483 - Introduction to Theology
• GB 5113 - Exodus
• GB 5A43 - Seminar in Bible: Matthew
• GB 6133 - Tools for Biblical Greek
• GB 6143 - Tools for Biblical Hebrew
• GB 5823 - Biblical Ethics
• GB 5913 - Congregational Change, Conflict, and Community
• GB 5653 - Pastoral Care and Counseling
• GB 5L43 - Seminar in Ministry: Family and Congregational Dynamics
• GB 5923 - Congregational Mission and Ministry
• GB 5M13 - Seminar in Theology: Cultural Hermeneutics
• GB 580V - Practicum
• GB 5K83 - Seminar in Ministry: Social Justice and Reconciliation
• GB 5493 - Global Christianity
• GB 6900 - Comprehensive Exam

Tuition & Aid

Tuition and costs vary based on degree, year, and other factors. The current tuition rate for graduate students in the Hazelip School of Theology is $405 per credit hour, with a 25% discount. Lipscomb also offers interest-free monthly payment plans and scholarships, such as the Religious Service Scholarship.

Career Paths

Graduates of the B.A. in Pastoral Leadership and M.A. in Pastoral Studies program may pursue careers in:

• Pastoral Leadership
• Directors, religious activities and education
• Chaplaincy

Faculty

The program is led by a team of experienced faculty, including:

• Deron Smith, Director of Accelerated Pastoral Leadership Program
• Jp Conway, Assistant Bible Professor of Christian Ministry
• Frank Guertin, Assistant Dean and Associate Professor
• Aaron Howard, Assistant Professor
• Earl Lavender, Professor
• Paavo Tucker, Adjunct Faculty
• Lauren White, Assistant Professor