The purpose of the forty-eight (48) credit hour degree is to enhance leadership by providing a broad-based interdisciplinary educational program for a career in Christian leadership in a variety of settings. Careers may include vocational ministry, business, organizational leadership, or not-for-profit organizations. The degree is designed for those holding a college or university diploma in any discipline.

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Degree Goals

Students who complete the Master of Arts will:

  1. Design, Develop, and Implement a disciple-making ministry in organizations (Program Goal 1)
  2. Develop skills in biblical and theological interpretation using the student’s primary language (Program Goal 2)
  3. Learn to lead as servants in organizations, including churches, para-church organizations, schools, and businesses (Program Goal 3)
  4. Share their faith across organizations using a variety of communications tools (Program Goal 4)

Master of Arts Degree Curriculum

Forty-Eight (48) credit hours are required for the completion of the Master of Arts degree.

Master of Arts Required Curriculum by Goals

1. Design, Develop, and Implement a disciple-making ministry in organizations (6 Hours)

  • OL 500 Disciple-Making
  • OL 605 Disciples-Making Through the New Testament

2. Develop skills in biblical and theological interpretation using the student’s primary language (15 Hours)

  • BS 500 Hermeneutics
  • BS 615 Introduction to Old Testament Studies (BS/PT 621 Old Testament Preaching and Teaching or BS 639 Mission in the Old Testament may be a substitute for this requirement)
  • BS 635 Introduction to New Testament Studies (BS/PT 641 New Testament Preaching and Teaching or BS 640 Mission in the New Testament may be a substitute for this requirement)
  • TH 600 History of Christian Theology 1
  • TH 601 History of Christian Theology 2

3. Learn to lead as servants in organizations, including churches, para-church organizations, schools, and businesses (6 Hours)

  • OL 609 Servant Leadership
  • TH 610 Christian Ethics

4. Share their faith across organizations using a variety of communications tools (9 Hours)

  • RE 500 Research Methods
  • RE 615 Research Capstone
  • TH 632 Mission Theology

The Remaining 12 Hours:

Option 1 – Any elective courses; see the Master of Arts Degree section of the course catalog.

Option 2 – Concentration Track – A chosen Concentration area in Preaching, Leadership, Christian Formation, Pastoral Counseling, Missions and Intercultural Studies, or Biblical Studies. The 12 Hours (4 courses) must be in the concentration area, including concentration core courses.

Courses listed in this chart are the required core courses. The chart demonstrates a way of mapping the student’s progress in a timely fashion.

Phase 1
12 Hours

RE 500 Research Methods
BS 500 Hermeneutics
OL 500 Disciple Making
TH 600 History of Christian Theology 1

Phase 2
12 Hours

BS 615 Introduction to Old Testament Studies
BS 635 Introduction to New Testament Studies
OL 609 Servant Leadership
OL 605 Disciple Making through the New Testament
Elective

Phase 3
24 Hours

TH 632 Mission Theology
TH 601 History of Christian Theology 2
TH 610 Christian Ethics
RE 615 Research Capstone and Elective OR RE 600 Adv Research and RE 605 Thesis
Elective

Directed Study

A Directed Study (DS) is available to students who are not able to take a regularly scheduled course at TCM. DS is offered only to MA and MDiv students in the last third of the program when circumstances do not allow the student to finish his or her studies under the current schedule. A directed study course is delivered online. It requires 125 hours of work over a three-month period. Contact Registrar [email protected] for the Directed Study Form. It may take up to one month to arrange a DS course.

Students considering a doctoral degree are encouraged to enroll in the Master of Divinity degree as it better prepares students for doctoral work in Bible and theology.

Advanced Standing

A student who enters the Master of Arts degree with prior biblical/theological studies may apply for up to 12 hours for Advanced Standing in the degree reducing the hours from 48 to as few as 36 hours. These are foundational classes in Bible, Theology and biblical languages.

To apply for Advanced Standing contact the Registrar. These applications are reviewed by the Dean. The Dean will review the student’s transcripts and gather other information as needed to determine what classes may meet the criteria for Advanced Standing.

Courses considered for Advanced Standing must meet the following requirements:

  • Grade of B or higher
  • Course Equivalency: meets TCM’s course requirements and goals
  • Be from an accredited institute accepted by TCM
  • Other criteria as determined by the Admissions Committee for the particular course
  • Must be earned within the last ten years from his/her date of matriculation
  • Greek or Hebrew courses must have been taken within the last two years from his/her date of matriculation

Requests for Advanced Standing may be made to the Registrar before the student completes 9 hours of the program.

Courses considered for Advanced Standing:

  • 3 hrs. BS 615 or BS 635 Intro to Old or New Testament Studies
  • 3 hrs. BS 500 Hermeneutics
  • 3 hrs. TH 600 History of Christian Theology 1
  • 3 hrs. TH 610 Christian Ethics
  • 3 hrs. Bible or Theology elective 400 or above
  • 6 hrs. BS 730 Greek 1 and BS 710 Hebrew: Biblical languages must be taken within the last two years before Admission.