Mission Statement

Graduate programs exist primarily as a response to the need for post-graduate theological education for ministry in the Southwest Educational Region of the Church of the Nazarene served by Point Loma Nazarene University. This graduate program exists in a community of learning and living in covenant to Christ, embodied in a Christian liberal arts context. This offers the strength of rich diversity of various Christian traditions and of critical reflection in the interdisciplinary relationship of learners and leaders. Therefore, those providing leadership in the program see their task as:

• Preparing both clergy and lay leaders for serving in Christian congregations and related institutions;
• Preparing scholars for higher education in the public realm, the church, and the academy; and
• Enlarging the vision of practical theology and Christian mission as a public enterprise, responding to the increasingly complex theological, ethical, and socio-political issues facing the worlds of the present and the future.

Program Description

The Master of Arts in Christian Ministry program is designed to educate and accommodate students who live in San Diego and at a distance (often in ministry assignments). Courses are offered in a hybrid combination of online and face-to-face instruction. There is also a Distance Exception Policy that allows those who live more than fifty miles from PLNU’s Point Loma campus to complete the degree online without having to attend in-person classes on campus. Students are expected to engage in completing online discussions, reading assignments, and writing papers as part of classes. The curriculum has a strong emphasis on both academic rigor (preparation for possible continuation of graduate studies) and practical ministry.

The degree is designed around four central emphases which are highlighted in the core courses:

• Christian Formation
• Christian Scripture
• Christian Tradition
• Church in Mission

Vision Statement

The purpose of this degree is to provide a program in academic and professional ministry competencies rooted in the classic theological disciplines and engaged with contemporary life, resulting in leadership skills in the formation of character in Christian communities. The desired outcome is the integration of theology and ministry culminating in graduates who are “practical thinkers and thinking practitioners.” The program builds on basic prerequisites in undergraduate work and professional experience, providing education intended to lead to lifelong learning.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete PLNU’s Master of Arts in Christian Ministry program will be able to:

• Incorporate Christian formation in the local congregation and the life of the minister;
• Interpret scripture especially as related to preaching and teaching in the local church;
• Explain the nature, mission, and social context of the Church, especially as related to ecclesial practices and leadership in the local congregation; and
• Analyze theology, ethics, and Church history, especially as related to the Wesleyan tradition in contemporary ministry.

Program Eligibility for the Master of Arts in Christian Ministry

• Completion of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution or the equivalent;
• A completed application for admission to the program;
• Official transcripts indicating an approved undergraduate degree;
• An interview with the director of the Master of Arts in Christian Ministry program; and
• A writing sample which includes a statement of commitment to Christian values and to excellence in scholarship.

Distance Exception Policy

Students who live more than fifty miles from PLNU’s Point Loma campus may apply to participate in the in-person portion of each course synchronously online without traveling to campus. Students apply for the distance exception during the regular application process and, if granted, may choose to participate in the in-person portion of each course by traveling to campus or by attending those class days synchronously online.

Prerequisites

• Completion of an acceptable undergraduate degree from an accredited institution plus an established and current connection to ministry in a local church setting.
• Students should read carefully the general regulations concerning admission to a graduate program at Point Loma Nazarene University and the basic requirements for graduate degrees that appear in this Graduate Catalog.

Transfer Credit

Students can transfer up to six (6) approved units from the following:

1. transfer of coursework from Nazarene Theological Seminary¹; 
2. transfer of approved graduate-level course work;
3. cross-referenced graduate-level course work in the Reuben Welch School of Theology and Christian Ministry; or
4. registration in CMI 6090 Special Studies.

¹

Students transferring units from Nazarene Theological Seminary may do so up to the limit approved by the Graduate and Extended Studies Committee and specified in the partnership agreement between PLNU and NTS.

Graduation Requirements

In order to earn and receive a Master of Arts in Christian Ministry, a student must satisfy all of the following:

1. A completed Application for Degree Candidacy (online or in the Office of Records, main campus);
2. A completed graduation application with appropriate approvals;
3. Successful completion of all core course requirements (12 units) and a minimum of 24 units total units completed at PLNU;
4. Completion of a minimum of 36 units (including core courses);
5. Cumulative grade-point average of 2.750 or higher; and
6. Payment in full of all tuition, fees, and other financial obligations owed to the university, including a degree processing fee.

All requirements for graduate degrees must be completed within an eight-year period from the time of initial enrollment in the program.