Pastoral Ministry Degree
Silvana Fleischacker
Available face-to-face on the main campus and at the Louisville Education Center, as well as fully online, it prepares students for a career as a local pastor, church planting leader, or religious counselor. With the pastoral ministries degree, we hope to train future leaders in Christ, at the local and international level.
Students seeking a B.A. in Pastoral Ministry will be well prepared for lay leadership careers in church and other ministry settings upon graduation. A major in Pastoral Ministry readies students to make a difference in the lives of those who need it the most. With this degree, students become ready to serve in general pastoral ministry or as members of church planning teams. Graduates are also well-prepared to serve in diverse and Spanish-speaking communities, Christian colleges or camps, churches, mission agencies, prisons, or seminaries.
Students of the Catechetics concentration take courses that help prepare them for careers in religious education or formation of children and adults. Religious pedagogy, baptismal catechism, ecclesial documents and models, and youth ministry are among the many topics explored.
The Catholic Leadership concentration prepares students for leadership or management positions in Catholic institutions and parishes. Courses in cross-cultural competencies, multicultural and Hispanic communities, stewardship, ethics and canon law ensure that students have a deep understanding of what drives and unifies communities and have the administrative skills to support that community through the Church and associated programs and organizations.
The Philosophy concentration emphasizes the study of different branches of philosophy, eras of philosophy (medieval, modern and contemporary) and philosophical approaches to anthropology and ethics. This concentration fulfills the requirements for admission to Catholic seminary programs.
The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Pastoral Ministry graduate program at the University of the Incarnate Word is designed to prepare leaders in contemporary ecclesial ministries, especially in Catholic parish ministries, religious education, spirituality and spiritual development, youth ministry and catechetical leadership, or as a mission leader in Catholic healthcare or education.
Students who graduate with a M.A. in Pastoral Ministry will be able to describe and integrate into ministerial practice a theology of revelation as embodied in scripture, tradition and creation, as well as a Catholic theology of God, church, sacraments and ethics. Through rigorous courses with exceptional faculty, students will be able to exercise sound practices of compassionate pastoral care appropriate to their skill levels and training.
The 36-credit hour degree plan encompasses three areas of study: scripture, theology (including the historical, sacramental, liturgical, moral and ecclesial aspects) and ministry, and normally culminates with an individually designed supervised Pastoral Project. Participants may incorporate a second field into their degree plan through other UIW graduate departments, particularly the Dreeben School of Education or the School of Osteopathic Medicine.
Through a Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry with a concentration in Mission Leadership, students will learn to articulate a vision of Catholic mission appropriate to their ministry setting, while shaping a vision for that setting in working for the mission.
A Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry with a concentration in Parish Leadership will teach students how to identify the theological, pastoral and socio-cultural principals and values underlying the Christian community. Students will also learn how to shape a vision for a parish or other faith community seeking to live out the Gospel together.
The Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry with a concentration in Catechesis and Formation teaches students how to oversee initial and ongoing formation for catechists, as well as how to shape and lead catechetical programs appropriate to the age, culture and other characteristics of those participating.
In the Archdiocese of San Antonio, catechists and Catholic school teachers may be eligible to earn level 2 or 3 certification credit through non-credit participation in Pastoral Institute courses and workshops. Contact Gloria Zapiain at the Mexican American Catholic College (MACC), (210) 734-2620, ext. 202, for further information and requirements.
SBU's Pastoral Ministry concentration within the Christian Ministry degree will prepare you to lead and serve as a pastor in a local church or in other ministry leadership roles. Coursework in Biblical studies, evangelism and preaching, combined with a ministry apprenticeship, will give you both the academic background and practical skill set needed either to enter the pastoral ministry immediately after graduation or to complete a Master of Arts in Christian Ministry.
Many pastoral ministry students choose to add another major or minor in another academic discipline, such as psychology, communication, English or business. Adding another area of study will enhance your skill set for ministry and equip you for bivocational ministry roles.
As a pastoral ministry student, you will be eligible for the Church Related Vocation (CRV) scholarship, which is currently valued at $2,000 per year. To maintain this scholarship, you must be enrolled in a ministry-related degree program, submit the necessary application and references, participate in SBU's in-service training program and complete any other requirements.
This is a proposed guideline. Please check the catalog and see your advisor for your final degree requirements.
Southwest Baptist University reserves the right to make changes to degree plans without advanced notice or obligation.
The student is responsible for understanding and completing all general education, degree, departmental and graduation requirements.
Are you passionate about serving God and others? Do you want to use your gifts and talents to make a difference in the world? If so, then the pastoral ministries degree from Bethel University may be the right choice for you.
Bethel University is a private, Christian university located in Mishawaka, Indiana. We offer over 50 areas of study in undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Our community is dedicated to guiding students on their academic journey while building relationships that last a lifetime.
The concentration in pastoral ministry is designed to provide tools for pastoral ministry and practical experience in serving the church. The concentration is available to all UD undergraduates with the exception of pastoral ministry majors.
The Concentration in Pastoral Ministry is designed to provide tools for pastoral ministry and practical experience in serving the Church. The concentration is available to all UD undergraduates with the exception of pastoral ministry majors.
Students receive a certificate that meets the guidelines of dioceses throughout the nation and aids them in their career advancement. They are also honored at the Senior Awards Banquet at the School of Theology and Religious Studies.
To be eligible, a student must be a Theology and Religious Studies major or minor. To apply, please download and fill out an application for the program. Applications should be returned to the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies in the School of Theology and Religious Studies by the end of sophomore year.
"My CPM internship gave me a unique opportunity to apply all that I had learned through my pastoral ministry courses in a practical setting. More importantly, though, I was taught to develop tools to process all that happened at my internship. I learned a great deal about teaching religion, working with youth, and work in the church at large. At the heart of all of this I was learning and focusing on the role of Christ in my daily life and in my time there. The internship shows first hand that work in the church is not only a job; it is definitively pastoral and is a necessary ministry."
Spiritual and Ministerial Formation (6 credit hours)
Critical aspects of pastoral ministry reside not only in personal, spiritual formation but also in the exploration of the vocation of ministry. These two courses will facilitate and support processes of spiritual self-exploration and growth that connect adult faith formation to a vocational understanding of pastoral ministry.
Pastoral Skills (9 credit hours)
These courses foster in students the development of skills essential to pastoral ministry. The structure of the courses also encourages students to focus on a specific area of ministry, including religious education, pastoral leadership and administration, pastoral counseling, spiritual direction, youth ministry, music ministry, and adult faith formation.
Religious Education
Professional religious educators and other interested students have the option of pursuing a concentration in Religious Education involving the study of educational theory and the cultivation of practical pedagogical skills.
THE 602 Foundational Theology
Examines the fundamental concerns present in all theological inquiry. The course presents a specific framework for understanding a theology of faith, a theology of revelation, a theology of tradition, and a theology of Sacred Scripture.