Online Master of Christian Ministry

Offered online through a 43-hour program in the School of Religion and Philosophy, the Master of Christian Ministry online degree can be completed in 18 months or less.

The online Master of Christian Ministry helps prepare students for ministry in the churches or church-related fields of ministry. This online degree program permits students to focus on the practical courses in the graduate curriculum of the School of Religion and Philosophy. The Master of Christian Ministry is offered to assist students in gaining additional theological training while they are serving in congregations in areas near a variety of Wayland Christian colleges’ campus or other places in the United States. In addition, it provides six more hours of course work since it does not require the thesis. The Master of Christian Ministry courses at Wayland are accepted into the Master of Divinity Degree at selected seminaries.

Admission Requirements (In Addition to Those Listed for All Graduate Students):

Prospective students must hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution, such as a Bachelor of Christian Ministry, also online.

Students who enter without prior advanced study (upper level baccalaureate or graduate level, based on transcript evaluation) in Old Testament will be required to take RLGN 5350 Old Testament Foundations I and RLGN 5351 Old Testament Foundations II. Students who enter with prior advanced study (upper level baccalaureate or graduate level, based on transcript evaluation) must take one course from the Old Testament area and one additional elective.

Students who enter without prior advanced study (upper level baccalaureate or graduate level, based on transcript evaluation) in New Testament will be required to take RLGN 5352 New Testament Foundations I and RLGN 5353 New Testament Foundations II. Students who enter with prior advanced study (upper level baccalaureate or graduate level, based on transcript evaluation) must take one course from the New Testament area and one additional elective.


Students desiring to enter the graduate program must submit the following documents:

  • Completed graduate application for admission
  • Non-refundable application fee of $50 (current and past WBU students are excused from this fee)
  • Official transcripts from each institution previously attended
  • Grade point average of 3.00 or better on last 60 semester hours
Application files will not be evaluated until all the above requirements are met. For specific information on entering the graduate program at Wayland, contact the Graduate Studies Office at 1-877-844-4544.

Academic Advising

The Virtual Campus makes available online all the general information needed by students of the Degree Program Online. Any questions having to do with the Graduate Program procedures may be addressed to the Graduate Studies Office at 1-877-844-4544 . Specific questions regarding academic issues of the Master of Christian Ministry degree will need to be directed to Dr. Paul Sadler, Dean of the School of Religion and Philosophy.

Dr. Paul Sadlersadlerp@wbu.edu
806-291-1163




Course Requirements

A total of 43 hours are required for the MCM degree program: 15 hours Religion (possible 21 hours - see OT and NT areas); 6 hours Religious Education; 15 hours electives (possible 21 hours - see OT and NT areas); one hour comprehensive exam or capstone course. The core is 15 hours and includes:

Old Testament

six hours from (no prior credit):

  • RLGN 5350 - Old Testament Foundations I
  • RLGN 5351 - Old Testament Foundations II

or three hours from Old Testament

  • RLGN 5304 - Old Testament Theology
  • RLGN 5306 - The Intertestamental Period
  • RLGN 5316 - Pentateuch and Former Prophets
  • RLGN 5317 - Latter Prophets
  • RLGN 5318 - The Writings
  • RLGN 5332 - Seminar on Issues in Old Testament Interpretation
  • RLGN 5337 - Seminar on Ancient Near Eastern Backgrounds to the Old Testament
  • RLGN 5338 - Seminar on Exegesis and Interpretation of Selected Old Testament Writings

New Testament

six hours from (no prior credit):

  • RLGN 5352 - New Testament Foundations I
  • RLGN 5353 - New Testament Foundations II

or three from New Testament

  • RLGN 5305 - New Testament Theology
  • RLGN 5320 - Jesus and the Gospels
  • RLGN 5322 - Life & Letters of Paul
  • RLGN 5324 - General Epistles and Revelation
  • RLGN 5331 - Seminar on Issues in New Testament Interpretation
  • RLGN 5340 - Seminar on Exegesis and Interpretation of Selected New Testament Writings
  • RLGN 5341 - Seminar on Studies in the Synoptics

Theology

three hours from Theology

  • RLGN 5311 - New Religious Movements
  • RLGN 5313 - Issues in Contemporary Theology
  • RLGN 5325 - Historical Theology
  • RLGN 5326 - The Ministry of the Holy Spirit
  • RLGN 5334 - Seminar on Systematic Theology
  • RLGN 5342 - Seminar on Selected Theologians
  • RLGN 5343 - Seminar on Topics in Christian Theology
  • RLGN 5346 - Christian Theology

Praxis

three hours from Praxis

  • RLGN 5315 - The Christian Ministry
  • RLGN 5319 - Preaching
  • RLGN 5323 - Basic Christian Ethics
  • RLGN 5327 - Christian Worship
  • RLGN 5335 - Seminar on Principles of Pastoral Counseling
  • RLGN 5348 - Seminar on Topics in Pastoral Counseling

Religious Education

six hours from Religious Education

  • RLED 5301 - Survey of Christian Education
  • RLED 5302 - Church Administration
  • RLED 5303 - Seminar on Christian Missions
  • RLED 5312 - Contemporary Christian Missions
  • RLED 5315 - The Christian Ministry
  • RLED 5316 - Seminar on Topics in Religious Education
  • RLED 5317 - Seminar on Age-Group Christian Education
  • RLED 5321 - Psychology of Religion
  • RLED 5335 - Seminar on Principles of Pastoral Counseling

Electives

21 hours of electives from any courses not previously taken

or

15 hours of electives from any courses not previously taken, if required to take RLGN 5350, 5351, 5352, and 5353 sequence.

Additional Requirements

Master of Christian Ministry students must take the following courses if they did not take those undergraduate courses that cover similar content. These courses are included as part of the 43-hour degree.

RLGN 5314 - Biblical Interpretation

RLGN 5315 - The Christian Ministry

RLGN 5319 - Preaching

RLGN 5346 - Christian Theology

three hours from:

RLGN 5307 - Church History

RLGN 5325 - Historical Theory

RLGN 5330 - Baptist History

Examinations or Capstone

RLGN 5102 - Comprehensive Written Examination - Eight hour written examination over all courses taken at Wayland Baptist University for the Master of Christian Ministry degree. May be taken in two consecutive days at four hours each day. One semester of credit is granted for this course.

or

RLGN 5103 - Capstone Course for the Master of Christian Ministry Degree - This seminar will require the student to reflect on his/her course of study, to integrate the knowledge and skills learned in the graduate program courses, and to explain how these courses can inform the practice of specific ministries.

 

Specialization (Optional)

Students may designate 12 of the 43 hours as a specialization in Religious Education, Bible or Christian Ministry; these hours are neither added to nor deducted from the required hours listed above.