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.

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 600 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 612 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 601 Integrated Reflection Ministry Project
  • TH 632 Mission Theology

The Remaining 12 Hours:

Option 1 – Any elective courses; see the catalog on page 21.

Option 2 – 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
from the concentration area, including concentration core courses; see the catalog on page 21.

Option 3 – Thesis track

Students who want to consider additional education within the Eurasian setting can choose to write a Thesis (RE 605 MA Thesis and take RE 600 Advanced Research and Writing). This could be 6 credit hours of the elective hours OR part of the extra courses permitted. Students who want to write the thesis need to make their decision known to the Registrar [email protected] within their first 3 courses.

Transfer of Credits

Coursework from other graduate programs may be transferred if the course is consistent in content with a course offered by TCM International Institute. A maximum number of graduate transfer credits from accredited institutions, with a grade of B or better, is six (6) hours per degree.

In order to apply for transfer of credits, a student should send the request to the Registrar [email protected] and include transcripts and course syllabi for the potential credit transfer.

Each class will be evaluated by the Dean to determine its applicability to the Institute program.

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 [email protected] or [email protected]. These applications are reviewed by the Admission Committee. The Committee 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.

Integrated Reflection requirement

Integrated Reflection (IR) is the equivalent of the thesis/project in the MA program. The IR is a core requirement and it is credited and graded as courses are.

The complete and detailed purpose and process of the IR is described in the Integrated Reflection Handbook. The IR consists of various annual reports and surveys from the student’s ministry area and concludes with a final paper. The reports and surveys have an appointed annual time frame for online submission, with specific deadlines.

For the survey, the student is expected to have 4 (four) individuals evaluating him/her annually throughout the entire MA program. These persons must know the student well, they must have an email address and internet access, and not be directly related (spouses) to the student. It is recommended that the reviewers are either ministry colleagues, ministry supervisors or ministry beneficiaries of the student.

The student cannot graduate without a complete IR and an acceptable final paper.