Christ College
Dean: Dr. Steven P. Mueller, MDiv
Purpose Statement
The purpose of Christ College is to enable students to understand, communicate, teach, defend and believe the Christian faith through systematic inquiry of the Bible, doctrines of the church and other statements of faith. Christ College also equips students for professional church work in their chosen field. The school guides students interested in receiving certification for ministerial vocations in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
Master of Arts in Theology (MA)
The Masters of Arts in Theology offers a core curriculum in advanced theological study for students who desire to be well prepared biblically and theologically, combined with flexibility for specific student emphases. Students can pursue goals including acquisition of advanced skills for Christian ministry. The Master of Arts (MA) in Theology degree is designed to stand alone for research and education or prepare students for doctoral programs at other major universities or graduate schools in the United States and abroad. The MA in Theology degree requires 32-38 semester units for completion.
Master of Arts in Theology: Christian Education Leadership
The Christian Education Leadership emphasis engages students in theology, biblical education methodology and principles of leadership to prepare students to equip Christians for the work of ministry (Ephesians 14:12) within a variety of church-related ministries. This can be combined with certification requirements for Director of Christian Education certification within the LCMS.
Master of Arts in Theology: Research in Theology
The Research in Theology emphasis invites students into an ongoing life of theological research and scholarship in a wide range of theological issues and topics and is designed to engage students in research and dialogue with distinguished faculty who are committed to Holy Scripture, the church's creeds, to life in Christ's Church, and to academic excellence.
Master of Arts in Theology: Theology and Culture
The Theology and Culture emphasis invites students into an engagement with the diverse and rich ethnic and cultural heritages so evident in the Pacific Southwest. Students learn alongside intercultural colleagues from Latino, African, Pacific Rim, Middle Eastern, and Anglo backgrounds. The curriculum also serves as part of the LCMS Pastoral Certification program.
Cross-cultural Ministry Center
Director: Dr. Glenn Fluegge
The Cross-cultural Ministry Center (CMC) oversees the preparation, training and formation of candidates for pastoral ministry in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). The CMC specializes in forming missionary pastors to launch and develop culture-crossing ministries. Students graduate with a master of arts degree (MA) in theology and full certification for ordination as a pastor in the LCMS.
Master of Arts in Theology (MA)
Emphases:
- Christian Education Leadership
- Research in Theology
- Servant Leadership
- Theology and Culture
- Youth Ministry
Master of Arts in Theology
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Core Curriculum | ||
| THL 501 | Introduction to Theological Research | 2 |
| THL 504 | Survey of Historical Theology | 3 |
| THL 511 | Creeds and Confessions | 3 |
| THL 528 | Seminar in Biblical Theology and Exegesis | 3 |
| THL 565 | Christianity, Ethics and Contemporary Culture | 3 |
| THL 573 | Systematic Doctrinal Theology | 3 |
| Emphasis | ||
| Choose 1 of the following emphases | 15-21 | |
| Total Units | 32-38 | |
Emphases
Christian Education Leadership
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CED 502 | Church Leadership and Administration | 3 |
| CED 532 | Method of Christian Teaching | 3 |
| CED 550 | Counseling in Ministry | 3 |
| Choose 1 of the following courses: | 3 | |
| Adult Ministry | 3 | |
| Children's and Family Ministry | 3 | |
| Youth Ministry | 3 | |
| THL 595 | Thesis I | 3 |
| THL 596 | Thesis II | 3 |
| Total Units | 18 | |
Research in Theology
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| THL 590A | Guided Readings A | 3 |
| or THL 590B | Guided Readings B | |
| THL 591A | Colloquium in Theology | 3 |
| or THL 591B | Colloquium in Theology | |
| or THL 591C | Colloquium in Theology | |
| THL 595 | Thesis I | 3 |
| THL 596 | Thesis II | 3 |
| Elective course is chosen from the theology graduate offerings to be announced in consultation with the faculty advisor | 3 | |
| Total Units | 15 | |
Servant Leadership
The Servant Leadership emphasis is offered in cooperation with KINDLE (The Karpenko Institute for Nurturing and Developing Leadership Excellence), an institute that works to provide advanced leadership training for Directors of Christian Education. The KINDLE seminars make up this emphasis. Students must be recommended from KINDLE to be eligible for this emphasis.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| THL 591A | Colloquium in Theology * | 3 |
| THL 591B | Colloquium in Theology * | 3 |
| THL 591C | Colloquium in Theology * | 3 |
| THL 595 | Thesis I | 3 |
| THL 596 | Thesis II | 3 |
| Total Units | 15 | |
Theology and Culture
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| THL 502 | Ministry in Cultural Context | 3 |
| THL 505 | Polity, Leadership and Team Ministry | 3 |
| THL 521 | World Religions | 3 |
| THL 530 | The Reformation Era I | 3 |
| THL 540 | Entrepreneurial Mission Planting | 3 |
| THL 595 | Thesis I | 3 |
| THL 596 | Thesis II | 3 |
| Total Units | 21 | |
Youth Ministry
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| THL 591A | Colloquium in Theology * | 3 |
| THL 591B | Colloquium in Theology * | 3 |
| THL 591C | Colloquium in Theology * | 3 |
| THL 595 | Thesis I | 3 |
| THL 596 | Thesis II | 3 |
| Total Units | 15 | |
| * | One Colloquium in Theology each in Theologies of Youth Ministry, Missional Youth Ministry, and Global Youth Ministry. |
The Cross-cultural Ministry Center (CMC) Program
The curriculum of the CMC seeks to form faithful missionary pastors to launch and develop culture-crossing ministries. It is comprised of three interlinked components:
- Coursework for a Master of Arts in Theology (Theology and Culture emphasis)
- Courses preparing students for pastoral ministry (required for certification as an ordained minister in the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod)
- Concurrent vicarage experience. All coursework in the CMC is embedded in real life ministry and mission experience-the “CMC Missional Vicarage.” It is 4+ years, part of the requirements for completing the CMC curriculum, and runs concurrently with coursework. It consists of planning activities, carrying out those activities, and then journaling your progress. In the first half of the Missional Vicarage, vicars carry out basic mission and ministry activities at a Lutheran church. In the second half, vicars plan and finally launch and develop a new culture-crossing ministry in the community. All of this is closely coordinated with district facilitators and carried out under the guidance of a local congregation, a Mentor Pastor, and a CUI Faculty Supervisor. This vicorage experience replaces the thesis for the Master of Arts in Theology (Theology and Culture emphasis)*
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MA Theology (Theology and Culture emphasis) Coursework | ||
| THL 501 | Introduction to Theological Research | 2 |
| THL 502 | Ministry in Cultural Context | 3 |
| THL 504 | Survey of Historical Theology | 3 |
| THL 505 | Polity, Leadership and Team Ministry | 3 |
| THL 510 | Lutheran Confessions | 3 |
| THL 521 | World Religions | 3 |
| THL 529 | Lutheran Hermeneutics and the Theology of Scripture | 3 |
| THL 530 | The Reformation Era I | 3 |
| THL 540 | Entrepreneurial Mission Planting | 3 |
| THL 565 | Christianity, Ethics and Contemporary Culture | 3 |
| Choose 1 of the following courses: | 3 | |
| Systematics I | 3 | |
| Systematics II | 3 | |
| Systematics III | 3 | |
| Pastoral Preparation Coursework | ||
| TGRE 501 | Greek I | 3 |
| TGRE 502 | Greek II | 3 |
| TEXO 507 | Old Testament Isagogics | 3 |
| TEXO 510 | Old Testament Book | 3 |
| TEXN 510 | The Synoptic Gospels and Acts | 3 |
| TEXN 520 | Romans/Pauline Literature | 3 |
| TEXN 540 | Pastoral Epistles | 3 |
| TEXN 532 | Johannine Corpus | 3 |
| TPRC 502 | Pastoral Theology ** | 3 |
| TPRC 503 | Pastor as Counselor | 3 |
| TPRC 521 | Pastor as Missionary | 3 |
| TPRC 530 | Homiletics I ** | 3 |
| TPRC 531 | Homiletics II ** | 3 |
| TPRC 542 | Lutheran Worship in Culture Context | 3 |
| THL 541 | Mission Planting Institute | 3 |
| Choose 2 of the following courses not taken for MA: | 6 | |
| Systematics I | 3 | |
| Systematics II | 3 | |
| Systematics III | 3 | |
| CMC Missional Vicarage | ||
| TVIC 501 | Vicarage I: Practicum I | 2 |
| TVIC 502 | Vicarage I: Practicum II | 3 |
| TVIC 503 | Vicarage II: Internship I | 3 |
| TVIC 504 | Vicarage II: Internship II | 3 |
| TVIC 505 | Vicarage III: Mission Plant I | 3 |
| TVIC 506 | Vicarage III: Mission Plant II | 3 |
| TVIC 507 | Vicarage IV: Church Planting I | 3 |
| TVIC 508 | Vicarage IV: Church Planting II | 3 |
| Total Units | 106 | |
| * | A student wishing to complete the MA in Theology (Theology and Culture emphasis) without completing all of the requirements of the CMC will need to complete THL 595 and THL 596. |
| ** | For these courses, special arrangements may be made for students in the LCMC track. |
Application Requirements
1. Completed Application for admission online.
2. Submit a non-refundable application fee (see Tuition and Fees).
3. Request and submit official, sealed transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.
4. Submit 2 letters of recommendation using the university's reference form.
- Recommendations must be current and should come from persons with whom the students has studies or worked concerning the following: academic proficiency, personal character, and competence and effectiveness in professional work.
- Examples of acceptable reference sources are employers, work supervisors, principals/assistant principals, university instructors, colleagues, or pastors.
5. Complete and submit a statement of intent.
6. Interview with Christ College's Director of Graduate Programs or his representative.
7. Apply for financial aid and/or set up a payment plan through the Office of the Bursar (non-degree students are not eligible for financial aid.
Admission Requirements
The applicant must submit evidence of their ability to achieve success in a graduate program, shown by the following:
1. Full Admission: a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale in all previous college work.
2. Conditional Admission: a cumulative GPA of 2.70-2.99 in all previous college work. Students admitted with provisional status may enroll for a maximum of 9 units (3 courses). If a minimum GPA of 3.25 is earned in the 3 courses (9 units), candidates may be granted regular status in a graduate program.
International Applicants
Students applying from outside the United States will be required to provide other information as necessary for preparation of the Form I-20 to obtain a visa.
Transfer Credit
A maximum of 6 graduate units may be transferred into the program from an accredited university/college. These courses must be approved by the dean of the school and closely match course descriptions in the university's MA in Theology program.
A maximum of 6 graduate units may be used from courses taken during non-degree seeking student status pending the approved of Christ College's graduate program director.
