Please Click Here to Return to Homepage EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING DEGREE PROGRAM   UNDERGRADUATE DIVISION GRADUATE DIVISION                     UNDERGRADUATE DIVISION         Return To Top   PURPOSE OF THE EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING DEGREE PROGRAM The Experiential Learning Degree Program was developed and is offered to provide the following opportunities: 1. to enable a minister to continue in his current ministry     while earning his degree(s); 2. to focus the degree program specifically on the minister's     particular ministry; 3. to maximize the minister's professional performance in his     particular ministry by a combination of intense  focus on     the skills, knowledge, competencies, and applications required     for effective and developing ministry and breadth of learning     and experience to create a broader context, understanding,     and relevancy to the minister's work and service; 4. to provide a vital mix of educational sources for the degrees in     which the minister is enrolled; 5. to minimize the cost to the minister or supporting congregation     for a Biblically based and Biblically sound education; 6. to insure excellence in education related to and supporting the     the minister's educational aspirations and ministerial commitments. QUALIFICATIONS TO ENTER THE BACHELOR'S DEGREE OF THE EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING DEGREE PROGRAM 1. the minister must have been a full time employed minister in     4 of the past 6 years; 2. the minister must be at least 22 years old; 3. the minister must be a member of the Church of Christ; BACHELOR'S DEGREE REQUIREMENTS 120 semester credits for completion of the degree; an overall grade point average of 2.5 for graduation. MAJOR FIELDS FOR THE BACHELOR'S DEGREE The degree program is designed to provide excellence in Biblical based and Biblically sound education in the areas of ministry in which the student currently serves or expects to serve. There are traditional major fields such as Biblical Studies, Homiletics and Preaching, Ministry, Religious Education, Missions, Youth Ministry, Counseling, Evangelism, and others. However, the student is not limited to the traditional major fields. The Experiential Learning Degree Program offers the student the opportunity to have an especially designed program for the field in which he is currently serving or expects to serve. The student is encouraged to submit his major field of interest for consideration and discussion with his major professor. The Experiential Learning Degree Program seeks to provide the student with the broadest opportunity to gain educational excellence in his particular field of ministry and service. The student may indicate on the Application Form his preferences for major fields. THE  BACHELOR'S DEGREE The Bachelor of Ministry - The Bachelor of Arts The student may enroll for the Bachelor of Ministry or the Bachelor of Arts. The Bachelor of Ministry degree is the professional bachelor's degree for ministers. The Bachelor of Arts degree is a liberal arts degree with a major in some field of ministry. Students who have 30 general education credits or who will complete 30 general education credits may enroll in the Bachelor of Ministry or the Bachelor of Arts. Students who do not have 30 general education credits and who choose not to enroll for 30 general education credits may enroll in the Bachelor of Ministry. The only academic distinction between the Bachelor of Ministry degree and the Bachelor of Arts degree is the 30 general education credits. Generally, the Bachelor of Ministry degree conveys the specific understanding that the student has prepared especially for the ministry as a lifetime of service in ministry. Generally, the Bachelor of Arts degree conveys the specific understanding that the student is prepared with a general education with a major interest in ministry which qualifies him for a lifetime of service in ministry. EVALUATION AND DEGREE PROGRAM The student will submit the completed Evaluation Form, a resume, and detailed information requested on the Criteria for Credit by Evaluation Form. The major professor will evaluate the student's information to determine how many credits may be awarded to the student based on previous experience in the ministry, personal study and personal development. When the major professor determines how many credits the student has earned from prior experiences and prior formal education, the student and the major professor will consult to determine what specific activities will be accomplished in specific areas of ministry to earn sufficient credit to graduate with the Bachelor's degree. The student may complete the Bachelor's degree with specific activities designed in consultation with his major professor. or The student may complete the Bachelor's degree with a combination of specifically designed activities and traditional course work. The courses available for traditional course work are located under the homepage title Traditional Non-Residence Degree Program. To view those courses please click on here: Traditional Non-Residence Degree.       Return To Top                     GRADUATE DIVISION       Return To Top  PURPOSE OF THE EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING DEGREE PROGRAM The Experiential Learning Degree Program was developed and is offered to provide the following opportunities: 1. to enable a minister to continue in his current ministry     while earning his degree(s); 2. to focus the degree program specifically on the minister's     particular ministry; 3. to maximize the minister's professional performance in his     particular ministry by a combination of intense  focus on     the skills, knowledge, competencies, and applications required     for effective and developing ministry and breadth of learning     and experience to create a broader context, understanding,     and relevancy to the minister's work and service; 4. to provide a vital mix of educational sources for the degrees in     which the minister is enrolled; 5. to minimize the cost to the minister or supporting congregation     for a Biblically based and Biblically sound education; 6. to insure excellence in education related to and supporting the     the minister's educational aspirations and ministerial commitments. QUALIFICATIONS TO ENTER A GRADUATE PROGRAM OF THE EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING DEGREE PROGRAM To Enter A Master's Degree Program: The student must have completed a Bachelor's Degree. or The student must enroll in a combination Bachelor's/Master's     Degree Program.     The grade point average of the Bachelor's Degree must be     2.5 overall.   To Enter A Doctorate Degree Program: The student must have completed a Master's Degree. or The student must enroll in a combination Master's/Doctorate     Degree Program Degree Requirements, Major Fields, and Courses MASTER'S DEGREES The Master of Arts and Master of Ministry degrees require 36 credits. A 6 credit applied activity is included in the 36 credits. The Master of Religious Education degree requires 45 credits, 15 credits of which are applied activity. The Master of Divinity degree requires 90 credits.  The 90 credits may be a combination of three fields of 30 credits each  or a combination of two fields of 30 credits each, one minor field of 15 credits, and an applied activity of 15 credits DOCTORATE DEGREES The Doctor of Ministry (D Min) degree requires 36 credits and a demonstration of some practical ministerial achievement having the academic value of 12 credits as a final requirement to receiving the Doctor of Ministry. The total required credits for the Doctor of Ministry degree are 48 credits. The Doctor of Religious Education (DRE)degree requires 48 credits including a 12 credit applied activity. The Doctor of  Philosophy (PhD) degree requires 36 credits beyond the master's degree and a 12 credit dissertation for a total of 48 credits. The dissertation is a major research paper following traditional academic guidelines. If the student begins the dissertation without any prior research and writing on the selected topic, approximately 18 months are required to complete it. In the Doctor of Philosophy degree program, written and oral examinations are required at the conclusion of the course work. The student may proceed with the dissertation, but must pass the examinations before the degree will be awarded. Language competencies are expected only when the subject matter of the courses and of the dissertation requires them. MASTER'S DEGREES OFFERED EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING DEGREE PROGRAM Master of Arts Master of Ministry Master of Religious Education Master of Divinity The Student may complete the following major fields through the appropriate Masters degree. Biblical Studies (Old Testament and/or New Testament) Christian Counseling Christian Education Church Administration Church Growth and Planting Church History Homiletics and Preaching Missions Pastoral Studies Youth Ministry DOCTOR DEGREES OFFERED EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING DEGREE PROGRAM Doctor of Philosophy Doctor of Religious Education Doctor of Ministry The Student may complete the following major fields through the appropriate Doctor degree: Biblical Studies (Old Testament and/or New Testament) Christian Counseling Christian Education Church Administration Church Growth and Planting Church History Homiletics and Preaching Missions Pastoral Studies Youth Ministry MAJOR FIELDS FOR THE MASTER'S AND DOCTORATE DEGREES The degree program is designed to provide excellence in Biblically based and Biblically sound education in the areas of ministry in which the student currently serves or expects to serve. There are traditional major fields such as Biblical Studies, Homiletics and Preaching, Ministry, Religious Education, Missions, Youth Ministry, Counseling, Evangelism, and others. However, the student is not limited to the traditional major fields. The Experiential Learning Degree Program offers the student the opportunity to have an especially designed program for the field in which he is currently serving or expects to serve. The student is encouraged to submit his major field of interest for consideration and discussion with his major professor. The Experiential Learning Degree Program seeks to provide the student with the broadest opportunity to gain educational excellence in his particular field of ministry and service. The student may indicate on the Evaluation Form his preferences for major fields. EVALUATION AND DEGREE PROGRAM The student will submit the completed Evaluation Form, a resume, and detailed information requested on the Criteria for Credit by Evaluation Form. The major professor will evaluate the student's information to determine how many credits may be awarded to the student based on previous experience in the ministry, personal study and personal development. When the major professor determines how many credits the student has earned from prior experiences and prior formal education, the student and the major professor will consult to determine what specific activities will be accomplished in specific areas of ministry to earn sufficient credit to graduate with the Master's and/or Doctorate degrees. The student may complete the Master's and/or Doctorate degrees with specific activities designed in consultation with his major professor. or The student may complete the Master's and/or Doctorate degrees with a combination of specifically designed activities and traditional course work. The courses available for traditional course work are located under the homepage title Traditional Non-Residence Degree Program. To view those courses please click on here:  Traditional Non-Residence Degree       Return To Top                                                    homepage