Master of Arts in Family Ministries (12 credit hours)

MAFM512: Ministry of Self (3) – This class will examine the personal life of the minister and the motives and beliefs that drive each individual’s decisions, relationships, and personal goals. Becoming healthy in our own life is necessary if an individual hopes to help others find health in their life, relationships and ministry. Emphasis is given to personal responsibility and respectful boundaries among those we love and serve.

MAFM522: Ministry of Marriage (3) – This class explores the dynamics of marriage and the balance that is necessary with the demands of life, including: family, ministry, vocation, avocation, and calling. The individual’s responsibility as a husband or wife is viewed through the respectful and supportive interplay of health and growth for ourselves and also our spouse.

MAFM532: Ministry of Family (3) – This class examines the circle of family dynamics through the lens of family systems theory. Beginning with the nuclear family, healthy relationships are analyzed with an eye to the larger extended family, family themes, family myths, cultural and ethnic influences, and a host of other dynamics that shape the family unit.

MAFM542: Ministry of Community (3) – This class begins to shape the student’s belief about the intersection of individual and family health and a sustainable culture of ministry to families that bring change and healing. Ministry models are examined with an emphasis on the individual health of the minister while, at the same time, enabling families to heal and grow.

MAO501: Orientation (0) – This is a one-week course designed to introduce students to the graduate program at Barclay College, including: classmates, course instructors, the mechanics of the online portal and discussion forum, and the academic rigors of graduate studies.

Theology Core (15 credit hours)

MABI511: Old Testament Hermeneutics (3) – God’s revelation through the Old Testament illuminates His timely message and timeless story for His people, while also providing the context and foundation for the New Testament. In this class, students will investigate the richness of the Old Testament and its relevance for today, including the principles and procedures for its interpretation, application, and exposition.

MABI521: New Testament Hermeneutics (3) – The narrative of Christ and His Church, foreshadowed in the Old Testament and revealed in the New Testament, provides the framework for Christian faith and practice. This class in biblical interpretation and exegesis focuses on the life and teachings of Christ, the experience of believers, and the eternal hope of the Church as recorded in the gospels, epistles, and apocalyptic literature.

MATH531: Christian Theology (3) – This class investigates the essential teachings of the evangelical Christian faith, with special attention given to the person and work of Christ, sin and salvation, the role of the Holy Spirit, the life of the Church, and contemporary theological issues. Students will become better equipped to apply and articulate theological convictions in ministry settings.

MATH541: The History of Christianity (3) – This course addresses the major events, issues, personalities, and movements that shape and define the story of the Christian Church. Topics such as the birth and growth of the Early Church, the threat of persecution, the rise of monasticism, the Councils of Nicea and Chalcedon, the Reformation, the Great Awakenings, ecumenical efforts, and the globalization of the gospel provide a deeper understanding of the Church and a relevant perspective for ministry today.

MAMM513: The Missional Church (3) – We may not all be called to serve Christ as missionaries in a foreign land, but we are all called to be “on mission with God” wherever He may lead us. In this course, students are challenged to examine their purpose and calling in life, maximize their capacity to build bridges, and bear faithful witness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ both at home and around the world.

Research and Application (9 credit hours)

MARA523: Research Methods (3) – This course is an introduction to the research methods that are applicable in a variety of academic and organizational settings, including both quantitative and qualitative strategies that are commonly used in a graduate Capstone project.

MARA533: Applied Research I (3) – In this research and application course, students will identify and begin to investigate a potential Capstone project that relates to their chosen concentration of graduate studies. Through practical examination, each student will focus on their field of study using a variety of potential methods, some of which may include: field experience, literature review, and other forms of data collection.

MARA543: Applied Research II – Capstone Project (3) – This course involves the completion of a written Capstone project that serves as the culmination of a student’s research and their graduate school experience. Students will integrate their research findings with their chosen area of concentration, making application to life, service, and leadership today. In addition, each student will demonstrate their acquisition of scholarship, critical thinking, creativity, and written communication skills.