Master of Arts in Church Ministry

60 Credit-Hours

Fully Online

Flexible Payment Plans

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Empower Your Ministry Leadership Journey with a Master of Arts in Church Ministry

An Apologetics-Focused Church Ministry Degree will Help You Engage with and Lead those You Encounter

Southern Evangelical Seminary’s Master of Arts in Church Ministry degree equips you with a robust foundation in apologetics, biblical studies, and theology, complemented by hands-on field experience. This master’s program positions graduates for impactful roles in church or parachurch ministry, spanning areas such as congregational leadership, discipleship, evangelism, missions, Christian education, and beyond. As the demand for ministry positions with master’s degrees rises, our M.A. in Church Ministry not only prepares you for a diverse array of roles but also unlocks new opportunities for your professional growth and service in the field of ministry.

Faculty With Real-Life Ministry Experience

You’ll be learning from faculty who have served as pastors and in other ministry roles. You’ll be able to go beyond textbook knowledge and gain wisdom and insight from their life experiences. Our faculty are also dedicated to getting to know students’ goals and helping them to understand the material in a way that applies to current or future callings. 

Engaging Courses Connect Knowledge with Application

Our courses integrate theology, philosophy, and apologetics in a way that helps you interact with today’s culture. You’ve likely encountered people who have questions about love, suffering, grief, and God’s plan. You will learn how to answer those questions, defend the truth of the Scriptures, and reach people from a wide variety of socioeconomic backgrounds.

Flexible Course Formats for Your Busy Schedule

SES provides a fully immersive digital campus experience where every aspect of traditional education is achieved in a virtual environment. Many courses are live-streamed, while others are offered asynchronously (recorded) with live-streaming components. Our innovative online education can deliver the training you need in a way that fits your schedule and budget.

Courses of Interest in the M.A. in Church Ministry

Intro to Christian Apologetics

Learn the systematic and rational defense of the basic elements of the Christian Faith, including the existence of God, miracles, the deity of Christ, and the inspiration of the Bible.

Biblical Theology & Principles of Missions

A comprehensive study of the missio dei theme, the progressive missional role of God’s people in Scripture, as well as the practical implications and principles these streams bring to Christian ministry.

Discipleship

A study of the principles and practices of Christian discipleship as related to the programs of the local church. Learn how to integrate apologetics into discipleship.

Full Course Listing

AP501 Introduction to Christian Apologetics (3)
AP502 New Religious Movements (3)

OT501 Old Testament Survey 1: Genesis–Esther (3)
OT502 Old Testament Survey 2: Job–Malachi (3)
NT501 New Testament Survey 1: Gospels & Acts (3)
NT502 New Testament Survey 2: Epistles & Revelation (3)

CE501 Educational Program of the Church (3)
CE502 Discipleship (3)

HT501 Historical Theology: A Survey (3)

ME507 History of Missions & World Christianity (3)
ME508 Biblical Theology & Principles of Missions (3)

PT501 Homiletics or PT502 Pastoral Care
or PT503 Biblical Counseling (3)

ST501 Prolegomena & Bibliology (3)
ST502 Theology Proper & Creation (3)
ST503 Hamartiology & Soteriology (3)
ST504 Pneumatology, Ecclesiology, & Eschatology (3)
ST505 Hermeneutics (3)

From CE, ME, or PT

FE501 Field Experience 1 (0)
FE502 Field Experience 2 (0)

SM501 Writing & Research Skills (3)

GENERAL ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS

  • Have earned a bachelors degree from an institution
    accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation, the United
    States Department of Education, or the equivalent (as assessed by SES)
  • GPA of 2.5 or above for their undergraduate program

If one does not meet the undergraduate GPA requirement, he may be granted a Provisional Admission. This requires
that the student maintain a 2.5 or higher GPA on the first semester of work at SES in order to be granted full admission.

This seminary-level M.A. in Church Ministry degree can lead to future doctoral study and is ideal for those preparing for:

Go to the Next Level in Your Ministry Preparation

If you’ve delved into insightful works by Frank Turek, Alisa Childers, Greg Koukl, and other notable authors, you’ve laid a solid foundation. Yet, you may be at a juncture in your self-guided study where you recognize the need to elevate your preparation for defending the faith. To effectively engage the culture with the Gospel, you will need a deeply integrated understanding of philosophy, theology, and apologetics. This integrated approach is the core of every SES program and what makes SES one of the premier apologetics-focused seminaries in the country. Whether you’re seeking a degree or certificate in apologetics, philosophy, biblical studies, or something else, the foundation is the same. Good philosophy provides a solid foundation from which to do theology, and both provide necessary tools for sound apologetics. Together, all three disciplines aid in removing obstacles to the Gospel (evangelism) and in building mature disciples who live the Gospel (discipleship) and are steadfast in the truth. Choose a degree or certificate from SES to benefit from our unique integration, ensuring you’re well-prepared to engage with today’s issues and defend your faith effectively.

SES Integrated Approach Infographic

Go to the Next Level in Your Ministry Preparation

If you’ve delved into insightful works by Frank Turek, Alisa Childers, Greg Koukl, and other notable authors, you’ve laid a solid foundation. Yet, you may be at a juncture in your self-guided study where you recognize the need to elevate your preparation for defending the faith. To effectively engage the culture with the Gospel, you will need a deeply integrated understanding of philosophy, theology, and apologetics. This integrated approach is the core of every SES program and what makes SES one of the premier apologetics-focused seminaries in the country. Whether you’re seeking a degree or certificate in apologetics, philosophy, biblical studies, or something else, the foundation is the same. Good philosophy provides a solid foundation from which to do theology, and both provide necessary tools for sound apologetics. Together, all three disciplines aid in removing obstacles to the Gospel (evangelism) and in building mature disciples who live the Gospel (discipleship) and are steadfast in the truth. Choose a degree or certificate from SES to benefit from our unique integration, ensuring you’re well-prepared to engage with today’s issues and defend your faith effectively.

SES Integrated Approach Infographic

In the M.A. in Church Ministry Program, You Will:

A Digital Campus Built for You

We aren’t catching up with the online education trend — SES has been breaking ground and pioneering an immersive digital campus experience for years. As a student, you'll enjoy a flexible, compelling, and connected environment for your studies. All of the easy-to-use technology you’ll need to thrive in seminary is housed in one place and accessed through a single, secure log-in. We truly take you beyond mere online education.

Collaborate with your peers through our integrated approach

Interact with world-class professors during many live-streamed classes

Conduct research in one of the most expansive theological libraries ever created

(With our membership as a supporting sponsor of the Digital Theological Library)

Learn from World-Class Faculty

At SES, you will have the opportunity to study under some of the best Christian thinkers in the world. Many of our professors studied under SES co-founder Dr. Norman Geisler, while others have their own distinguished educational linage. Each of them bring their unique areas of expertise to the classroom as well as a genuine desire to see their students grow, not only intellectually, but in spiritual maturity as well. Here are just some of the professors from whom you’ll be learning:

Provost, Professor of Philosophy & Apologetics, Norman L. Geisler Chair of Christian Apologetics

Director of SES Ph.D. Program, Associate Professor of Philosophy & Theology

Associate Professor of Philosophy

"Our lives have been changed because what we learned at SES deals directly with the spiritual and intellectual madness which afflicts both the culture and sadly the Church as well. We truly feel like God has prepared us through SES to do something meaningful."

Simon Brace

SES Alum

Contact the Admissions Department with any specific questions you may have or visit our FAQ page.

A Valuable Degree with Exceptionally Affordable Tuition

Prospective students are almost always surprised to learn how affordable we keep our degree programs at Southern Evangelical Seminary.

You need effective training for ministry — not a crippling load of student loan debt. The value of a degree here pays off through your entire career and truly has an eternal value as well.

As a result, we're delighted to tell you that you'll have a very difficult time finding a better tuition rate than what we offer at SES: $475 per credit hour.

$475

per credit hour

Read more about our current tuition rates, flexible payment plans, and financial aid opportunities.

LET'S PARTNER TOGETHER ON YOUR TUITION

Financial Aid & Discounts

Built for Your Calling

Whether you are pursuing full-time vocational leadership or personal ministry growth, this program is designed to provide a path for your success.

Full-time Ministry

Full-Time Ministry

Christians are called to be salt and light in our world, and leaders should be equipped to confidently engage the ideas shaping today’s culture. Apologetics training is essential for breaking down barriers and effectively leading others. As you pursue God’s calling on your life through ministry, a seminary education will maximize your impact.

Personal Ministry

 If your personal study hasn’t yielded the growth you’re looking for, formal training can equip you to answer hard questions and present the truth in love. Being grounded in apologetics prepares you to be fruitful in all aspects of your personal ministry. Our apologetics program offers structured training you need to share the faith and defend truth in everyday life.

accessible

Ready to Apply Now?

Start the admission process today. You can begin in just a few minutes by filling out our initial application and it will open the door for us to have an exploratory conversation about your educational priorities and hopes for ministry. We have an entire team at SES who is ready to help you in the process of discerning your gifts and calling to ministry so you can engage our culture in the conversations that matter the most.

See the Vital Need for Apologetics-Focused Education

Engaging real-world issues for the sake of the Gospel

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Compare the M.A. in Church Ministry with Other SES Degrees

Master of Arts (M.A.) in Christian Apologetics & Theology

60 HOURS

This seminary-level degree will take your apologetics training to the next level by layering in important theological study

Master of Divinity (M.Div.) in Apologetics

84 HOURS

For a more traditional seminary degree with an apologetics focus, this M.Div. may the right path for your future ministry

Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) in Apologetics

36 HOURS

This extremely practical and hands-on degree will prepare to for apologetics ministry in a variety of ministry contexts