Master of Ministry
All graduate degrees
The Master of Ministry degree helps prepare current pastors and church leaders in church ministry and evangelism, in leadership and management, and in biblical counseling.
Courses are offered primarily as one to two-week intensive sessions on campus during the summer, with prior and subsequent reading and writing assignments. Some online classes are planned and will be made available as they are developed. The recommended load is two to three courses per summer for those in full-time ministry.
The deadline for acceptance into the MMin program is April 15; however, each year before registering for summer classes, students must submit an Intensives Application, which is due no later than six weeks prior to each term. We recommend submitting it as early as February to allow sufficient time to complete required reading assignments. With School of Religion approval, students may take up to 12 hours of coursework on non-degree or provisional status.
| INTENSIVES APPLICATION | PROGRAM APPLICATION | |
|---|---|---|
| From February 1 to no later than six weeks before the session starts. | April 15 | |
Since graduate programs in the School of Religion are offered only as summer intensives, this schedule does not meet student-visa requirements for international students.
Select an emphasis:
The emphasis in Church Leadership and Management is specifically designed to prepare church leaders and administrators with training in the principles of business management, as well as to equip them with leadership-ministry training skills.
The emphasis in Evangelism and World Mission is specifically designed to equip workers for gospel outreach to the world.
Biblical counseling is a practice of the local church whereby each member is empowered
to speak the truth in love, so that the whole congregation grows together toward spiritual
maturity. Biblical counseling applies the gospel to everyday life situations, allowing
the practical wisdom of Scripture to guide decisions, resolve conflict, heal emotional
wounds, build relationships, and empower change.
Biblical counseling is not professional counseling. A student who takes classes in
biblical counseling at Southern is not preparing for state licensure or to receive
church credentials. The program is designed for those who work in a church setting,
who wish to enhance their coaching and counseling skills while gaining a broad-based
ministry and theological background. It teaches the counselor how to do “triage” when
hurting people come to the church for help and how to effectively refer. The program
also prepares students for further studies in biblical counseling.
| Master of Ministry Core Courses | Credits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| RELT 531 | Hermeneutics and Biblical Interpretation | 3 | |
| RELT 520 | Spirituality in Ministry | 3 | |
| RELT 581 | Biblical Ethics and Contemporary Society | 3 | |
| RELT 525 | Theology of Ministry | 3 | |
| RELT 546 | Doctrine of Salvation | 3 | |
| Core Subtotal 12 | |||
| Management Studies Courses | Credits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| BUAD 555 | Leadership and Change | 3 | |
| BUAD 530 | Organizational Behavior | 3 | |
| Select an elective offered by the School of Business | 3 | ||
| Management Studies Subtotal 9 | |||
| Ministry Studies Courses | Credits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| RELP 513 | Effective Church Leadership | 3 | |
| RELP 521 | Time and Life Management | 3 | |
| RELP 535 | Conflict Resolution and Relationships | 3 | |
| RELP | Select one RELP course | 3 | |
| Ministry Studies Subtotal 12 | |||
| Elective Courses | Credits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Select any School of Religion Graduate course. | 3 | ||
| Elective Subtotal 3 | |||
| Total 36 |
| Master of Ministry Core Courses | Credits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| RELT 531 | Hermeneutics and Biblical Interpretation | 3 | |
| RELT 520 | Spirituality in Ministry | 3 | |
| RELT 581 | Biblical Ethics and Contemporary Society | 3 | |
| RELT 525 | Theology of Ministry | 3 | |
| RELT 546 | Doctrine of Salvation | 3 | |
| Core Subtotal 12 | |||
| Biblical and Theological Studies Courses | Credits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| NTST 556 | Studies in Revelation | 3 | |
| RELT 570 | World Missions | 3 | |
| RELT 568 | World Religions | 3 | |
| Biblical and Theological Studies Subtotal 9 | |||
| Evangelism and Ministry Studies Courses | Credits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| RELP 532 | Principles and Strategies for Church Growth | 3 | |
| RELP 534 | Personal Soul-Winning Skills | 3 | |
| RELP 515 | Equipping Laity for Ministry | 3 | |
| RELP 591 | Evangelistic Preaching Practicum | 3 | |
| RELP | Select one RELP course | 3 | |
| Evangelism and Ministry Studies Subtotal 12 | |||
| Elective Courses | Credits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Select any School of Religion Graduate course. | 3 | ||
| Elective Subtotal 3 | |||
| Total 36 |
| Master of Ministry Core Courses | Credits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| RELT 531 | Hermeneutics and Biblical Interpretation | 3 | |
| RELT 520 | Spirituality in Ministry | 3 | |
| RELT 581 | Biblical Ethics and Contemporary Society | 3 | |
| RELT 525 | Theology of Ministry | 3 | |
| RELT 546 | Doctrine of Salvation | 3 | |
| Core Subtotal 12 | |||
| Biblical and General Studies Courses | Credits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Select any OTST, NTST, or RELT course | 3 | ||
| Biblical and General Studies Subtotal 3 | |||
| Biblical Counseling Courses | Credits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| RELP 535 | Conflict Resolution and Relationships | 3 | |
| RELP 550 | Principles of Biblical Change I | 3 | |
| RELP 551 | Principles of Biblical Change II | 3 | |
| RELP 555 | Marriage and Family Coaching | 3 | |
| RELP 557 | Biblical Counseling in the Local Church | 3 | |
| RELP 593 | Counseling Practicum | 3 | |
| Biblical Counseling Subtotal 18 | |||
| Elective Courses | Credits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Select any School of Religion Graduate course. | 3 | ||
| Elective Subtotal 3 | |||
| Total 36 |
Thank you for considering Southern Adventist University for your graduate studies in Religion. We have attempted here to explain our programs and their rationale and delivery method. If after careful reading of this material you still have questions, please call or e-mail me, and I will be happy to try to answer your questions more fully. We look forward to being able to help you with your graduate studies if our programs fit your needs and situation.
Graduate Program Coordinator
parker@southern.edu
423.236.2683
