Normally three years is required for the completion of the course leading to this degree. A candidate must complete a total of 48 hours including a master’s thesis. The curriculum builds upon a foundational core in Bible and other theological disciplines. Then the M.A.R.E.
program is divided into seven concentrations: Church Ministries, Curriculum and Instruc- tion, Educational Leadership, Holistic Child Development, Language Teaching Ministries, Teaching Ministries, and a General track.
Students entering the M.A.R.E. program are required to have had at least one subject in Psychology and three subjects (9 units) in either education or Christian education. Students without these prerequisites will take the corresponding number of additional units in their graduate program.
While the foundational core provides an integrative whole for the student’s development, the M.A.R.E. concentrations are designed to allow a breadth of ministry options. The learn- ers may customize the program according to their calling while at the same time developing a depth of understanding in their chosen concentration. The chosen concentration should prepare the student for his or her thesis research as well as future ministry. Students are encouraged to take an additional six hours of credit (two classes) above the minimum required 48 hours if they seek to completely master their concentration.
48
pares graduates with educational expertise for a variety of options. It is intended for those who: 1) plan to teach in any level of church schools, 2) may teach in public schools, or 3) are considering college teach- ing in fields other than Christian Education (those students would take this concentra- tion as electives or a second course beyond the Master of Divinity course).
The Holistic Child Development (HCD) con- centration qualifies graduates to teach at the undergraduate level of instruction in HCD, to act as advocates, spokes-persons, leaders, managers, and facilitators minis- tering with and through children both in- side and outside the church. It is intended for: 1) church leaders who believe in the importance of children and their contribu- tions both in the local context and the glo- bal scheme, and 2) those who are advocates and practitioners on behalf of children at risk.
The General Course provides flexibility and customizability of the M.A.R.E. program for those students whose educational and re- search goals are not met by any of the con- centrations listed above. In coordination with the M.A.R.E. program director, the stu- dent may design a program with four Chris- tian education courses and a practicum that will prepare the graduate for his or her fu- ture ministry. Some potential design ex- amples are given.
G
OALSANDO
BJECTIVESIn addition to the overall mission and ob- jectives of the Seminary, the master’s de- gree program in religious education is in- tended to provide resources for and a cli- mate in which students may:
• Appropriate an understanding of the Word of God, the heritage of the faith, the doctrines of the church, and the fellowship of believers sufficient to enable them to keep a personal commitment to God and the church for a redemptive and nurturing ministry.
• Develop a philosophy of Christian ministry; learn to understand the complexities of and exhibit a capacity and desire for growth in the context of ministry; and demonstrate a spirit of
openness, cooperativeness, and caring in ministry.
• Cultivate competencies necessary for the skillful performance of age-level ministries; educating laity for outreach and nurturing ministries; facilitating harmonious working relations with staff and congregation; functioning competently, professionally, and responsibly in the light of both sound theological understanding and educational theory; and teaching leaders and teachers to provide direction for and modelling of the education program of the church or institution being served.
M.A.R.E. COURSE REQUIREMENTS
All M.A.R.E. concentrations build upon the same Basic Courses, Foundational Core, 8 subjects (24 credit units), and all require both a thesis (6 credit units) and a practicum (3 credit units). Five subjects (15 credit units) are devoted to the concentra- tion.
B
ASICC
OURSES– 3
SUBJECTS• Methods of Research
• Quantitative or Qualitative Research
• Foundations of Christianity
F
OUNDATIONALC
ORE– 5
SUBJECTS• Introduction to Biblical Studies
• Biblical Hermeneutics
• Christian Holiness
• Christian Formation of Ministers
• The Church in Asia-Pacific Societies
T
HESIS– 2
SUBJECTS• Thesis Seminar
• Thesis Writing
P
RACTICUM—1
SUBJECT11 The required Practicums are shaped ac- cording to the concentrations. For instance, Special Needs concentration majors will take “Practicum: Applied Theory in Special Education.”
49 M.A.R.E. IN CHURCH MINISTRIES
M
AJORF
IELDOFC
ONCENTRATION– 5
SUBJECTS• Foundations of Christian Education
• Communication in Education and Ministry
• Life-Span Development
• Teaching the Bible with Youth and Adults
One of the following – 1 subject
• Christian Communities of Practice
• Values and Moral Development
• Youth and the Church
M.A.R.E. IN CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION
M
AJORF
IELDOFC
ONCENTRATION– 5
SUBJECTS• Foundations of Christian Education
• Communication in Education and Ministry
• Curriculum Theory and Analysis
• Instructional Methods and Technology One of the following
• Curriculum Design
• Instructional Design
• Tests, Measurement and Evaluation
M.A.R.E. IN EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP
M
AJORF
IELDOFC
ONCENTRATION– 5
SUBJECTS• Foundations of Christian Education
• Communication in Education and Ministry
• Organizational Leadership
• Strategic Planning One of the following
• Curriculum Theory and Analysis
• Tests, Measurement and Evaluation
• Values and Moral Development
• Leadership in the Book of Acts
• Leading Local Churches
M.A.R.E. IN LANGUAGE TEACHING MINISTRY
M
AJORF
IELDOFC
ONCENTRATION– 5
SUBJECTS• Foundations of Christian Education
• Communication in Education and Ministry
• Applied Linguistics
• Second Language Acquisition One of the following
• Instructional Methods and Technology
• Tests, Measurement and Evaluation
• Teaching in Higher Education
M.A.R.E. IN TEACHING MINISTRY
M
AJORF
IELDOFC
ONCENTRATION– 5
SUBJECTS• Foundations of Christian Education
• Communication in Education and Ministry
• Instructional Methods and Technology
• Theories of Learning One of the following:
• Curriculum Theory and Analysis
• Curriculum Design
• Instructional Design
• Early Childhood Christian Education
• Children and the Church
• Tests, Measurement and Evaluation
• Teaching in Higher Education
• Youth and the Church
• Lay Ministries in the Church
M.A.R.E. IN HOLISTIC CHILD DEVELOPMENT
M
AJORF
IELDOFC
ONCENTRATION–
5
SUBJECTS50
• Foundations of Christian Education
• Communication in Education and Ministry
• Child, Church and Mission
• Intervention Strategies with Children One of the following:
• Holistic Nurture of Children
• Children and the Church
• Early Childhood Christian Education
• Learners with Special Needs
Ph.D. in Holistic Child Development
In addition to a Master of Arts program, APNTS hosts the PhD Program in Holistic Child Development, a CHED-recognized de- gree offered under the Asia Graduate School of Theology. More information can be found on the website.
M.A.R.E. GENERAL
M
AJORF
IELDOFC
ONCENTRATION– 5
SUBJECTS• Foundations of Christian Education
• Communication in Education and Ministry
• Three regulated electives in Christian education
The student may wish to choose a cluster of subjects such as:
• Example One – Age Groups (3 of the following)
- Lay Ministries in the Church - Children and the Church - Early Childhood Education - Youth and the Church
• Example Two – Learning Theory - Life-Span Development - Theories of Learning
- Values and Moral Development
• Example Three – Technology (3 of the following)
- Instructional Methods & Technology
- Instructional Design - Curriculum Design
- Technology Planning for the AdministratorM.A.R.E. COURSE SEQUENCE
F
IRSTY
EARF
IRSTS
EMESTER• Methods of Research
• Introduction to Biblical Studies
• Foundations of Christianity
• Foundations of Christian Education
F
IRSTY
EARS
ECONDS
EMESTER• Communication in Education and Ministry
• Biblical Hermeneutics
• Christian Holiness
• Major Field Concentration subject
S
ECONDY
EARF
IRSTS
EMESTER• Qualitative or Quantitative Research
• Thesis Seminar
• Christian Formation of Ministers
• Major Field Concentration subject
S
ECONDY
EARS
ECONDS
EMESTER• Practicum
• Thesis Writing
• The Church in Asia-Pacific Societies
• Major Field Concentration subject