Master of Ministry

Overview

The Master of Ministry is a professional degree that seeks to prepare biblically sound holiness advocates and skillful missionaries, ministers, educators, and teachers at off-site locations in the areas of the world for which APNTS has educational responsibility. The program is offered for lay people and clergy alike who wish to be more equipped to minister in their local context. Primarily as a non-residential program, it is offered at off-site centers and online; it meets several needs and addresses the growing trend in theological education around the world toward non-residential, decentralized education.

For those desiring ordination in the Church of the Nazarene, M.Min. credits can be transferred to the Master of Religious Studies (M.R.S.) program at APNTS. This would require that M.Min. graduates surrender their M.Min. diploma back to APNTS upon application for the M.R.S.

The Master of Ministry is NOT recognized by the Philippine’s Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and will not be applied for such government recognition. However, it is accredited by the Asia Theological Association (ATA) and will be applied soon for accreditation through the Association for Theological Education in Southeast Asia (ATESEA).

Program Outcomes

In addition to the overall mission of APNTS, the M.Min. degree is designed to prepare students to:

1. Grow in their knowledge of the Scripture and Wesleyan theology.
2. Gain the ability to understand and articulate the biblical, historical, and theological bases for Christian ministry.
3. Develop skills in contextualizing biblical and theological precepts related to specific ministry functions.
4. Cultivate learning habits that encourage reading and reflection throughout their ministry.
5. Develop critical thinking and innovative creativity in their ministry involvements.

Course Delivery Method

Courses are offered residentially, off-site, and online. Offered residentially, students may join semestral and summer classes offered at APNTS. Offered offsite, professors go to learning centers to teach classes in one-week or two-week modules. Students attend 3 or 4 modules per year . Classes are taught with a side-by-side translation. Students submit their requirements to the professor via Moodle. Students are normally given 3-4 months to finish al requirements for each class. Offered online, students attend classes offered at APNTS, joining other students in the semester. They attend classes on a weekly basis and submit their papers through Moodle. Good internet connection is required to enroll online.

Admission Requirements

A completed application through the Admissions Office must be submitted including an original Transcript of Records of their undergraduate degree, reference letters, and financial information. All students must have completed a bachelor’s degree with a 2.0 GPA average or higher. Residential and online students need to have passed the English exam with 500 score. Once a student applies with all transcripts, reference letters, and completed application, the Admissions Office and program director review all documents submitted and may ask for an interview. Transferring credits from accredited, recognized graduate programs are reviewed and approved by the Academic Dean. Up to 24 units may be transferred/credited from previous transcripts to the program.

Graduation Requirements

Graduates must successfully complete 60 units of the curriculum. Because most of our students
in this program are part-time, students are permitted 8 years to complete the program. A year of absence may be applied through the program director, which is not included in the 8 years statute of limitations. A 2.0 GPA is required for degree completion. Graduates must also pass a Comprehensive Examination and submit a Capstone Project.

Degree Specializations

The Master of Ministry does not have fixed concentrations. Each off-site center, however, with the guidance of the coordinator, may request a specific specialization (15 units). APNTS typically offers specializations in Pastoral Ministry, Christian Education, Wesleyan theology, and Biblical Studies. However, unique concentrations may be negotiated with the program director in consultation with the Academic Dean.

Course Offerings

The Master of Ministry is a 60-unit degree professional program. The curriculum is divided among Introductory Courses (18 units), Core Courses (12 units), Regulated Cognates (12 units), and Specialization Courses (15 units). Each class below is 3 units, unless otherwise specified.