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The Global Ministries University degree programs offer contemporary theology and encourage students to explore a variety of religious traditions as part of their course of study and the relationship of these spiritual traditions to contemporary global issues such as poverty, racism, sexism and militarism. The programs include study of the world religious traditions, global spirituality, the philosophy of religion, moral thought, social justice issues, and the history of various religious traditions.
Custom-Designed Programs
Global Ministries University gives you the opportunity to custom-design your degree program by allowing you to offer input as to the courses that will best meet your ministerial goals. Furthermore, GMU has many contemporary courses from which to choose.
Flexible Schedule
You may begin program at any time. There is no waiting for registration dates or semesters to begin and since Global Ministries University offers self-directed study, you may complete courses on your schedule in the convenience of your home.
Prior Learning and Life Experience Credit
Traditionally, college credits are earned in formal classrooms within the academic semester. However, Global Ministries University believes that extra-institutional learning and life experiences can also be valid for college credit (doctoral programs excluded). It is therefore possible to be awarded credit for relevant work duties, volunteer work, non-credit courses, seminars, and workshops, which could significantly reduce cost of tuition. Refer to degree program for number of credits that may be awarded (assessment fee required).
Study Process A learning contract that includes the course work required to complete degree and a tentative timetable for completion of program is developed. Dean of program will mentor student or assign a mentor, who will coordinate degree program. If you choose to submit prior learning and life experience for evaluation, you will complete an assessment form and Dean of program will award credits as appropriate. Once learning contract is completed, you will be sent an enrollment agreement for your first course. When the signed agreement is received by the GMU Office with payment, you will be sent the syllabus for your first course and the contact information for your instructor via email.
Application Process To enroll in a degree program, print out and complete application and submit to GMU Office with application fee. If you choose to prior learning and life experience for evaluation, assessment fee should also be included. If you are not eligible for degree program of interest, both fees will be refunded within thirty days.
The Master of Divinity Degree Completion Program is designed to be responsive to those students who may be already serving in non-traditional settings or intend to do so, as well as for those with significant experience in traditional ministerial settings. It is intended to be flexible and at the same time offer a ministerial educational regimen which will prepare a candidate for competency in a range of ministries.
Eligibility
All students who are accepted into this program must have already earned a bachelor's degree.
Credits Required
The Master of Divinity Degree Completion Program requires 90 credits.
Prior Learning and Life Experience Allowance
Prior Learning Allowance
A maximum of 45 credits may be awarded for prior learning.
Prior Life Experience Allowance
A maximum of 22 credits may be awarded for life experience.
A combined total of up to 45 of the 90 required credits comparable to the Master of Divininity core requirements may be awarded for prior learning and life experience
Credits Earned through Global Ministries University
Students must earn a total of 45 credits through Global Ministries University.
Program Overview
Master of Divinity Degree Completion Program Core Requirements
The following courses are part of the general curriculum for the Master of Divinity degree Core Requirements are indicated by bold font and noted as mandatory. All courses listed are 3 credits unless stated otherwise. Course equivalencies or substitutions are subject to prior approval by the Global Ministries University Curriculum Council.
I. SCRIPTURAL FOUNDATIONS (15 credits required)
TH610 Feminist Introduction to Hebrew Scriptures or
TH612 Introduction to the Old Testament (mandatory)
TH650 Introduction to the New Testament (mandatory)
Choose 3 of the following courses:
TH620 Introduction to the Old Testament Prophets
TH630 Introduction to the Psalms: A Theological and Devotional Approach
to the Spirituality of the Psalms
TH640 Women of the Bible
TH660 Exploring the Identity and Role of Jesus
TH670 Paul the Apostle: His Writings and Influence upon the growth of
Christianity
II. CHRISTIAN HISTORICAL FOUNDATIONS (12 credits required)
TH680 Early Church History (mandatory)
Choose 3 of the following courses:
TH642 Visionary Women in the Christian Tradition
TH644 Celtic Women in the Christian Tradition
TH690 Medieval Church History
TH695 Modern Church History
III. CONTEMPORARY SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGICAL STUDIES (9 credits required)
Students are required to take a minimum of two 3-credit of the following Global Ministries University courses.
TH507 Introduction to Systematic Christian Theology.
TH508 Feminist Theology
TH509 Ecological Theology
TH510 Introduction to Ecumenical Theology
TH511 History of God
TH512 Theology of Interfaith Dialogue
TH513 Liberation Theology
TH572 Feminist Liberation Theologies: A Global Resource for Doing Justice
IV. ETHICS AND MORAL THEOLOGY (6 credits required)
TH520 Ethics in Pastoral Ministry (mandatory)
TH530 An Introduction to Moral Theology
V. SPIRITUALITY (12 credits required)
TH570 Worship and Sacraments (mandatory)
Choose 1 of the following courses:
TH535 Feminist Ethics and Moral Theology
TH540 Spirituality for the 20th and 21st Century
TH646 Journey Into the Spiritual Center
TH575 Mysticism in the Christian Tradition
TH578 African Theology
TH580 Creation Spirituality
IPA688 Spiritual Direction
IPA701 Feminist Liturgies
VI. MINISTERIAL INTEGRATIVE, PERSONAL & SOCIAL TRANSFORMATIONAL SKILLS (25 credits required)
Contemporary ministry requires significant interpersonal and integrative capacities in rapidly evolving and personally challenging religious and civil community cultures.
IPE617 Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE)* 3 credits (mandatory)
IPE618 Pastoral Integration Internship 6 credits (mandatory) Approved 9-Month Ministerial Experience and a Related Pastoral Integration Reflection Paper.
IPE619 Contemporary Congregational Life 3 credits (mandatory)
IPE621 Personal and Social Transformation Intensive 3 credits (mandatory)
IPE622 Self-Care in the Ministry 1 credit (mandatory)
IPA680 Psychology and Pastoral Theology 3 credits (mandatory)
IPA682 Religious Education 3 credits(mandatory)
IPA684 Preaching Tutorial 3 credit (mandatory)
VII. OTHER POSSIBLE COURSES TAKEN AS DIRECTED STUDY
o Feminist Spirituality(available as directed study)
o Celtic Spirituality
o African Theology
o Global Justice
o Liturgy and the Arts
o Missiology and World Religions
o Pastoral Counseling (available as seminar credit in the St. Louis and Boston areas)
o Philosophy of Religion
o Psychology of Religion
o Priesthood: Celibate, Married and Women Priests
o Religion and Science (available through Bachelor of Religious Studies Degree Program)
o Sexuality and Spirituality: Homosexuality and Heterosexuality in Christian Spirituality
*Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) (or an approved equivalent of 400 hours)In addition to the registration fee and tuition, there is an additional expense for two Field Education Supervisory Reports at $150 each. Also, if an approved unit of CPE or its equivalent has not been completed, Master of Divinity students must make their own Global Ministries University approved arrangements to fulfill this requirement at their own expense.
Elective courses (11 credits)
Electives may be selected from the Course Content and Master Degree Course List; Global Ministries University approved educational offerings provided through partnerships with other religious institutions, churches, universities, and ministerial renewal organizations working for reconciliation, healing, equality and justice; or may be credited for prior learning and life experience related to this 90 credit Global Ministries University Master of Divinity curriculum.
CONTACT GMU
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