Master of Arts in Discipling Ministries
(formerly named Educational Ministries)

Note:  In 2008 the Discipling Ministries program will be combined with the Pastoral Ministries program.  The new program is called Master of Arts in Ministry Leadership.  Please contact Lori Garde at 260-359-4039 or lgarde @ huntington.edu for additional information.

The mission of the M.A. in Discipling Ministries program is to prepare graduate students to equip, teach, mentor and lead others to grow and serve as disciples of Jesus Christ.

Specializations include:

• Children's Ministry

• Youth Ministry

• Family Ministry

• College Student Development

• Adult Leadership

We want to help our students:

• Understand the theological and educational implications of the biblical mandate "to make disciples of all nations."

• Realize the crucial role the church plays as the major agency of discipleship.

• Develop strategies and skills in reaching out to the unchurched and assimilating them into the church family.

• Understand the process of how to teach people at various levels of development and in different contexts to put Jesus' teachings into practice.

• Create and design discipleship and teaching strategies based on how people learn, grow, and develop.

• Develop skill in designing curriculum to facilitate the making of fully devoted disciples of Jesus Christ.

"The focus of helping others grow spiritually through experiential learning has completely changed my approach to ministry and teaching.  The result has been fruitful relationships and transformed lives.  I am extremely thankful for what I learned in the Discipling Ministries program at Huntington."
     - Leah Christian, graduate

Program Objectives:
To prepare graduate students to equip, teach, and lead others to grow and serve as disciples of Jesus Christ.

• Graduates of the Discipling Ministries program are expected (a) to articulate a Christian perspective of human growth, social development, and cultural dynamics, (b) to understand the process of teaching and learning, (c) to demonstrate competence in designing, implementing, and evaluating educational ministries that promote spiritual maturity, and (d) to show evidence of skillful use of small group strategies to bring about ministry purposes.

• Students are expected to be able (a) to balance ministry programs around purposes of evangelism, nurture, and equipping, (b) to design and implement assessment strategies of ministry outcomes and processes that are consistent with the ultimate biblical ends of ministry, (c) to articulate a philosophy of ministry based upon the integration of biblical, empirical, historical, and social science research.

• Students are expected (a) to expand their vision for leadership through educational ministry, (b) to increase their attentiveness to their personal spiritual formation, (c) to demonstrate an understanding of biblical and theological roots for ministry practice, (d) to grow in interpersonal awareness and skills, and (e) to improve their abilities to organize and manage ministry processes.

• Students are expected to be able (a) to identify personally relevant problems related to educational ministry leadership, and (b) to move toward solutions through the process of collecting information, devising and evaluating alternative approaches, and choosing and implementing decisions.

Achievement in these areas is measured by classroom interaction and course projects, examinations, interaction with professors, accumulated material in the ministry portfolio, the student’s mentoring experience, and the culmination project.

Core Curriculum
The M.A. Program in Discipling Ministries includes a 9-hour Ministry Core as well as a 12-hour Biblical Core.  The Core Curriculum of the Graduate School helps students in all programs attain the understanding and skills necessary for effective leadership and biblical faithfulness while integrating important ministry values.  

Discipling Ministries Courses
Students pursuing a M.A. in Discipling Ministries will also complete 15 hours of Discipling Ministries courses.

Areas of Specialization
The remaining 11credit hours are electives that can be applied toward a chosen specialization.  Students in the Discipling Ministries program may elect courses that further develop their skills in the areas of Children's Ministry, Youth Ministry, Family Ministry, College Student Development and Adult Leadership.

Course descriptions are available on-line

* Students must demonstrate proficiency in this area by 1) having a course at the undergraduate level with a B- grade; 2) passing the proficiency exam administered by the graduate school; 3) taking the class, which may add hours to your program.

** BC 515 is a prerequisite for this course.

Note:  In 2008 the Discipling Ministries program will be combined with the Pastoral Ministries program.  The new program is called Master of Arts in Ministry Leadership.  Please contact Lori Garde at 260-359-4039 or lgarde @ huntington.edu for additional information.

Prospective students should also consider the following Master's degrees from Huntington University:

• Master's Degree in Pastoral Ministries

• Master's Degree in Counseling Ministries

• Master's Degree in Youth Ministries