MA in Biblical Leadership

Degree Purpose

What is the purpose of the Master of Arts degree in Biblical Leadership?

The Master of Arts in Biblical Leadership degree prepares students for Christian leadership other than pulpit/preaching ministries. It specifically equips students for a variety of professional church and para-church ministries or as church lay leaders. It is expressly not designed to prepare students academically for doctoral studies or for ordination in those churches that require the Master of Divinity degree.

Students will engage in the systematic study of the Scriptures and theology while being exposed to current theological issues and positions with the goal of equipping the student to think biblically, independently and constructively in vital areas of ministry.

The student will also be directed by a Seminary mentor or local church mentor during his or her training for the personal development of character.

Student Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the Master of Arts in Biblical Leadership degree program should be able to:

1. Know and interpret Scripture according to proper hermeneutical principles;
2. Apply Scripture according to proper hermeneutical principles;
3. Articulate sound doctrine consistent with the Phoenix Seminary Statement of Faith and the historic doctrines of the Christian church;
4. Explain the aspects of leadership from the Bible;
5. Justify biblical lay leadership development in a ministry setting;
6. Recruit workers using a Bible-based philosophy, vision, and strategy;
7. Explain from Scripture how to be a Christian leader in a non-Christian world;
8. Shepherd God’s people with biblical wisdom, compassion, and justice. 

Admission Requirements

Applicants to the Master of Arts program must have earned an accredited baccalaureate degree (or its equivalent) that includes exposure to a breadth of liberal arts. Phoenix Seminary encourages undergraduate course work in philosophy and the history of western civilization. A cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) is required. Those who do not meet these general academic requirements may petition the Admissions Committee for special consideration. Applicants must have vocational goals consistent with the design of the Master of Arts in Biblical Leadership. Applicants must also demonstrate evidence of mature Christian character and ministry potential. 

Degree Requirements (64 Hours)

MA Biblical Leadership Core Requirements

Course	Title	Hours (40)
BIBLICAL LITERATURE		16
BC 499	Graduate Writing Workshop	Transcripted
BL 501	Principles for Biblical Interpretation	4
BL 502	Survey of the Pentateuch	2
BL 503	Survey of the Historical and Wisdom Lit.	2
BL 504	Survey of the Prophets	2
BL 505	Survey of the Gospels	2
BL 506	Survey of Acts and the Pauline Epistles	2
BL 507	Survey of the General Epistles and Rev.	2
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT		4
CD 501	Living in God’s Presence	2
CD 504	Foundations of Intimacy	2
CD 593	30-Hour Faculty Review	Transcripted
INTERCULTURAL STUDIES		6
IS 501	Cross-cultural and Diversity Competency	2
IS 502	Global Outreach	2
IS 503	Evangelism and Discipleship	2
THEOLOGY		14
TH 501	God, Scripture, Revelation, and the Holy Spirit	4
TH 502	Humanity, Angels, and the Person and Work of Christ	4
TH 503	Salvation, the Church, and the Future	4
TH 506	Contemporary Moral Issues	2
TH 599	Theological Oral Examination	Transcripted

MA Biblical Leadership Core Requirements Continued

Course	Title	Hours (24)
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT		8
LD 501	Shepherding God’s People	2
LD 507	Church Growth and Assimilation	2
LD 510	Christian Leadership in a Non-Christian World	2
LD 591	Leadership Development Internship I*	2
MINISTRY SKILLS		10
MS 501	Principles for Ministry Leadership	2
– 5##	Apologetics Elective: Choose from TH 505, TH 504, IS 509, or IS 510	2
– 5##	Homiletics / Teaching Elective: Choose from BC 501, BC 509, or MS 506	2
– 5##	Ministry Skills Elective: Choose from MS 502, MS 508, LD 508, or LD 509	2
– 5##	Ministry Skills Elective: Choose from MS 502, MS 508, LD 508, or LD 509	2
GENERAL ELECTIVES*		6

*Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) may in some cases be undertaken to fulfill requirements for LD 591 and / or general elective credit.

Note: Courses which list “Transcripted” are recorded on the transcript as S (Satisfactory) or U (Unsatisfactory). No tuition or fees are charged except in the case of BC 499.

Transfer Credit

A maximum of 50 percent (32 semester hours) of the course work required for the Master of Arts may be transferred from another seminary or graduate school when the transfer credit fits the nature of the program and other requirements are met. 

Graduation Requirements

The Master of Arts requires the completion of 64 semester hours within four years with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.

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