Admissions

Admission to the M.A. in Pastoral Ministry is based on the following requirements in addition to the general admission requirements for all graduate students and the general Seminary admission requirements.

Ministerial  Applicants

• Hold a BA degree  or equivalent from an accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 2.5
• Provide evidence of successful pastoral leadership during the past five years 
• Be recommended bytheir local conference administration, a pastoral colleague, and local church leader/elder.

Program Outcomes

1. Deliver effective biblically-based sermons
2. Demonstrate proper biblical interpretation skills
3. Understand the historical-theological development of the Adventist Church
4. Capable of training church memebers for evangelism
5. Demonstrate an understanding of how to empower church members for leadership
6. Capable of reaching specific social groups

Program Requirements

The MA. in Pastoral Ministry degree is awarded upon completion of a minimum of 48 credits of formal course work.

• Course work in North America is offered off campus twice annually. Each time the intensives meet, two 3-credit classes are offered at each site. Each class goes from Sunday- Thursday. Classes are usually held at Adventist institutions in each Union. Students should expect pre- and post-class assignments as part of the total academic requirements of each course. The intensives generate the equivalent of 12 credits annually.
• All students must participate in supervised ministerial experience as part of their degree requirements.
• Students are required to take 6 credits on the Andrews University campus during their first year in the program. “This residency requirement is offered as an approved exception to the Association of Theological Schools larger residency expectation stated in Degree Program Standard B, section B.3.1.3.”
• Students failing to maintain a minimum GPA of 2.50 are placed on probation. Any student remaining on probation for the equivalent of two years (maximum of 18 credits) must withdraw from the program.
• Only grades of C- or above will count towards the 48-credit requirement.
• Following an absence of one year or more, a student's previous admission status will have lapsed and the student must reapply to the program.
• The degree should be completed within 6 years of beginning the program. Credits older than ten years will not be applied toward the degree.

Transfer Credits

• All course credits applied towards degree requirements should be earned within 10 years of the awarding of the degree
• Upon approval by the dean, a maximum of 24 graduate credits may be transferred from approved seminaries or universities, including Andrews University. 
• A maximum of 8 credits may be transferred from another conferred degree upon approval by the dean.

Application Procedures

• Following an absence of one year or more, a student's previous admission status will have lapsed and the student will need to reapply to the program and pay all the admission fees. Students will be accepted under the current bulletin.

All classes in the MA in Pastoral Ministry program are to be taken for 3 credits.

Application Procedures

Each applicant must submit the following to the Graduate Enrollment Office:

• Official application form completely filled out;
• Click here for the online application
• Application instructions/FAQ 
• Application fee ($65.00)
• Official transcript from each college/university attended
• Resume, including employment and ministry experience
• Three to five years of ministry history 
• A statement of purpose for seeking this degree (150-500 words) 
• Three recommendations:
  • Local conference administration
  • A pastoral colleague
  • Local church leader/elder