Master of Arts (MA) in Christian Studies Degree for Young Life Staff

Coursework originating from Young Life:

Required Courses:

• Introduction to Youth Ministry
• Introduction to New Testament
• Introduction to Old Testament
• Systematic Theology
• The Minister as a Person
• Leadership I
• Leadership II
• Christology, Soteriology, Pneumatology
• Supervision and Organizational Leadership

9 courses- 27 credits total

Coursework originating from Western Theological Seminary:

Courses:

• MN335 Foundations of the Christian Life
• TH300/301 Church History I or II
• MN412 Christian Life and Mission
• Two (2) Electives of your choice

5 courses- 15 credits total

Course Descriptions

Master of Arts curriculum: 42 credits

Young Life staff may earn a Master of Arts using 9 Young Life and 5 WTS courses. Others may want to focus their learning by selecting extra courses of interest from Western and fewer courses from Young Life.

For YL Capernaum Staff – WTS is the only Academic Partner that offers Disability and Ministry Courses.

• To begin, select Western Theological Seminary to transcript and bank your academic credits.

• In year two of your ministry, complete a formal admissions application to begin coursework originating from Western Theological Seminary.

• All required courses originating from WTS for the MA degree are delivered purely online. Students may complete this MA without traveling to our campus. (Some electives may require a 3-5 day residency on campus.)

• To qualify for tuition reduction, married student discounts and/or other financial aid awards, students must apply for financial aid annually.

• We have trained Young Life staff for five decades. Dr. Timothy Brown, president emeritus, teaches at YL Area Director School annually. Dr. Suzanne McDonald, professor of historical and systematic theology, teaches at both New Staff and Winter trainings. Dr. Ben Conner, Professor of Practical Theology, served as a YL Area Director and is a member of the mission-wide Capernaum Committee. Become part of this legacy. Earn a Master of Arts degree at Western Theological Seminary.

Western Theological Seminary’s highly effective and relationship-rich distance learning environment makes coursework available wherever you are and whenever you want.  All core required courses are delivered completely online. The three elective courses of your choice may be completed purely online or may use a hybrid design, blending online learning with 5 days per semester of face-to-face instruction on the WTS campus. There is no residency requirement – the required WTS courses may all be done online.

Two distance learning semesters and one short online term annually:

Fall Semester: 14 weeks, early September-December. Hybrid courses that blend online and classroom learning include a required 5-day on-campus intensive in Holland, MI in mid-October.

Spring Semester: 14 weeks, January-May.   Hybrid courses that blend online and classroom learning include a required 5-day on-campus intensive in Holland, MI in mid-February.

Summer Term: 7 weeks, late May-late June, fully online courses

How do you learn best?  What environment do you prefer? Before signing up for any online course or stepping into a classroom, it is important to discern your own learning style.

In-Residence Learner

• Prefers the physical environment of the classroom
• Enjoys regular face-to-face interaction with professors and peers
• Needs a consistent class schedule and structured learning formats

Distance Learning Learner

• Self-motivated, independent learner
• Wants flexibility of organizing his or her own learning schedule
• Disciplined, can set aside 15-20 hours per week to study and participate in an online setting
• Prefers to continue in current ministry or home situation