MA in Pastoral and Social Ministry
The Pastoral and Social Ministry concentration is oriented to human growth and is thus appropriate for all seekers, but it is also specifically helpful to those preparing for professional practice in varieties of pastoral care including chaplaincy, education, campus ministry, youth ministry and varieties of social ministries.
The concentration explores the richness of Christian spirituality as a way of life oriented to the intellectual, affective, humane and relational qualities of human existence that make life meaningful and worthwhile. It prepares students to engage pastoral work in pluralistic contexts, since their social and pastoral ministries require cultural sensitivities, practical skills and a capacity to connect across religious traditions, with openness and respect.
Students taking this concentration can pursue our Youth and Campus Ministry Track.
Through the concentration, students:
• Gain knowledge about the tradition of Christian spirituality as a resource for theological imagination, personal and communal identity, and personal development.
• Gain an understanding of spiritual practices that promote personal growth, health and well-being, and share those spiritual practices with others in ways that are sensitive to and respect our pluralistic cultural context.
• Gain the skills necessary to engage pastoral practice with clarity about how spiritual growth and spiritual practice enhances their effectiveness and their longevity as pastoral caregivers.
Course Curriculum:
Foundational Courses:
- THEO 504 Liberating Bible
- THEO 547 Ethics in a Time of Planetary Crisis
- THEO 555 Key Turning Points in Christian History
- THEO 624 Theological Imagination: Approaches to the Sacred
Pastoral and Social Ministry Concentration Courses:
- THEO 631: Theo/Ethics in Ministry
- THEO Elective in Spirituality
- Course in Counseling or Psychology
- Internship / Theo 715
- Two THEO Electives + Dossier OR One Elective + Thesis