Approved Degrees Offered by Member Schools
Degree programs approved by the Board of Commissioners
are post-baccalaureate and fall into several groups. It
should be noted that these categories are not mutually exclusive
and that there is some natural overlapping among them. Programs
at the level of the first graduate theological degree are
of two main kinds: (1) some are oriented primarily toward
ministerial leadership and (2) some toward general theological
studies. Programs at the advanced level, normally presupposing
a first theological degree, are of two main kinds: (1) those
that focus upon advanced ministerial leadership and (2)
those directed primarily toward theological research and
teaching.
Basic Programs Oriented Toward Ministerial
Leadership
Ordained
Ministry
Religious
Education
Specialized
Professional Areas
Music
The following degree nomenclature is
included among these kinds of curricular programs: Master
of Divinity; Master of Arts in Religious Education/Master
of Religious Education; Master of Arts in ____________ (e.g.,
Counseling); Master of Sacred Music/Master of Church
Music. Curricula for programs oriented toward ministerial
leadership have certain closely integrated, common features.
Basic Programs Oriented Toward General
Theological Studies
Theological
Disciplines
Degrees of this kind are offered with
the following nomenclature: Master of Arts; Master of
Arts (Religion); Master of Theological Studies. First
graduate theological degrees in basic programs oriented
toward general theological studies have in common the
purpose of providing understanding in theological disciplines.
They are intended as the basis for further graduate
study or for other educational purposes.
Advanced Programs Oriented Toward Ministerial
Leadership
Ministry
Missiology
Education
Musical Arts
Degrees offered in this broad category
have the following nomenclature: Doctor of Ministry;
Doctor of Missiology; Doctor of Education; Doctor of
Musical Arts. Advanced programs in ministerial leadership
presuppose a basic theological degree. All are designed
to deepen the basic knowledge and skill in ministry
so that students may engage in ministry with increasing
professional, intellectual, and spiritual integrity.
Advanced Programs Primarily Oriented
Toward Theological Research and Teaching
Masters' Degrees
Doctoral Degrees
The nomenclature for advanced masters'
degrees includes the Master of Theology and Master of
Sacred Theology. The nomenclature for doctoral degrees
oriented to research and teaching includes the Doctor
of Philosophy and Doctor of Theology. These programs
oriented toward theological research and teaching presuppose
a basic postbaccaluareate theological degree and permit
students to concentrate in one or more of the theological
disciplines.
The Board of Commissioners approves
degree programs offered by accredited schools. There are
two types of degree approval: ongoing and preliminary. Initial
approval of a degree program is designated as preliminary
approval. This designation is recognized by the Board of Commissioners as a formally approved status. After a degree
program has been offered for a sufficient period of time
to permit extended evaluation, usually requiring the completion
of all degree requirements by at least one group of stuents,
the institution shall seek ongoing approval. Unless the
designation (preliminary) appears following the school name, the degree has received ongonig
approval from the Board of Commissioners.
When institutions offer complete degree
programs at more than one location, the degrees are approved
for each site at which the institution offers them in full.
Because the Board of Commissioners does not approve degree programs
of Candidates for Accredited Membership,
the degree programs of those schools are not listed.
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