Servant Leadership
The world is changing. Be a leader for this generation and the next. From the ministry to the marketplace the M.A./CL gives you the leadership tools to adapt to diverse situations.
Degree Breakdown
| Area of Study | |
|---|---|
| Biblical Exposition | 22 |
| Theological Studies | 18 |
| Ministry, Communication, and Leadership | 10 |
| Ministry Internship | 12 |
| 62 |
Student Testimonial
"The M.A./CL program provides a graduate level theological education for people called to senior leadership roles which might not involve a pulpit. The program enhances ministry and leadership skills both theologically and practically for those of us who are already serving. This degree is providing me with a strong biblical, theological and ministry oriented foundation with a specialized study in leadership. And with the ministry residency program I can earn credit towards my M.A./CL degree by studying alongside my ministry."
Details
The program leading to the Master of Arts in Christian Leadership (M.A./CL) degree is designed to provide graduate-level biblical and theological education to prepare students for organizational leadership roles in a wide variety of ministry settings. The training prepares students to assume leadership positions in church, parachurch, missions, and marketplace contexts.
Educational Goals
To enable students to:
- demonstrate a general knowledge of the Bible, including a synthetic understanding of the major books
- evidence an understanding of the historical development of theology, a knowledge of premillennial theology, and an ability to support their theological views and apply them to contemporary issues
- develop a biblically sound philosophy of Christian leadership.
Spiritual Goals
To enable students to:
- evidence an increasing likeness to Christ as manifested in love for God, love for others, and the fruit of the Spirit
- develop deep levels of biblical and spiritual integrity in their own personal life, relationships, and ministry.
Ministry Goals
To enable students to:
- appraise the leadership needs of an organization
- design a leadership development plan for an organization
- demonstrate transformational leadership skills within an organization
Course Requirements
Sixty-two semester hours of course work are required as a minimum for graduation. Of those hours, 22 are in prescribed Bible Exposition courses, 18 hours are in prescribed Systematic Theology courses, 2 are in Spiritual Life, 3 are in prescribed Christian Education courses, 12 are electives in leadership related courses from the Division of Ministry and Communication, and 3 hours are in a Servant Leadership Internship. A 2-hour applied research project is also required.
Ministry Residency (Up to 12 Hours of Credit)
DTS believes that preparation for ministry takes place both in the classroom and in the field of service. It is vital to link theory and practice. Instead of learning only in the isolation of the classroom, DTS supports learning happening within the community of faith as the student ministers in a ministry context and reflects on that experience. Master of Arts in Christian Leadership (MACL) and Master of Theology (Th.M.) students now have the option of completing either a three credit hour Servant Leadership Internship or the new twelve credit hour Ministry Residency.
So what are the differences and which one is right for you?
| 3 Credit Hour Internship | 12 Credit Hour Residency |
|---|---|
|
7-10 hours of weekly ministry in a local church or parachurch setting |
25 hours of weekly ministry in a local church or parachurch setting |
|
12 months to complete |
8 months to complete |
|
Starts any semester (Fall, Spring, or Summer) |
Starts Fall semester only |
|
Does not require any time on campus |
Requires one week on campus in the Fall semester and one week on campus after the Spring semester |
Students in the Ministry Residency program will come together on the Dallas campus before the start of the Fall semester (early/mid August) for a weeklong experience with other Residency students. After this week, the Residency students will return to their place of service and be placed in an online student cohort for encouragement and accountability during the rest of the school year. In addition, each student will have weekly interaction with an on-site Ministry Mentor and regular interaction (face to face or online) with a faculty member on the Dallas campus. The Residency will then conclude with another week on campus after the end of the Spring semester (mid May) for a weeklong celebration of what God did through the Residency students and (more importantly) what God did in the Residency students themselves.
Note: For M.A./CL students, the Ministry Residency will replace the required SL335 course (Personal Assessment and Ministry Vision), the 6 hours of leadership electives, and the Internship (SL155). For Th.M. students, the Ministry Residency will fulfill one of their Ministry Emphases and will replace the Internship (SL105).
The Ministry Residency allows students to:
- Learn with fellow Residency students in a cohort format.
- Be mentored by a ministry leader on the field and by a DTS faculty member.
- Study in areas of leadership (personal assessment, ministry vision, change management, teamwork, organizational leadership development).
- Apply leadership principles right away in their field of ministry.
All Ministry Residency sites must agree to the following benchmarks:
- The student will be engaged in 25+ hours of compensated ministry at the ministry site.
- The student will have an “ownership” role of a ministry area at the site (i.e. the student is “in charge” of a ministry area and is accountable for his/her leadership in that area).
- The student will have a teaching/speaking/preaching venue at the ministry site or a venue will be provided by the ministry site at another location.
- The student will have intentional exposure to all areas of pastoral duties as deemed suitable (i.e. weddings, funerals, communion, baptism, visitation, evangelism, preaching, and counseling) through the ministry site.
- The student will have a consistent mentoring time with his/her on-site Ministry Mentor.
- The student will participate in a fall one week and a spring one week Dallascampus experience.
- The student will participate in a learning cohort with other Residency students.
- Emphasis at the ministry site will be on both the professional development of a minister and the spiritual development of a minister.
For more information about the Internships or the new Ministry Residency, please contact the Spiritual Formation and Leadership Department.
Degree Plan
Master of Arts in Christian Leadership (M.A./CL) and Master of Theology (Th.M.) students now have the option of completing either a three credit hour Servant Leadership Internship or the new twelve credit hour Ministry Residency. Learn more about this option.
First Year
Fall Semester
| Code | Name | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BE101 | Bible Study Methods and Hermeneutics | 3 |
| ST101 | Introduction to Theology | 3 |
| PM101 | Spiritual Life | 2 |
| SL305 | Dynamics of Leadership | 3 |
| Electives | 4 | |
| 15 | ||
Spring Semester
| Code | Name | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BE102 | Old Testament History I | 3 |
| BE105 | The Gospels | 2 |
| BE109 | Ruth, Psalms, Jonah, and Selected Epistles | 3 |
| ST102 | Trinitarianism | 3 |
| SL335 | Personal Assessment and Ministry Vision | 3 |
| Electives | 2 | |
| 16 | ||
Second Year
Fall Semester
| Code | Name | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BE103 | Old Testament History II and Poetry | 2 |
| BE104 | Old Testament Prophets | 3 |
| ST103 | Angelology, Anthropology, and Sin | 3 |
| ST105 | Sanctification and Ecclesiology | 3 |
| SL950 | Applied Research Project | 2 |
| Internship | 3 | |
| 16 | ||
Spring Semester
| Code | Name | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BE106 | Acts and Pauline Epistles | 3 |
| BE107 | Hebrews, General Epistles, and Revelation | 3 |
| ST104 | Soteriology | 3 |
| ST106 | Eschatology | 3 |
| CE103 | Teaching Process | 2 |
| CE104 | Audiovisual Presentations | 1 |
| 15 | ||
MACL Approved Electives
| No. | Name | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SF320 | Spiritual Formation & Ministry in Contemporary Culture | 2 |
| PM102 | Evangelism | 2 |
| PM301 | Pastoral Theology & Leadership | 3 |
| PM351 | Role of Women in Ministry | 3 |
| PM540 | Develop/Leading the Culturally Diverse Church | 3 |
| CE220 | Evaluating Ministry Effectiveness | 3 |
| CE315 | Administrative Process | 3 |
| CE325 | Legal & Financial Issues in Ministry | 3 |
| CE720 | Creativity | 2 |
| WM445 | Business of Mission | 2 |
| SL310 | Emotional Intelligence & Relationships in Leadership | 2 |
| SL315 | Developing Leaders Through Mentoring & Coaching | 2 |
| SL320 | Change and Resistance in Christian Leadership | 2 |
| SL325 | Organizational Communication | 3 |
| SL330 | Personal and Organizational Leadership Development | 2 |
| SL340 | Team Leadership | 2 |
| SL350 | Leadership Seminar | 2 |
| SL355 | Readings in Leadership/Current Issues in Leadership | 2 |
| SL360 | Leadership Evaluation and Development (L.E.A.D.) | 3 |
| SL901 | Independent Study in Leadership | 1-4 |
| SL905 | Special Topics in Spiritual Formation & Leadership | 1-4 |
(Alternate Courses may be approved on a case by case basis)
Online & Distance Studies
Students can complete the entire MA/CL degree at any of our approved campuses (Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Austin, Knoxville, San Antonio, or Tampa), but the degree can also be completed in any city through a combination of online classes, an internship, and week-long intensive courses.
To study via distance, you can break down your course work as follows:
- 30 hours online - You can complete up to 30 hours online. This is the maximum that our accrediting body (ATS - the Association of Theological Schools) allows.
- 12 hours ministry residency - You can earn 12 hours of credit in your existing ministry through an approved ministry residency.
- 20 hours on campus - For the remaining 20 hours of course work, you can take week-long intensive courses during the winter and summer terms at the campus most convenient for you.
