
Master of Arts in Cross-cultural Ministry (MACM)
Preparation for those called to serve in other cultures by learning from veteran missionaries.
Overview
Be on mission at home or overseas
Whether you are called to the mission field in another country or to a cross-cultural context across the street, the MACM program can prepare you to love your neighbors well with the truth of the gospel.
Heart for missions
Faculty in the World Missions and Intercultural Studies department love to share their decades of experience in the field and in the classroom with students.
All 66 books
A 2-year MA at DTS offers more Bible and theology than a 3-year MDiv at most seminaries, including all 66 books (even Nahum) and an entire course on the Trinity.
Curricullum
Learn to contextualize the Bible and theology
The 2-year MA programs at DTS have a common core of Bible and theology coursework along with specific training in cross-cultural communication that you can apply wherever God has called you to serve.
Biblical Exposition | 22 | |
BE101 | Bible Study Methods and Hermeneutics | 3 |
BE102 | Old Testament History I | 3 |
BE103 | OT History II & Poetry | 2 |
BE104 | OT Prophets | 3 |
BE105 | The Gospels | 2 |
BE106 | Acts & Pauline Epistles | 3 |
BE107 | Hebrews, General Epistles, & Revelation | 3 |
BE109 | Ruth, Psalms, Jonah, & Selected Epistles | 3 |
Systematic Theology | 18 | |
ST101 | Theological Method and Bibliology | 3 |
ST102 | Trinitarianism | 3 |
ST103 | Angelology, Anthropology, and Hamartiology | 3 |
ST104 | Soteriology | 3 |
ST105 | Sanctification and Ecclesiology | 3 |
ST106 | Eschatology | 3 |
Missions & Intercultural Studies | 14 | |
INT140 | MA/CM Ministry Formation Internship | 2 |
WM101 | Introduction to World Missions | 3 |
WM205 | Cultural Dynamics in Ministry | 3 |
WM210 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
WM215 | Dynamics of Missionary Development | 3 |
Electives & Spiritual Formation | 10 | |
Missions Elective(s) | 7 | |
PM105 | Christian Life and Witness | 3 |
SF100 | Spiritual Formation | 0 |
Please Note: Students are expected to serve overseas during their
Internship and often begin their internship in the summer before
their final year. Exceptions for state-side internships are by approval only.
Use our Degree Plan Worksheet resource to chart out your MACM degree. For a description of courses offered, please see the catalog.
Details
Common Goals for Professional MA Programs
Students in all of professional MA programs at DTS will be able 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; and
- evidence an increasing likeness to Christ as manifested in love for God, love for others, and the fruit of the Spirit.
Goals for MA in Cross-cultural Ministry
In addition to the goals common to all professional degree programs at the seminary, students in this program will be able to:
- verbalize principles of effective intercultural ministry;
- demonstrate familiarity with essential principles of anthropology, ethnology, sociology, and psychology in relation to missions;
- evidence a deep commitment to world evangelism;
- communicate the Bible effectively in an intercultural context;
- produce an accurate profile of the chosen country or area of the world; and
- design an effective strategy for an intercultural ministry.
Course Requirements
Sixty-four semester hours of course work are required as a minimum for graduation. Of those hours, 22 are in prescribed Bible Exposition courses, 18 in prescribed Systematic Theology courses, and 3 are in the Christian Life and Witness course. There are 12 hours of prescribed World Missions and Intercultural Studies courses and a 2-hour MACM Ministry Formation Internship. The remaining 6 hours are missions electives. Department professors will assist students in designing the most appropriate program of missions electives for the student’s personal career goals.
Students are required to do a cross-cultural internship as part of completing the missions electives of the program. The acceptability of this experience is determined by the Ministry Formation Office. Those interested in the TESOL certificate must take TESOL courses in addition to missions electives. This will require an additional 10 or 11 hours of coursework.
No thesis is required for the MACM degree.
Students in the MA in Cross-cultural Ministry (MACM) program are required to take MinistrySafe’s Sexual Abuse Awareness Training.
Spiritual Formation
Because DTS values Christlike character and spiritual maturity, MACM students are required to register for and participate in Spiritual Formation groups for four consecutive fall and spring semesters at either the Dallas, Houston, or Washington DC campus. (MACM students who are not planning to move to Dallas or Houston for four consecutive fall and spring semesters must contact the Spiritual Formation office and apply for an alternative program for completing their Spiritual Formation requirement.)
In the Spiritual Formation curriculum, small groups of five to seven students focus on identity, community, integrity, and fidelity. The groups also provide an atmosphere for prayer, fellowship, and the integration of learning with life and ministry. Because students participate in the same group during four consecutive semesters, they should plan their schedules so they may meet on the same day and at the same time each semester. Spiritual Formation is a noncredit, transcripted experience. Internship prerequisites include successful completion of SF100-1, WM205, and completion of half of their DTS course work.
Formation
Avenues for wholistic training
See the many ways students are prepared for a lifetime of fruitful ministry
Logos Bible Software
Every student at DTS receives a copy of Logos Bible Software customized with additional commentaries and resources, and DTS courses integrate Logos into assignments and learning.
Sexual Abuse Awareness Training
DTS has partnered with MinistrySafe to offer training on sexual abuse, effective preventative protocols, addressing the needs of abuse survivors, and an appropriate response to abuse allegations arising in ministry environments.
Formation
The DTS experience includes life-on-life connection in small groups (Spiritual Formation), on the job training for real world ministry skills (Ministry Formation Internships), and opportunities to serve, pray, and worship in community.
Stories
Graduates serving at home and abroad
God has our graduates serving in a variety of cross-cultural settings from corporate America to the Amazon jungle and multiethnic churches in between.
Finances
More scholarships, less debt
Over 85% of DTS students graduate without taking on additional educational debt. This is possible because of the generosity of our donors who make over 4 million dollars of scholarship funds available every year.

Scholarship List
Through our donors and Foundation, we are able to offer 100s of scholarships to students every year. See the full list of scholarships.

Financial Aid Calculator
Visit our tool to calculate your costs and see how affordable seminary can be with scholarships, church support, and payment options.
Doctrine
What we believe
DTS faculty affirm our full doctrinal statement every year, while our diverse community of students are centered around these seven core doctrines of evangelical faith.
Admissions
How to get started
The deadline for fall applications as July 1, for spring is November 1, and for summer is April 1.
Application Steps
1. Submit Application
Begin your online application today. It should take about 2 hours.
2. Send Transcripts and References
Collect college transcripts and references from church and others.
3. Committee Evaluation
DTS will review your application and respond within 2-3 weeks.
4. Register for courses
When you receive your acceptance letter, you can plan your first classes.
Admissions Criteria
Faith
You show evidence of saving faith in Jesus Christ in your application testimony, and you adhere to the 7 core doctrines.
Character
Your references speak to your character and dependence on the Holy Spirit for life and work.
Gifting
You are endowed with appropriate spiritual gifts and involved in Christian ministry.
Academics
Previous education has prepared you for graduate theological education.