Online Master's in Religion Curriculum
Students choose the MAR online theology degree because it offers a solid foundation in theological, Bible-focused Christian education without required Greek and Hebrew language coursework, and an opportunity to develop expertise in an area of practical ministry.
The format of the online theology degree is unique among Gordon-Conwell’s programs. It contains the following distinctives:
- Courses are 8 weeks long; students may take two courses in the online theology degree program per semester.
- Intensive one-week residencies occur mid-term with three days devoted to the first course and three days devoted to the second course. Residencies are held on the Charlotte campus.
- Students must complete all core courses in the online theology degree program before advancing into a concentration.
- Students may start in any semester (fall, spring, and summer) and can complete the 60 credit hour online theology degree program in a little over three years.
- All new students must complete two self-paced courses at the beginning of the online theology degree program: Student Orientation and Academic Research and Writing.
- Throughout the online theology degree, students will complete an e-portfolio under faculty supervision that integrates their learning and formation across six dimensions.
- Students will complete an integrative project or paper during their final term.
Degree Requirements
The online MAR consists of 60 credit hours earned according to the following schedule.
| General Core Requirements (30 Credit Hours) |
|
OT 500: Old Testament Survey (Foundational Course) NT 500: New Testament Survey (Foundational Course) CH 501: The Church to the Reformation CH 502: The Church Since the Reformation TH 501: Theology Survey I TH 502: Theology Survey II OT/NT 517: Interpreting the Bible OT/NT/CL 574: Biblical Theology of Leadership ET 501: Christian Ethics WM 510: World Missions: Paradigms and Practice |
|
Concentration Courses (18 Credit Hours)* *Concentration courses are subject to change |
| Christian Care and Counseling Courses |
|
CO 500: Introduction to Counseling (Foundational Course) CO 614: Family Systems Theory (Foundational Course) CO 710: Psychopathology CO 540: Helping Relationships CO 790: Professional Standards CO 709: Counseling Addictive Behavior (Elective) CL 640: Managing Conflict (Elective) CO 716: Marital Therapy (Elective) |
| Christian Ministry Courses |
|
CL 503: Foundations for Leadership MC 501: Spiritual Formation for Ministry EM 715: Worship and Christian Formation CL 650: The Christian Leader as Communicator EV/WM 665: Church Planting & Growth (Elective) MC 540: Urban Ministry (Elective) YM/EM 706: Adolescent Spirituality: Faith Development in the Postmodern World (Elective) |
| Christian Education Courses |
|
EM 502: The Educational Ministry of the Church MC 730: Christian Formation: Paradigms for Forming Communities of Christian Character EM 604: The Teacher and the Teaching Task EM 605: Understanding Learners EM 710: Curriculum for Educational Ministry: Content and Construction EV/EM 610: The Use of Media and the Arts in Teaching, Evangelism, and Worship |
| Elective Courses (9 Credit Hours) |
| Can be selected from other concentration courses |
| Capstone Course (3 Credit Hours) |
| IS 800/881: Integrative Project/Paper |
Residency Requirements
Students enrolled in the Online MAR program must complete 10 courses that have a residency component. Campus residency experiences are one week long and occur in February, June, and October. During one week students will satisfy the residency requirement for two courses. Students may choose when to complete their residencies in the online theology degree program, but must complete 10 hybrid courses (5 one-week intensive residencies) in three years.
During the residency experiences students are responsible for:
- Travel to Charlotte, North Carolina
- Housing for six days
- Meals, except for one dinner
