Coursework for master’s degrees in Reformed theology and ministry begins in August
by the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary | Special to Presbyterian News Service
Photo by Jonathan Simcoe via Unsplash
DUBUQUE, Iowa — The University of Dubuque Theological Seminary says a pair of new Master of Arts programs will be offered beginning later this year.
Beginning in August, the seminary is teaming with Theology Matters to offer a new Master of Arts in Reformed Theology. The fully accredited 36-credt degree, funded in part by Lilly Endowment Inc., will focus on a Reformed understanding of the Scriptures, study of classic texts and practices valued by the Reformed tradition, and congregational ministry. Instructors will include members of UDTS faculty and pastor-scholars whose knowledge has been tested in the academy and significant pastoral ministry. For courses offered in the fall 2023 semester, instructors will include the Rev. Dr. Richard Burnett, executive director of Theology Matters and co-director of the Master of Arts in Reformed Theology; the Rev. Dr. Andrew Dearman, senior professor of Old Testament at Fuller Theological Seminary; the Rev. Dr. Bradley Longfield, professor of church history at UDTS and co-director of the Master of Arts in Reformed Theology; the Rev. Dr. Beth McCaw, associate professor of ministry at UDTS; and the Rev. Dr. Timothy Matthew Slemmons, professor of homiletics and worship and director of the doctor of ministry program at UDTS.
The courses in the Master of Arts in Reformed Theology will include both online and face-to-face learning. This degree offers a pathway for those preparing for ordained or non-ordained leadership positions in the church or for those already serving in leadership positions, such as pastors, commissioned lay pastors, those transferring into a Presbyterian denomination or advanced lay teachers.
For more information, or to apply, contact Burnett at rburnett@dbq.edu or (864)378-5416 or the Rev. Samuel Felderman, director of seminary admission at UDTS, at UDTSadmission@dbq.edu or (563) 589-3115.
Master of Arts in Ministry
Also beginning in August, a Master of Arts in Ministry program will be added to serve an expanded group of partnering denominations to help them prepare lay and ordained ministers.
The Master of Arts in Ministry will prepare graduates to be pastoral leaders in local, regional and missional contexts, especially those pursuing nontraditional pathways to ordained, lay ministry and Christian formation positions. The fully accredited, 30-credit degree will provide a flexible 100% online asynchronous curriculum that is ecumenically welcoming, biblically and theologically informed, practical in expression and focused on serving the church in its many contexts. The program will also offer optional residential opportunities.
“At UDTS, we are constantly looking for innovative ways to train vibrant leaders for the Church. The Master of Arts in Ministry meets the needs of the changing congregational landscape, providing students with a solid foundation in biblical interpretation, pastoral skills and personal spiritual formation, and giving them flexibility to take the courses most helpful for their ministry context,” said the Rev. Dr. Susan Forshey, director of the Master of Arts in Ministry and associate professor of discipleship and Christian formation at UDTS.
Courses will be taught by UDTS faculty and easily transferred into other degree programs offered at UDTS, including the Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Mission and Discipleship, Master of Arts in Reformed Theology, and Master of Arts in Ministry.
“This program is a result of UDTS faculty listening to many different voices in the Church and hearing the need for a program that can be tailored to the student’s particular call. I’m excited to see how this program will contribute to leadership across a wide spectrum of Christian faith traditions,” said Dr. Mark Ward, dean of the seminary and vice president for academic affairs at the University of Dubuque.
The Master of Arts in Ministry will offer a cohesive curriculum that integrates ministerial best practices with intentional formation in a flourishing pastoral identity. Students may complete the degree in as little as five semesters.
For more information, or to apply, contact Felderman at UDTSadmission@dbq.edu or (563) 589-3115.
You may freely reuse and distribute this article in its entirety for non-commercial purposes in any medium. Please include author attribution, photography credits, and a link to the original article. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDeratives 4.0 International License.