Master of Arts: Peace Studies

The MAPS is an academic degree program that deepens understanding of and commitment to the biblical vision of peace and justice and its embodiment in the world. The program is grounded in the assumption that Christ calls us to become part of a new community whose mission is to participate in God’s reconciling work throughout the world. The MAPS program prepares students for peace and justice ministries from congregational to worldwide settings.

Concentrations

• Primary Program
• Conflict Transformation, in cooperation with Goshen College, Goshen, Ind.
• International Development Administration, in cooperation with Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Mich.
• Urban Community Development, in cooperation with Seminary Consortium for Urban Pastoral Education (SCUPE), Chicago, Ill.

Educational goals

Graduates with a MAPS will:

• Articulate and explain the biblical and theological foundations of
• peace and justice.
• Converse persuasively and sensitively about Anabaptist-Mennonite
• approaches to peace and justice issues.
• Demonstrate a commitment to spiritual growth that sustains peace-
• and justice-making.
• Demonstrate growth toward faithful and competent responses to conflict.
• Use the resources of social science and history to help analyze peace and
• justice issues.
• Demonstrate the ability to locate, evaluate, and use information effectively.

Design

The MAPS is a 60-credit-hour degree, combining interdisciplinary study of the Bible, theology and ethics and issues of nonviolence, anti-oppression, anti-racism, peacemaking and justice. The program of study concludes with a practicum and a project that integrates experiences or themes from the practicum with the previous peace and justice studies.

Ministries of recent graduates

Ph.D. studies in peace and theology, work in a non-governmental organization, work with an international church-based relief organization, coordinating a public school anti-bullying program,organizing a community farming program in Japan

More information

Please see the AMBS Catalog, pages 38-45, for details about the Master of Arts: Peace Studies.