Ministry Formation and MA Interdepartmental courses (Fall 2012)

Theological Education and Formation Seminar (INT500)

One-half hour — Faculty
Students who plan to apply for admissions to the MDiv degree program and advancement to candidacy in MA programs are required to enroll in this seminar. The course introduces students to the theological and spiritual formation aspects of the AMBS curriculum and the educational community.

Growth in Ministry (INT601)

One hour each semester — Gayle Gerber Koontz and Ted Koontz
The primary focus of this yearlong seminar is the completion of the formation portfolio, an integration paper, and the senior interview process required for graduation. This seminar provides the structure for students to focus intentionally on the growth and integration of the knowing, doing, and being aspects of their learning, with particular reference to their ministry vocation.

MDiv Thesis Research (INT609)

Six hours, upon completion of thesis — MDiv Director
A student enrolled in the MDiv program with a Theological Studies concentration may petition to write a thesis. He or she must register for this research in each semester following the approval of the petition until he or she completes and successfully defends the thesis.

MDiv Thesis Extension (INT609A)

No credit — MDiv Director
A student must register for MDiv Thesis extension if unable to complete the thesis during the two semesters registered for the MDiv Thesis Research. Upon petition to the MDiv Director for thesis extension approval, a student must complete the thesis no more than two years following the end of residence.

Ministry in Church and World (INT687)

Three hours each semester — David B. Miller and Allan Rudy-Froese
This is a two-semester internship in the second year of study. Its purpose is to provide students with the opportunity to develop their ministerial identities and to refine their ministering skills in the context of the Christian congregation or community ministry. Students will spend eight to ten hours per week in active ministry, leading worship, preaching, teaching, evangelizing, and providing pastoral care in the congregation, or in activities of the ministry agency in which they work. They will be supervised in the congregation or at the ministry site, by a campus-based peer group and by a faculty supervisor.

Supervised Ministry Experience (INT689)

Up to twelve hours — David B. Miller
This program provides opportunity for a supervised internship in a congregational or other ministry setting. In the ministry context, the student will explore and develop the range of his or her ministering skills and gifts. The period of time will normally be an intensive three-month Summer or an extended seven or eight months, with the option of an entire calendar year. Students will spend approximately 400 hours in this internship for every three credit hours. Ministry in Church and World is strongly recommended as a prerequisite.

MA Colloquium (INT603)

One hour — Loren Johns
The interdisciplinary MA Colloquium asks students to (1) better understand their own academic disciplines and fields of study within the larger theological education curriculum; (2) reflect on and articulate the pressing issues in their disciplines in an interdisciplinary context; (3) appreciate the relationships among the theological disciplines; (4) identify the issues—theological and intellectual, spiritual and social—facing the church in its mission and ministry. Enrollment is open to students who have advanced to candidacy in an MA program.

MA Comprehensive Examination (INT606)

No credit
Students in the MA programs normally write a comprehensive examination in the final semester of their course work. They must register in order to take the exam. Faculty members of the department or committee in which the program is lodged compose the examination questions. For details, see the MA Student Manual.

MA Thesis Research (INT607)

Six hours, upon completion of the thesis
A student in an MA program may petition to write a thesis instead of a comprehensive examination. In the semester following the approval of a thesis petition and in each subsequent semester the student must register for the MA Thesis Research course until he or she successfully defends the thesis. For details, see the MA Student Manual.

MA Thesis Extension (INT607A)

No credit
A student must register for MA Thesis extension if unable to complete the thesis during the two semesters registered for MA Thesis Research. Upon petition to the MA Director for thesis extension approval, a student must register for the MA Thesis extension and complete the thesis no more that two years following the end of residence. For details, see the MA Student Manual.