Religious Education Programs

Three levels of study are available in Religious Education. 

Graduate Certificates
The Graduate Certificate programs, which consist of 12 semester credits of master’s-level study, focus on a specific area of study.  These certificates can be obtained by attending intensive classes for two weeks in July during two consecutive summers.  In addition, study at home precedes and follows the on-campus classes.

Master of Arts (Religious Education)
The MA (Religious Education) consists of 32 semester credits.  If the student begins the program in the summer, it is possible to complete an MA degree in two summers and an academic year (fall and spring semesters).  Because our program is an academic program, a comprehensive exam, which includes a portfolio presentation, is required.

Doctor of Philosophy in Religious Education
The PhD in Religious Education consists of 64 semester credits, 48 of which are courses and 16 of which are related to the dissertation.  It takes a minimum of two years to complete the coursework for the PhD plus one to several years to do the dissertation. Completing prerequisites will add to the coursework time.  One of our concentrations—Christian Formation and Discipleship—is designed so that the student can complete coursework by coming to campus during the months of June and July for four consecutive summers, while studying at home throughout the year.  This concentration can finished at a faster rate if the student comes to campus for full-time study.