Master of Arts in Chaplaincy and Ministry Care (MA in CMC)
MA in CMC Purpose
The Master of Arts in Chaplaincy and Ministry Care (MA in CMC) is designed to develop pastoral and spiritual life counseling skills. This degree has three prime applications. First, as a stand-alone degree, it offers excellent preparation for those who will serve in local churches in a direct helping ministry. Second, the MA in CMC combines easily with additional theological coursework for those who desire to serve in the role of chaplain (i.e. spiritual care provider) in ministry, healthcare, first-responder, church or business organization. Third, this is an ideal supplement to a standard MDiv when chaplaincy in the US military is the objective. (The MA in CMC replaces our former Master of Arts in Counseling Ministry.)
The emphasis in the MA in CMC is on direct, interpersonal communication and face-to-face engagement with those seeking spiritual care. The variety of counseling training options available at Trinity requires careful assessment prior to beginning a program of study. In addition to the MA in CMC, students will also want to consider the Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling (MA in MHC). The admissions staff can provide detailed information on these programs to help students select the one most appropriate for their career path. The MA in CMC degree recipient in not eligible for a license as a mental health counselor. Credentials as a professional chaplain are obtainable with this degree as a foundation (i.e. Association of Professional Chaplains). Board certification with the Association of Professional Chaplains requires 72 hours from a graduate theological institution and is feasible by combining the MA in CMC degree with further theological coursework (i.e. MA/Theological Studies or MDiv). For board certification the graduate will need to secure three additional units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) and obtain formal endorsement from your church community or denomination.
For military chaplaincy service, the MDiv degree is the best option. The MA in CMC is an additional degree that offers explicit work in individual/couple's counseling, spiritual formation along with one unit of CPE.
Program Outcomes
Students graduating with a Master of Arts degree in Chaplaincy and Ministry Care will be able to:
- deepen their appreciation of biblical/theological concepts relative to the practice of interpersonal and public ministry;
- recognize the value of serving people of faith and spiritual seekers in settings beyond the local church;
- broaden their insight into the nature and diversity of human beings and the many ways in which they develop, struggle, and grow;
- increase their knowledge of counseling and ministry care and the implications of serving within or outside of a Christian ministry setting;
- develop skills in interpersonal relationships and self-awareness to serve others effectively; and
- nurture their desire and commitment to pursue spiritual maturity and their calling as people helpers in a manner that honors God and promotes His kingdom work.
MA in CMC Admission Requirements and Prerequisites
The admission requirements for the MA in CMC are those described in the Admissions section of the catalog and those specified below:
- An undergraduate major that prepares the participant for the MA in CMC program.
- And undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- Scores from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) are required.
MA in CMC Concurrent Degree Options
A student may desire to complete a second TEDS degree program with his or her MA in CMC degree, such as a Master of Arts (Theological Studies), Master of Arts (Intercultural Studies), or Master of Divinity. In such cases, an overlap of program requirements up to 50 percent of the shorter degree is permissible. For example, a student combining the MA in CMC and MA/TS degrees could overlap up to 21 semester hours (50 percent of the 42 semester hours required for the MA/TS). Such course work would need to be carefully planned to ensure that the specific program requirements of each program are met. Consult the Degree Combinations section of the Catalog and the Counseling Department program planning guides for details.
MA in CMC Candidacy Requirements
Admission to the Master of Arts programs must be followed by achievement of candidacy for the degree. Program candidacy occurs when:
- A minimum of 12 hours in the program is completed with a minimum GPA of 2.5 for the program course work after admission into the program.
- All entrance deficiencies and conditions are removed.
- After a review of student files for continued progress toward meeting graduation requirements, formal action is taken by the faculty to grant candidacy for the degree.
- MA in CMC candidates are required to participate in two spiritual formation group experiences while in residence.
MA in CMC Statute of Limitation
All requirements in the Master of Arts programs must be completed within five years of matriculation into the program. Petition to extend the statute of limitation may be made by a student to the Academic Exceptions Committee.
MA in CMC Graduation Requirements
In addition to the General Graduation Requirements for all master's programs, the following are required for the MA in CMC:
- Completion of all course work in the program, including ID 5080 Formation Group, with a minimum cumulative grade point average for program course work of 2.5, with no course work graded below a "C-" applicable to the degree.
- Successfully write the major comprehensive exam.
- Completion of the Biblical and Theological Studies course sequences below, which meet the general comprehensive requirements in Old Testament, New Testament, and Systematic Theology.
- A minimum of 48 hours of course work, at least 23 hours in counseling.
- Complete a community-based, Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) experience approved by the department (recommended) or complete a Master of Arts capstone project for the MA in CMC (departmental permission required). The project option requires the launch or pilot of an applied counseling ministry initiative. This is followed by an evaluation reported in an in-depth academic paper or presentation (CO 7501).
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Biblical and Theological Studies | 12 | |
| CO 6710 | Counseling and Theological Worldview: Faith and Practice | 3 |
| ID 5000 | Biblical Theology and Interpretation | 3 |
| ST 5201 | Theology I: The God of the Gospel | 3 |
| ST 5202 | Theology II: The Gospel of God | 3 |
| Non-Counseling Electives | 6-7 | |
| Suggested: | ||
| EM 5510 | Christian Formation & Journey | 2 |
| PR 5600 | Christian Faith and Contemporary Challenges | 2 |
| PT 5100 | Spiritual Formation for Ministry | 2 |
| ST 7200 | Theological Ethics | 3 |
Bioethics courses (BE) | ||
Contemporary Culture courses (CC) | ||
| Pastoral Duties and Care | 7 | |
| HM 6200 | Theology and Methodology of Biblical Preaching | 2 |
| PT 6300 | Intro to Chaplain Ministries | 2 |
| PT 7250 | Christian Worship and Pastoral Practices | 3 |
| Counseling Required Courses | 16 | |
| CM 5000 | Intro to Counseling Ministries | 2 |
| CO 5210 | Counseling Skills Training | 3 |
| CO 6000 | Current Studies in Counseling (Couple's Counseling) | 1-3 |
| CO 6000 | Current Studies in Counseling (Crisis Counseling) | 1-3 |
| CO 6130 | Group Counseling | 3 |
| CO 6650 | Multicultural Issues in Counseling | 3 |
| Counseling Electives | 4-5 | |
| Suggested: | ||
| CM 6000 | Issues in Counseling Ministries | 1-3 |
| CO 6120 | Addiction Counseling | 3 |
| CO 6530 | Child & Adolescent Counseling | 2-3 |
| -or- Other applied Counseling courses | ||
| Formation Group | 0 | |
| ID 5080 | Formation Group (two semesters) | 0 |
| Counseling Capstone | 2 | |
| CM 7478 | MA Capstone Project 1 | 2 |
| or CM 7940 | Clinical Pastoral Education | |
| Total Hours | 48 | |