Religious Education

The Religious Education Concentration is designed for students who see themselves as pursuing a PhD (Discipleship in Lifespan Education) or a similar doctoral degree. Since this concentration is designed to lead to a doctorate, it is academic in nature and, as such, requires that the student take courses in education and research as well as complete a comprehensive examination. This flexible concentration allows students to focus their studies on an area of interest that may prepare them for advanced doctoral study. Religious Education seeks to integrate biblical foundations and educational research in order to understand and facilitate the process of discipleship, the life-long journey of learning to follow Jesus and become more like Him.

Required Courses for the Degree

Biblical Spirituality	Foundations of Biblical Spirituality	3 credits
Biblical Studies	NTST or OTST course (2 credits) NTST or OTST course (2 credits)	4 Credits
Theology	THST course	2 Credits
Discipleship & Religious Education	DSLE 503 - Marriage, Family, & Interpersonal Relationships (3 credits) DSLE 610 - Teaching for Discipleship (3 credits) DSLE 534 - Ministry to Youth and Young Adults (2 credits) or DSLE 607 - Intergenerational Ministry (2 credits)	8 Credits
Church History	CHIS 674 - Development in SDA Theology	2 Credits
Practical & Applied Theology	PATH 526 - Conflict Management or PATH 543 - Christian Leadership in a Changing World	2 Credits
World Mission	MSSN course	2 Credits
Concentration Courses	DSLE 605 - Foundations in Discipleship and Lifespan Education (3 credits) DSLE 606 - Philosophical Foundations for Professionals (2 credits) EDRM 505 - Research Methods (3 credits) or GSEM 520 - Methods in Biblical and Theological Research (2 credits) DSLE 620 - Scholarly & Professional Development (0 credits) DSLE 681 - Field Practicum: Academic (2 credits) GSEM 680 - MA Comprehensive Exam (0 credits) or GSEM 697 - MA Thesis (3 credits) [if selected, this option adds 3 credits to the degree]	22 credits
Concentration Electives	Choose from the following elective courses (other courses may be substituted in consultation with advisor): DSLE 658 - Internal Dynamics of the Family (3 credits) DSLE 659 - Human Sexuality (3 credits) DSLE679 - Parenting Education & Guidance (3 credits) DSLE 636 - Discipling Youth (2, 3 credits) DSLE 656 - Counseling Youth & Young Adults (2, 3 credits) DSLE 608 - Youth & Young Adults in Contemporary Culture (2, 3 credits) DSLE 678 - Spiritual Nurture of Children (2, 3 credits) DSLE 619 - Religious Experience in Adolescence (2, 3 credits) DSLE 630 - Fostering Spiritual Growth (2, 3 credits) MSSN 615 - Anthropology for Mission and Ministry (2, 3 credits) MSSN 546 - Mission in Cultural & Religious Context (3 credits) MSSN 584 - Preparation for Cross-Cultural Workers (2-4 credits)	15 credits
Advanced Standing	Courses relevant to scholarship in religion (10 credits) and to scholarship in education or religious education (4 credits) is dependent upon prior undergraduate and graduate learning AND the particular MA (Discipleship in Lifespan Education) concentration area chosen. The courses will be distributed appropriately in the course plan. Advanced standing may be obtained for these credits based on a background of advanced theological or educational study or prior extensive undergraduate studies in religion, religious education, or education.	0-14 credits
Total		48 credits

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