Master of Parish Education Degree Program

This program is designed to satisfy the needs of pastors, teachers and directors of Christian education who wish to improve their proficiency in the area of parish education. Courses in education, psychology and theology are included in this program. No state teacher certification is offered with this degree.

OBJECTIVES

Students who complete the master of parish education degree will have:

1. increased competence in administering the educational ministry of a congregation;
2. broadened their ability to develop an integrated, multi-aged parish education ministry;
3. gained an appreciation of the importance and role of parish education in carrying out the congregation’s mission;
4. an advanced understanding of varying approaches for preparing parish leaders and teachers;
5. increased their ability to utilize planning in parish education;
6. demonstrated an ability to teach major themes of the Old and New Testaments to all age groups;
7. identified ways of engaging various age groups in a study of Christian ethics and moral decision making;
8. demonstrated the ability to plan and implement a program of confirmation ministry; and
9. developed the skill to initiate and conduct family education in the parish.

PROGRAM OPTIONS

NOTE: A directed self-study option is available to students who have been admitted to candidacy in the parish education program. Courses designed under this option are completed through self-study and conferences with the instructor rather than in a classroom setting. The maximum number of hours to be completed in this way is 12, and any hours accepted from other institutions for graduate work will reduce this number in an equivalent amount. The Dean of Graduate Studies must approve the request for courses using this delivery system. Courses which can be completed by directed self-study are noted below.

Any courses previously completed on the undergraduate level must be replaced with supporting courses.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Common Requirements, 9 hours
 
Psy-555 Life Span Development, 3
Educ-595 Research Design, 3
Soc/Theo-565 Church and Society, 3
 
Parish Education Requirements, 18 hours
 
Educ-483 Leadership Development: Enabling Others to Lead and Teach, 3
Educ-586 Parish Education: Planning and Evaluation, 3
Theo-450 Understanding and Teaching the Bible, 3
Theo-482 Nurturing Faith through Family, School and Congregation, 3
Theo-545 Theology and Practice of Confirmation Ministry, 3
Theo-585 Family Life Ministry, 3
 
Option I
 
Educ-598 Thesis, 6
One Supporting Course, 3
 
Option II
 
Educ-599 Independent Study, 3
Two Supporting Courses, 6
 
Option III
 
Three Supporting Courses, 9
 
Total: 36 Hours
 
Supporting Courses Pool
 
Psy-411/521 Advanced Child Development and Psychology, 3
Psy-412 Educational Measurements, 3
Psy-421 Adolescent Psychology, 3
Psy-442 Introduction to Counseling, 3
Psy-451 Personality Theory, 3
Psy-545 Foundations of Christian Marriage and Family Counseling, 3
Theo-460 Factors in Congregational Growth, 3
Theo-483 Sexuality and the Family, 3
Theo-487 Planning Adult Education in Congregations, 3
Theo-563 Studies in the Lutheran Confessions, 3
 
Courses which can be taken by directed self-study:
 
Educ-483 Leadership Development, 3
Theo-450 Understanding and Teaching the Bible, 3
Theo-482 Nurturing Faith through Family, School and Congregations, 3
Theo-487 Planning Adult Education, 3