Master of Parish Education Degree Program

"Concordia Nebraska has the largest program for the certification of directors of Christian education in The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. We have been focusing on parish religious education since the 1960s, and the Institute for Religious Education is housed on our campus. Our Master in Parish Education program builds on these strengths." -- Dr. Mark Blanke

PURPOSE

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 Education 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.

Next steps

	Ask: Call Concordia's College of Graduate Studies at 888-505-2863, or write to GradAdmiss@cune.edu to get the information you need.
	Apply: Fill out an online application to take courses as a graduate student through Concordia.