Master of Arts in Ministry Leadership

Overview

Be prepared for leadership in churches, nonprofits, and other faith-based organizations. Our fully online or blended master’s in Ministry Leadership degree prepares you with the spiritual and leadership tools you need to lead organizations, communicate effectively, and impact your organization, local community, and the world for Christ. Select from seven distinct emphasis tracks to shape this degree to meet your unique professional and ministry goals.

7 Emphasis Tracks

The program provides seven 12-credit emphasis tracks.

36 credits

This is a focused 36 credit hour practical ministry degree.

MAML + MDiv Option

Apply toward a Master of Divinity degree. Graduate with both degrees in as few as 76 credits.

The Master of Arts in Ministry Leadership (MAML) is an accelerated online and blended program designed to equip the local church, non-profit, and parachurch leaders with tools for spiritual formation, biblical interpretation, and organizational leadership. In order to fit your unique needs and interests, the M. A. in Ministry Leadership also includes emphasis tracks in Pastoral Leadership, Organizational Leadership, Biblical Studies, Theological Studies, Human Services, Educational Studies, and Clinical Pastoral Education.

Whether you are a pastor, associate pastor, nonprofit or lay leader, this flexible program can help you take the next step in your leadership journey. The fully online or blended program can be completed in just 18-22 months. If you have completed previous graduate work, you may be able to apply up to nine credits of previous coursework toward this transfer-friendly degree. In addition, the student may continue on from this MA degree to pursue the Master of Divinity or other graduate degree offerings including the MBA.

During this program, you will experience dynamic discussions in a rich, non-denominational setting and be involved in ministry through internships with the option to apply to an outside Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program to be trained for chaplaincy work.

Why study Ministry Leadership at Northwestern?

Personal and spiritual formation for leadership provides a foundation for growing skills in strategic planning, communication, and cultural impact. Faculty are practitioner-scholars who have a personal vision to help you grow as a ministry leader.

This is a practical ministry degree program designed to prepare you to make an impact in your world.

What will you learn?

You will be challenged to grow in your own spiritual life and pursuit of your calling. You will also discuss contemporary theological issues while maintaining a commitment to the authority of God’s Word. You will develop strategies for reproducing leaders in a diverse and increasingly global world.

Core degree classes

• Spiritual Formation for Leadership
• Leading and Organizing Ministry
• Effective Communication and Leadership
• Ministering Culturally and Globally

What Can You Do?

This degree prepares students for careers in Pastoral ministry, Church administration, Nonprofit leadership, Executive Leadership, Human Services, Youth and family ministry, Children’s ministry, Church planting, Chaplaincy, Mission work, Christian education, Higher education, and Bi-vocational ministry.

Highlights

• Choose online or on-site/blended learning format.
• Select an emphasis in Pastoral Leadership, Organizational Leadership, Biblical Studies, Theological Studies, Human Services, Educational Studies, and Clinical Pastoral Education.
• Experience dynamic discussions and exploration in a rich, nondenominational setting. • Equip yourself for practical ministry leadership through the MAML degree, with the opportunity to continue your education in the future; classes count toward the 76-credit Master of Divinity.
• Take advantage of a transfer-friendly degree that allows you to bring in up to 9 credits of coursework.

Career opportunities

The MAML degree will prepare you for roles in a variety of settings, such as:

• Church leadership
• Pastoral ministry
• Associate pastorship
• Parachurch ministries
• Nonprofit organizations
• Chaplaincy
• Mission work
• Youth Ministry
• Church planting

Advanced/doctorate study Note: Roles in some settings may require additional education or training

Department of Christian Ministries

The Department of Christian Ministries prepares students for graduate study and to serve in the U.S. and abroad as pastors, missionaries, teachers, and nonprofit leaders.

About the Department

Our vision is to inspire emerging leaders to live out their calling wherever God sends them. We want to help you discover your unique calling and develop core skills in teaching for spiritual transformation, developing Christ-like relationships, leading to visionary impact and engaging with diverse cultures and communities. We do this through five main degrees that include concentrations in Worship and Creative Arts, Children and Family Ministry, Nonprofit Leadership, Social Justice, English Language Teaching, Global Education, Camp and Conference Center Administration, etc.

Christian Ministries Internships

Students gain practical knowledge and valuable experience for resumes through internship experiences. Internships are required for all majors within the Christian Ministries Department. The Christian Ministries Department offers four types of field experience and internship courses. We believe it is essential for our students to do ministry under the supervision of a mentor so they can apply classroom learning in a safe and supporting environment. Students also complete internship assignments to help them reflect on what they are learning in the field and receive support from their Northwestern professor.

Ministries Internships

Ministry internships bring classroom learning to life and are crucial in preparing students for meeting needs in the real world.

Ministry student praying with other adults

The Christian Ministries Department requires ministry internships for the following majors:

• Ministry
• Nonprofit Administration with Ministry Track
• Pastoral Studies
• Youth and Emerging Adult Studies

By the time students from one of these majors graduates from Northwestern, they will have a minimum of 200 hours of experience at a ministry site. Through internships, Christian Ministries' students gain valuable practice time as they participate in a ministry of their choice. Whether in a church or parachurch ministry, students are given opportunities to teach, lead, plan, and observe what being in ministry is all about. Each student has an on-site mentor who is committed to guiding, praying, encouraging, challenging, and doing whatever else is necessary for the student to flourish and grow in his or her skills, knowledge, and experience.

The program is designed for students to participate in internships throughout the Fall and Spring semester of their junior or senior year. Students can still take classes on campus while working in their internship—each section requires 100 hours of ministry involvement over the course of the semester. This enables them to take what they are learning in the classroom and immediately apply it into a ministry setting. Most of our internship sites are local--a great benefit to the community and our students. Students may also do internships during the summer if they meet course requirements. Summer internships can be local, out of state, or outside the U.S., and coursework is completed via the internet.

Intercultural Studies Internships

This essential experience gives ICS majors a foundational context for communicating and ministering across cultures.

Group photo of Intercultural Studies Internship students

ICS internships can be completed in a variety of ways depending on the goals of the student. The Christian Ministries Department partners with other organizations to provide the following types of ICS internship experiences:

Faculty-led Trips

These are overseas mission trips led by a Northwestern professor, during which students visit and explore a variety of ministries, cultures, countries, and religious groups. In order to provide significant cross-cultural and service-learning experience, these trips normally last at least three weeks.

Independent Internships

Students may also choose to do an Independent Internship in an area of their choice, as long as it fits the course criteria. The Christian Ministries Department is developing relationships with a variety of international and domestic missions and nonprofit organizations through whom these internships can be completed. This internship needs to be pre-arranged with the Intercultural Studies professors and it must be approved by the Department Chair.

Study Abroad

Northwestern is a member of the CCCU, which provides a diverse array of off-campus study programs available to qualified juniors and seniors. Learn more about an internship with Students International in Costa Rica. This internship needs to be pre-arranged with the Intercultural Studies professors and it must be approved by the Department Chair.

Ministry and Intercultural Studies Concentrations

Students in the Intercultural Studies, Ministry, and Youth and Emerging Adult Studies majors have the opportunity to pursue a variety of concentrations within their degree plan. They also have the option of working with their advisor to build their own concentration using transfer courses or classes that meet their area of interest and intended ministry.