MA in clinical ministry course descriptions

Core courses

RELG 504 Research Methods (3-4)

Examination of the presuppositions and procedures for graduate research in religious studies. Use of libraries and research centers. Ways and means of preparing and presenting term papers, theses, and scholarly articles. Additional project required for fourth unit.

Study of the biblical, theological, and historical foundations for the practice of ministry. Additional project required for fourth unit.

Overview of theology, history, theory, and practice of pastoral counseling. Additional project required for fourth unit.

Study of the biblical, theological, cultural, relational and psychological aspects of dying and death. Additional project required for fourth unit.

An exploration of the theology, content, and practice of Christian proclamation with emphasis on the development of basic skills for the preparation and delivery of biblical messages in a variety of settings.

Additional project required for fourth unit.

Introduction to the major contours of Western culture as they relate to various schools of psychological thought and the influence of religious beliefs. Additional project required for fourth unit.

Principles and practice of effective interaction with patients, parishioners, inmates, and other populations.

Additional project required for fourth unit.

Suffering and evil in relation to the creative and redemptive purposes of God for this world. Formation of the student's theology of human suffering will be of uppermost concern. Additional project required for fourth unit.

Introduction to the literature and key theological themes of the Old Testament Additional project required for fourth unit.

Introduction to the literature and key theological themes of the New Testament. Additional project required for fourth unit.

Advanced analysis of ethical issues and options in medicine and related fields. Contributions of Christian thought and life. Topics selected in part by student priorities. Additional project required for fourth unit.

Experiential course where theory, techniques, and practices of crisis intervention are presented, with special attention to the development of the basic communication skills of counseling. Areas included which are

intended to contribute to the development of a professional attitude and identity are: confidentiality, interprofessional cooperation, professional socialization, and organization. Therapeutic tapes covering topics such as death and dying, incest, spousal abuse, and rape. Laboratory required.

Theory and practice of secondary research and writing, with emphasis on conceptual organization and original development. Introduction to library research - including gathering, organizing, narrowing, filtering, quoting, referencing, and writing up the research data.

Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor and the student's adviser.

Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor and the student's adviser.

Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor and the student's adviser.

Supervised clinical internship. At least one hour of individual supervision per week and a final evaluation from the supervisor at the completion of 400 hours of clinical internship.

Selective Courses

Twelve-week course for church pastors and seminary students, including supervised experience with patients, lectures by hospital staff, hospital rounds with physicians, seminars and conferences. Five eight-hour days per week. Limited enrollment. Credit earned in this course is recognized by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Incorporated.

Structure, governance, policies, and procedures of the local church in relation to the world-wide church organization.

Exploration of worship theology, leadership, and practice. Overview of current worship trends in different cultural contexts: the renewal movement, liturgical renewal, Boomer/Buster, and charismatic.

Examination of pastoral roles, responsibilities, and duties in the parish setting. Leadership theories, teamwork, networking, planning the church year, and leading the church board.

The family in theological, historical, and ethical perspectives. Christian assessment of contemporary theories regarding the family. Religious and secular resources for preventing and resolving family crises.

Eclectic, research approach. Faith development, ethnographic varieties of religious experiences, narrative analysis, and cross-cultural religious experiences. Student produces a research proposal and conducts a pilot study for such research.

Study of logical, moral, and faith reasoning from a cognitive-developmental perspective. How people think about actual choices and conflicts in their lives. How cultural and religious norms affect moral thinking. How people develop moral and religious thinking; how it is influenced by life crises and human experiences.

Study of mission, applying the findings of anthropology as they relate to cultural change: processes of religious development, means of diffusion, factors affecting religious acculturation, and analysis of programs intended to effect changes in religion.

An overview of the development of Adventist doctrine, theology, and thought from the 1800s to the present. Attention will also be given to contemporary theological developments.

Chapter-by-chapter interpretation of Hebrews. Analysis of its teaching on Jesus' atoning death and subsequent ministry in the heavenly sanctuary.

Research seminar focusing on the relation between religion and science. Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor.

Presuppositions and implications of Christian belief for selected problems in social ethical theory and practice.

Primary theological legacies of Western culture. Relationships between doctrinal formulations and interpretations of health and healing; possible contributions of each legacy to contemporary therapeutic endeavors.

Critical analysis of the basic theories propounded in Western philosophical ethics. Study of writings of major ethical theorists, including Plato, Aristotle, I. Kant, and J. S. Mill. Philosophical ethics and Christian faith compared.