Admissions and Requirements

All candidates must submit the following minimum requirements for admission to the Master of Ministry degree:

• Completed Master of Ministry application form.
• Official transcripts for all coursework leading to completion of a bachelor and/or graduate degree(s) from an accredited institution that demonstrates an acceptable undergraduate grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
• Three letters of recommendation. One of the recommendation letters must be from the pastor/minister of the local church where you are currently a member; if the applicant is the pastor, then the letter may come from another leader within the church.
• If English is not a student’s first language, minimum scores of 560 or 220 computer must be achieved on the TOEFL.

Provisional admission. Prerequisite to admission to the Master of Ministry program is a baccalaureate degree from a regionally-accredited college or university. A limited number of applicants who have a baccalaureate degree from a college or university that is not regionally-accredited may be accepted on a provisional basis; in order to be considered for provisional admission, such applicants must submit an appropriate score from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), along with other admission requirements. The Admissions Committee of the Graduate School of Christian Ministry will consider such applications on an individual basis, and may establish certain conditions which the student must achieve in order to have the provisional status removed.

Applicants with a college cumulative grade point average below 2.5 on a 4.0 scale may be accepted provisionally on an individual basis.

In order to eventually earn “Full Status” admission, the degree-seeking “Provisional Student” must meet any special conditions attached to his/her admission by the Dean, Graduate School of Christian Ministry, no later than upon the completion of 15 credit hours of graduate work. The Admissions Committee of the Graduate School of Christian Ministry will grant “Full Status” admission to a “Provisional Student” when he/she satisfactorily completes prescribed conditions. (The student’s grades and participation in the program courses will factor strongly in the Committee’s decision.)

Non-degree students. A limited number of students who do not have the prerequisites for regular admission may be admitted on a non-degree basis, in order to take courses in the Master of Ministry program without applying those toward a degree. Such applicants must fulfill all steps in the regular application process, while indicating on the application that they are seeking non-degree status. Non-degree students who complete all requirements of the Master of Ministry program will receive a suitable Certificate in Ministry reflecting their completion of the program curriculum.

Transfer hours. Up to nine semester hours from a regionally-accredited college, university or seminary may be transferred into the degree program at the time the student is admitted, provided the grades earned were B or higher.

Master of Ministry Degree Requirements

In order to be awarded the Master of Ministry degree, the student must successfully complete the 42-hour curriculum of courses, plus a Ministry Project that is presented during the program’s final class (Ministry in the 21st Century).

At the time of application, the student will indicate whether he or she will be primarily attending classes on campus or through the online program; however, students will not be limited to one delivery mode. For example, a classroom student may choose to take selected online courses as long as space is available in those classes. (Online degree students will have first priority for online classes, and classroom students will have first priority for classroom courses.)

All online courses are offered in 8-week terms. Classroom courses are offered in 8-week terms in the fall and spring semesters. A four-week May term is offered, with the course meeting two nights per week (Tuesday and Thursday). Two Intensive courses are offered during the summer, with classes meeting Monday through Friday from 9 am until noon, and 1 pm until 5.

Classroom courses for the Anderson campus will meet on Tuesday evenings from 6:00 until 10:00 pm. Online courses will meet interactively online on Monday evenings from 7:00 until 8:30 pm. (All times are Eastern.) In addition, online students will receive a portion of course content via video recordings (DVD and/or streaming video), to be viewed prior to each week’s class session.

Tuition. The tuition charge is the basic cost of the student’s education and covers the cost of instruction. It does not include textbooks and supplies, which the student purchases. Graduate courses are $290.00 per semester hour or $870.00 for a 3-hour course. Prior to beginning the second year of study, the student will be required to purchase a personal copy of Logos Bible Software (Scholars Library or higher); software may be purchased through the university at a significant discount over the retail price. Graduation fee is $100.00. Caps and gowns are ordered from the University Bookstore.

Graduate School Financial Aid. Financial Aid Office is committed to helping students find appropriate ways to finance their education.

Fully admitted, degree-seeking applicants may be considered for need and non-need Federal Stafford Loans and the Teacher Loan program. For more information on these programs, please go to the financial aid home page at www.andersonuniversity.edu.

Students interested in applying for loans should submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by all applicable deadlines. The FAFSA can be completed online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

For more information regarding financial aid, please call the Financial Aid Planning Office at 864-231-2020.

Time Limits. All program requirements for the Master of Ministry degree must be completed within five (5) academic years from the time the first course in the M.Min. program is begun. If the student does not enroll in the term to which admitted, the student’s admission status is subject to further review at the discretion of the Dean and the Graduate Council. If the study for the program extends beyond three years, the student assumes the risk of having to meet new requirements.

Courses of Study. The courses that are offered in the Master of Ministry program are eclectic and stand alone and one is not a prerequisite for another, though students are encouraged to take the three leadership courses in their numerical order, and are encouraged to complete the Communication in Ministry course prior to taking the course in Christian Preaching. A student will be required to complete 42 hours of course work; of these, up to 9 hours may be transferred into the graduate program. No course below the 500 level will be counted toward graduate degree requirements. Courses rotate on a regular sequence to allow a candidate to complete the program in approximately two years. The maximum time for completing the graduate program is five (5) years.

Graduation Requirements.

A. The successful completion of 42 hours of course work
B. The fulfillment of all financial obligations
C. The approval of the faculty