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Master of Arts in Christian Practice

Program Code: D-DIV-MACP
Degree Designation: Master of Arts in Christian Practice
Department: Divinity School
Website: divinity.duke.edu/academics/macp

Program Summary

Grounded in central elements of Christian thought and practice, the Master of Arts in Christian Practice (MA) degree is designed to introduce students to disciplined theological reflection as a means for enriching their Christian service in both the church and world. The degree offers students the opportunity to reflect theologically upon practices of ministry or other Christian service. The degree is provided primarily for those seeking to enhance vocations while remaining in a full-time ministry context or other professional position. The MA program operates with a hybrid pedagogy of intensive residencies and online synchronous and asynchronous engagements, allowing for the integration of theoretical learning with contextual ministry formation. While synchronous online activities typically involve weekly zoom meetings, asynchronous online activities include self-paced learning in the form of pre-recorded lectures, discussion forums, and group study and presentations. Course requirements include a core sequence that will deepen students’ knowledge and appreciation of the Bible and the Christian theological tradition. Courses specific to concentrations of study will build upon that core, engaging practices of ministry in today’s world. A third element is the ongoing seminar in Christian formation that seeks to integrate learning with spiritual practice. A cornerstone and capstone course sequence offered in the first and final terms offers resources to introduce and integrate theology and practice over the two-year program.

Through study and engagement within this program, students will be able to:

  • Read and exegete Scripture and the great texts of the Christian tradition for the purpose of preaching and teaching the gospel with clarity, power, and reverence;

  • Think theologically and critically about the doctrines and practices of the church and about the world in which the church finds itself, in ways that are both faithful to the historic ecclesial traditions and responsive to the challenges of our time;

  • Gain clarity on vocational aspirations as they relate to serving the church, academy, and world;

  • Cultivate habits of spiritual disciplines to sustain a Christian life ordered toward holiness, justice, peace, and reconciliation.

Academic Requirements

The requirements for the MA degree are:

  • Eighteen courses (units) completed in no less than two academic years;

  • Compilation of a portfolio to be reviewed by an academic advisor;

  • Maintenance of a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0;

  • Completion of all requirements for the degree within four years.

Detailed Requirements

  • Required Course (1 course)

    • PARISH 705

  • Choose 1 Track (5 courses)

    • Track One: Foundations

      • XTIANSTU 705

      • XTIANSTU 706

      • 1 Bible course

        • NEWTEST 754

        • OLDTEST 752

        • OLDTEST 753

      • 1 Theology or Church History course

        • CHURHST 751

        • XTIANTHE 755

      • 1 LTS Worship course

    • Track Two: Congregations

      • LTS 730

      • NEWTEST 754

      • XTIANTHE 755

      • CHURHST 751

      • 1 Old Testament course

        • OLDTEST 752

        • OLDTEST 753

  • Electives (6 courses)

    • Any 6 elective courses

  • Spiritual Formation

    • XTIANPRC 701, taken 6 times

  • Portfolio

Administration

The MA offers a hybrid pedagogy of intensive residencies and online synchronous and asynchronous engagements via two tracks: Track One (Foundations) and Track Two (Congregations). All students will have course requirements.

Track One (Foundations) students will have a six core-course sequence designed to deepen students’ knowledge and appreciation of the Bible and the Christian theological tradition. Included in that sequence are the following: XTIANSTU 705 and 706 (Cultivating Christian Imagination I and II), PARISH 705 (Introduction to Mission and Ministry), LTS 730 (Introduction to Christian Worship) or other worship elective (LTS 700-759) any term, and two additional core courses (either OLDTEST 752 or 753; or NEWTEST 754; and either CHURHST 751** or XTIANTHE 755).

Track Two (Congregations) students (including United Methodist Church deacon candidates) will have at least six core courses: PARISH 705 (Introduction to Mission and Ministry), OLDTEST 752 or 753 (Old Testament Interpretation I or II), NEWTEST 754 (New Testament Interpretation), CHURHST 751 (Early Modern and Modern Christianity)**, LTS 730 (Introduction to Christian Worship) or other worship elective (LTS 700-759) any term, and XTIANTHE 755 (Christian Theology). United Methodist students should complete PARISH 777 (Wesleyan Foundations), and PARISH 778 (UMC Mission and Practice). UMC students should plan to take LTS 730 unless given approval by judicatories to substitute a worship elective in its place.

**For the Church History course in either Track, students may take CHURHST 750 (Early and Medieval Christianity) or AMXTIAN 756 (American Christianity) by permission, or as additional electives. Students must review implications to course schedule when considering.

The two tracks enable flexibility for students to pursue the MA either as a general theological degree or one tailored to a specific interest (e.g., the UMC diaconate, a certificate in Christian Education, or a certificate in Missional Innovation). In the first term, all MA students will take a cornerstone course, PARISH 705 (Mission and Ministry), to introduce the theology and practice of ministry. After completing the core courses, MA students will complete a series of elective courses that will build upon the core courses and focus reflection on particular areas of Christian practice in the church and world. Students will also participate in an ongoing seminar on Christian formation that will serve to integrate academics with spiritual practice. In the final term, students will complete a capstone project within XTIANPRC 701 (Practicing Ministry), bringing to bear insights and experience from all components of the program. As a means to exhibit growth and understanding of theological reflection, every MA student will compile a student portfolio that their academic advisor will review in the student’s fifth term. Both the portfolio and the advisor's final evaluation are submitted to the academic dean.

Continuation Requirements

The progress of all students is reviewed at the end of every term by the Academic Policies Committee. The following are the continuation requirements for students enrolled in the MA degree program:

  • The student must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.0. If a student falls below this level, the student may, at the discretion of the academic dean be dismissed or placed on an involuntary leave of absence;

  • At the end of the second term, the student on a limited program who does not attain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 is dismissed. In exceptional cases, a student who shows substantial improvement in the second term but does not quite attain a GPA of 2.0 may be given a third term to do so;

  • The student must demonstrate progress in the program by completing courses. A student who has three or more unresolved incompletes or a pattern of multiple withdrawals may, at the discretion of the academic dean, be dismissed, placed on an involuntary leave of absence until the incomplete work is resolved, or asked to participate in a limited program.

Recommended MA Curricular Paradigm 

Track One (Foundations)

  • First Year

    • Fall

      • PARISH 705 (Mission and Ministry/Cornerstone)

      • XTIANSTU 705 (Cultivating Christian Imagination I)

      • XTIANPRC 701 (Spiritual Formation/Ministry Integration)

      • First Year Writing Assessment

    • Spring

      • XTIANSTU 706 (Cultivating Christian Imagination II)

      • Elective (or Additional Core Course–NEWTEST 754 or CHURHST 751)

      • XTIANPRC 701 (Spiritual Formation/Ministry Integration)

    • Summer

      • LTS 730 (Intro to Christian Worship) or other worship elective any term (LTS 700-759)

      • Elective

      • XTIANPRC 701 (Spiritual Formation/Ministry Integration)

  • Second Year

    • Fall

      • Elective (or Additional Core Course–OLDTEST 752 or XTIANTHE 755)

      • Elective

      • XTIANPRC 701 (Spiritual Formation/Ministry Integration)

    • Spring

      • Elective (or Additional Core Course-OLDTEST 753)

      • Elective

      • XTIANPRC 701 (Spiritual Formation/Ministry Integration)

      • Student Portfolio submitted at the end of the term.

    • Summer

      • Elective

      • Elective

      • XTIANPRC 701 (Capstone Course)

Track Two (Congregations)

  • First Year

    • Fall

      • PARISH 705 (Mission and Ministry/Cornerstone)

      • OLDTEST 752 (Old Testament Interpretation I)

      • XTIANPRC 701 (Spiritual Formation/Ministry Integration)

      • First Year Writing Assessment

    • Spring

      • NEWTEST 754 (New Testament Interpretation)

      • CHURHST 751 (Early Modern and Modern Christianity)

      • XTIANPRC 701 (Spiritual Formation/Ministry Integration)

    • Summer

      • LTS 730 (Intro to Christian Worship) or other worship elective any term (LTS 700-759) (UMC should take LTS 730)

      • Elective

      • XTIANPRC 701 (Spiritual Formation/Ministry Integration)

  • Second Year

    • Fall

      • XTIANTHE 755 (Christian Theology)

      • Elective (UMC Deacons take PARISH 777)

      • XTIANPRC 701 (Spiritual Formation/Ministry Integration)

    • Spring

      • Elective (UMC Deacons take PARISH 778)

      • Elective (or OLDTEST 753 (Old Testament Interpretation II) if did not take OLDTEST 752

      • XTIANPRC 701 (Spiritual Formation/Ministry Integration)

      • Student Portfolio submitted at the end of the term.

    • Summer

      • Elective

      • Elective

      • XTIANPRC 701 (Capstone Course)

*In Terms 2 and 4, Track 1 students may elect to take an additional core course, either New Testament or Old Testament, and either Church History or Christian Theology.

Bulletin Links

2025-2026 Divinity School Bulletin. Download PDF here.