Master of Arts in Spiritual Formation (MASF)

The Master of Arts in Spiritual Formation (MASF) prepares persons to offer leadership in the area of spiritual formation in congregations and other settings, which may include congregational formation ministries, lay leadership training, spiritual direction and retreat ministries.  The MASF is shaped by the conviction that the process of being formed by the Holy Spirit through God into the likeness of Christ involves both the inward journey of a deepening life with God and the outward expression of that life in compassion.  Designed with two eight-day retreats at the heart of the program, the MASF is a 48 credit hour program, delivered through a blend of residential, hybrid and on-line courses.

Courses in the Master of Arts in Spiritual Formation

Sample Academic Planning Schedule

Admission/Degree Requirements and Regulations

Schedule of Courses and Descriptions

Application Forms

Upcoming Course Information

Tuition & Fees

 

Courses in the Master of Arts in Spritual Formation

FOUNDATIONAL COURSES	MASF SPECIFIC COURSES
Reading and Speaking the Text	Awakening to the Inward Journey (includes 8 Day Intensive - 6 credits)
New Testament I	Living the Outward Journey (includes 8 Day Intensive - 9 credits)
Doctrinal Heritage of the Church	Introduction to Spiritual Formation
Church History	Leading Spiritual Formation Ministries
Character and Call	Practicum (6 credits)
Worship	Elective

Sample Academic Planning Schedule 2010-2012

YEAR/MONTH	COURSE
2010
June 3-10	CSF 500 Awakening to the Inward Journey (includes 8 Day Intensive)
September	BIBL 503 Reading and Speaking the Text (online)
2011
January	FORM 500 Character and Call (on campus)
	BIBL 512 New Testament I (online)
	THEO 520 Doctrinal Heritage of the Church (online)
March	APPL 512 Worship (on campus)
	SPIR 588 Introduction to Spiritual Direction (on campus)
April	HIST 503 Church History (online)
May 2-9	CSF 600 Living the Outward Journey (Includes 8 Day Intensive)
September	APPL 695 Practicum (Congregational ministry, public work of the church, or spiritual direction training)
2012
January	SPIR 700 Leading Spiritual Formation Ministries (online)
March	Elective

 

Admission/Degree Requirements & Regulations

Admission Requirements

Admission will be granted to those persons who fulfill the following requirements:

1. A recognized Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
2. A minimum of B- average (2.70 GPA) in undergraduate studies
3. A completed application form submitted to the Office of the Registrar with application fee and essay.  A current personal photograph is requested but is not required.
4. Two completed personal confidential reference forms.
5. Official transcripts from all schools attended or a notarized letter accompanying a copy of the original transcript must be submitted.
6. The applicant must be perceived to be mature in character, showing an aptitude for ministry.
7. A limited number of students who are older than the age of 30 years, and who do not possess an undergraduate degree to meeth academic requirements of the MAST program may be granted admission as Mature Students.  Admission is dependent upon a detailed Prior Learning Assessment of the applicant's knowledge, Christian service, life experience, and capacity for theological study at the graduate level.
8. As with Provisional Students, an assessment of the academic work of Mature Students will be conducted by the Admissions Committee following the completion of 15 credit hours (5 foundational courses) which will lead to either full admission into the program or denail of access to further studies.
9. Applicants whose first langauge is not English must submit satisfactory results in an approved lanague test (TOEFL, available from Education Testing Service, www.ets.org).  Cary's TOEFL number is 5981.

Degree Requirements

In order to be eligible for teh Master of Arts degree, a candidate must have completed the following requirements:

1. 48 credit hours of study under the supervision of the Registrar
2. All assignments successfully completed
3. All courses credited to the degree of Master of Arts in Spiritual Formation from other colleges, schools, seminaries and training programs approved with official transcripts
4. Maintained a 2.70 GPA (B-) minimum
5. All due accounts with Carey Theological College paid in full

Regulations

1. Normally a maximum of 24 credit hours may be transferred from another college or educatinal institution, if the courses are relevant to the intent of the Master of Arts in Spritual Formation.  Requests for transfer of credits previously earned from other institutions must be made at the time of application to the program.
2. A maximum of 12 credit horus of guided study programs may be completed for credit.  Subject tot he approval of the Registrar, a student may register up to a maximum of three guided study courses in any one term.  (There are three terms per academic year.)  Note that required courses will not be offered in the form of guided studies.
3. With written prior approval of the Registrar, a series of short courses may be used cumulatively to satisfy the credit requirements to a maximum of 3 credit hours.
4. All students are required to complete the 6-credit hour practicum.
5. It should be noted that both the required and elective courses can be changed by Senate decision without public notice.
6. If, after a 3-year period of inactivity, a Master of Arts tudent has not completed a course, that student will be removed from the program.  An appeal for an exception may be made by the student to the college administration through the Office of the Registrar.

The degree of Master of Arts in Spritual Formation is granted by the Carey Theological College Senate, upon recommendation of the President or appointee of Carey Theological College.  Normally, it is awarded to the student publicly at graduation, annually in May.