Degrees

If you would like more information on any of our degrees please call our Admissions Staff at 1.800.2ASBURY or use this contact form.

Master of Divinity

MDIV
The Master of Divinity program is designed primarily as preparation for congregational and congregation-based ministries. However, flexibility has been built into the program for a wide variety of areas of concentration. This is made possible by the large segment of core elective and elective hours provided in the program. By using these elective hours, students who desire more intensive training in specialized forms of ministry, such as youth ministry, pastoral counseling, or Christian education, may acquire concentrations in these areas of preparation.

MA (Theological Studies)

MA(TS)
The Master of Arts (Theological Studies) allows options for concentrated study in church history, doctrine, ethics, philosophy, and systematic theology. This degree has a General Academic option (coursework only) and a Research option (with a modern research language and a thesis).

MA (Biblical Studies)

MA(BS)
The Master of Arts (Biblical Studies) provides preparation for people desiring to pursue further, postgraduate work in biblical studies; and serves as a terminal degree for ministries of teaching Scripture in congregations, parachurch organizations, and Christian institutes.

Master of Arts in Christian Education

MACE
The Master of Arts in Christian Education is designed to prepare students for a vocation of nurture, formation, and life-span discipleship in parish, institutional, or cross-cultural settings. They will be equipped to provide leadership for educational ministries that effectively seek to present everyone mature in Christ.

MA in Christian Leadership

MACL
The Master of Arts in Christian Leadership program equips persons to function effectively in a variety of leadership positions. The program serves future leaders who are called to local church settings, parachurch organizations, college student development or in the marketplace.

MA in Christian Ministries

MAXM
The Master of Arts in Christian Ministries degree is a professional credential designed to prepare women and men for competent leadership in specialized ministries in their faith communities. The degree seeks to develop the general theological understanding required as a basis for specialized ministries and nurture the practical abilities and skills needed for that special ministry form.

MA in Counseling

MAC
The Master of Arts in Counseling program offers instruction in the theory and practice of counseling within a biblical and theological context. The program is designed to prepare graduates (1) to integrate biblical and theological understanding with historical and contemporary counseling theory and (2) to meet academic and professional standards of relevant state and national accrediting agencies.

MA in Intercultural Studies

MAIS
The Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies is a multidisicplinary program focused on learning about other cultures and developing skills in negotiating across cultural boundaries, both within and outside the United States. Appropriate academic disciplines for this degree include anthropology, sociology, ethics, and theology.

MA in Pastoral Counseling

(MAPC)
The Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling is designed for graduates who plan to pursue careers in congregation-related vocations and who desire to develop counseling skills that will enhance their ministry as pastors or lay-counselors in churches. This degree is also appropriate for those who want to work as chaplains in hospitals, the military, and other settings.

MA in World Mission and Evangelism

MAWME
The Master of Arts in World Mission and Evangelism introduces students to biblical, historical, theological, and contextual foundations for the faithful, informed and effective practice of mission across cultures and for evangelism within the student's own culture.

MA in Youth Ministry

MAYM
The Master of Arts in Youth Ministry program empowers people to minister and work in the context of today's youth culture. The program focuses on solid grounding in Scripture and the gospel, as well as the practicalities and passion needed for youth ministry.

PHD in Biblical Studies

PHD(BS)
The Doctor of Philosophy (Biblical Studies) program is designed to prepare effective professors of biblical studies for seminaries and colleges, in and beyond the United States, who can interpret the current knowledge to students and to advance the body of knowledge that can inform the mission of the church.

PHD in Intercultural Studies

PHD(IS)
The Doctor of Philosophy (Intercultural Studies) program is designed to advance the student's knowledge in the theological, contextual, spiritual and strategic literatures related to the field of missiology, to facilitate two advanced specializations within the field, as well as a contribution to the body of knowledge within the field of missiology, and thus prepare students for leadership in the academy or the field. This program is only offered on our Wilmore, Kentucky campus and is fully residential.

THM (Biblical Studies)

THM(BS)
The Master of Theology (Biblical Studies) program is designed for the enhanced understanding of and commitment to personal and social holiness through practices of moral, personal and spiritual formation, in a context of accountability to a community of faith and dependence on the Spirit of Christ; and substantive understanding of the field of biblical studies appropriate for advanced academic study of Scripture in the service of the church, with a focus on scholarship for research and publication.

THM (World Mission and Evangelism)

THM(WME)
The Master of Theology (World Mission and Evangelism) program is designed to introduce students within community to theological, contextual, spiritual and strategic literatures of missiology, to prepare students for informed and effective practice of mission across cultures and within the student's own culture. The program prepares leaders for the Church and teachers for the academy, whose service warrants missiological knowledge. The Th.M. stands alone as a recognized and respected teaching and research degree.

Certificate in Christian Studies

The Certificate in Christian Studies is intended to enable individuals testing a call to ministry to experience one year of seminary education; to provide continuing education for persons committed to significant biblical and theological studies; and to make accessible means for studying at the seminary level in a structured, non-degree program.

Christian Discipleship Certificates

Asbury Theological Seminary offers certificate programs, allowing students to explore their options, expand their knowledge and experience how God can work through their lives at seminary.