Master of Arts in Intercultural Ministries
The Master of Arts in Intercultural Ministries (M.A.I.M.) is a 48-hour degree designed to form leaders with a thorough understanding of God’s mission for the Church and the interpersonal and intercultural communication skills essential for productive ministry in cross-cultural settings. The program helps students integrate anthropology, psychology, sociology and theology to inform the task of world evangelization and the planting and nurturing of the Church. It also trains missionaries and other cross-cultural workers for roles in theological education and the development of leaders.
Degree Components and Requirements
For courses successfully completed as an undergraduate, a student may substitute an advanced course. See the Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree for examples.
| Mission of God in World Christianity (9 credits)1 |
| BTH/MHT 501 |
The Mission of God in Biblical and Contemporary Contexts |
3 |
| HIS/MHT 556 |
World Christianity I |
3 |
| HIS/MHT 557 |
World Christianity II |
3 |
| |
| Bible and Theology (15 credits)1 |
| BIB 532 |
Hermeneutics |
3 |
| BNT 530 |
New Testament Introduction* or BNT Book Study |
3 |
| BOT 530 |
Old Testament Introduction* or BOT Book Study |
3 |
THE 511 |
Christian Theology |
3 |
| One of the following: |
3 |
| |
BTH 529 |
Foundations of Biblical Theology |
|
| |
BTH 530 |
Old Testament Theology |
|
| |
BTH 532 |
New Testament Theology |
|
| |
| Missions (Required: 9 credits) |
| MHT 635 |
Pentecostal
Theology of Leadership Development |
3 |
| MCS/MHT 642 |
Contextualized
Theology |
3 |
| MCS/MHT 643 |
Anthropology and Communication
Theological Perspective |
3 |
| |
| Practicum (3 credits) |
| MSS 641 |
Practicum in Intercultural Ministry I |
3 |
| |
| Electives (12 credits)1 |
| Electives in Global Missions |
12 |
| |
| *Required course unless appropriate substitution approved by adviser. |
| 1See M.A.I.M. Advanced Standing guidelines. |
| |
| Concentrations (12 credits) |
| Students may choose from four concentrations in missions studies: Intercultural Ministries, Global Missions, Mental Health and Islamic Studies. |
| |
| This track consists of twelve
credits of electives chosen from courses numbered with the
prefixes MCC, MCS, MHT and MSS. It provides a solid academic
basis for ministry in a missions context or for further missions
studies at the doctoral level. A student in the M.A.I.M. who
wishes to apply for AG credentials may take HIS 532 History
and Polity of the Assemblies of God as a missions elective. |
| |
The GM concentration permits students to pursue a significant
portion of their degree outside the context of normal, on-campus
studies, allowing them to live, learn and develop ministry
skills in a cross-cultural setting (whether in a foreign country
or the United States). The experience is designed to guide
the student in developing the cultural fluency necessary for
effective ministry in today’s globalized and multicultural
world.
Students must complete twelve credits of graduate-level studies
in an AGTS-approved institution which can be transferred
back to fulfill the degree requirements at AGTS. The courses
taken under the GM Special Studies Progam may be in fields of study other than
Intercultural Ministries, but require the prior approval
of the assigned AGTS mentor in consultation with the academic
dean of AGTS.
In addition to classroom curriculum, the student is expected
to be involved in the fullest possible range of campus, student
life and student ministry activities. The host culture(s)
is to be experienced and learned through participation. The
student will be encouraged to risk moving away from his or
her cultural comfort zone to explore the adventure of getting
into the “skin” of another culture. The GM student journal student
journal should reflect an intentional involvement in and
engagement of the cross-cultural experience. |
| |
| MCS/PCP 622 |
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder |
3 |
| MCS/PCP 629 |
Counseling Diverse Populations |
3 |
| MCS/PTH 654 |
Pentecostal Perspectives on Justice, the Church and Society |
3 |
| One of the following: |
3 |
|
PCP 662 |
Child and Adolescent Psychopatholog |
|
PCP 663 |
Psychopathology |
| |
| Islam is one of the world’s fastest growing
religions, with over 1.4 billion adherents— over one-fifth
of the world’s population. While Islam advances at an
alarming rate, it remains resistant to the gospel. The Church
must address this challenge. The Islamic Studies Concentration
provides the opportunity to develop competencies essential
for effective ministry to Muslims. Islamic Studies courses
are taught in a modular format—usually one or two weeks—on
the AGTS campus and at selected extension sites. Professors
will be members of the AGTS faculty,
Global Initiative and visiting professors of Islamics. Required courses
are: |
| |
| MCS 545 |
Engaging Islam |
3 |
| MHT 649 |
Christian-Muslim Theological Issues |
3 |
| MSS 643 |
Church Planting in the Muslim Context |
3 |
One of the following: |
3 |
| |
MCS 552 |
Women in Islam |
|
| |
MCS 553 |
Islam in the United States |
|
| |
MCS 554 |
Folk Islam and Power Encounter |
|
| |
MSS 641 |
Practicum in intercultural Ministry I* |
|
| *Practicum must be completed in a Muslim context. |
This is a cross-cultural practicum. Students who choose the Islamic Studies concentration must complete their practicum in a Muslim context. This practicum requires a pre-session orientation, a post-session assessment and an approved, supervised cross-cultural involvement. The practicum will usually be completed in a two to four week time frame and should normally be scheduled during the summer recess. An exception may be granted to allow the practicum to be scheduled during the course of a regular semester.
In addition to appointing an on-field supervisor, AGTS will assign an in-house mentor to prepare the student for the practicum, and facilitate the understanding and synthesizing of the experience. The student is required to keep a daily journal of experiences. This journal will be utilized in the writing of a reflection paper which the student will present in a final debriefing session at AGTS.
The length of time required for securing AGWM approvals, communicating with a mentor, getting immunizations and visas and raising funds for Global Missions participants affects the application deadlines for intercultural practicums (see Resident Academic Calendar). Late applications will be approved or denied at the discretion of the GM Committee.
Prior to registering for the cross-cultural practicum, the student must have completed the following four courses: BTH/MHT 501, MHT 635, MCS/MHT 642 and MCS/MHT 643. For an exception, the student must petition the GM Department |
M.A.I.M. Advanced Standing
Students who have earned a significant number of credits in religious studies from approved colleges
and universities may request exemption from certain required courses in the M.A.I.M. degree
program, thus granting them Advanced Standing. Life experience does not qualify for advanced
standing. (See registrar for further details.)
The following rules apply to M.A.I.M. Advanced Standing:
1. Advanced Standing cannot exceed nine credits.
2. Advanced Standing is considered for undergraduate courses with satisfactory parallel
content, provided the equivalent collegiate courses are double the credit value of the
seminary's courses. A minimum grade of B is required and the student must be able to
demonstrate competency in subject matter by presentation of an Advanced Standing
Portfolio for each course for which advanced standing is desired. A fee of $50 per course
will be charged for each portfolio that is evaluated, regardless of whether or not the
advanced standing is granted.
3. Advanced Standing must be requested prior to enrollment but no later than the end of the
student's first semester of study at AGTS. Requests should be submitted to the Registrar's
Office.
4. Partial course advanced standing will not be granted.
5. If the student later takes a course where advanced standing has been granted, the
advanced standing would be nullified.
6. Advanced Standing may be granted for a course from "Bible and Theology," a —World
Christianity? course and a —Missions Elective? course.
7. In an area where a student demonstrates competency but the criteria preclude Advanced
Standing, a substitute course may be allowed if approved by the faculty adviser and the
Academic Dean.
Graduation
Requirements
In addition to the general
requirements for graduation, the student must submit an acceptable student portfolio and pass a comprehensive examination based on competencies in key areas within the disciplines of missiology. Students who receive a grade of “unsatisfactory” may retake the examination following a 3-week study period.
Policy
for Retakes
Students failing the retake must fulfill one of the following options:
- Officially audit a course covering the competency in which the student’s performance was “unsatisfactory.” Retake and pass a comprehensive question dealing with that competency.
- Take the course for credit by directed research or in residence. The course will be graded satisfactory, marginal or unsatisfactory
Distance Learning
A limited number of courses may be taken through directed research or distance
learning.
Updated:
Wednesday, March 7, 2012 11:05 AM
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President
Procedures