​SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY ACADEMICS
Master Programs
Master of Divinity/Master of Theology
Wayland's unique 139 hours is the M.Div./Th.M. is the flagship first professional degree program that practically and professionally prepares God-called men and women to for various ministry roles within the local church and other ministry and professional settings.
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Master of Divinity (Accelerated)
Master of Divinity (Pre-Ordination)
Master of Divinity Women in Ministry Track
Master of Divinity with Specialization in Missional Practice
Master of Divinity with Specialization in Women’s Ministry
Master of Divinity with Specialization in Worship Leadership & Media Production
Master of Divinity with Specialization in Sacred Music
Master of Divinity with Specialization in Black Church Liturgical Practices
Master of Divinity with Specialization in Black Church Studies
Master of Divinity with Specialization in Pastoral Psychology & Counseling
Master of Divinity with Specialization in Incarnational Church Growth
Master of Divinity with Specialization in Biblical Studies
Master of Divinity with Specialization in Biblical Languages
Master of Divinity with Specialization in Discipleship & Faith Formation
Master of Divinity with Specialization in Theological Studies
Master of Divinity with Specialization in Preaching
Master of Divinity with Social Justice & Prophetic Advocacy
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Master of Divinity (Pastoral Care & Chaplaincy)
The 79 Credit hour M.Div. is the flagship first professional degree program that practically and professionally prepares God-called men and women to for various ministry roles within the chaplaincy, pastoral care, diaconal ministry and other ministry and professional settings.
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RESEARCH M.A. PROGRAMS
Master of Arts
Religion, MA
Classical Theology, MA
Church History, MA
Historical Theology, MA
Liturgical Art History, MA
Master of Arts
The 36-60 credits Master of Arts (M.A.) is a two-year academic degree to prepare students for a variety of professional positions in the academy and other teaching roles. This non-ministerial degree program is geared towards Ph.D. studies after graduation. Students chose a cognate to focus in. Examples include: Black Church Studies, Biblical Interpretation and Theology, The Story of the Church, Constructive Theology, Liberation Theology, Ethics, Comparative Religions, Pastoral Studies, Pastoral Psychology and Counseling, Psychology & Religion, Preaching & Worship, Interdisciplinary, and Womanist Theoethics, Islamic Studies, and Abrahamic Studies.
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PROFESSIONAL/VOCATIONAL M.A. PROGRAMS
Theological Studies, MA
Christian Education, MA
Diaconal Studies, MA
Chaplaincy & Pastoral Care, MA
Counseling (Marriage & Family), MA
Leadership, MA
Worship Studies: African American Worship, MA
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Master of Arts (Theological Studies)
The 44 hour Master of Arts (Theological Studies) program is geared toward God-called men and woman seeking an introductory graduate degree for a variety of vocational goals. The purpose of this degree is to provide biblical, theological, historical, and practical training for persons who desire to be better equipped to do ministry in the local church context; providing students with a solid foundation from which to understand the essentials of the Bible, Christianity, Christian theology, and the Christian church. This program is well-suited for pastors, staff ministers/directors, Christian educators, informed lay leaders, and pastors’ spouses.
The Master of Arts (Theological Studies) students must choose one of five cognates:
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Biblical Studies
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The Story of the Church
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Preaching
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Theology
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Women in Ministry
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Master of Arts (Christian Education)
The 61 credits Christian Education degree prepares persons for specialized ministries in Christian education and church leadership. This program integrates theology, Christian education and church leadership giving students the freedom to specialize in a specific area of ministry.
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Discipleship & Small Group Ministries
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Spiritual Formation and Discipleship
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Children's Ministry
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Family Ministry
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Student's Discipleship
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Geriatrics Ministries & Senior Adult Discipleship
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Preteens Discipleship
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Young Singles
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Young Marrieds
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Young Professionals
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Women's Ministry
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Ministry Spouses' Ministry
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Worship Leadership
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Men's Discipleship Ministries
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Educational Ministries
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Master of Arts in Religion
The 48 credits M.A.R. is an interdisciplinary degree, designed for persons who desire to study at intersection biblical, theological, anthropological and societal issues.
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Master of Arts in Diaconal Studies
(Master of Diaconal Studies)
The 36 hour Master of Diaconal Studies degree program is designed for students interested in service in the church as a member of the diaconate. The program prepares students for servant-leadership ministries within the local church and the world, cultivating the person for the vocational ministry to serve as deacons, deaconess, diaconal ministers, and pastoral associates; integrating skills for ministry with theological reflection.
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Master of Arts in Chaplaincy & Pastoral Care
The 48 credits M.A. is designed for those called to the vocation of Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care in institutional ministry settings, community organizations, diaconal ministries, nursing homes, hospitals, and prisons.
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PROFESSIONAL/VOCATIONAL MASTER PROGRAMS
Master of Theological Studies
The 48 credits Master of Theological Studies degree designed for lay-persons who desire familiarity with the major theological disciplines and to deepen their understanding of Christian faith and theology who are not preparing for a professional ministry vocation.
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Master of Ministry
The 36-39 credits master of ministry program is designed to enhance your skills in ministry practice, biblical interpretation and specialized ministry. The program is designed for persons in various ministry positions who desire a quality education, but due to present ministry are unable to enroll in a M.Div. program.
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Master of Religious Education
The 48 hour Masters of Religious Education vigorously prepares religious educators in their intellectual formation as a layperson in the local church and the academy. The program prepares students to be competent in the historic teaching of the Christian Church, and the Baptist Faith to engage in a meaningful way the contemporary Church, and to foster life-giving catechetical/religious education experiences as layperson representation on ordination councils, preparing candidates for baptism, christenings, and other educational ministries.
Master of Practical Theology
The 48 credits M.P.T is designed for those called to the practical ministry as pastors and practitioners of ministry. This interdisciplinary programs allows practitioner to select courses from a variety of theological disciplines related to the practice of ministry.
Doctoral Programs
Doctor of Ministry (Incarnational Ministry)
The purpose of the 30 credits Doctor of Ministry (DMin) degree is to provide advanced theological education for persons who hold the Master of Divinity degree and who are engaged in the practice of ministry. Wayland’s DMin program will emphasize the integration of theological reflection and practice, supervision and mentorship, and servant leadership that draws on spiritual and missional formation in both church and minister.
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Doctor of Nursing Practice
Concentrations:
Parish Nursing & Pastoral Care
Medical Missions
The purpose of the 30 credits Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree is to provide advanced theological education and professional nursing for persons who hold a master degree and who are engaged in the practice of parish nursing ministry or health care ministries. This unique program will emphasize the integration of theological reflection and practice, supervision and mentorship, and servant leadership that draws on spiritual and missional formation in the practitioner.
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Doctor of Educational Ministry
The Doctor of Educational Ministry program provides a professional degree for the needs of Christian education ministry professionals. Wayland’s D.Ed.Min. degree is a three-year, 46 hour program designed for those practitioners serving in full-time educational ministry.
This program integrates theology, Christian education and church leadership giving students the freedom to specialize in a specific area of ministry.
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Discipleship & Small Group Ministries
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Spiritual Formation and Discipleship
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Children's Ministry
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Christian Counseling
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Family Ministry
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Student's Discipleship
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Geriatrics Ministries & Senior Adult Discipleship
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Preteens Discipleship
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Young Singles
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Young Marrieds
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Young Professionals
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Women's Ministry
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Ministry Spouses' Ministry
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Worship Leadership
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Men's Discipleship Ministries
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Doctor of Missional Practice
The Doctor of Missional Practice (Doctor of Missiology) program requires a minimum of 30 credits in addition to the master's degree, with 36 credits of coursework and 4 credits for the capstone project. The 36 credit component of the program contains 6 credits of missiological foundations, 6 credits of theological integration, 18 credits of missiology/intercultural studies specialization courses and 6 credits of research methods. Students are encouraged to integrate each modular into their capstone project. A faculty advisor will guide each student in planning a program of courses to serve his or her ministry needs. Students are expected to choose courses most appropriate to their research interest and will select a mentor from the graduate faculty to guide their capstone project.
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Doctor of Theology or (Doctor of Philosophy)
The ThD or PhD programs are designed to prepare individuals for academic research and writing and for college- and seminary -university-level teaching. While alternative career paths are available, training for the degree requires an extensive apprenticeship in, and a singular focus on, the process of conducting original research and crafting unique arguments for other scholars in the discipline. Students are expected to complete the ThD or PhD program in five to seven years.
The ThD or PhD programs are intimate and rigorous, and one of its hallmarks is a series of professionalization courses designed to prepare students for their profession. This series is composed of the following: (1) a methodology colloquium that introduces the students to a wide range of theory and practice; (2) an advanced writing seminar in which students write an article-quality paper; (3) a professionalization seminar in which students are trained in the habits of mind and skills of the profession; and (4) a dissertation prospectus seminar.
Concentrations:
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Biblical Interpretation & Exegetical Theology
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Interdisciplinary
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Liturgy & Preaching
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Practical Theology
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Womanist Theoethics
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New Testament & Textual Criticism
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Hebrew Bible & Midrash
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Sacred Music & Liturgics
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Master of Sacred Theology
The program leading to the Master of Sacred Theology degree is designed for those who have graduated from a standard three-year seminary program and hold the degree of Master of Divinity or its equivalent. The STM is designed to provide opportunity for additional and advanced studies in the theological disciplines in preparation for Christian service and advanced theological study.
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