CUME Degree Programs

The Boston Campus of Gordon-Conwell (CUME) offers both Masters degree programs as well as a Diploma program for those who might not immediately qualify for Masters degree admissions.  For more information about our Diploma Program, click here.  Masters and Doctoral degree programs offered at CUME are outlined below.

Degree Requirements:

The Master of Arts in Youth Ministry (MAYM) is a twenty (20) course degree program for persons who are called to minister to young people in churches, community organizations, and school related activities. Persons seeking to serve in pastoral ministries in the churches should complete the Master of Divinity program. (Click here for Required Courses in PDF format).

Students who progress through the program will be involved in biblical and theological studies, will gain an understanding of the dynamics of youth ministry and the skills to manage youth ministry programs.

The program will highlight how young people and youth workers must come to grips with contemporary culture and the Christian response to it. The goals of the program are:
1. To understand the basic content and themes of the Old and New Testaments in their historical and cultural settings, as well as the historical and theological dimensions of the Christian faith
2. To become familiar with the basic contours of Christian history, theology and mission in the urban context
3. To gain an understanding of and become skilled in the dynamics of youth ministry in a multicultural, multiethnic environment
4. To evidence a commitment to the authority of Scripture in personal and community relationships, as well as a personal commitment to spiritual formation
5. To foster love for God and his word and therefore to cultivate the practices of spiritual maturity and Christ-like character, and to understand the Christian¹s ethical responsibility in church and society
6. To gain experience in an understanding of cultural backgrounds that will enable the student to express biblical truth effectively in a contextually relevant and sensitive way, with the goal of ministering to both Christians and those who are not Christian believers
7. To gain an understanding of contemporary urban youth culture

Applicants admitted to this program:
1. Must have a vocational goal requiring the specialized preparation available in the program;
2. May be asked to participate in specialized testing and personal interviews to determine academic and personal readiness.

Enrollment is open to qualified students who, without distinction of race, sex, handicap, or denomination, desire to undertake serious theological study and who show promise of success in such an endeavor.

The Master of Arts in Urban Ministry (MAUM) is a program consisting of 20 courses taken from the three major areas of study at Gordon-Conwell/Boston: Biblical Studies, Christian Thought, and Ministry. (Click here for Required Courses in PDF format).

1. Each student is encouraged to take no more than three (3) courses per semester due to ministerial responsibilities. Up to four (4) courses may be taken with special approval.
2 . At the above rate, one may complete 20 courses required for the Master of Arts in Urban Ministry degree in three and one-half years.

The goals of the Master of Arts in Urban Ministry are the following:
1. To gain an understanding of the basic content and themes of the Old and New Testaments in their historical and cultural settings, as well as the historical and theological dimensions of the Christian faith
2. To become familiar with the basic contours of Christian history, theology and mission in the urban context
3. To evidence a commitment to the authority of Scripture in personal and community relationships, as well as a personal commitment to spiritual formation
4. To foster love for God and his word and therefore to cultivate the practices of spiritual maturity and Christ-like character, and to understand the Christian¹s ethical responsibility in church and society
5. To gain experience in an understanding of cultural backgrounds that will enable the student to express biblical truth effectively in a contextually relevant and sensitive way, with the goal of ministering to both Christians and those who are not Christian believers
6. To develop theological‹ethical reflections, social analysis and types of actions for ministry in complex urban settings

Master of Arts in Educational Ministries (MAEM) The purpose of the MA in Educational Ministries is to better prepare church leaders who are involved in the teaching and educational ministries of the church. It is a 20 course program. (Click here for Required Courses in PDF format)

The goals of the Educational Ministries Master degree are:
1. To understand the basic content and themes of the Old and New Testaments in their historical and cultural settings as well as the historical and theological dimensions of the Christian faith
2. To demonstrate the ability to faithfully and effectively teach the Bible in culturally relevant and appropriate ways
3. To foster love for God and his word and therefore to cultivate the practices of spiritual maturity and Christ-like character, and to understand the Christian’s ethical responsibility in church and society
4. To acquire a biblical perspective and Christian worldview on cultural influences and to learn to engage those as they are at work both outside and inside the life of the church
5. To gain exposure to and significant personal experience in life in and among peoples of cultural backgrounds other than their own—both Christian and non-Christian
6. To faithfully and effectively present biblical truth, in both evangelistic and educational terms, to those who are not Christian believers.

Master of Arts in Counseling, Mental Health Track (MACO) The purpose of the MA in Counseling is to prepare students for professional counseling positions as mental health counselors, and/or preparation for further studies in psychology. Click here for Program Brochure.

The goals of the Counseling Master degree are:
1. To understand the basic content and themes of the Old and New Testaments in their historical and cultural settings, (1) as well as the historical and theological dimensions of the Christian faith
2. To demonstrate academic excellence in the ability to communicate effectively materials from the study of psychology and the biblical, historical and theological disciplines
3. To integrate psychological theory with biblical truth so that the knowledge and skills learned in studies and practice will be realized in professional application
4. To evidence a commitment to the authority of Scripture in personal and community relationships, as well as a personal commitment to spiritual formation
5. To foster love for God and his word and therefore to cultivate the practices of spiritual maturity and Christ-like character, and to understand the Christian’s ethical responsibility in church and society
6. To gain experience in an understanding of cultural backgrounds toward effective expression of biblical truth, with the goal of ministering to Christians and to those who are not Christian believers
7. To demonstrate an awareness of national, racial, ethnic and cultural factors that impinge upon the teaching and modeling of biblical truth, and to develop the capacity for a critical evaluation of important cultural changes within the discipline of counseling

(Click here for Required Courses in PDF format)

The Master of Divinity in Urban Ministries The purpose of the M.Div in Urban Ministries is to train those engaged in formal urban ministry either the pastorate or in organizations associated with the work of the local church. The M.Div. in Urban Ministries seeks to do the following:

1. Develop greater competence in ministry;
2. Develop greater self-understanding (identity) and sense of mission (vocation);
3. Develop coherence between explicit theology and practice;
4. Develop leadership potential in the church and the greater society;
5. Fulfill the requirements of ordination, especially for mainline churches in the urban context;
7. Fulfill requirements for chaplaincy in institutions such as hospitals, prisons, and military installations.

(Click here for Required Courses in PDF format)

Master of Theology (Th.M.)

The Master of Theology is an advanced academic degree that requires the M.Div. as a prerequisite, and may be regarded as an additional year of preparation for Christian ministry beyond the the M.Div. or as preparation for advanced study.  Nine areas of concentration are available for the Th.M.

Degree Concentrations:
New Testament Concentration
Old Testament Concentration
Biblical Theology Concentration
Historical Theology Concentration
Church History Concentration
Theology Concentration
Theology and Culture Concentration
Missiology Concentration
Preaching Concentration
 
The goals of the Th.M. Program are:
1. To gain greater competency and skill in an area of specialization by employing the most valuable research methods and resources for the specialized area of study with rigor and excellence in keeping with the highest tradition of Christian scholarship and to gain the capacity to formulate productive questions for further investigation.
2. To build upon the strengths of the M.Div. program by sharpening skills in biblical exegesis and knowledge and understanding of God’s inerrant Word, as it applies to the area of specialization.
3. To carry out the specialized studies within the highest tradition of Christian scholarship with rigor and excellence
4. To engage with contemporary issues in the area of specialization from the framework of a biblical worldview.
 

If you are interested in finding out more about these programs you may go to our Admissions Page to get information for application, fill out the Information Request form or contact our offices at:

Center for Urban Ministerial Education
90 Warren St.
Roxbury, MA 02119
(617) 427-7293