Our Master of Arts in Applied Theology program will cultivate your leadership skills whether you are called to the church, a nonprofit, or a parachurch organization. The program provides a framework for advanced leadership through biblical and theological studies, spiritual formation, and cultural engagement. You will practice biblical interpretation, acquire a working knowledge of basic issues in Christian theology, grow in your personal relationship with God through spiritual practices, develop redemptive cultural engagement, and demonstrate Christ-like servant leadership. If you are passionate about journeying with others in faith and spiritual transformation in light of Scripture, this program is designed for you.

Ways to study

Graduate | On-campus | Online

Program concentrations

Collaborative Leadership | Global Evangelism

Course plan

3-year

Application deadlines

Customize Your Degree

We understand that your calling and ministry are unique to you. Our program offers several tracks for the development of leadership skills for specialized settings through course work, practicums, and in-ministry learning opportunities. Students focus their studies within one of these ministry areas: Affective Spirituality and Christian Formation, Contextual Leadership, Cross-Cultural Engagement, or Global Evangelism. Assignments factor into your current ministry context to strengthen your educational experience and benefit those you are already serving.

Male Professor Teaching in Classroom

Example Courses

The courses listed below are some of our featured core classes that will be a part of your educational journey here at MU. Take a look at each course for a small preview.

This course will focus on the unique role of the Holy Spirit in the process of Christian transformation. The apostle Paul’s call for the believers in Galatia to “Keep in step with the Spirit” will be employed as a crucial Bible calling. The Spirit’s ministry will both be distinguished from the Persons of the Father and Son and engaged as God’s bonding presence in the believer’s union with Christ and communion with the Father. The Spirit’s work in shaping the New Testament Church will be taken as an applied model for both our personal faith; and for reforming the practices of today’s Christian communities.

The emphasis will be on bringing all of the learning and skills acquired to bear on how it enhances the students/ministry leaders’ work in their own context here and abroad. Here all the members of the cohort will work together to sharpen one another and help one another on a collective ministry project or individual ministry projects that will bear on their lifetime calling to service in their particular vocations as ambassadors of Christ and his church, God’s kingdom community.

An in-depth study of the biblical text concerning the content of the Gospel, preaching, the evangelist, and the role of the evangelist in the life of the Church and the Great Commission.

The historical claims of the Bible and the Gospel of Jesus Christ needs solid scholarship. The course will explore historical reasons for the faith once delivered to the saints as well as applying these teachings to the contemporary issues of our day.

Degree Requirements

Here you will find everything you need to know about what is required to successfully complete your degree.

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Meet Your Professors

Faculty Headshot Derek Chinn
Derek Chinn, D.Min.
Dean, Multnomah Biblical Seminary and Graduate School; Director, Master of Divinity Program; Assistant Professor, Pastoral Ministries and Practical Theology
Faculty Headshot Brad Harper
Brad Harper, Ph.D.
Professor, Bible and Theology Director, Master of Arts in Theological Studies; Assistant Dean, School of Biblical and Theological Studies
Faculty Headshot Paul Metzger
Paul Louis Metzger, Ph.D.
Professor, Christian Theology and Theology of Culture; Director of New Wine, New Wineskins

Program Concentrations

Global Evangelism

The Global Evangelism concentration focuses on the strategic role of evangelists in leading the church in fulfilling the Great Commission. Outcomes focus on developing new strategies and methodologies for effectively communicating the Gospel, culturally relevant ways of engaging the church in evangelistic ministries, and strategic principles for building and sustaining evangelistic ministries.

Career Placement

With your M.A. in Applied Theology, you will be prepared for roles such as:

• Senior Pastor • Associate Pastor • Church Planter
• Parachurch Ministry Leader • Community Outreach Pastor • Chaplain
• Missionary • Community Development Leader • Evangelist