Degree Programs in Partnership with Vision

Program Facts

Credit Hours: 120

Total Cost: $12,000.00

Prerequisites: High School Diploma or Equivalent

What’s the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Christian Studies Degree Program?

The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree program is designed to prepare men and women for further academic study in a specialized field. The program differs from the Bachelor of Ministry (B.Min.) degree in that it is neither vocational nor pre-professional; rather, it is an academic degree designed to be a transitional program by which students may pursue further academic study at the graduate level. The degree is transitional, designed for students who have completed at least two years or up to 90 credit hours of undergraduate education in theology, ministry, or the humanities, either via Vision International University or another accredited college or university. The Bachelor of Arts degree program consists of 120 credit hours, 30 of which must be from Vision International University. The student must complete the five core courses and select the remainder from either the ministry specialization or General Education courses listed below. The student must possess a minimum of thirty credit hours in General Education to earn the Bachelor of Arts degree.

After completing the B.A. degree, you’ll be able to…

•Demonstrate a breadth and depth of knowledge and understanding of the Bible, Christian doctrines and ministry principles
•Apply concepts and principles drawn from a systematic and coherent body of knowledge in a wide range of day-to-day ministry situations, demonstrating appropriate communication and problem-solving skills
•Demonstrate the academic skills and abilities necessary to undertake research, and to comprehend and evaluate new information, concepts and evidence from a range of sources
•Demonstrate the ability to review, consolidate, extend and use the knowledge, comprehension, and academic skills developed in the program
•Demonstrate effective interpersonal and teamwork skills, appropriate to academic scholarship and/or further study
•Demonstrate the skills required to answer questions and address problems related to Christian life and doctrine and to many spiritual, personal and relational issues relevant to life and ministry in church and para church settings
•Continue the process of effective lifelong learning

Why you’ll need to complete General Education…

The General Education requirements of the program are designed to provide the student with a diverse educational experience in the Liberal Arts, producing not only an effective Christian scholar, but a world citizen. The General Education curriculum provides students with a functional understanding of the humanities/fine arts, social/behavioral sciences, natural sciences/mathematics, and computers by illustrating how the various disciplines investigate the totality of knowledge, the means used to acquire and organize it, and the ways in which disciplines interrelate with each other. The outcomes of General Education courses are the acquisition of knowledge across the primary academic disciplines and the development of skills for critical and creative thinking. Upon completion of the required General Education, the student will be able to:

•Think independently and critically in solving problems.
•Communicate effectively in writing and speaking
•Identify scientific influences which affect their role as a world citizen
•Identify historical, cultural and social influences which affect their role as a world citizen
•Demonstrate an active concern for the problems of humanity through service and concern for others
•Demonstrate knowledge of cultural, social, religious and linguistic differences
•Participate as a world citizen and demonstrate the responsibility world citizens share for their common global future

To ensure broad coverage of content, a minimum number of credit hours must be obtained for each of the five areas of study listed below:

•Humanities – 6 credit hours
•Fine Arts – 3 credit hours
•Social and Behavioral Science – 6 credit hours
•Natural Science and Mathematics – 6 credit hours
•Computer Skills – 3 credit hours

Vision International University will accept transfer of general education courses to satisfy the general education requirement if the proffered course:

•Was taken at an accredited college or university
•Was completed with a minimum grade of C (2.0 on a 4.0 scale).

Program Facts

Credit Hours: 120

Total Cost: $12,000.00

Prerequisites: High School Diploma or Equivalent

What’s the Bachelor of Ministry (B.Min.) Degree Program?

The Bachelor of Ministry (B.Min.) degree program is designed to prepare men and women to serve in Christian Ministry. It includes systematic study, wide reading and practical ministry education. The Bachelor of Ministry degree is a vocational, pre-professional degree, designed to transition the student into graduate-level theological education. The Bachelor of Ministry program consists of 120 credit hours, 30 of which must be from Vision International University. The student must complete the five core courses and select a ministry specialization for the remainder of their courses. As a vocational, pre-professional degree, the program does not require a minimum number of General Education credits, differentiating it from the Bachelor of Arts degree.

After completing the B.Min. degree, you’ll be able to:

•Lead congregations to creative, biblically–informed transformational endeavors;

•Respond appropriately to societal trends that impact church ministry;

•Critically and sympathetically engage new models with the historic resources of the Christian tradition

•Demonstrate biblical literacy and theological reflection;

•Serve in a variety of ministry service roles;

•Demonstrate a range of general and specialist ministry skills;

•Minister to people with a wide range of needs, selecting appropriate approaches;

•Demonstrate practical skills in Christian teaching, preaching, leadership, pastoral, counseling, and cross-cultural situations.

Program Facts

Credit Hours: 36

Total Cost: $5,400.00

Prerequisites: Bachelor’s Degree

Do you have an interest in studying God’s Word and sharing it with others? Do you find yourself researching biblical truths, discovering hidden gems in church history, and developing theologically sound strategies for church life?

The Master of Theological Studies degree focuses on historical, systematic, and biblical theology. Professional ministry issues are not a focus of this program. Nevertheless, the program is designed to provide a theological foundation for ministerial service. The program consists of 12 courses, 3 semester credit hours each, for a total of 36 credit hours. There is no required thesis or research project.

The curriculum, produced by some of the world’s top biblical scholars and theologians in cooperation with the Institute of Theological Studies (ITS), serves persons who wish to explore disciplines within Christian theology.

Explore the Twelve Dynamic Courses of the M.T.S. Degree

1. 1. 1. ■CE 503 Advanced Leadership and Administration
    2. ■CH 505 Survey of Church History
    3. ■CH 510 A History of the Charismatic Movements
    4. ■MT 504 Evangelism in the Local Church
    5. ■NT 502 The Pastoral Epistles
    6. ■NT 504 The Gospels/Life of Christ
    7. ■NT 508 The Epistles and Revelation
    8. ■OT 505 The Book of Psalms
    9. ■OT 509 The Christian & Old Testament Theology
    10. ■PT 504 Christian Worldview
    11. ■ST 503 Contemporary Theology I
    12. ■WM 501 Introduction to World Missions
The twelve courses listed above comprise the degree Master of Theological Studies. Substitution may be made if some of the courses listed below have already been taken (Graduate transcripts of courses must be furnished) from the graduate section of the catalog.

Our Goals for the M.T.S. Degree…

1.To give students a biblical and theological foundation for effective ministry
2.To build the student’s understanding and application of the theological aspects of ministry
3.To broaden the student’s ministry perspective to include urban and global realities with a Christian worldview
4.To provide students with knowledge of a range of basic theological disciplines
5.To prepare students to bring theological disciplines into creative and critical interaction with other disciplines
6.To provide students with a critical and contextual appropriation and appreciation of Christian tradition
7.To provide an opportunity to develop his/her ability to think and to analyze theologically
8.To prepare students further graduate study, including the Master of Divinity and/or Doctor of Ministry.

After Completing the M.T.S. Degree, You’ll Be Able To…

1.Grasp the basic content and structure of the Old and New Testaments of Scripture as well as to understand the broad storyline of the Bible.
2.Develop sensitivity to issues and procedures in interpretation of the text so that with a facility in the original languages the student will be able to communicate the message of that Scripture in a way that stays faithful to the intention of the text and is relevant for people today.
3.Gain an awareness of the unique beliefs of the Christian faith and an understanding of the evidence on which that faith is based as well as a sense of how to apply basic biblical principles to life’s ethical issues.
4.Formulate and articulate a distinctively Christian worldview.
5.Demonstrate a commitment to life-long learning.
6.Deepen Christian character and personal spiritual life, acquire the ability to think as a Christian about life and culture, and use resources to derive answers for developing issues in a pluralistic world.
7.Demonstrate a broad knowledge of the Bible and theology and the ability to integrate this knowledge with daily life and work.
8.Communicate the Christian faith and its theological identity in private and in public.
9.Minister to people personally and facilitate the ministry of persons for whom they have leadership responsibilities.
10.Function as a lifelong learner and apply understanding of the developmental process and learning to facilitate learning among other people.
11.Demonstrate competent skills in the study and interpretation of the scriptures and their personal and community applications.
12.Articulate a theological and historical understanding of the Christian faith and its ethical implications for the individual, community, and Christian ministry.
13.Continue to grow in one’s relationship with Christ through the practices of spiritual formation.
14.Apply cognitive disciplines that foster continued growth and effectiveness in Christian living and ministry.

Quick Program Facts

Credit Hours: 36

Total Cost: $5,400.00

Prerequisites: Bachelor’s Degree

Are you called to lead? Are you in a position of influence in your church, community, or ministry? Do you want to enhance your leadership abilities and learn healthy principles for leading from the world’s experts in Christian Leadership studies?

Our Master of Arts in Christian Leadership degree program is a unique program offered as Online Studies or through Correspondence. The program is directed by Dr. Malcolm Webber, Dean of the College of Leadership. The program is offered in cooperation with the Center for Healthy Leadership in Elkhart, IN and is designed to prepare leaders in churches and non-profit organizations with leadership skills.

Courses You’ll Take to Earn Your Degree

1. 1. 1. ■CE 501 Church Administration and Leadership
    2. ■CE 502 Interpersonal Communication and Conflict Management
    3. ■CE 503 Advanced Leadership and Administration
    4. ■LE 501 Introduction to Leadership and Leaders
    5. ■LE 502 Ministry Leadership Foundations
    6. ■LE 503 Dynamics of Effective Leaders and Followers
    7. ■LE 504 Spirituality and Leadership
    8. ■LE 505 Contemporary Issues in Leadership
    9. ■LE 506 Leader Development
    10. ■LE 511 Leadership Practicum
    11. ■PT 504 Christian Worldview

The Master of Arts in Christian Leadership degree program consists of 36 credit hours. It is recommended that the degree program begins with the student selecting a resident mentorship in the locality of the student. The student will then complete LE501 and LE502. At the same time, he or she will begin LE 511, the Leadership Practicum, which will continue throughout the entire degree program. After completing LE 501 and 502, the student will continue with the additional courses, completing one at a time, taking approximately 3 months for each course. The student will take approximately 18-24 months to finish the entire degree program.

What You’ll Be Able To Do When You Earn Your MA in Christian Leadership Degree

1.Apply Christian leadership concepts in order to creatively solve organizational problems and promote healthy organizational development.
2.Facilitate the use of change-agent skills in the areas of program design, implementation, and evaluation.
3.Work with the design and development of strategies that promote personal development and enhance the functioning of organizations.
4.Develop an understanding of leadership from a structural, human resource, theological, and symbolic framework.
5.Investigate current research on leadership.
6.Review leadership models currently in organizations and investigate new models.
7.Analyze and critique leadership behaviors.
8.Practice leadership techniques and report on leadership experience.

Our Objectives for the Degree Program

1.To empower students for transformational leadership within their ministry context.
2.To provide students with advanced competences in organizational theory, management, and leadership skills in practice and in research.
3.To enable students to integrate personal, biblical ethics, integrity, moral values and practice with sound management theory in leadership vocations including business, community, and faith-based service.
4.To expose students to business laws that influence leadership, management, and financial practices.
5.To develop students who are competent in the techniques and practices necessary for business vocations, community organizations and other non-profit organizational management.
6.To enable students to demonstrate that ethics, integrity, and morality are in harmonious synergy with sound Leadership and Management theory and practice.
7.To prepare students for advanced studies in leadership and/or professional ministry.

Credit Hours: 36

Total Cost: $5,400.00

Prerequisites: Bachelor’s Degree

Are you called to heal the brokenhearted, strengthen

couples and families, and walk people through life’s

challenges? Earn your Master of Arts in Christian

Counseling and become a competent, church-based

religious counselor.

The Master of Arts in Christian Counseling degree is designed to prepare the student for a specialized ministry in the counseling of individuals, couples, families and special focus groups within the context of the local church, para-church ministries, church-related agencies, or other religious settings. The program enables the student to employ integrative therapies: integrating proven, effective counseling methods, models and modalities, with sound biblical and theological principles. The vision of the church is to be a healing community. Hope for hurting individuals and families is an essential element of the Christian message. The MA program equips the student to help people realize personhood wholeness in every area of human life – spirit, mind, and body – and to facilitate marriage and family harmony and enrichment.

Courses You’ll Complete to Earn Your Degree

The twelve courses listed comprise the Master’s degree in Christian Counseling. Changes or substitutions are subject to the approval of the Academic Dean. Substitutions may be made if some of the above courses have already been taken.

1. 1. 1. ■CO 500 Psychology and Theology
    2. ■CE 502 Interpersonal Communication and Conflict Management
    3. ■CO 510 Human Development
    4. ■CO 530 Counseling Theories and Strategies
    5. ■CO 540 Crisis Counseling
    6. ■CO 550 Marriage and Family Counseling
    7. ■CO 560 Assessment and Diagnosis
    8. ■CO 610 Group Dynamics
    9. ■CO 620 Addiction Counseling
    10. ■CO 630 Cross-Cultural Counseling
    11. ■CO 640 Ethics and Law
    12. ■CO 710 Human Sexuality
Our Goals for the Master of Arts in Christian Counseling Degree

1. 1.To prepare students for the specialized ministry of individual, marriage and family, and issue focused group counseling within the church, para-church ministries, church-related agencies, and other religious settings, and to provide the educational foundation for further study in Christian Counseling.
2. 2.To enable students to help people realize personhood wholeness in every area of human life — spirit, mind, and body.
3. 3.To equip students to recruit and train knowledgeable lay persons as peer counselors and para-counselors to provide supportive counseling services to and within the local congregation and community.
4. 4.To assist students in the formulation of an integrative counseling approach, incorporating proven counseling techniques with a sound biblical and theological understanding of the ministry of counseling.
5. 5.To offer a program curricula for those students who desire to learn more about applying professional methods and modalities within a Christian counseling framework.

What You’ll Be Able To Do When You Earn Your MA in Christian Counseling

1. 1.Develop a personal philosophy of counseling, which integrates the latest theories, trends, and techniques of professional counseling with sound biblical principles, in a Christian Counseling modality.
2. 2.Effectively work with people in the local church and Christian Counseling ministry setting.
3. 3.Promote an awareness of the integrative compatibility between the behavioral sciences and the ministry of the Holy Spirit as they relate to the counseling process.
4. 4.Develop the therapeutic, preventive, educative, and facilitative skills of Christian Counseling.
5. 5.Demonstrate an understanding of methods of assessing and evaluating individual psychological functions, such as intelligence and personality and the dysfunctions thereof evidenced in psychological distress and personality disorders.
6. 6.Strengthen competency in data collection, analysis, assessment and evaluation in Christian Counseling.
7. 7.Promote an understanding of human nature and development based on a Christian theological perspective.
8. 8.Develop research capabilities designed to foster and expand knowledge about the current practice of Counseling within a Christian context.

Quick Program Facts

Credit Hours: 36

Total Cost: $5,400.00

Prerequisites: Bachelor’s Degree

Are you called to lead? Are you in a position

of influence in your church, community, or

ministry? Do you want to enhance your

leadership abilities and learn healthy

principles for leading from the world’s

experts in Christian Leadership studies?

Our Master of Arts in Christian Leadership degree program is a unique program offered as Online Studies or through Correspondence. The program is directed by Dr. Malcolm Webber, Dean of the College of Leadership. The program is offered in cooperation with the Center for Healthy Leadership in Elkhart, IN and is designed to prepare leaders in churches and non-profit organizations with leadership skills.

Courses You’ll Take to Earn Your Degree

1. 1. 1. ■CE 501 Church Administration and Leadership
    2. ■CE 502 Interpersonal Communication and Conflict Management
    3. ■CE 503 Advanced Leadership and Administration
    4. ■LE 501 Introduction to Leadership and Leaders
    5. ■LE 502 Ministry Leadership Foundations
    6. ■LE 503 Dynamics of Effective Leaders and Followers
    7. ■LE 504 Spirituality and Leadership
    8. ■LE 505 Contemporary Issues in Leadership
    9. ■LE 506 Leader Development
    10. ■LE 511 Leadership Practicum
    11. ■PT 504 Christian Worldview

The Master of Arts in Christian Leadership degree program consists of 36 credit hours. It is recommended that the degree program begins with the student selecting a resident mentorship in the locality of the student. The student will then complete LE501 and LE502. At the same time, he or she will begin LE 511, the Leadership Practicum, which will continue throughout the entire degree program. After completing LE 501 and 502, the student will continue with the additional courses, completing one at a time, taking approximately 3 months for each course. The student will take approximately 18-24 months to finish the entire degree program.

What You’ll Be Able To Do When You Earn Your MA in Christian Leadership Degree

1.Apply Christian leadership concepts in order to creatively solve organizational problems and promote healthy organizational development.
2.Facilitate the use of change-agent skills in the areas of program design, implementation, and evaluation.
3.Work with the design and development of strategies that promote personal development and enhance the functioning of organizations.
4.Develop an understanding of leadership from a structural, human resource, theological, and symbolic framework.
5.Investigate current research on leadership.
6.Review leadership models currently in organizations and investigate new models.
7.Analyze and critique leadership behaviors.
8.Practice leadership techniques and report on leadership experience.

Our Objectives for the Degree Program

1.To empower students for transformational leadership within their ministry context.
2.To provide students with advanced competences in organizational theory, management, and leadership skills in practice and in research.
3.To enable students to integrate personal, biblical ethics, integrity, moral values and practice with sound management theory in leadership vocations including business, community, and faith-based service.
4.To expose students to business laws that influence leadership, management, and financial practices.
5.To develop students who are competent in the techniques and practices necessary for business vocations, community organizations and other non-profit organizational management.
6.To enable students to demonstrate that ethics, integrity, and morality are in harmonious synergy with sound Leadership and Management theory and practice.
7.To prepare students for advanced studies in leadership and/or professional ministry.

Quick Program Facts

Credit Hours: 45

Total Cost: $6,750.00

Prerequisites: Masters Degree in Theological Studies

The purpose of this degree program is to equip the student for a higher level of competence in the practice of ministry than that achieved in the foundation work normally resulting in an M.Div. degree. The Doctor of Ministry degree program is designed to serve the need of ministers for an experience of continuing education which renews the personal life of faith, further develops professional competence, and stimulates continued growth in biblical and theological foundations for ministry.

Nature of the Program

Admission to the Doctor of Ministry Program is on the basis of high competence in theology and ministry, as well as motivation to do research in a recognized area of ministry. Competence in theology may be demonstrated by having completed a minimum of a Master of Theology Studies degree or equivalent with a balanced curriculum, including disciplines in biblical studies, ethics, and studies in ministry. Competence in ministry may be demonstrated by a documented minimum of three years of full-time ministerial service or five years part-time service. A complete transcript of previous academic work is to be submitted before an application for admission can be acted on.

Core Courses:

The student will complete seven core courses from the listed programs, each of which constitute five semester credit hours. A 20 page paper is to be written on each topic. Upon completion of the core topics the student will be advanced to candidacy. Course listing descriptions are provided to the student in a separate document as requested. Prerequisites: 15 graduate credit hours in bible/theology.

The Doctor of Ministry degree requires 45 credits: 35 for core courses and 10 for the Doctoral Project.

•Doctor of Ministry Core Areas:
•Christian Counseling
•Leadership
•Christian Education
•Theology

Program Total: 45 credit hours

Guided Readings

Guided readings are to reflect an area of research that is directed toward the writing of the doctoral project. The student is to choose guided readings as approved by the Doctoral Committee, to read and reflect on; intellectually, spiritually, and vocationally. These readings must then be documented in the form of an annotated bibliography with synoptic abstracts of the works that have been read. This exercise is an opportunity for the student to begin his or her doctoral research. There is no minimum or maximum amount of words to be written, but the writings must be comprehensive enough to cover the topic. This primarily constitutes Chapter 2 of the doctoral project (Literature Review). The completed Guided Readings are a part of the doctoral project.

Doctoral Proposal

The student is to then write a proposal for the Doctorate, describing the project according to the prescribed format. The completed proposal is to be approved by the Doctoral Committee of the University. The process and format for a Doctoral Proposal is described in Research Writing Made Easy and the resource titled Steps to Completing Your Doctoral Project/Dissertation. These resources will be provided by the Student Services Department.

Doctoral Project

The student is then (upon approval of the proposal) to begin writing his or her Doctoral Project, according to the specific format. The Doctoral Project is the finishing work for the doctoral degree, and is what provides the right to be called “Doctor.” It is worth 10 credits towards the degree program. The guidelines for the writing of the Project are again found in the book Research Writing Made Easy, and with the help of your doctoral project coordinator, you will be able to complete your goal.

Choose one of the following emphases:

HUMAN BEHAVIOR

•DM803: Counseling, Family Life, and Pastoral Leadership
•DM807: Conflict Management and Resolution in Church Life
•CC840: Clinical Applications of Counseling in the Church
•CC850: Psychopathology and Sin
•CC860: Psychotherapy, Pastoral Counseling and Inner Healing
•CC870: Psychology and Theology: A Personal Integration
•CC880: Personality Theory, Therapy: A Christian Worldview

EDUCATION AND LEADERSHIP

•DM801: Church Growth and Leadership
•DM810: Leadership Principles Applied to Pastoral Ministry and Church Extension
•ED810: Conflict Resolution in Educational Leadership
•ED820: Human Behavior and Management in Education
•ED830: Psychology of Learning in Education
•ED840: Philosophy of Educational Leadership
•ED850: Educational Leadership for Private School and Church

OR

Choose Seven of the Following Courses:

Course Number

Course Title

DM800

Leadership in Pastoral Care: This is an independent study project, with a focus on understanding the dynamics of leadership in pastoral care.

DM801

Church Growth and Leadership: This is an independent study project, with a focus on understanding the dynamics of church growth and leadership.

DM802

Cross Cultural Perspectives in Pastoral Leadership: This is an independent study project, with a focus on understanding the dynamics of cross cultural perspectives in pastoral leadership.

DM803

Counseling, Family Life and Pastoral Leadership: This is an independent study project, with a focus on understanding the dynamics of counseling, family life and pastoral leadership.

DM804

The Media, Leadership and the Church: This is an independent study project, with a focus on understanding the dynamics of the media, leadership and the church.

DM805

Spiritual Development of the Pastor, Church and Community: This is an independent study project, with a focus on understanding the dynamics of spiritual development of the pastor, church and community.

DM806

Ethics and the Church in today’s Culture – A Pastoral Perspective: This is an independent study project, with a focus on understanding the dynamics of ethics and the church in today’s culture.

DM807

Conflict Management and Resolution in Church Life: This is an independent study project, with a focus on understanding the dynamics of conflict management and resolution in church life.

DM809

Women in Ministry: The Controversy Over Ordination of Women: This is an independent study project, with a focus on understanding the dynamics of the controversy over ordination of women.

DM810

Leadership Principles Applied to Pastoral Ministry and Church Extension: Registration in this course entitles the student to the services related to the “core topic” papers for Doctorate of Ministry requirement “Component Two”. The student will select a core topic and write a 20-page paper.

DM811

Missions in the 21st Century: This is an independent study project, with a focus on understanding the dynamics of missions in the 21st century.

DM812

The New Apostolic Reformation: Paradigms and Procedures: This is an independent study project, with a focus on understanding the dynamics of the new apostolic reformation.

DM813

Psychology and Theology: Conflictual or Complementary: This is an independent study project, with a focus on understanding the dynamics of psychology and theology.

DM814

Contemporary Theology and Evangelical Belief: This is an independent study project, with a focus on understanding the dynamics of contemporary theology and evangelical belief.

DM816

Renewal Ministry from a Historical Church Perspective: This is an independent study project, with a focus on understanding the dynamics of renewal ministry from a historical church perspective.

DM817

Revival and Church Planting – Principles of Translation: This is an independent study project, with a focus on understanding the dynamics of revival and church planting.

DM818

Preaching: Its place and Importance in Contemporary Worship: This is an independent study project, with a focus on understanding the dynamics of preaching.

DM819

Contemporary Worship: The Strengths and Weaknesses: This is an independent study project, with a focus on understanding the dynamics of contemporary worship