Master of Arts in Media Arts and Worship (M.A./MW)*

Curriculum

The M.A./MW program trains ministers who want to integrate a sound biblical and theological education with training in the media arts. The program, which assumes the student has some training or experience in the arts, enhances the ministries of worship leaders, writers, and other media practitioners.

Area of Study
Biblical Exposition	22
Theological Studies	20
Theology of Art and Creativity	13
Media and Communiction Electives	12
	67

Meet Our Graduates

Program Goals

By the time of graduation the student will show evidence that he or she is able to:

• Communicate biblical and theological knowledge to a contemporary audience.
• Articulate an understanding of the role of art in Christian thought and communication.
• Demonstrate specialization in writing, presentation, and/or worship arts.
• Demonstrate the integration of media arts into effective Christian communication.
• Construct and present a media presentation using effective production principles.

Course Requirements

Sixty-seven semester hours of course work are required as a minimum for graduation. Twenty-two of the 67 hours are prescribed Bible Exposition courses, 18 are prescribed Systematic Theology courses, 2 are in Historical Theology, 2 are in Spiritual Life, 6 are in prescribed Media Arts courses, and 2 are in a Media Arts and Worship internship. The remaining 15 hours must be taken in media arts and communication electives, with at least one elective taken in each of the three major program divisions— writing, presentation, and worship—listed below. All electives are taken in consultation with the program advisor.

No thesis is required for the M.A./MW degree. There is a seven year time limit on completing any professional M.A. program.

Spiritual Formation

Because Dallas Seminary values character and spiritual maturity, M.A./MW students are required to register for and participate in Spiritual Formation groups each of their first four semesters of study. Students taking extension, summer school, or compressed-schedule courses must contact the Spiritual Formation director regarding fulfillment of their Spiritual Formation requirements.

In the Spiritual Formation curriculum small groups (six to eight students) focus on identity, community, integrity, and ministry. The groups also provide an atmosphere for prayer, fellowship, career assessment, and the integration of learning with ministry. Additionally, the groups act as the small group component of all required internships. As courses should be taken consecutively, students are encouraged to arrange their schedules so they may stay in the same group each semester. Spiritual Formation is a noncredit, transcripted experience. The prerequisite for all required internships is SF101 Spiritual Formation I (Identity).

Admission Requirements

Admission requirements and application procedures for professional M.A. degree programs are the same as for all programs of study at the Seminary.  Students generally will not be admitted into a degree program without goals consistent with the ministries for which the program is designed to equip them.

Transfer Credit

Transfer of some credit is allowed toward the professional M.A. programs from accredited graduate theological schools. Up to 34 hours of credit may be transferred toward the M.A. in Media Arts and Worship. 

Students must have earned a grade of C or better for a course to be considered in transfer. Transferability of credits earned at this institution and transferred to another is at the discretion of the receiving institution. Consult the Registrar’s Office for information on eligibility for transfer credit.

1. Students have two calendar years (four consecutive fall/spring semesters) to complete the SF100 Spiritual Formation requirement. Students who register for SF100 need to keep in mind that the course is a four-semester-long course that will meet at the same day and time each of the four semesters. See the Spiritual Formation and Leadership department for more information.
2. At least one elective must be chosen from each of the three areas of Writing, Presentation, and Worship. (See above for a listing of courses in each category.)