The Master of Arts in Spiritual Formation prepares persons to offer leadership in the area of spiritual formation in congregations and other settings, which may include congregational formation ministries, lay leadership training, spiritual direction and retreat ministries.  The MA in Spiritual Formation is shaped by the conviction that the process of being formed by the Holy Spirit through God into the likeness of Christ involves both the inward journey of a deepening life with God and the outward expression of that life in compassion.  Designed with two eight-day retreats at the heart of the program, the MASF is a 48 credit hour program, delivered through a blend of residential, hybrid and on-line courses.

The goals of the MASF program are to equip students to be able to:

• think biblically and theologically about the content of spiritual formation and the experience of the Christian life; situate life experiences in relationship to formative biblical movements and learn to find one’s life narrated into the Great God Stor
• appreciate how persons in various times have come to know and be formed by God; be encouraged by the persistence of God with God’s people and deepen respect for the diverse ways in which God’s people have responded to the invitation to live a deepening life with God
• evidence practices and perspectives that sustain life with God; deepen Christian character and increase self-understanding
• design, lead and assess ministries of spiritual formation and the public work of the church

MASF program booklet

Upcoming Course Information

Schedule of Courses and Descriptions

Application Forms

Tuition & Fees (current) Tuition & Fees (starting April 2012)

CoursesCourses in the Master of Arts in Spritual Formation

Sample Academic Planning Schedule 2012-2014 (Full time study)

(All courses are 3-credit courses unless otherwise noted in schedule; all online courses are 12 weeks)

Admission/Degree Requirements & Regulations

Admission Requirements

Admission will be granted to those persons who fulfill the following requirements:

• A recognized Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.

• A minimum of B- average (2.70 GPA) in undergraduate studies.

• A completed application form submitted to the Office of the Registrar with application fee and essay. A current personal photograph is requested but is not required. 

• Two completed personal confidential reference forms.

• Official transcripts from all schools attended or a notarized letter accompanying a copy of the original transcript must be submitted.

• The applicant must be perceived to be mature in character, showing an aptitude for ministry.

• A limited number of students who are older than the age of 30 years, and who do not possess an undergraduate degree to meet the academic requirements of the MASF program may be granted admission as Mature Students. Admission is dependent upon a detailed Prior Learning Assessment of the applicant’s knowledge, Christian service, life experience, and capacity for theological study at the graduate level.

• As with Provisional Students, an assessment of the academic work of Mature Students will be conducted by the Admissions Committee following the completion of 9 credit hours (3 foundational courses) which will lead to either full admission into the program or denial of access to further studies at Carey.

• Applicants whose first language is not English must submit satisfactory results in an approved language test (TOEFL, available from Education Testing Service, www.ets.org]. Carey’s TOEFL number is 5981.

Degree Requirements

In order to be eligible for the Master of Arts degree, a candidate must have completed the following requirements:

• 48 credit hours of study under the supervision of the Registrar

• All assignments successfully completed

• All courses credited to the degree of Master of Arts in Spiritual Formation from other colleges, schools, seminaries and training programs approved with official transcripts

• Maintained a 2.70 GPA (B-) minimum

• All due accounts with Carey Theological College paid in full

Regulations

• Students who already have completed theological studies at an accredited graduate school may be granted up to 24 transfer credits for that work.  Such credit will be given only for courses considered relevant to Carey's MASF program and of equivalent academic standard: A minimum grade of B- (or a Pass in a Pass/Fail course).  Transfer credit from non-accredited institutions is not normally given.  Requests for transfer of credits previously earned from other institutions must be made at the time of application to the program.

• A maximum of 3 credit hours of guided study programs may be completed for credit, subject to the approval of the Registrar.  Note that required courses will not be offered in the form of guided studies.

• All students are required to complete the 6-credit hour practicum.

• It should be noted that both the required and elective courses can be changed by Senate decision without public notice.

• If, after a 3-year period of inactivity, a Master of Arts in Spiritual Formation student has not completed a course, that student will be removed from the program.  An appeal for an exception may be made by the student to the college administration through the Office of the Registrar.

The degree of Master of Arts in Spritual Formation is granted by the Carey Theological College Senate, upon recommendation of the President or appointee of Carey Theological College.  Normally, it is awarded to the student publicly at graduation, annually in May.