Director, Associate Professor Rochelle Scheuermann

The Master of Arts in Ministry Leadership seeks to develop mission-minded, biblically and theologically informed, contextually sensitive, and spiritually maturing Christian leaders who faithfully and skillfully pursue God's renewing mission.

Admission to the Ministry Leadership graduate program is open both to those serving or preparing to work in both marketplace and ministry roles. Admission does not require a specific undergraduate major or a prescribed set of courses, but students are expected to have demonstrated leadership experience and possess proficiency in written and spoken English. Accelerated MA students can take classes Junior and Senior year that do not count towards their bachelor's degree but which will count towards the MA should they matriculate in the accelerated MA Program.

Standard Program

Requirements for the Ministry Leadership program leading to a Master of Arts consist of the successful completion of 42 credit hours.

Mission Core:
EVAN 526Gospel: Theological Perspectives on Evangelism and Renewal (Category II TSR)4
EVAN 542Church: Movements & Models4
EVAN 545Culture: Emerging & Global4
Bible and Theology Core:
BITH 533Exploring the Old Testament4
BITH 555Exploring the New Testament4
BITH 565Christian Theology4
BITH 566Foundations for Biblical Interpretation4
Leadership Core:
MIN 547Preaching2
MIN 559Organizational Change and Leadership in Ministry4
MIN 561Congregational Leadership: Worship, Discipleship, and Care4
MML 512Leadership and Spiritual Formation4
Comprehensive Exam:
MIN 692Comprehensive Exam0
Total Credits42

As part of this 42-credit program, all graduate students are required to complete theological studies requirement of 6 semester hours. For M.A. in Ministry Leadership students, this consists of EVAN 526 and BITH 565.

Residential Track

Requirements for the Ministry Leadership Residential Track program leading to a Master of Arts consist of the successful completion of 42 credit hours.

Mission Core:
EVAN 526Gospel: Theological Perspectives on Evangelism and Renewal (Category II TSR)4
EVAN 526LGospel Lab0
EVAN 542Church: Movements & Models4
EVAN 542LChurch: Models & Movements Lab0
EVAN 545Culture: Emerging & Global4
EVAN 545LCulture: Emerging & Global Lab0
Bible and Theology Core:
BITH 533Exploring the Old Testament4
BITH 555Exploring the New Testament4
BITH 565Christian Theology4
BITH 566Foundations for Biblical Interpretation4
Leadership Core:
MIN 547Preaching2
MIN 547LPreaching Lab0
MIN 559Organizational Change and Leadership in Ministry4
MIN 559LOrganizational Change and Leadership in Ministry Lab 0
MIN 561Congregational Leadership: Worship, Discipleship, and Care4
MIN 561LCongregational Leadership: Worship, Discipleship, and Care Lab0
MML 512Leadership and Spiritual Formation4
MML 512LLeadership and Spiritual Formation Lab0
Comprehensive Exam:
MIN 692Comprehensive Exam0
Total Credits42

As part of this 42-credit program, all graduate students are required to complete theological studies requirement of 6 semester hours. For M.A. in Ministry Leadership students, this consists of EVAN 526 and BITH 565.

African American Church Evangelism Institute Partner Program

Students who have completed or are enrolled in the African American Church Evangelism Institute (AACEI) cohort program may choose to enter the AACEI Partner Program at Wheaton Graduate School.

Through an arrangement between Wheaton College and the AACEI, qualified AACEI cohort participants (senior pastors and outreach leaders) who:

  1. Successfully complete the AACEI cohort program and the additional AACEI partnership course work (including the zero-credit, one week EVAN 501 Advanced CEI Seminar), as documented by a report from the AACEI Executive Director, and
  2. Successfully complete the remaining degree requirements for the M.A. in Ministry Leadership, 

will be granted a total of 10 credits of advanced standing (for their AACEI work) toward the completion of the M.A. in Ministry Leadership degree. The 10 credit hours awarded for their AACEI work will fulfill EVAN 542 Church: Movements & Models (4), MIN 559 Organizational Change and Leadership in Ministry (4), and MIN 547 Preaching (2). This credit will be awarded upon the successful completion of MIN 692 Comprehensive Exam (0).

In order to receive the Master’s in Ministry Leadership, students take 32 credits of additional courses, including:

Mission Core:
EVAN 545Culture: Emerging & Global4
EVAN 526Gospel: Theological Perspectives on Evangelism and Renewal4
Bible and Theology Core:
BITH 533Exploring the Old Testament4
BITH 555Exploring the New Testament4
BITH 565Christian Theology4
BITH 566Foundations for Biblical Interpretation4
Leadership Core:
MIN 561Congregational Leadership: Worship, Discipleship, and Care4
MML 512Leadership and Spiritual Formation4
Comprehensive Exam:
MIN 692Comprehensive Exam0
Total Credits32

*Students meet the graduate six-hour Biblical and Theological Studies requirement by taking  EVAN 526 and BITH 565 Christian Theology .

Church Evangelism Institute Partner Program

Students who have completed the Church Evangelism Institute (CEI) cohort program may choose to enter the CEI Partner Program at Wheaton Graduate School.

Through an arrangement between Wheaton College and the CEI, qualified CEI cohort participants (senior pastors and outreach leaders) who:

  1. Successfully complete the CEI cohort program and the additional CEI partnership course work (including the zero-credit, one week EVAN 501 Advanced CEI Seminar), as documented by a report from the CEI Executive Director, and
  2. Successfully complete the remaining degree requirements for the M.A. in Ministry Leadership,

will be granted a total of 10 credits of advanced standing (for their CEI work) toward the completion of the M.A. in Ministry Leadership degree. The 10 credit hours awarded for their CEI work will fulfill EVAN 542 Church: Movements & Models (4), MIN 559 Organizational Change and Leadership in Ministry (4), and MIN 547 Preaching (2). This credit will be awarded upon the successful completion of MIN 692 Comprehensive Exam (0).

In order to receive the Master’s in Ministry Leadership, students take 32 credits of additional courses, including:

Mission Core:
EVAN 545Culture: Emerging & Global4
EVAN 526Gospel: Theological Perspectives on Evangelism and Renewal4
Bible and Theology Core:
BITH 533Exploring the Old Testament4
BITH 555Exploring the New Testament4
BITH 565Christian Theology4
BITH 566Foundations for Biblical Interpretation4
Leadership Core:
MIN 561Congregational Leadership: Worship, Discipleship, and Care4
MML 512Leadership and Spiritual Formation4
Comprehensive Exam:
MIN 692Comprehensive Exam0
Total Credits32

*Students meet the graduate six-hour Biblical and Theological Studies requirement by taking EVAN 526 and BITH 565 Christian Theology .