Online Master’s Degree in Christian Studies

An online Master’s Degree in Christian Studies prepares students to pursue an array of relevant careers. Graduates of online masters degree programs in Christian studies may choose to work in a range of varying fields, from ministry to education.

Online Master’s Degrees in Christian Studies Requirements

Certain natural aptitudes ensure that particular students are well-suited for online masters degree programs in Christian studies. Deep faith in God, paired with strong desires to gain in-depth knowledge of the Holy Bible and Christianity are just a few innate characteristics embodied by students pursuing Christian studies master’s degrees from a school online. The required online masters Christian studies courses will educate students on these and many other facets of Christian and biblical study.

Most students pursuing online masters degrees in Christian studies have graduated from specific bachelor’s degree programs, including:

• Theology
• Social Services
• Philosophy
• History
• Cultural Studies
• Christian Ministry
• World Religions
• Religious History

In addition to possessing compatible prior educations, online masters in Christian studies students often come from certain vocational backgrounds as well, including ministry, church work, teaching, and social or volunteer work.

Online Christian Studies Master’s Degree Education

Good accredited online master’s degree programs in Christian studies typically take between 2 to 3 years to complete. The types of Christian studies degrees offered by the best Christian Studies master’s programs online include:

• Master of Science in Christian Studies (MS in Christian Studies)
• Master of Arts in Christian Studies (MA in Christian Studies)
• Master of Science in Theology (MS in Theology)
• Master of Arts in Theology (MA in Theology)

Prior to pursuing online masters degrees in Christian studies, students may choose to attend an accredited online bachelor’s degree program in Christian studies or theology.

Information on Christian Studies Courses

The best accredited online master programs in Christian studies require all online masters in Christian studies students to successfully complete certain courses, such as:

• Biblical Study
  All students attending online master’s programs in Christian studies must complete at least one biblical study course, if not several. Biblical study professors teach students all about the Bible, including its history and its chapters. Students gain a deep understanding of the contents of the Bible, and biblical study courses are often broken into two separate classes, one focusing on the Old Testament and the second focusing on New Testament studies.
• Ministry
  Every student pursuing a Christian studies masters degree online will often attend a ministry course. A ministry course provides an education of the different aspects of the ministry field, including caring for and teaching a church congregation, preparing sermons, and the various places where one can provide ministry services.
• Theology
  Any top online masters degree Christian studies program will require students to successfully complete at least one theology course, if not more. These classes offer in-depth information about religion, religious history, and the different denominations.
• Public Speaking
  Because so many career fields for Christian studies masters degree graduates involve teaching or ministry in some form, the best accredited online masters programs in Christian studies require students to successfully complete a public speaking course. Public speaking courses provide students with the experience and confidence to comfortably speak in front of crowds.
• Christian History
  An online Christian history course teaches students the history of Christianity. This includes the historical roots of Christianity, the aspects of society from the beginning of Christianity to today’s culture, and how Christian beliefs have changed throughout history.

Specializations and Concentrations

Because Christian studies is a broad field, in order to become an expert in a specific niche, some online masters Christian studies students will pursue specialties or concentrations in areas including:

• Christian Counseling
• Theology
• Biblical Study
• Ministry
• Human Services
• Charity Work
• Education
• World History

Careers in Christian Studies

Online master’s degrees in Christian studies from top online schools enable graduates to pursue various careers, including:

• Pastoral Ministry
  A profession commonly pursued by online master’s Christian studies graduates is a career in pastoral ministry. Ministers typically provide ministry services in churches and other religious institutions, including preparing and giving weekly sermons and caring for their congregation members in various ways. Pastoral ministers earn $42,950 per year on average. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistic predicts employment in the pastoral ministry field to experience a 10 percent increase from 2008 to 2018.
• Christian Education
  Christian educators, also known as theology educators or teachers, teach courses in Christianity, such as Bible study and Christian history. These educators teach students at different age and education levels. Christian educators earn approximately $47,100 annually, and employment numbers in this field are expected to increase by 13 percent during the next ten years.
• Non-Profit Work
  Many graduates of Christian studies masters programs online pursue careers working for non-profit organizations. These professionals provide various services in charitable capacities such as fundraising and counseling troubled youth. The average wage for non-profit workers generally ranges from $20 to $35 per hour, and employment in this field is expected to rise 10 percent between 2008 and 2018.
• Museum Work
  Some students who receive online master’s in Christian studies who minor in history choose to pursue careers in museums or other historical establishments. These professionals may provide archiving services and give tours of museums or provide other educational services to visitors. Museum workers earn $45,020 per year on average. The BLS predicts employment for museum workers and archivists to experience a 20 percent rise from 2008 to 2018.

An online master in Christian studies from an accredited online master’s degree Christian studies program can prepare students for fulfilling careers involving the Christian faith. Graduates can apply the knowledge acquired from an online masters degree in Christian studies to various positions, whether it be faith-based or not.