Online Master’s Degree in Ministry

Pursuing an online Master’s Degree in Ministry opens a wealth of doors for servant leaders and pastoral candidates who are looking to work in spiritual communities. Theological training interweaves personnel management, leadership, and organizational communication skills to prepare ministry master’s degree students for work in churches, non-profit organizations or specialized ministry settings locally and internationally.

Online Master’s Degrees in Ministry Requirements

Students who want to earn a master’s degree in ministry from an accredited online program need to be proficient with reading theological and historical documents, writing well-researched discussion papers, be able to interact with people from a variety of backgrounds, and have a desire to serve the spiritual needs of an individual or community. The best online master degree programs combine the practice of interpersonal leadership skills with historical and theological studies to enhance students’ application of their ministry knowledge.

Typically, a bachelor’s degree is often required prior to admission to an online master’s in ministry program. Common ones include:

• Religious Studies
• Social Work
• Psychology
• History
• Organizational Communication
• Non-Profit Leadership
• Sociology

Prior to seeking an online master’s degree in Ministry, candidates may be working in career fields such as education, social services, running youth programs, or interning within a church community as a pastoral apprentice.

Online Ministry Master’s Degree Education

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

• Master of Science in Ministry (MS in Ministry)
• Master of Arts in Ministry (MA in Ministry or MMIN)
• Master of Arts in Religion (MAR)
• Master of Arts in Theological Studies (MATS)

Information on Master of Ministry Courses

The best master of ministry online degree programs require students to complete between 30 and 60 credit hours in theological, historical and practical leadership courses such as:

• Church History
  Church history courses offer an overview of the establishment and development of the beliefs, teachings and leaders of the Christian church since the time of Christ to the modern era.
• Theology and Ethics in Society
  Ethical questions in today’s culture are especially relevant for master’s of ministry students. Explore tensions, debates and relevant and adequate responses to current events and societal concerns with an eye to leading church members thoughtfully into the issues.
• Biblical Studies
  Top ministry master’s programs offer students a variety of in-depth courses on the Bible’s view of God, major themes, topics and purposes behind scriptural teaching and practice. Systematic Biblical studies courses are available as well as focused courses in Old Testament and New Testament.
• Christian Apologetics
  Learn the principles and reasoning behind legitimate belief of the Christian faith and how to help others who question the validity of faith understand its teachings and practices.
• Leadership
  Within the framework of a spiritual community, leaders are expected to maintain integrity of practice, belief and interpersonal relationships. Pastoral leadership courses explore the requirements and skills of effective ministry leadership roles, applicable across personalities, cultures and types of communities.

Top online ministry masters degree programs may also require internships or practical field experience within a student’s local community as part of degree completion.

Specializations and Concentrations

Because ministry is a broad field, in order to become an expert in a specific niche, some online master’s ministry students will pursue specialties or concentrations in areas including:

• Old Testament
• New Testament
• Missions
• Youth Ministry
• Pastoral Counseling
• Pastoral Leadership
• Music Ministry
• Christian Education

Careers in Ministry

Career choices for graduates of the best online master’s degree programs in ministry are diverse and available in positions all over the world. The top careers for ministry masters degrees are:

• Pastor/Church Planter
  Pastors serve as the spiritual leaders of a particular established church or faith community. Church planters are pastors starting new churches from the ground up. The most common career choice for graduates with online ministry masters degrees is to serve as local clergy teaching, leading a congregation. Pastors may earn between $41,000 and $70,000 annually, depending on the size of the church and denomination.
• Military Chaplain
  Within the U.S. Armed Services, chaplains function as the spiritual guides for soldiers and officers on location and are members of the military. Chaplains may hold religious services as well as offer sacraments and last rites as necessary within a military unit. Chaplains earn an average salary of $38,000 to $60,000 annually depending on their own military rank in addition to other benefits frequently included on top of the base salary.
• Para-church Campus Minister
  On college and university campuses, para-church ministries such as InterVarsity or Campus Crusade hire masters of ministry graduates to be spiritual advisors and local missionaries among college students. Average annual salaries for para-church workers varies by organization and location, but averages between $40,000 and $60,000 annually.
• Youth Minister
  Some churches have particular staff dedicated to developing and implementing programs for children and youth. In many congregations, youth ministers may be part-time employees earning an average salary around $15,000 with or without benefits. Larger or more established churches employ master’s degree of ministry graduates at a higher average annual salary of $41,000 for full-time youth ministry directors.
• Director of Christian Education
  In a church or academic setting, master of ministry graduates employed as directors of Christian education design and lead the child, youth and adult education programs of a church, school or organization. DCE’s commonly develop faith-building curriculum, teach classes and train other leaders in the congregation. Annual salaries for DCE’s average between $31,000 and $51,000 per year, which is comparable to the Bureau of Labor Statistics salaries for private or public school teachers.
• Missionary (Overseas)
  Graduates looking to invest in the global spiritual community may put their online master’s degree in ministry into practice as a foreign missionary. Agencies employ missionaries to develop churches or train national leadership all over the world. Missionary salaries often include cost of living expenses and range from $20,000 for individuals to over $100,000 for missionaries with families.

An online degree from a top, accredited master’s of ministry program encourages the spiritual growth of local, national and international communities by training effective leaders for churches, para-church organizations, and faith communities around the world.