Master of Arts in Christian Studies [MACS] - (51 credits)
The MACS is offered by Northwest Baptist Seminary through its participation in the ACTS Consortium (Trinity Western University). All ACTS rules and protocols apply. The degree can be completed in two years (though a student can take longer if desired). Students can be expected to contribute as many as 40 hours of work per credit hour over the course of the 15 weeks of the semester. A student would then need to commit to 24 hours per week of academic study if taking 9 credits in a given semester (each course is three credits in length). Note also that each MACS student must complete 12 credits toward a specialization (either Bible, Theology, or Pastoral/Church Ministries).
The following schedule assumes the student begins in the fall of an odd numbered year. This plan would require two week-long visits to campus each semester, once early in the semester and the other toward the middle of the semester. The rest of the program can be managed online. Please note that CLD 510 requires an extra visit. This course is concluded by late September so as not to interfere with other Fall semester courses. For further details, please see www.acts.twu.ca.
First Fall Semester – 12 credits (September through December)
CLD 510 – Introduction to Christian Leadership
CLD 531 – The Personal Life of the Christian Leader
HIS 000 – History Elective
Elective – Specialization Course
First Spring Semester – 9 credits (January through April)
CLD 532 – Power, Change, and Conflict
BIE 505 – Biblical Hermeneutics
Elective – Specialization Course
First Summer Semester – 6 credits (May through August)
BIE 000 – Old Testament Elective
Elective – Specialization Course
Second Fall Semester – 9 credits
CLD 533 – Mentoring, Team-Building and Equipping
THS 571 – Believer’s Church Theology
Elective – Specialization Course
Second Spring Semester – 9 credits
CLD 534 – Vision, Strategic Planning, and Organizational Leadership
THS 680 – Christianity and Culture
Elective – Specialization Course
Second Summer Semester – 6 credits
BIE 000 – New Testament Elective
MCS 810 – Graduate Essay
Graduation Options - ACTS policy states that a student must complete all but three credits of their program by the end of a spring semester in order to participate in graduation, providing that the outstanding course is completed in the subsequent summer. The graduate essay must be completed before the student can “walk” at graduation. Therefore, a student wishing to participate in graduation in April of the second year should begin the graduate essay (MCS 810) in the preceding summer or fall.