Master of Arts in Spiritual Formation
The Master of Arts in Spiritual Formation (MSF) at the seminary’s Loise Henderson Wessendorff Center for Christian Ministry and Vocation is a 48-hour degree that engages the theology and practice of Christian spirituality and spiritual direction. The MSF is designed for students who wish to explore the spiritual tradition of the Christian path as well as for lay and ordained ministers seeking to develop skills in Christian formation, spiritual direction, or healthcare chaplaincy.
The core curriculum (3 courses) provides a biblical, historical, and ethical foundation for pastoral ministry. Other required course work allows students to specialize in spiritual direction, spiritual formation, or healthcare chaplaincy. Students who desire to serve as spiritual formation leaders in parish, retreat and Christian education programs follow the spiritual formation track, allowing them to tailor a program that culminates in a project that will help them define their future ministry. Students who desire to serve as spiritual directors follow the spiritual direction track, allowing them to make use of their academic degree in a spiritual direction practice. Students who desire to serve as healthcare chaplains follow the healthcare chaplaincy track, which prepares them to either enter into a PRN chaplaincy practice or to continue to earn credits toward board certification.
MSF Program Goals
Through core courses in Biblical studies, history, theology, and ethics, as well as an in-depth study of issues in and approaches to spiritual direction and formation, students will achieve objectives in three areas:
Being – Character Objectives
- increase self-awareness and develop habits of reflection that will further personal spiritual formation and/or professional development as a spiritual director. Students will show evidence of growth in this area by completing a minimum of six spiritual direction sessions and submitting a reflection essay on their personal and spiritual growth.
Knowing – Content Objectives
- master the biblical and theological foundations of ministry, understand how they inform the theory and practice of spirituality, identify the spiritual dimensions in various ministry settings within a religiously plural and culturally diverse society and integrate relevant perspectives from the social sciences. Students will provide a portfolio that will show evidence of their ability to think theologically, ethically and professionally in their spiritual formation or development as a spiritual director.
Doing – Practical Objectives
- gain proficiency in a range of spiritual practices and strategies, including significant resources from the Christian traditions, and demonstrate facility with them personally and in the practices of spiritual direction. Students in the spiritual direction emphasis will show evidence of their growth through their practicum supervisor’s evaluation. Students in the spiritual formation track will submit a project showing evidence of how they have exercised their spiritual formation interests in a ministry context.
Course Requirements for Spiritual Direction Track (48 hours)
Core curriculum (12 credit hours)
CMH5309 Interpretation of the Bible for Counseling and Ministry
CMH5310 Ethics for Counseling and Ministry
CMH5311 American Religions for Counseling and Ministry
CMH5312 Theological Studies for Counseling and Ministry
Required courses (21 credits)
F5337 Spirituality in the Workplace
F5304 Prayer, Action & the Contemplative Life
F5310 Practicum in Spiritual Direction
F5330 Introduction to Discipleship & Vocation
F5331 Theory in Spiritual Direction
P5307 Multiculturalism and Diversity Issues in Pastoral Care
W3309 Writing in Vocational Contexts
Elective courses (15 credits)
Course Requirements for Spiritual Formation Track (48 hours)
Core curriculum (12 credits)
CMH5309 Interpretation of the Bible for Counseling and Ministry
CMH5310 Ethics for Counseling and Ministry
CMH5311 American Religions for Counseling and Ministry
CMH5312 Theological Studies for Counseling and Ministry
Required courses (24 credits)
F5337 Spirituality in the Workplace
F5304 Prayer, Action & the Contemplative Life
F5330 Introduction to Discipleship & Vocation
F5333 Practicum in Spiritual Formation
P5307 Multiculturalism and Diversity Issues in Pastoral Care
W5305 MSF Project Preparation
W5306 MSF Project Writing
W3309 Writing in Vocational Contexts
Elective courses (12 credits)
Degree Requirements:
1. Complete satisfactorily 48 credits of courses within six years of study
2. Monthly spiritual direction for the duration (fall and spring semester) of the time the student is in the degree program. The first six sessions will be subsidized.
3. Each candidate must fully discharge all financial obligations to the seminary.
Related professional organization:
Spiritual Directors International http://www.sdiworld.org/