M.A. - Intercultural Studies

Objectives
Program Requirements
Admission Requirements
Graduation Requirements

Objectives

The Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies degree is designed for those students who desire advanced training for careers or ministries that require adjustment to living, working and communicating in another culture or in multicultural contexts. Drawing upon insights from theology, sociology, anthropology, history, and communication theory students will be encouraged to analyze contemporary global concerns, to formulate Christian perspectives, and to explore better solutions to apply to today’s cross-cultural problems.

Program Requirements

The M.A. in Intercultural Studies is a 42–unit program. For the qualified applicant with extensive undergraduate work in intercultural studies / missions, it may be reduced to a minimum of 32 units. Students with little or no academic preparation for graduate studies in biblical and theological areas may be required, at the discretion of the academic advisor and in consultation with the student, to take additional units, such as TTBE 517, 519, 520, or TTTH 511, 512, 613, 614.

Admission Requirements

1. Applicants must possess a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with a 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) grade point average. Graduates from approved unaccredited colleges, if accepted, will be granted provisional acceptance, if GPA is 3.4 or higher. Graduates from approved unaccredited colleges may be required to take additional liberal arts course work (not applicable toward the graduate degree), if their undergraduate program did not include these courses.
2. Those without intercultural/ missions or Bible / theology may have additional coursework added to their program.
3. Applicants must submit a written statement outlining their vocational objectives and how the degree will relate to those objectives. Applicants should attach a one-page, typewritten letter to the application.
4. Three letters of references on forms supplied by the school are required.
5. Official transcripts for all previous schools attended are required.
6. Application deadlines. M.A. programs and D.Miss.: Fall is August 1, Spring is January 1; Ph.D.: Fall is April 15, Spring is October 15. Applications may be submitted after deadlines (late fee of $55) but will only be considered if space and time allow. Late applications may be postponed to later terms.

Note: Official documents presented for admission or evaluation become part of the student’s academic file and normally cannot be returned or copied for distribution.

Graduation Requirements

1. Complete the required courses listed below:
   • Core Courses (18 units)
     Core coursework consists of the following: ISCL 546, 751, 503 or 560 or 702, 520 or 622, 501 or 725, and 721 or 727, or 744 or 765.
   
   
   • Bible / Theology (6 units)
   
   
   • Electives (18 units)
     
     18 units of advisor-approved electives. Students who do not have to take required electives are encouraged to choose a combination of electives most suitable for their career goals. Students may also choose to focus electives in areas of specialization such as anthropology, missiology, crosscultural education, Bible & theology, Bible translation, linguistics, TESOL, church planting, crosscultural health care, urban ministries, etc. Students desiring a certificate in TESOL in conjunction with their intercultural studies degree must also apply to the Department of TAL.
     
     Note: Students who have not previously taken a course in cultural anthropology will be required to take ISCL 640 as a required elective.
     
     Note: Students who are not proficient in a second language will also be required to take ISAL 520 or 655 as a required elective. (Proficiency standards for a second language will be determined by the MA advisor in consultation with intercultural studies faculty. See student handbook for standards.)
2. Successfully pass a comprehensive examination over coursework.
3. Maintain a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale.