Missions and Missionary Studies
Overview
Programs in missions and missionary studies prepare people to work as missionaries.Programs in missions and missionary studies include topics such as:
- Religious outreach
- Preaching
- Medical and social mission work
- Missionary aviation
- Mission management
- Legal and political issues of working in other countries
Schools
Several community colleges and other two-year schools offer associate degree programs in missions and missionary studies. An associate degree usually takes two years to complete. After earning an associate degree students can transfer to a college or university for further study.
Many colleges and universities offer bachelor's degrees in missions and missionary studies. A bachelor's degree usually takes about four years of full-time study.
Several universities offer graduate degrees in missions and missionary studies. A master's degree typically requires two years of study beyond a bachelor's degree. Doctoral (PhD) degree programs usually require two or more years of study beyond the master's degree.
See schools that offer this program.
Related Educational Programs
- Community Services
- Human Services
- Religious Education
- Religious Studies
- Social Work
- Theology and Pre-Theology
Related Careers
Careers Directly Related to this Program of Study
Program Admission
You can prepare for this program by taking courses in high school that prepare you for college. This typically includes four years of English, three years of math, three years of social studies, and two years of science. Some colleges also require two years of a second language.
Below is a list of high school courses that will help prepare you for this program of study:
- Contemporary World Issues
- English and Language Arts (Four years)
- Second Language
- World History
Graduate Admissions
Admission to graduate programs may be competitive. You need a bachelor's degree, good grades, and good test scores. Your bachelor's degree should prepare you to communicate ideas across cultures, which means you should have taken courses in English, speech communication, and history. You should have taken several courses in social science, including social or cultural anthropology. And you should have a good background in religion and philosophy. Course work in natural sciences can also be helpful.
Additional requirements at some schools include:
- Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General
- Letters of recommendation
Typical Course Work
Program Courses
A bachelor's degree program typically includes the following:
- Biblical Exegesis and Hermeneutics
- Biblical Interpretation and Theology
- Counseling
- English Composition
- General Psychology
- Health Maintenance
- Historical and Theological Foundations of Missions
- History of Civilization
- Homiletics
- Internship (Supervised Ministry)
- Major Religions of the World
- Mission Anthropology and Cross-Cultural Ministry
- Modern Cults
- Principles of Church Growth
- Public Speaking
- Second Language
Graduate Program Courses
A master's program typically includes the following:
- Biblical Interpretation and Theology
- Historical and Theological Foundations of Missions
- Internship (Supervised Ministry)
- Major Religions of the World
- Master's Exam on Biblical Knowledge
- Mission Anthropology and Cross-Cultural Ministry
- Mission Research Project
- Principles of Church Growth
Things to Know
It is helpful to know a second language.
Foreign travel may also be helpful experience. It gets you accustomed to cultural differences between countries.
Schools
King-Snohomish Area
Northwest University
- Educational Studies--International Education
- Intercultural Studies--Africa Studies Concentration
- Intercultural Studies--Asia Studies Concentration
- Intercultural Studies--Cross-Cultural Studies
- Intercultural Studies--Latin American Studies Concentration
- Intercultural Studies--Middle East Studies Concentration
- Intercultural Studies--University Ministry
- Intercultural Studies--Urban Ministry
Seattle Bible College
- Practical Theology
Seattle Pacific University
- Reconciliation & Intercultural Studies