Course Descriptions
Learners in the cohort move through these courses together. This is a 36-credit masters degree. Each course, including the practicum courses, are three credits. The following courses constitute the degree. They are ordered as taken in the program. Each course is linked to another page where syllabus, handouts, or other documentation for the course are posted. The course materials are displayed as Adobe .pdf documents. If you are unable to see them, you will need to download Adobe Reader.
THY521 - Spiritual Leadership Formation
Foundational for the whole area of Christian leadership, the course focuses on the nature of spiritual leadership development utilizing faith nurturing experiences including regular use of the Scriptures, sacraments, prayer, meditation, personal Bible Study, service, corporate activities, and mentoring. An introduction to a theological understanding of leadership formation and approaches for designing programs are presented.
THY573 - Outreach Ministry in Context I: Theory
Students learn the process of understanding another culture, how to adapt to it, and make sound value judgments within it. The results from anthropological and sociological research as well as current communication theory will inform this endeavor. Case studies from a variety of cultures will be utilized.
THY574/575/576 - Missiological Research Design (one credit each)
This course provides an understanding of the function and scope of research science in the area of missiology so that the missiological perspective can be analyzed, discussed, and evaluated. Students begin to develop their thesis/project proposals. An important component of all three courses is preparation for the capstone. Read the Capstone Handbook to become familiar with the process and requirements.
THY541 - History of Mission (on-line course)
Students will study the historical expansion of the Christian church and its impact on church and society over the centuries in light of God?s mission. It will develop in students an awareness of God?s hand in the growth of the church in all areas of the world from the time of Christ until today.
Based upon Jesus? announcement of the Good News of the Kingdom of God, this course develops a Lutheran theology of mission that motivates Christians to proclaim the kingdom. It builds an understanding of the mission among the lost and hurting. Resources will include the Bible, the Lutheran Confessions, and missiological texts.
THY581 - Outreach Ministry in Context II: Strategies
This course focuses on outreach ministry overseas and in North America. It shares distinct strategies for reaching people in the variety of contexts to be found in multi-cultural urban centers, the changing dynamics of rural culture, the exploding outer rings of major cities, and the inner ring suburbs struggling to revitalize. A theological understanding of human care and evangelistic ministries will be developed for these multiple settings.
THY531 - Worldviews and the Gospel (on-line course)
In this seminar, students examine historical and contemporary methods used in the rational and experiential defense of the Christian faith against unbelief, the use of categories of thought foreign to Biblical thinking, and Christian responses to worldviews hostile to Christianity with the intention of developing an appropriate, Biblical, and contemporary apologetic for particular contexts.
THY551 - Social Issues in Mission
Students consider the economic and political challenges to people in a given society and the issues of social justice. Students will design appropriate strategies for addressing the social issues in mission contexts.
THY582 - Evangelism in the Life of the Church
Students will learn how to reach those who do not know Christ and how to integrate them into the Christian family. The course will focus on general strategies and techniques of evangelism. It will also consider the worldview of the unchurched and their needs. A key emphasis is on the task every Christian has in outreach and the church worker's role in equipping them to respond to everyday opportunities.
As the final work submitted by graduate students, and in respect to the guidelines for research base, analysis, and synthesis, students can choose from either a thesis, project, or portfolio to complete their graduate experience. Faculty approval of the topic and finished product is required for graduation. (The process for the capstone is dealt with specifically in the research design courses.)
Field Work Practicums
The field practicum is a central learning experience in the Master of Arts in Christian Outreach. Students have the opportunity to apply knowledge gained in course work in a Christian ministry setting under the supervision of an experienced church professional and the MACO practicum professor. Christian outreach is more than applying knowledge. It requires the thoughtful application of values and skills in diverse situations involving people and organizations. Students are confronted in the field practicum, as in real life, with Law and Gospel dilemmas, making professional choices ever more complex. Through the encouragement and guidance of the field supervisor and the master degree?s practicum professor, students will have an opportunity to ?put together? what they?ve learned about values, knowledge, and skill.
Students will choose two of the following practicum courses to complete during their program. Students in each of the practicums should demonstrate depth of reflection and clarity of connections with learning experiences from program courses and activities, readings, discussions, and outside work. Items related to small group and family ministry strategies, cross-cultural issues, and effective apologetic methodologies, all based on a firm Lutheran theological understanding of God?s mission, are expected to be demonstrated. Read the Field Practicum Guidelines for detailed information regarding implementation and completing a practicum course. Course descriptions and the syllabus for each practicum are listed below.
THY522 - Care for the Whole Person
An individually tailored experience arranged by the student to practice skills and theories related to caregiving in the congregation and community. Students will learn principles of diagnosis and personal care for the spiritual, emotional, physical, and social needs of people especially in the times of crisis, grief, and loss. A final paper describes and evaluates the experience.
THY561 - Outreach through Evangelism and Worship
An individually tailored experience arranged by the student to practice skills and theories related to reaching those who do not know Christ through evangelism and worship. The practicum will focus on researching, developing, and using evangelism strategies for reaching the lost. Students will describe and evaluate the experiences in a final paper.
THY562 - Writing/Production of Evangelism/Leadership Development Materials (normally, if chosen, as a 2nd practicum)
Students will write or translate evangelism and leadership development materials that reach the unchurched and equip the saved. Outreach materials should be related to worship, catechesis, assimilation, and outreach programs in the church and/or for the community.
THY583 - Planting the Worshiping Community
An individually tailored experience arranged by the student to practice skills and theories related to church planting/beginning small groups. Students will be asked to plan and implement a church plant/small group ministry. A final paper will describe and evaluate the experience.
THY584 - Outreach in the Urban, Suburban, or Rural Center
An individually tailored experience arranged by the student to practice skills and theories related to working in the urban, suburban, or rural center. Students will be asked to develop a plan for reaching urban, suburban, or rural unchurched people, immerse themselves in the particular context of ministry, and describe and evaluate the experiences in a final paper.
THY591 - Independently Developed Practicum (normally, if chosen, after completing one of the above practicum courses)
An individually tailored experience arranged by the student in consultation with the program director to practice skills and theories related to particular outreach issues and contexts in the student?s present ministry. Students will develop the practicum, i.e., project, readings, assignments, in order to supplement the outreach task of the ministry in which the student is working. A final paper describes and evaluates the experience.
