Postgraduate Ministry Development Course

The MA Theology (Contemporary Church Leadership), MMin and DMin (Pastoral Studies) programmes are especially suitable for those in church and missions leadership and provide some flexibility to pursue subjects of special interest. Students normally study part-time and attend 2 or 3 intensive teaching weeks each year. The MA programme is also available on a full-time basis.  Full-time MA students attend between 4 and 6 teaching weeks in one year, depending on the modules chosen.  The MMin and DMin programmes are available as part-time programmes only.

Accredited Postgraduate Certificate and Diploma programmes in Contemporary Church Leadership and Pastoral Studies are also available.

Admissions
Applications are invited from those in church and missions leadership to take this programme.

If you wish to apply for this programme, please download the application form linked at the bottom of this page.

Subjects covered
The subjects covered relate directly to the work of the practice of ministry.

Admission requirements
Candidates must normally have an upper second class honours degree in theology or a related subject; or alternative acceptable evidence of attainment. The place of prior learning (APL) and prior experiential learning (APEL) is recognised, allowing advanced standing of up to 120 credits. A non-graduate may also be admitted provided that he/she has held, for a minimum of 5 years, a responsible position which is relevant to the programme, and is deemed capable of meeting its demands.  Alternatively, students who have successfully completed the LTh at WEST with an aggregate mark of 50% may be admitted.

Benefits of a postgraduate degree in Contemporary Church Leadership/Pastoral Studies
The PMD course is designed to further equip, stimulate and inform those experienced in church and missions leadership.

Programme modules - MA Theology (Contemporary Church Leadership)

Part One
Study Skills or Research Methods
Church Placement
Biblical Exegesis - English Text or Greek Text or Hebrew Text
Popular Culture and the Christian Worldview
Ministry in an Urban World
Contemporary Pastoral Practice
Contemporary Missiology

Part Two
Dissertation

See the MA Theology (Contemporary Church Leadership) programme page for further details regarding the programme structure and modules.

Programme modules - MMin/DMin Theology (Pastoral Studies)
DMin Part 1a
The same modules are available as for the MA (see above).  A student exiting after completing Part 1a of the DMin would obtain a Postgraduate Diploma in Theology (Pastoral Studies).

DMin Part 1b
Students must complete 3 modules (60 credits) in Part 1b.  A student exiting after completing Parts 1a and 1b of the DMin would achieve an MMin Theology (Pastoral Studies).
M03 Research Methods (if not previously taken)
M21 Action Research for Ministry
M09 Revival: Biblical, Theological and Historical Reflections
M10 Aspects of Modern Mission

Part 2
Part 2 of the DMin consists of a 50,000 word dissertation.  Successful completion of Parts 1a, 1b and 2 results in the award of DMin Theology (Pastoral Studies).
M98 Dissertation

Assessments
All modules are written, taught and marked by WEST lecturers and are accredited by the University of Wales, Lampeter. The university appoints an external examiner who moderates all assessments.

Awards
Each module (with the exception of the 40-credit Church Placement) carries 20 credits and the MA dissertation carries 60 credits.  The DMin dissertation carries the equivalent of 180 credits.

The attainment of the award of MA is achieved with 180 credits.

The attainment of the award of DMin is achieved with 360 credits.

Students on either programme may also qualify for the awards of Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits) and Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits) and students on the DMin programme may qualify for the award of MMin (180 credits)

Duration
The MA programme may be completed on a full-time basis in 14-17 months, from August to October/January, or on a part-time basis taking from three to five years.

The DMin programme is available on a part-time basis only.  The entire programme of 360 credits involves a minimum of six years’ registration and a maximum of nine years’ registration.  This includes two years’ registration to complete the taught modules of the MA (Part 1a of the DMin), one year to complete the taught modules which comprise MMin level (Part 1b of the DMin) and three years’ registration minimum to complete the DMin dissertation (Part 2 of the DMin).  A further three years are allowed to write up the DMin dissertation if required.

Teaching dates and schedule
Intensive teaching weeks are held in late August/September, January and March each year.

The timetable of teaching weeks for next academic year is available as a PDF file for you to download. 

Course costs
Please see tuition fees.

Application process
If you wish to apply for this course, please download the application form.  You should enclose original transcripts of your previous study with your application, showing that you meet the above entry requirements, unless you are applying on the basis of relevant experience. If you are applying on the basis of relevant experience you should nevertheless enclose transcripts/certificates for any previous studies, that though not meeting the academic entry requirements, are relevant to your application. This includes non-accredited study in theology or a related subject, undergraduate and postgraduate study in a subject other than theology or a related subject, and undergraduate study in theology or a related subject which led to an award at a lower level than a 2:1 bachelor’s degree. We may also contact you on receipt of your application to ask for any other information not included in the list above which we feel is relevant.