DESCRIPTION The Master of Arts in Intercultural and Urban Studies degree is a 60-hour* program designed to equip maturing followers of Christ serving in various cultural and urban contexts to relate with people in Christlike ways, to learn from them, and to teach and embody the truth of God s Word for the sake of making disciples around the world. GOALS The program seeks to attain three types of outcomes in the life of the student: academic, professional, and relational. ACADEMIC Based on careful study of Scripture and in dialog with published research and current practitioners, the student will develop a biblical worldview centered in Jesus Christ and informed by the global church. This will shape the student s theology of intercultural ministry that addresses issues that arise from specific contexts of intercultural and urban ministry. PROFESSIONAL Taking the position of a learner, the student will develop advanced skills to identify specific intercultural and urban issues, analyze them within a biblical framework, and formulate ministry strategies in partnership with a network of researchers and practitioners within a local context of ministry. The student will practice what is being learned through internships, living interculturally in Chicago, or blending coursework with ministry by alternately spending time on campus and in the field. RELATIONAL The program intends as an outcome that the student embraces the life of a disciple of Christ (Luke 14:25 35), being empowered by the Holy Spirit to produce the fruit of the Spirit and the attributes recorded in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. Special attention will be given to cultivating a heart of compassion as recorded in Matthew 9:13, particularly toward those who are poor. *Advanced standing, validation, and transfer credit are available; see chart on page 34. 87
MAIS/US REQUIREMENTS In order to graduate from this program, a student must fulfill the following requirements and secure the approval of the faculty. 1. Successfully complete all the coursework described in the schedule below, with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 and within the time allotted (five years). Students who have no more than six hours outstanding will be permitted to participate in the commencement ceremony as long as they are registered to complete coursework during the summer. 2. Attend the requisite program requirements for Internship. 3. Participate in the exit interview process. 4. Create a Life Assessment Ministry Philosophy Portfolio (LAMP Portfolio). 5. Sign a statement of agreement with the Institute s doctrinal position. 6. Pay the graduation fee. Students enrolled in the Master of Arts in Intercultural and Urban Studies program must complete 60 semester hours. The academic requirements are divided as follows: MASTER S DEGREE CORE COURSES... 48 Bible BI-5503 Introduction to Theological Research... 1 BI-5504 Hermeneutics 1... 2 BI-5505 Hermeneutics 2... 2 BI-5506 Old Testament Exposition 1... 3 BI-5507 Old Testament Exposition 2... 3 BI-5508 New Testament Exposition 1... 2 BI-5509 New Testament Exposition 2... 2 General Ministries GM-5500 Communication of Biblical Truth... 3 GM-5503 Community Outreach... 1 GM-5504 Evangelism and Community Analysis... 3 MN-5500 Introduction to Ministry Leadership... 3 Intercultural IS-5502 Theology of Intercultural Ministry... 2 IS-6600 Apologetics and World Religions... 3 88
Field Education FE-66 Internship 1... 3 FE-66 Internship 2... 3 Spiritual Formation and Discipleship SF-5506 Biblical Spiritual Formation... 2 IL-5500 Biblical Spiritual Formation Lab 1... 1 Systematic Theology ST-5501 Systematic Theology 1... 3 ST-5504 Systematic Theology 2... 3 ST-5505 Systematic Theology 3... 3 MAIS/US EMPHASIS COURSES... 12 Intercultural and Urban Studies Core IS-6603 The Intercultural Servant of Christ... 2 IS-6607 Intercultural Relationships and Communication... 2 US-6608 Biblical Foundations of Urban Ministry... 2 US-6609 Models of Global Urban Ministry... 2 Intercultural Emphasis IS- Intercultural Studies Elective... 2 IS-7700 Seminar in Mission Research Strategy... 2 or Urban Emphasis US- Urban Studies Elective... 2 US-7000 Seminar in Urban Ministry Strategy... 2 TOTAL HOURS... 60 89
MAIS/US SCHEDULES The MAIS/US schedules presented here are in a traditional semester format (students also have the option of taking classes in other formats) and assume full-time student status. Students are strongly advised to follow the sequence presented in the catalog. Intercultural Studies Emphasis FIRST YEAR 31 hours BI-5503 Introduction to Theological Research... 1 BI-5504 Hermeneutics 1... 2 BI-5506 Old Testament Exposition 1... 3 BI-5508 New Testament Exposition 1... 2 ST-5501 Systematic Theology 1... 3 IS-5502 Theology of Intercultural Ministry... 2 IS-6603 The Intercultural Servant of Christ... 2 GM-5503 Community Outreach... 1 GM-5504 Evangelism and Community Analysis... 3 BI-5505 Hermeneutics 2... 2 BI-5507 Old Testament Exposition 2... 3 BI-5509 New Testament Exposition 2... 2 SF-5506 Biblical Spiritual Formation... 2 IL-5500 Biblical Spiritual Formation Lab 1... 1 IS-6607 Intercultural Relationships and Communication... 2 SECOND YEAR 29 hours ST-5505 Systematic Theology 3... 3 MN-5500 Introduction to Ministry Leadership... 3 IS-6600 Apologetics and World Religions... 3 FE-66 Field Education Internship 1... 3 US-6608 Biblical Foundations of Urban Ministry... 2 IS- Intercultural Studies Elective... 2 US-6609 Models of Global Urban Ministry... 2 GM-5500 Communication of Biblical Truth... 3 IS-7700 Seminar in Mission Research Strategy... 2 FE-66 Field Education Internship 2... 3 ST-5504 Systematic Theology 2... 3 Total Semester Hours... 13 90
Urban Studies Emphasis FIRST YEAR 31 hours BI-5503 Introduction to Theological Research... 1 BI-5504 Hermeneutics 1... 2 BI-5506 Old Testament Exposition 1... 3 BI-5508 New Testament Exposition 1... 2 US-6608 Biblical Foundations of Urban Ministry... 2 ST-5501 Systematic Theology 1... 3 IS-6603 The Intercultural Servant of Christ... 2 GM-5503 Community Outreach... 1 SECOND YEAR 29 hours ST-5505 Systematic Theology 3... 3 IS-6600 Apologetics and World Religions... 3 FE-66 Field Education Internship 1... 3 MN-5500 Introduction to Ministry Leadership... 3 US- Urban Studies Elective... 2 Total Semester Hours... 14 GM-5504 Evangelism and Community Analysis... 3 BI-5505 Hermeneutics 2... 2 BI-5507 Old Testament Exposition 2... 3 IS-5502 Theology of Intercultural Ministry... 2 SF-5506 Biblical Spiritual Formation... 2 IL-5500 Biblical Spiritual Formation Lab 1... 1 IS-6607 Intercultural Relationships and Communication... 2 BI-5509 New Testament Exposition 2... 2 US-6609 Models of Global Urban Ministry... 2 GM-5500 Communication of Biblical Truth... 3 US-7000 Seminar in Urban Ministry Strategy... 2 FE-66 Field Education Internship 2... 3 ST-5504 Systematic Theology 2... 3 91