Master of Religious Education (M.R.E.)

Description

This degree is designed for the already credentialed ministry professional working in the various fields of religious education. Such fields would include school, parish, institute, center for instruction and formation. The degree provides a framework for the creative clustering of a variety of educational workshops, conferences, and seminars brought to focus in the Master’s Project for the practical application in the place of professional employment. The religious community is in need of leadership and professional oversight in the fields of catechesis and religious education. There exists in the faith communities of today a unique opportunity for the professionally trained religious educator to affect the life of the church and society.

Time Frame and Tuition

The usual time frame for degree programs is a minimum of eighteen months and a maximum of forty-eight months for completion.

Tuition: $6,250.00
Project Processing: $200.00
Graduation: $100.00

Admission Requirements

Baccalaureate degree or equivalent validated by a transcript.
Five years of accumulated experience in educational ministry (lay, religious, ordained).
Completion of the Application Procedure.

Orientation

Residency and Response Papers

The student completes four Units of Study at approved educational venues. Each Unit of Study must consist of 40 contact hours or three semester credits. All courses must be graduate-level, and sponsored by a graduate, professional, or denominationally approved institution with academically qualified faculty. A response paper of 1,750-2,500 words (7-10 pages) must be 62 Graduate Theological Foundation submitted for each Unit of Study. Response papers should be analytically reflective regarding the relevance of each Unit’s content to the exercise of the student’s ministry. Papers are evaluated by the Foundation’s faculty and an acknowledgement letter is sent to the student. If further development of the paper is deemed necessary, the student will be notified. All academic work must be completed by February 1 of the intended year of graduation.

NOTE: Please Click Here for Paper Guidelines.

Transfer Credit

Transfer credit does not require a paper.

Project Consultant

Option A: Students may select a faculty member of the Foundation to serve as Project Consultant. This option enables the student to receive helpful and pragmatic evaluative feedback from a member of the faculty in the developmental process of producing the Exit Project. The role of the faculty Project Consultant is responsive and suggestive rather than “supervisory” as is the case with academic thesis writing. The faculty person is encouraged to limit feedback to pragmatically helpful hints and suggestions and not to attempt any censorship of the project. The exercise of discretion with respect to time demands is very important for both the student and faculty member. The faculty Project Consultant must give final approval of the student’s work by submitting the Project Consultant’s Report Form. The assessment from the Project Consultant is due by February 1 of the intended year of graduation.

Selection of Faculty Consultant and Nomination Procedure:

The student peruses the Faculty Details page and makes a selection.
The student completes the Faculty Project Consultant Nomination Form 107 (Forms).
Student Services provides the nominated faculty member with Form 107.
The selected faculty member notifies Student Services of acceptance of student nomination.
Student Services informs the student and faculty member of relationship approval and contact information is provided.

Option B: Students are at liberty to select a Project Consultant who is not on the faculty of the Foundation. In that event, the Project Consultant must hold a comparable degree to that being pursued by the student. The student must nominate the Project Consultant by submitting a letter of nomination to the Foundation along with a C.V. of the nominee. The student is notified upon approval of the Project Consultant by the Academic Affairs Committee. The Project Consultant must give final approval of the student’s work by submitting the Project Consultant’s Report Form. The assessment from the Project Consultant is due by February 1 of the intended year of graduation.

Master’s Project

The project should be praxis-oriented and address some topic, issue, or problem in the field of religious education demonstrating a grasp of the literature and pedagogical philosophy required in the treatment of the selected subject. Projects which address a practical problem or issue being confronted in the workplace are particularly encouraged. It is not a thesis, though library research may be an essential ingredient in a specific undertaking. The project is an individual’s professional endeavor developed within the context of the program and collegial community. The M.R.E. project in its final form must be 25,000-30,000 words (100-120 pages) in length and must have a table of contents as well as a bibliography of a minimum of 35 sources. It is also strongly recommended to have annotations for the 10-12 most important sources for the project. One copy of the project must be submitted to the Foundation by February 1 prior to graduation.

Non-Project Option

The NPO is available for this degree program. For information on the NPO, please Click Here.

Graduation Requirements

Viewing of the Foundation's instructional Orientation video.
Completion of four Units of Study at any approved educational institution.
Submission of four response papers of 1,750-2,500 words (7-10 pages) on topics related to the units completed.
Completion of the M.R.E. project (or NPO) and submission of one copy including the Project Consultant’s evaluation forms. All academic requirements must be met by February 1 prior to graduation.
Attendance at the Convocation/Graduation. (Non-US residents are exempt from this requirement.)

Professional Associations in Religious Education

Asociación para la Educación Teológica Hispana (AETH)
The Association of United Church Educators (AUCE)
Christian Educators Association International (CEAI)
The Liberal Religious Educators Association (LREDA)
Lutheran Association of Christian Educators (LACE)
National Association for Episcopal Christian Education Directors
National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA)
The Religious Education Association (REA)