The need for innovative missiologists who can effectively communicate the Gospel in crosscultural contexts and understand human needs is vital in our rapidly changing world. The Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies (MAICS) is designed to prepare students for various types of crosscultural ministry, enabling them to view current global trends through the lens of missiology. This degree is intended for students with varied levels of crosscultural exposure, and emphasizes both scholarship and praxis. MAICS students gain the foundational skills to pursue further studies or research opportunities, or to serve those in need through practical ministries around the world.
The two-year program provides a foundational set of integrated courses from the Schools of Theology, Intercultural Studies, and Psychology. MAICS students also pursue a second set of courses that provide a solid framework of missiological disciplines: anthropology, globalization, mission history, spirituality, and theology of mission. With this foundation, students may then use remaining units to take a variety of relevant elective classes, or to pursue a specific area of emphasis in greater depth. Elective classes are available in the areas of mission history, mission theology, ethnomusicology, international development, children at risk, urban ministry, anthropology, and missional church.
By thinking critically and creatively about contemporary global issues, MAICS graduates are able to demonstrate in word and deed the transforming work of Christ.
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Curriculum The Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies (MAICS) requires the successful completion of 96 quarter units. The courses in the curriculum, illustrated in the MAICS Outline, consist of All-Seminary Core Compentencies (28 Units), Core Competencies in Missiology (24 units), Electives (36 units), and a Practicum (8 units). A typical class is 4 units. Students can complete this degree in two years of full-time study, or may pace the program over a longer period of part-time study. Learning Outcomes - Graduates will participate in the mission of God and the ministries of the global Church from an evangelical missiological perspective.
- Graduates will demonstrate critical thinking and integration skills in order to foster individual and social transformation.
- Graduates will demonstrate sensitivity to cultural and ethnic diversity for building relationships and for communicating the Gospel in context.
- Graduates will have skills and knowledge and networks of relationships to pursue vocations that engage the mission of God globally.
- Graduates will value the importance of spiritual formation in both its personal and communal dimensions.
Distance Learning Up to 50 percent of the Master of Arts in Crosscultural Studies (including transfer credit) may be taken by distributed learning. Distributed learning includes correspondence courses, online courses, directed study courses, and practicum.
| Practicum Included in the curriculum is the opportunity to complete a crosscultural practicum that combines coursework with practical ministry. The practicum experience challenges students to discern their calling, grow spiritually, and apply what they are learning to a crosscultural context. Alternatively, students with extensive crosscultural ministry experience or who are interested in pursuing doctoral work may choose to complete a writing project. The writing project involves research within a chosen academic discipline, reflection on a particular crosscultural experience, and application of research findings to future service. Residency Requirements At least 48 units must be earned at Fuller Seminary on the Pasadena campus. Transfer Credit Students may potentially transfer up to 40 units of graduate-level courses in missiology or theology from an accredited institution into the program. Time Limit In order to ensure that a degree, when granted, represents education that is current and reasonably focused (not acquired a little at a time over an unreasonably long period), all credit applied to the degree must be earned within a certain period of time. For the Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies degree at Fuller, this period has been set at ten years. This includes all credit earned elsewhere and applied to the degree, as well as all credit earned at Fuller. |