The School of Intercultural Studies' Center for Missiological Research (CMR) contributes to the ministry and witness of the global church by equipping men and women from around the world for faithful leadership in missiological education and practice. The Center for Missiological Research provides an exemplary doctoral-level missiological program centered on a community of scholars drawn from around the world and equipped to address the seminal missiological issues facing the global church in this century. The Center offers two advanced degree programs: the Master of Theology (ThM) in Missiology and the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Intercultural Studies.

PhDAnchor 

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN INTERCULTURAL STUDIES 

The Doctor of Philosophy in Intercultural Studies (PhD ICS) represents the highest level of academic certification, and is designed to contribute to the development of missiological scholarship and to prepare students to teach at the university and graduate level.

The Doctor of Philosophy in Intercultural Studies is designed to provide exceptional candidates the opportunity to design, develop and complete a customized research plan for the purpose of:

• developing new theory that extends the domain of missiology;
• making a practical contribution to the mission of the church;
• mastering one or more principal disciplines that contribute to missiology;
• learning how to do effective academic research;
• advancing personal ability to think missiologically in a global context.

Along the way, students should also expect to:

• gain supervised experience teaching at the graduate level;
• actively participate as part of a community of scholars;
• experience an integration of personal spirituality with academic life.

Curriculum 

The curriculum of the PhD is comprised of six tutorials, four methods classes, four comprehensive exams and a dissertation. However, each of these components is customizable to meet the specific research interests of the student under the guidance of their faculty mentor and guidance committee. As a result, the program has relatively little classroom-based instruction and places a much higher premium on rigorous faculty-supervised academic reading and writing. There is also an 18-month residency requirement for the PhD, and students must commit to being in Pasadena for at least nine months in the first year of the program (late-July through December and April through June). During this first year period students design their research plan and have it approved by their mentor, while also completing the first coursework and participating in the community of scholars.

The program can be divided into four distinct phases which are separated by decision points designed to ensure acceptable progress has been made. Also, although the first year is fairly structured, the flexibility increases substantially after that point. The below curriculum provides a sample study program, and the intended time frame for each phase.

Phase 1: Orientation and Research Program Design
Methods 1: Orientation to PhD Studies and Research Design
Tutorial 1: Missiological Thinking
Tutorial 2: Primary Discipline Literature Review
Decision Point: Initial Research Project Evaluation
Timeframe: completed within one year of enrollment 

Phase 2: Refining your Research Plan
Methods 2: Data Collection Method A
Tutorial 3: Secondary Discipline Literature Review
Methods 3: Data Collection Method B
Tutorial 4: Initial Field Research
Decision Point: Research Proposal Defense
Timeframe: completed within 1.5 -3 years of enrollment 

Phase 3: Final Field Research & Analysis
Tutorial 5: Further Field Research
Methods 4: Data Analysis
Tutorial 6: Field Research Analysis
Decision Point: Comprehensive Exams
Timeframe: completed within 2-4 years of enrollment 

Phase 4: Dissertation Writing
Decision Point: Dissertation Defense
Timeframe: completed within 3-5 years of enrollment 

ThMAnchor 

MASTER OF THEOLOGY IN MISSIOLOGY 

The Master of Theology in Missiology (ThM in Missiology) is a one-year degree which trains pastors, mission leaders, and denominational leaders to meet the challenge of ministering in an increasingly complex, multiethnic, multinational world. The ThM in Missiology provides students who have already earned the Master of Divinity degree (or its educational equivalent) the missiological framework for research and reflection by building on the biblical, theological, and historical studies gained through their previous work. The program enables practioners to pursue concentrated coursework in one area of missiological study, culminating in a reflective and research-based thesis.

Learning Outcomes 

• Graduates will gain a missiological framework for research and reflection building on the biblical, theological, and historical studies gained through previous studies.
• Graduates will demonstrate advanced understanding of a focused area of discipline within missiological study.
• Graduates will demonstrate the capacity to use research methods and resources in the discipline, culminating in a thesis.

Crosscultural Ministry Experience 

The Master of Theology in Missiology is designed for practitioners with at least three years, or equivalent, of crosscultural ministry experience, i.e., ministry or service operating outside one's own cultural context with a people of different ethnicity.

Admission Requirements 

Students entering the Master of Theology in Missiology program must have earned a Master of Divinity degree from an accredited institution with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above. An official score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Academic Format, is required for those whose first language is not English. Please click here for minimum required scores.

The Master of Theology in Missiology is also available in the Korean language. English language ability is not required. For more information, contact the School of Intercultural Studies Korean Studies Office at 626-584-5574, by fax at 626-584-5275, or by e-mail at sisks-admissions@fuller.edu.

Students applying for the Master of Theology in Missiology are required to submit a 15-20 page research writing sample, indicate their choice of concentration, and provide a brief description of the topic they would like to pursue for the thesis.

Residency Requirements 

At least 24 units (not including directed studies or the thesis) must be earned on the Pasadena campus. All work for the degree must be taken from the School of Intercultural Studies at Fuller Seminary.

Transfer Credit 

Transfer credit is not available for this program.

Curriculum 

The ThM in Missiology requires the successful completion of 40 quarter units in missiology and a thesis (8 units), all of which must be completed in the School of Intercultural Studies at Fuller. Students may complete the degree in one year, or can pace the program over a longer period of part-time study.

Core Competencies in Missiology (20 units)

Each of the following:

• MI610 Thinking Missiologically
• MT620 Biblical Foundations of Mission

One of the following:

• MB620 Anthropology
• MB630 Language/Culture Learning and Mission
• ME606 Intercultural Communication

Two of the following:

• MC620 Church Growth in Contemporary Culture
  
  Choose One:
• MH605 Introduction to Mission History
• MH620 Expansion of the People of God
• ML630 Lifelong Development

Concentration (28 units)

This area of the curriculum includes coursework (16 units), a Research Methods course (4 units), and a thesis (8 units). Students may choose from one of the following concentrations:

Children at Risk
Church and Culture
Global Christian Worship
International Development
Islamic Studies
Leadership