Public Administration (MPA) and Master of Divinity

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A dual master’s degree program is offered by the School of Public Affairs and Wesley Theological Seminary (WTS). Graduates receive both the Public Administration (MPA) and the Master of Divinity. For students whose vocational goals lean more toward public service, organizational leadership and policy: Now more than ever, people who operate in the public sphere need to have an understanding of how faith, ethics, and religious ideals motivate and influence public life. Even as America becomes more “spiritual but not religious” and even agnostic, nearly every campaign speech, public-sector issue and policy rationale touches on a religious or humanitarian ethic or principle. To be able to navigate this murky water at the intersection of faith and public life, leaders must understand the historical, legal, economic, administrative, ethical and other foundations that have shaped our democracy and the forces that continue to influence it, for better and for worse. This dual degree program, offered in conjunction with Wesley Theological Seminary, equips students to be a step ahead in their field, fluent both in the language of public life and of theology and ethics.

The dual degree programs allow students to complete both a MDiv and MPA in a total of four academic years. Tuition is paid separately to each institution, at that institution’s rate per credit hour, for the number of hours taken at each school. Students are encouraged to work with their advisors to schedule courses at each institution. Most students are likely to be taking courses at both institutions simultaneously, but they must work with each school to understand how to best utilize financial aid packages, if applicable, which may be dependent on full-time or part-time enrollment at the institution.

Admission to the Program

Applicants must satisfy the admission requirements of both the Department of Public Administration and Policy , School of Public Affairs (SPA) and Wesley Theological Seminary (WTS). Admission to either the MPA or MDiv program does not guarantee admission to the other.

Dual Degree Requirements

99 credit hours of approved graduate work, including 27 credit hours of MPA coursework in SPA, and 72 credit hours of MDiv coursework in WTS
Students without substantial professional experience in public affairs are required to complete an internship

MPA Course Requirements

Required (9 credit hours)

Quantitative Methods (3 credit hours)

PUAD-605 Quantitative Methods for Public Managers (3)

Economic Analysis (3 credit hours)

PUAD-630 Public Managerial Economics (3)

Public Budgeting and Finance (3 credit hours)

Complete 3 credit hours from the following:

Public Management Electives (6 credit hours)

Complete 6 credit hours from the following, or other approved courses:

Capstone (3 credit hours)

PUAD-610 Public Administration Capstone (3)

Concentration (12 credit hours)

12 credit hours from WTS coursework

Internship

Students without a significant professional work background participate in either a for-credit or non-credit internship. Students taking a for-credit internship complete PUAD-691 as part of their dual degree electives; students taking a non-credit internship complete a survey on the experience.

MDiv Course Requirements

Required (27 credit hours)

Note: MM-101 and MM-102 must be taken sequentially and within the same academic year. Students must complete ST-180 or ST-181 or other approved course if not taken at the undergraduate level with grade of B- or better.

BI-101 Introduction to Hebrew Bible I (3)
BI-102 Introduction to Hebrew Bible 2 (3)
BI-171 Introduction to New Testament: Gospels (3)
BI-172 Introduction to New Testament: Epistles (3)
CH-101 The Church in History: Early Church To Reformation (3)
CH-102 The Church in History: Reformation To Present (3)
MM-101 Spiritual Formation for the Practice of Ministry 1 (2)
MM-102 Spiritual Formation for the Practice of Ministry 2 (1)
PW-101 Foundations of Christian Worship (3)
PW-125 Foundations of Preaching (3)

Systematic Theology (6 credit hours)

ST-305 Systematic Theology 1 (3)
ST-306 Systematic Theology 2 (3)

Christian Ethics (3 credit hours)

Complete 3 credit hours from the following:

EP-303 Sources of Christian Moral Insight (3)
EP-304 Cross, State, & Citizenship (3)
EP-305 The Ethical Self & Prophetic Witness (3)

Practice in Ministry and Mission (4 credit hours)

MM-311 PMM: Practice in Ministry and Mission Colloquy 1/1 (1)
MM-312 PMM: Practice in Ministry and Mission Colloquy 1/2 (1)
MM-313 PMM: Practice in Ministry and Mission Colloquy 2/1 (1)
MM-314 PMM:Practice in Ministry and Mission Colloquy 2/2 (1)

Preaching and Worship Distribution (4 credit hours)

Complete 4 credit hours from the following, or other approved courses through the Consortium:

PW-307 The Christian Funeral & Wedding (3)
PW-312 Sacramental Theology & Worship Leadership (3)
PW-320 Worship & Digital Media Year (2)
PW-340 Preaching Practicum: Preaching for Sunday Worship (2)
PW-346 Women and the Preaching Life (3)
PW-353 Preaching Hope in Times Like These (3)
PW-376 Chapel Colloquy (1)

The Church in an Interreligious World (2 credit hours)

2-3 credit hours from courses listed in each semester’s schedule or other approved course through the Consortium

Practices of Leadership in Ministry (4 credit hours)

Complete 4 credit hours from the following:

CM-110 Leading Innovation in the Church (2)
CM-118 Ministry in African American Community (2)
CM-130 Reviving Dying Churches & Communities (2)
CM-133 Best Practices in Church Leadership And Administration (2)
CM-135 Personal Finances for Religious Professionals (2)
CM-136 Leadership and Administration For Small Churches (2)
CM-137 Church Finances (2)
CM-142 Healthy Stewardship in the Local Church (2)
CM-150 Leadership & Practices of the Missional Church (2)
CM-154 Ministry in Rural Context (2)
CM-155 Innovation Ministry by Design (2)
CM-315 Conflict Resolution (1)

Pastoral Care and Counseling (3 credit hours)

Complete 3 credit hours from the following:

PC-101 Counseling Skills for Pastoral Ministry (3)
PC-111 Pastoral Care and Counseling in Contexts (3)

Religion and the Arts (2 credit hours)

Complete 2 credit hours from the following:

RA-108 The Arts and Sacred Space (2)
RA-109 Chapel Visuals (2)
RA-112 Art and the Sacred in Washington Dc (2)
RA-129 Creative Process As Spiritual Practice (2)
RA-130 Chapel Choir (1)
RA-139 Protest Music From Sacred and Popular Traditions (2)
RA-141 Faith on Film (2)
RA-144 Scripture in Literature (2)
RA-147 Graphic Novels & Religion (2)
RA-154 Receptions of the Psalter in Music and Literature (2)
RA-173 Performing Scripture (2)
RA-175 Biblical Storytelling (2)
RA-177 The Word Made Flesh: Making Scripture Seen and Heard (2)
RA-191 T.S. Eliot & the Search for God (2)

Racism and Intersectionality (2 credit hours)

2 credit hours from WTS coursework

Electives (15 credit hours)

15 credit hours from WTS elective coursework