Be Equipped to Contribute to God’s Global Purpose
M.A. in Global Studies
Immediately Applicable
Each course is practical and hands-on. Apply tomorrow what you are learning today.
Study From Anywhere
100% online—attend class, complete assignments, and interact with other students.
Be Equipped
Gain historical, cultural, and biblical wisdom to develop modern insights to solve problems creatively.
The history and future of Christianity is global. A millennium ago, Christian populations were spread evenly across Asia, Africa, and Europe.
We think of Christianity as a western phenomenon because a hundred years ago, 75% of Christians lived in Europe and North America. But today, two-thirds of Christians live outside those regions. We are returning to our global roots.
The theological and cultural diversity of the global Body of Christ is a rich source of insight. We need globally-engaged Christ followers who can bring global perspectives to bear on local challenges.
QUICK LINKS
Learn how to creatively tackle the problems in the communities you serve with an M.A. in Global Studies.
Become a Catalyst for Change
Gain insight and knowledge into problems your community is facing and learn how to foster change within your culture.
Develop as a Scholar and Leader
Foster curiosity about cultural and theological difference; expand your knowledge about the Kingdom, the Church and the World; and develop as a leader.
Help the People You Serve Flourish
See your studies translate into a faith community that is globally informed and engaged.
The M.A. in Global Studies finds
the sweet spot where academia and activism meet.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The purpose of the MA degree in Global Studies is to provide a contextual theology degree exploring the polycentric origins, spread, and impact of the gospel that reverberates across regions and times from Creation to Pentecost to the present. This degree expands Dr. Winter's legacy of viewing God’s work from multiple perspectives.
These perspectives are an essential components of a WCIU Degree. They are:
• Interdisciplinary: views life through historical, biblical-theological, and cultural lenses
• Integrative/Integral: promotes spiritual growth and intellectual rigor and views the gospel as proclamation and demonstration; and
• Internal/Indigenous: asks that solutions to problems come from within the community.
The MA in Global Studies develops students who have:
• An appreciation for, as well as a critical view, of historical and contemporary Christian engagement with other religious traditions.
• Greater self-awareness of their own cultural spirituality in relationship to other cultural spiritualities
• The basic tools to empower faith communities to interpret and apply scripture, think theologically, and engage in contextual issues.
Our Faculty Has Vast Experience in a Variety of Areas
36 Credits
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
A total of 12 classes is required to complete this program. With 7 core classes and a variety of electives, you are able to create a program specifically to serve your community.
2-4 Years
LENGTH OF PROGRAM
Full-time students are able to complete the degree in 2 years. Part-time study options are available and encouraged. Part-time the degree takes around 4 years.
DEAC
ACCREDITATION
WCIU is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission. The DEAC is the preeminent accrediting organization for distance education.
PROGRAM OUTCOMES
As a result of their studies in the WCIU MA in Global Studies program, students will be formed into scholar/practitioners who demonstrate capacities to:
1. Theologize in community and think strategically about missions.
2. Engage with other leaders intersecting with global and local issues using a biblical, cultural, and historical framework, spiritual disciplines, and self-reflection.
3. Integrate the biblical meta-narrative into their theological reflections and applications, using a variety of hermeneutical principles and tools.
4. Dialog sensitively with diverse communities, allowing the dialectic to inform and shape their worldviews, attitudes, and behavior.
5. Question assumptions and weigh evidence related to theory and practice and use their knowledge to discern appropriate ways to work within systems and communities to bring about transformational good.
Course Information
The M.A. In Global Studies is made up of seven core courses, a choice of two regional courses, and electives.
Core Course Descriptions
DS 511- Foundation of Development Studies
The purpose of this course is to provide a chronological overview of the historical and cultural aspects of the global development of the biblical faith. An overview is given of the past and present with focus on understanding factors that enabled the biblical faith to continue to expand its ideal of "shalom" and implement transformational strategies in developing nations. The positive and negative impact of religion on culture and human development is examined as well as principles for effective crosscultural communication of biblical faith and practice.
GS 510- Early Trends
The learning goal of this course is to understand and apply principles and practices of constructive theology to create a narrative of personal and collective Christian identity. To this end, it explores how the early believing communities responded to challenges of identity and purpose in the context of theories of knowledge and history making.
GS 520 - Cultural Self Discovery for Global Development
Cultural Self-Discovery for Global Development enables students to discover how their cultural biases were shaped in their childhood home. Students will examine how their family’s structure and functioning in their childhood home along with nurture and discipline practices shape their cultural biases. This framework provides a guide for exploring the daily practices of visiting, eating, working, resting, and cleaning to realize how these practices reinforce their cultural biases and can be mistaken for biblical truth in present-day cultural interactions. This course provides a hands-on learning experience with fellow students to discover and work through their biases and apply biblical principles to better prepare them for cultural challenges they will face in Global Development.
GS 550 - Contextual Theology
Description coming soon
GS 680 - Current and Future Trends
Developer: Danny Hunter
Status: In development
GS 685 - Methodology
Developer: TBD
Status: In Development
GS 690 - Capstone Project
The capstone project (CP) is the final assignment of the MA in Global Studies. It integrates three elements of the curriculum in order to formulate a localized theology around one of the seven thematic strands in which the MAGS ethos is situated. These elements are 1) The Scriptures, 2) broader Christian traditions and 3) the student’s present socio-cultural reality. The capstone is to demonstrate basic exegetical skills, interpreting the passages in their historical and literary contexts, in dialog with Christian tradition and discuss the spiritual meaning it has toward the reader. It is also to apply the localized theology to a current issue or question in one’s context.
Regional Courses
GS 640 – Perspectives from Africa
This course explores the history of Christianity in Africa from the Early Church to the twenty first century. The focus will be on the major movements and turning points in God’s work in Africa over the centuries. Attention will also be paid to major challenges that Christianity in Africa has encountered and how Christians have navigated their faith in the midst of those challenges.
GS 650 - Perspective from the Americas
This course explores the history of Christianity in Latin America and the United States of America from the arrival of Christianity to the twenty first century. The focus will be on the major movements and turning points in God’s work in the Americas over the centuries. Attention will also be paid to major challenges that the introduction of Christianity caused in the Americas, how Christianity developed and how Christians have navigated their faith amid the changing environment.
GS 660 - Perspectives from Asia
This course takes an interdisciplinary approach to introducing Asia as a diverse center of growth and challenge for the Christian faith from its beginnings to the present. The goal is to explore how followers of Christ practiced their faith and developed their theologies as they lived in and travelled to/from India, Central Asia, China, and the Sri Lanka. Special consideration will be given to how followers interacted with the Scriptures (the text), their local contexts, including the historic influences of the time and foreign followers of the faith.
GS 670 - Perspectives from the Middle East
This course is important for contemporary students because the Middle East is home to the formation and most ancient expressions of Christianity. By the year 600, Christians comprised more than 60 percent of the population of the wider Middle East, with four of the five different centers of Christianity in Alexandria, Antioch, Constantinople, and Jerusalem, alongside of Rome. The purpose of this course is to help students assess the influence of Middle Eastern Christianity on global Christianity by exploring the story of Middle Eastern Christianity, a plurality of Eastern Christian traditions, and sociopolitical influences on Christianity in the Middle East.
Prerequisite: Biblical Foundations, Work Ethics, Cultural Self-Discovery, Early Trends
Elective Course Descriptions
9 elective course credits required
Courses selected from WCIU’s Master Catalog. No course is off limits for your elective selections. You can either pick and choose or specialize in one of the following areas of focus: Women’s Empowerment, Urban Poor, or China Studies. Courses selected from WCIU’s Master Catalog. Feel free to reach out to the Registrar’s office with specific questions.
Paths You Can Take With An M.A. in Global Studies
Missions Leader
Development Worker
Mission Pastor
Educator
Missions Mobilizer
Cross-cultural worker
Faith-based NGO Leader
Missional Entrepreneur
explore the intersection of culture and theology
Students cultivate a deep appreciation for how cultures inform, bound, and enrich our understanding of God and why we need each other to get the whole picture of who God is and what he is up to.
Develop as global thinker
Students will interact with fellow students, professors, and authors from all around the world, seeking to understand the Church as a global phenomenon grounded in local expressions.
Conduct Critical Research
Students learn to conduct and utilize research to be used in development work and applied to real-world challenges and opportunities in viable, sustainable ways.
How To Get Your M.A. in Global Studies
Enroll in The Program
We have a simple application process. Apply now to get started.
Attend Classes Online
100% online classes, no travel required.
Do a Capstone Project
Complete a capstone project that addresses real-world problems in your community - enriched by global perspectives.
Impact Your Community
See tangible change in the communities you serve.
FAQs
Will there be a master's dissertation or master’s thesis?
Currently there is no Master's Thesis required for the MA-GS. However, there is a capstone research project that students conduct in their final semester which is a culmination of the learning from the degree.
Will a graduate education help me move up in my organization?
While it is true that advanced degrees do not lead to climbing the organizational ladder in cross-cultural NGOs, increased effectiveness does. Consider that you will be better equipped during and after your MA-GS degree from WCIU.
My bachelor's degree has not trained me Biblically, or to work with cultural/historical data. Am I still able to do the MADS?
We have a more post-modern, cross-cultural approach than other similar programs where one size does not fit all. So, yes, often it is helpful to not have pre-packaged answers before starting the program. Our courses offer an emphasis on developing analytical skills related to the MA-GS three main interdisciplinary areas: Bible, cultural studies, and history. These areas will be developed in each student as part of the degree.
I work full-time, or my ministry keeps me going non-stop. Is WCIU’s M.A. in Global Studies program flexible enough for me?
The usual MA-GS student is part-time and meets with students online. If a student is able to manage with their schedule, full-time is certainly possible.
