Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies

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The Master of Arts in lntercultural Studies (MAIS) is a 48-credit degree designed to form leaders with a thorough understanding of God's mission for the Church and the interpersonal and intercultural communication skills essential for productive ministry in cross-cultural settings. The program helps students integrate anthropology, psychology, sociology and theology to inform the task of world evangelization and the planting and nurturing of the Church. It also trains missionaries and other cross-cultural workers for roles in theological education and the development of leaders.

All courses are offered seated and online with limited virtual video conference access.

Degree Components and Requirements

Applicants with a strong undergraduate program in religion may petition for Advanced Standing in the program, which could allow them to complete the program with 39 credits or approximately four semesters of study. (See MAIS Advanced Standing below.)

For courses successfully completed as an undergraduate, a student may substitute an advanced course. (See the Master of Divinity degree for examples.

4+1 lntercultural Studies Program

AGTS has an accelerated MAIS program in conjunction with Evangel University. Students earn a BA/BS at Evangel University in four years and finish the MAIS degree in one more year (27 credits, 9 each fall, spring, and summer semesters). Students must enroll in one of the University's Department of Theology and Global Church Ministries programs, the Adult Studies Church Ministries program, or complete a Pre-seminary minor. (See the College of Arts and Sciences Theology and Global Church Ministries section of this Catalog for more information.)

Concentrations

Concentrations are not required.

Students may pursue electives of their choice instead. If students desire a concentration, they assume responsibility for taking the needed courses through their requirements and electives. These concentrations will not appear on the student degree audit since students often change them during their studies. If the needed courses have been taken and brought to the attention of the Assistant Registrar, Seminary at graduation the concentration will appear on a student's transcript.

Intercultural Studies Concentration. This track consists of 12 credits of electives chosen from courses numbered with the prefixes MCC, MHT, and MSS. It provides a solid academic basis for ministry in a missions context or for further missions studies at the doctoral level. A student in the MAIS who wishes to apply for AG credentials may take HIS 532 History and Polity of the Assemblies of God as a missions elective.

Global Missions Concentration. The Global Missions (GM) concentration of 12 credits permits students to pursue a significant portion of their degree outside the context of normal, on-campus studies, allowing them to live, learn, and develop ministry skills in a cross cultural setting (whether in a foreign country or in a cross-cultural setting in the United States). The experience is designed to guide the student in developing the cultural fluency necessary for effective ministry in today's globalized and multicultural world.

Students must complete 12 credits of graduate-level studies in an AGTS-approved institution which can be transferred back to fulfill the degree requirements at AGTS. The courses taken under the GM Special Studies Program may be in fields of study other than lntercultural Studies but require the prior approval of the assigned AGTS mentor in consultation with the Dean of the Seminary.

In addition to classroom curriculum, the student is expected to be involved in the fullest possible range of campus, student life, and student ministry activities. The host culture(s) is to be experienced and learned through participation. The student will be encouraged to risk moving away from his or her cultural comfort zone to explore the adventure of getting into the "skin" of another culture. The GM student journal should reflect an intentional involvement in and engagement of the cross-cultural experience.

Member Care Concentration. This 12-credit concentration consists of PTH 561 and PTH 565. In addition, students must choose two of the following courses: PTH 610, PTH 615, PTH 618 or MC 654.

Islamic Studies Concentration. Islam is one of the world's fastest growing religions, with more than 1.4 billion adherents-more than one-fifth of the world's population.

While Islam advances at an alarming rate, it remains resistant to the gospel. The Church must address this challenge. The Islamic Studies Concentration provides the opportunity to develop competencies essential for effective ministry to Muslims. Islamic Studies courses are taught in a modular format-usually one or two weeks on the AGTS campus and at selected extension sites. Professors will be members of the AGTS faculty, Global Initiative and visiting professors of Islamic studies.

The Islamic Studies 12-credit concentration consists of MCC 545, MHT 649 and MSS 643. In addition, students must choose to take one of the following courses: MCC 552, MCC 553, MCC 554 or MCC 641.

MAIS Assessment-Based Credit (Advanced Standing)

Students who have earned a significant number of credits in religious studies from approved colleges and universities may request exemption from certain required courses in the MAIS degree program, thus granting them Advanced Standing. Life experience does not qualify for Advanced Standing.

The following rules apply to MAIS Advanced Standing:

1. Advanced Standing cannot exceed nine credits.
2. Advanced Standing is considered for undergraduate courses with satisfactory parallel content, provided the equivalent collegiate courses are double the credit value of the Seminary's courses. A minimum grade of Bis required, and the student must demonstrate competency in subject matter by presentation of an Advanced Standing Portfolio for each course for which Advanced Standing is desired. A fee of $50 per course is charged for each portfolio that is evaluated, regardless of whether or not the Advanced Standing is granted.
3. Advanced Standing must be requested prior to enrollment but no later than the end of the student's first semester of study at AGTS. Requests should be submitted to the Assistant Registrar of Online and Graduate Studies.
4. Partial course Advanced Standing cannot be granted.
5. If the student later takes a course where Advanced Standing has been granted, the Advanced Standing would be nullified.
6. Advanced Standing may be granted for a course from "Bible and Theology," a "World Christianity" course and a "Missions Elective" course.
7. In an area where a student demonstrates competency, but the criteria preclude Advanced Standing, a
substitute course may be allowed if approved by the faculty advisor and Dean.
8. All AGTS master programs must be completed within a 10-year time limit, which includes any undergraduate courses used for Advanced Standing and any graduate courses transferred in from other schools.

MAIS Assessment-Based Credit Equivalency

For those who cannot fit within the 10-year window for Advanced Standing, there is the option for an Assessment-based Credit Equivalency.

AGTS permits up to 9 credits assessment based credit equivalency in the MAIS, MATS, and MLM programs (for students whose undergraduate credits were acquired more than 8 years prior to starting an AGTS degree) for three core classes:

Bible & Theology (i.e., NT Introduction, OT Introduction, Theology, see above)
World Christianity (Church History)
Missions elective

To fulfill this, the student will take an exam in the topic with a written component and a short oral (via online) follow-up exam with a professor in the topical area, which is graded on a pass/fail scale. A fee of $100 for each core class examination will be charged to the student's account, regardless of whether or not the Advanced Standing is granted.