Master of Leadership and Ministry

The Master of Leadership and Ministry (MLM) is a 36-credit professional studies degree. It equips ministers to become life-long learners and to develop models of personal and professional growth.

Those with limited experience in ministry leadership are encouraged to take at least one practicum as part of their electives. For additional information on how this program leads to a doctoral degree, see the seminary's doctoral studies programs in this Catalog.

All courses in this program are offered seated, virtual, and online.

Degree Components and Requirements

The Master of Leadership and Ministry can be completed by any student regardless of the field of the undergraduate degree.

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 27 credits. 

4 + 1 Leadership and Ministry Degree Program

AGTS has an accelerated MLM program in conjunction with Evangel University. Students earn a BA/BS at Evangel University in four years with advance standing and transfer credit a student will only need to complete 18 credit hours to finish the MLM degree. (See the College of Arts and Sciences Theology and Global Church Ministries section of this Catalog for more information.) 

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 MLM degree program, thus granting them Advanced Standing. (See the Bible/Theology Core). Life/prior experience does not qualify for Advanced Standing.

The following rules apply to MLM Advanced Standing:

1. Advanced Standing cannot exceed 9 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 B is 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 required. A fee of $50 per course will be charged for each portfolio that is evaluated, regardless or whether 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 for 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 will be nullified.
6. 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.

MLM Assessment-Based Equivalency. For those who cannot fit within the 10-year window for Advanced Standing, there is an option for 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 Bible/Theology core classes: BNT 530, BOT 530 and THE elective (THE 531 or THE 532).

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 whether or not the Advanced Standing is granted.