Students, teachers and staff at January retreat

Peter Attwell, a MAPM middler,
died April 1, 2008

"Adolescence – Understanding Insanity"
Audit this MAC course May 26 thru June 27

Faith-based Mental Health
Ministry Training March 29 at ETSS

Chaplaincy Program launched

Ellen Jockusch named Director

Photos of January 2007 retreat
and new student orientation

Dr. Harry Gunkel, Chaplaincy student &
San Antonio pediatrician, is serving as a
missionary in Jerusalem. Read his blog.

Dean-emeritus Dusty McDonald leads
Saturday noon chapel service

Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry

In 1996 the Seminary of the Southwest launched a distinctive program – a master's degree for lay persons offered on evenings and weekends. Thus was born the Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry (MAPM), which currently has tracks in Spiritual Formation and Chaplaincy, and the Master of Arts in Counseling (MAC).

These programs are designed for and open to Christians of any denomination who seek to strengthen their understanding of Christian theology and the Bible, who hope to deepen their faith and enrich their spiritual life, and who want to strengthen the connection between their discipleship as baptized Christians and their daily lives – whether this be in their personal devotional practice, their jobs or family life, or in their service to their church or the wider community.

To put it succinctly, the goal of MAPM and MAC programs is to provide an education and community for people of any denomination to explore and deepen their understanding of what it means in their own particular lives and circumstances to live out their faiths as baptized Christians and followers of Jesus.

MAPM CORE CURRICULUM

All MAPM students are required to take six core courses in addition to courses within their area of study. Core courses are offered one each semester on the weekend. Students are urged to take a core course every semester as available in order to complete their degree in a timely manner. The core courses are:

B5310 Biblical Basis for Ministry I

B5320 Biblical Basis for Ministry II

T5310 Historical & Theological Basis for Ministry I

T5320 Historical & Theological Basis for Ministry II

T5330 Patterns of Christian Life and Leadership

T5340 Ethics

MAC students Lea Walker-Clark (social services worker) and
Brenda Drage-Chan (mother of three children), left

AREA OF SPECIALIZATION

Students select either Spiritual Formation or Chaplaincy track. This decision is best made at the beginning of the program and in consultation with the Director.

Lunch between morning and afternoon Saturday classes

MAPM SPIRITUAL FORMATION TRACK

Because the current Spiritual Formation track of the MAPM program is being phased out, we will not accept applications to it for admission in the academic year 2008-2009.

We are in the process of completely redesigning this curriculum and hope, pending approval, to launch an innovative and exciting new Master of Arts in Spiritual Formation degree in Fall 2009 for people seeking a deeper understanding of the life of the spirit and the relationship of spirituality to Christian practice, vocation, and ministry,

Rev. Steve Kinney ETSS '84 teaching
Faith Development and Spiritual Type class

SPIRITUAL FORMATION TRACK COURSE REQUIREMENTS

to be announced by the beginning of the 2009 calendar year

MAPM CHAPLAINCY TRACK

The Chaplaincy track is a 72-hour curriculum for people interested in pastoral care in a variety of contexts. The core consists of five courses of basic theological, historical and ethical material for ministry. Other required coursework equips students for general chaplaincy ministry in a variety of settings.

Elective courses enable students to broaden and deepen their understanding of particular ministries in specified settings (e.g., hospice, VA hospitals, prisons, workplaces, schools, disaster relief). The curriculum is designed to be in compliance with the Association of Professional Chaplains' (APC) requirements for recognition as a Board Certified Chaplain.

Four units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) are required for certification as a chaplain by the APC. Please note that the Chaplaincy track at the Seminary of the Southwest does not include CPE in the curriculum. It is up to the student to undertake and complete the CPE units independently; most students undertake one unit of CPE while they are in seminary and complete the additional required units after graduation.

Through core courses in biblical studies, history, theology and ethics and an in-depth study of issues in and approaches to chaplaincy, students will learn:

qTo understand key aspects of biblical history and the social world of the Bible from a cross-cultural perspective and to exercise awareness of a variety of cultural perspectives that affect reading scripture today;

qTo read appreciatively and critically diverse and influential texts in the history of Christian theology and the literature of spiritual guidance with an eye to their interpretation in light of contemporary concerns;

qTo bring contemporary questions and issues of faith and the challenges it faces in the world of work and society into deep and productive conversation with the Christian tradition, its Anglican expressions, and with other faith traditions;

qTo master skills and understanding in the competency areas required for Board Certification as a chaplain;

qTo be academically ready to proceed to the next stage of preparation for Board Certification;

qTo articulate a theology of spiritual care that is integrated with a theory of pastoral practice;

qTo function within the Common Code of Ethics for Chaplains, and Pastoral Counselors, and,

qTo offer pastoral care that respects diversity and differences including, but not limited to gender, sexual orientation, culture, or religious practices.

San Antonio resident Julie Woody (attorney) (MAPM)

CHAPLAINCY TRACK COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Core Curriculum (15 credits)

Required Courses (33 credits)

C5304 Appraisal and Assessment Techniques

C5317 Medical Issues and Healing Presence

F5305 Faith Development and Spiritual Type

F5306 World Religions and their Spirtualities

L5310 Liturgy and Ritual in the Pastoral Context

P5310 Preaching & Teaching for the Chaplain

P5320 Organizational Behavior/Systems Theory

P5330 Issues of Identity and Authority in Chaplaincy

P5340 Issues in Death and Dying

P5350 Issues in Loss and Bereavement

P5360 Ministry in Times of Crisis

Elective Credits (24 credits)

MAPM and MAC students attend retreat
led by former director Dr. Corinne Ware in Christ Chapel

Master of Arts in Counseling

The Master of Arts in Counseling (MAC) is designed for persons seeking graduate level instruction in counseling and a curriculum which provides opportunities for them to integrate counseling theories and techniques with pastoral approaches and perspectives.

The 66-hour curriculum consists of 15 credit hours of core courses (Bible, theology, and ethics) and 41 hours of courses directly related to counseling.

The MAC curriculum fulfills the academic foundation for students who seeking to become licensed by the State of Texas as Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Please see the section of the catalogue devoted to the MAC degree for additional information on licensure and related requirements.

Mark Sassman (counselor) (MAC)

Master of Arts in Counseling

Through core courses in biblical studies, history, theology and ethics and spiritual formation and in-depth study of theories of human development, personality assessment, counseling theory and practice, students will learn:

• to understand key aspects of biblical history and the social world of the Bible from a cross-cultural perspective and to exercise awareness of a variety of cultural perspectives that affect reading scripture today;

• to recognize, understand, and interpret the historical, theological, and ecclesial sources of the faith commitments and concerns of those seeking counseling;

• to reflect with counseling clients on the individual, social and political implications of religious commitments;

• to assess persons seeking counseling and to design and implement counseling goals with respectful and critically-informed consideration of religious material presented by clients;

• to understand counseling theory and apply it in clinical settings;

• to take and pass the Texas State qualifying board exams for Licensed Professional Counseling (LPC); and

• to practice counseling with the highest standards of professional ethics and competence.

MAC REQUIREMENTS

Core curriculum (15 credits)

Required courses (39 credits)

C5301 Normal Human Development

C5302 Abnormal Human Behavior

C5303 Counseling Theories

C5304 Appraisal and Assessment Techniques

C5305 Methods & Techniques for Individual Counseling

C5306 Methods & Techniques for Group Counseling

C5307 Methods & Techniques for Marriage and Family Counseling

C5308 Cultural Differences, Community and Human Flourishing

C5309 Professional Orientation

C5310 Lifestyle and Vocational Development

C5311 Research Methods for Counseling Professionals

C5312 Counseling Practicum A

C5313 Counseling Practicum B

Elective courses (12 credits)

Notes on Licensure

Applicants from states other than Texas should determine the requirements of those examining boards. While conforming to the state’s requirements, courses offered by the Seminary of the Southwest are taught from a Christian faith perspective so that the emphasis is on both professional and pastoral competence.

Licensure requires (1) successful completion of required course work, (2) passing the licensing examination and (3) the experience requirement of 3000 hours of supervised internship. As with other counseling degree programs, this degree does not provide the licensing examination or placement for an internship. Although securing an intern position is done at the initiative of the student, the M.A.P.M./M.A.C. Director and faculty are available for consultation and advice. Counseling students are urged to obtain the current rules for licensure from the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors. Phone is 512.834.6658 and the web site is linked in above line. The web site has the latest rulings on which courses must be in your degree plan, procedures for licensure, and the names of approved supervisors for your internship. Pursued upon graduation, successful completion of licensure is the responsibility of the student and not of the Seminary.

MAPM and MAC students balance evening and weekend classes on campus with their professional worklife.