Are you passionate about seeing people transformed spiritually? Do you have a desire to both deepen your personal knowledge and understanding of Scripture while gaining practical tools for the everyday reality of ministry? 

PLNU’s Master of Arts in Christian Ministry (MACM) program is designed with the student in mind. By combining a strong ministry component with rigorous academics, PLNU’s MACM is ideal for both practicing and aspiring pastors and other ministry leaders. 

Within the Master of Arts in Christian Ministry program, you will be equipped and empowered to be a strong leader whose preaching and teaching impact the lives around you. Develop a better understanding of how to lead a missional church and how Wesleyan theology can inform your contemporary ministry. 

The program is designed to accommodate students who live at a distance (often in ministry assignments). Courses are offered in eight-week quads, including one intensive week per semester (or three times per year). There is also a Distance Exception Policy that allows those who live more than fifty miles from PLNU’s Point Loma campus to complete the degree online without having to attend in-person classes on campus. The curriculum has a strong emphasis on both academic rigor and practical ministry.

The degree is designed around four central emphases, which are highlighted in the core courses:

• Christian Formation
• Christian Scripture
• Church in Mission
• Christian Tradition

Each of these courses is paired with a course that focuses on application in local ministry.

After completing the Master of Arts in Christian Ministry program, students will be able to:

• Incorporate Christian formation in the local congregation and the life of the minister.
• Interpret Scripture especially as related to preaching and teaching in the local church.
• Explain the nature, mission, and social context of the church, especially as related to ecclesial practices and leadership in the local congregation.
• Analyze theology, ethics, and church history, especially as related to the Wesleyan tradition and contemporary ministry.

Master of Divinity

As part of Nazarene Theological Seminary’s Multi-Campus Seminary initiative, you can now take NTS coursework at PLNU toward the completion of a Master of Divinity degree. PLNU Master of Arts in Christian Ministry units may also be transferred into the NTS M.Div.

PLNU's Master of Arts in Christian Ministry curriculum covers partial educational requirements for ordination in the Church of the Nazarene.

Are you ready to take the next step and apply?

We’re here to make the entire process a simple one. We’ll walk you through the application process, answer your questions, and get you one step closer to earning your degree.

Program Start Date(s):

• Spring 2025 Quad II — March 17, 2025
• Summer 2025 Quad I — May 12, 2025
• Summer 2025 Quad II — July 7, 2025
• Fall 2025 Quad I — September 2, 2025
• Fall 2025 Quad II — October 27, 2025

Application Deadline(s):

• Spring 2025 Quad II — February 28, 2025
• Summer 2025 Quad I — April 25, 2025
• Summer 2025 Quad II — June 20, 2025
• Fall 2025 Quad I — August 15, 2025
• Fall 2025 Quad II — October 10, 2025

All applications submitted after this date will be reviewed based on availability of space.

Start Application

The Selection Process

The educational context at PLNU will challenge you to live a full life that integrates the pursuit of knowledge with beliefs, values and actions. While honoring diverse perspectives and beliefs, Christian values and principles are woven into the educational experience. We understand that your application is not only a reflection of you as a student; it’s a reflection of you as a person. At PLNU, we holistically evaluate your academic history, work and life experience, background, and circumstances to determine admission into a graduate program. Your undergraduate GPA is an important piece of your application, but if you do not meet the minimum GPA requirement of a 2.75 or higher you may still be eligible for admission based on your application package as well as the exceptions policy per your particular program.* Therefore, we strongly encourage you to contact your enrollment counselor, who will advise you regarding your qualifications and provide specific information about the admission under exceptions process.

To be admitted into PLNU's Master of Arts in Christian Ministry program, you must have a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution, as evidenced by an official transcript from an institution that indicates the completion of an undergraduate degree.

If you have any questions about your qualifications or the program in general, we encourage you to contact your enrollment counselor.

Application Checklist

Note: The application is completed entirely online with the exception of transcripts, which can be submitted electronically or directly to PLNU, and test scores, which should be submitted electronically.

1. Submit an online application for admissions (including $50 non-refundable application fee, which is waived for PLNU alums, current or former military and their dependents, and PLNU employees).
2. Submit official transcripts with proof of earned baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution.* (If you are a PLNU alumnus, please notify your counselor to have your transcripts retrieved. You do not need to request transcripts from the PLNU Office of Records.)
   
   Official transcripts must be sent to:
   Point Loma Nazarene University
   Office of Graduate Admissions
   3900 Lomaland Dr.
   San Diego, CA 92106
   
   Official electronic transcripts must be emailed to:
   gradprocessing@pointloma.edu
   
   *Please note, official transcripts must be sent directly from the regionally accredited institution.
3. Submit a personal essay that addresses the following topic:
   • Submit a writing sample that includes a statement of commitment to Christian values and to excellence in scholarship.

4. Once you have submitted your admissions application, your two selected professional recommenders will automatically be sent the auto-generated document to complete on your behalf. If you'd like to include a written letter in addition to this required document, you may do so, but it's unnecessary.

Start Application

Exceptions Policy*: If you have below a 2.75 GPA in your baccalaureate degree, you will need to speak with your enrollment counselor for more information on the exceptions materials needed for your particular program.

State Authorization

State authorization is a formal determination by a state that Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) is approved to conduct activities regulated by that state. In certain states outside California, PLNU is not authorized to enroll students in online (distance education) courses and/or offer internships within that state. Student location is based on where a student is physically located while taking courses. Students taking face-to-face courses are located in California, regardless of their home state at the time of application.

If a student moves to another state after admission to a program and/or enrollment in an online course, continuation within the program and/or course will depend on whether PLNU is authorized to offer distance education courses in that state. If a student wishes to conduct an internship outside California, they must select a state where it is permitted. It is the student's responsibility to notify PLNU of any change in their physical location, other than incidental travel. Refer to the State Authorization map to view which states allow online (distance education) and/or internships outside California.

PLNU’s Master of Arts in Christian Ministry will prepare you to further your career as a working minister, expanding both your understanding and impact. You'll grow your passion for ministry, gain expertise in the study of Scripture, and be empowered to lead a missional church.

“The one-week intensive structure of the PLNU master of Christian ministry program allows me to balance both ministry and scholastic pursuits. I am able to make my Wednesday and Sunday commitments while still being in class. Likewise, the online coursework before and after the one-week intensive is designed to work around my schedule, and as a bi-vocational pastor, this has been extremely important for my ability to complete courses.”    

Garrett Blevins
Student, Master of Arts in Christian Ministry  

For information about the courses required for the Christian Ministry, M.A. program, view the PLNU Catalog. 

Course Information