Master of Arts in Applied Apologetics

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The M.A. in Applied Apologetics provides training that improves the church’s understanding and expression of the essential doctrines of the Christian faith and the evidence which undergirds those doctrines. The degree engrains students with graduate-level knowledge and skills necessary to provide a meaningful defense of the faith and thoughtful evangelistic tools to share it. The curriculum provides not only theoretical consideration of apologetics issues but also the practical deployment of apologetics approaches.

Upon completion of the Master of Arts in Applied Apologetics, students are able to:

Analyze the biblical, philosophical, and practical rationale for Christian apologetics.
Apply critical thinking and logic as an effective means of persuasion.
Evaluate the evidence for the historicity of Jesus’ person and work, focusing particularly on his resurrection.
Produce a rational defense for the trustworthiness of the Bible.
Differentiate between personal and church-based, effective evangelistic approaches.

Students choose one of four emphases to provide greater depth and rigor to their study of apologetics:

Cultural Engagement
Global Apologetics
Innovative Evangelism
Practical Apologetics

Admission to the Master of Arts in Applied Apologetics Degree Program

Admission Requirements

Submit a completed application form (including essay, transcripts, and fees).
Valid state-issued driver’s license or state-issued ID card or passport.
Submit an official transcript that reflects a bachelor’s or master’s degree from a regionally accredited higher education institution.
Possess a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. Applicants with an undergraduate grade point average between 2.0 and 2.49 will be admitted on a conditional admit (CAD) basis for the first semester. CAD students must maintain a 3.0 GPA or better in their first nine (9) credits to remain in the program.

Transfer of Courses

Students may transfer up to 9 semester hours of graduate credit from a regionally accredited college or university. The coursework must be comparable to that offered at CCU and fulfill the M.A. in Applied Apologetics requirements.

Time Limitation

The M.A. in Applied Apologetics is a 39 credit-hour degree designed to be completed within 17 months of intensive study by persons who work or are otherwise occupied by the equivalent of a full-time job.

All work applied toward a master’s degree must be completed within a four-year period from the date of enrollment. After the four-year period, an M.A. in Applied Apologetics student who has not completed the requirements to graduate will be withdrawn from the program. Students who go beyond the four-year period and wish to complete their M.A. in Applied Apologetics degree will be required to apply for reconsideration by completing a Petition for Exception to Academic Policy. Readmitted students will be required to adhere to the degree plans and academic policies in place at the time they are readmitted.

M.A. in Applied Apologetics Core Course Requirements (21 credit hours)

Emphasis Core Course Requirements (18 credit hours)

Students choose one of the following four emphases required for the M.A. in Applied Apologetics.

Cultural Engagement Emphasis Core

The Cultural Engagement emphasis focuses on engagement with current culture and tensions it has with orthodox Christianity. Leaming how to speak the truth in love, without compromising either element, students learn strategies for articulating biblical responses to key cultural issues, but also participate in real-world opportunities to present ultimate solutions grounded in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Global Apologetics Emphasis Core

The Global Apologetics emphasis focuses on non-Christian and pseudo-Christian belief systems, paying close attention to where those systems diverge from biblical, orthodox Christianity. Application is made to how appropriate apologetics approaches can be crafted to address those divergent beliefs and present the true Gospel message.

Innovative Evangelism Emphasis Core

The emphasis in Innovative Evangelism is designed to enhance students’ evangelistic passion, and then to harness it into developing strategic and creative approaches that will reach increasing numbers of non-believers who desperately need the truth of the gospel.

Practical Apologetics Emphasis Core

The Practical Apologetics emphasis focuses on how science, history, philosophy, archaeology, religious experience, and evidence related to the life and work of Jesus Christ can all be used to argue for the truth of Christianity, including the Christian worldview, the existence of the triune God, and consequent truth of the Gospel message.

Graduation Requirements for the Master of Arts in Applied Apologetics

The faculty recommends students in the Master of Arts in Applied Apologetics to the Board of Trustees as candidates for graduation when they have completed the following requirements:

Completion of 39 credit hours required for the degree within four years of program admission and enrollment.
A letter grade of C or higher with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher on the University’s 4.0 grade scale in all CCU course work.
Successful completion of the final capstone course (APL 598) requiring research competence with a B- or higher.
Formal and timely application for graduation by the date specified by the University Registrar.
No outstanding financial obligations to the University.