Denver Seminary > inContext M.A. in Leadership

inContext M.A. in Leadership

inContext is a “blended” online and on campus learning experience that lets you earn your Master of Arts in Leadership degree—without having to relocate. inContext gives you access to the knowledge, support and mentoring you need and the flexibility to learn when and where you want.

OnLine
The inContext program is unique in that it gives you the latitude to learn from home. With 95% of your time spent online, inContext provides students from all walks of life with the opportunity to pursue an exceptional seminary education, while maintaining their established schedule and surroundings.

OnCampus
You will spend only two weeks each year on our beautiful Colorado campus located minutes from the majestic Rocky Mountains (and at the most opportune times for visiting - June and October). Your time on campus will allow you the time to form authentic relationships in an interactive classroom setting and learn from faculty that genuinely care about you - both in and out of the classroom.

The inContext program at Denver Seminary provides you with the opportunity to earn your Master of Arts in Leadership with two different concentrations:

Pastoral Leadership
Organizational Leadership

Whichever concentration you are considering pursuing; you’ll learn to understand your own leadership style, develop your philosophy of leadership, and put solid leadership principles into practice—all seasoned and shaped by a core of theological studies. The inContext program is structured in a way that offers the highest-caliber educational experience in a convenient, easily adaptable plan to fit your busy lifestyle.

How does inContext work?
What are the core components of this degree and what classes will you take?
Frequently Asked Questions
Contact us

How Does inContext Work?

It takes three (3) years to complete the inContext program. This includes three (3) semesters a year, and two visits to campus each year. Your visit to campus will include a carefully planned week, with specific times set for classes as well as the integration of our training and mentoring program. Your time on campus will look something like this (this is just a SAMPLE)

	Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
Morning		4 Hours Class	4 Hours Class	4 Hours Class	4 Hours Class	4 Hours Class	4 Hours Class
Lunch		90 Minutes Lunch break	90 Minutes Lunch break	90 Minutes Lunch break	90 Minutes Lunch break	90 Minutes Lunch break	90 Minutes Lunch break
Afternoon		4 Hours Training & Mentoring	4 Hours Training & Mentoring	4 Hours Class	4 Hours Class	4 Hours Class	4 Hours Class
Evening	Informal Reception

Each concentration requires the completion of 62 hours: 28 hours will be taken online, while 34 hours will be finished in the classroom.

What are the core components of this degree and what classes will you take?

There are two different concentrations for the inContext program: (Pastoral Leadership and Organizational Leadership)

Pastoral Leadership Concentration

Who can use this degree?

Leaders in Christian parachurch organizations who wish to develop their leadership skills in the context of a theological and biblical perspective.
Leaders in the local church who desire strong biblical and theological preparation, but also want the focus on practical skills of leadership.

How can I use this degree?

Church education and discipleship director
Church planter or community outreach director
Church business administration
Christian school or campus ministry coordinator
Leadership position in parachurch organization

What classes will you take?

The inContext M.A. in Leadership degree with a concentration in pastoral ministry is a total of 62 hours. 28 hours are done online and the remaining 34 hours are done on campus. You will only need to spend two weeks each year on campus.

*Note: bolded classes are taken online.

Course #	Class	Sem. Hrs
T/M 500	Introduction to Christian Formation and Training and Mentoring	1
LD 501	Theological and Theoretical Foundations for Leadership	3
T/M 501	Mentored Spiritual Formation I	1
BI 501	Effective Biblical Interpretation	2
LD 601	The Personal Life of the Christian Leader	2
LD 511	Strategy for Leadership Development	3
T/M 502	Mentored Ministry Experience I	1
NT 511	Understanding the Gospels and Acts	3
CH 501	Survey of Church History	3
NT 579	Using the Greek New Testament in Ministry	3
PME 601	Pastoral Theology and Christian Worship	2
T/M 601	Mentored Spiritual Formation II	1
OT 511	Understanding Early Israel and Its Wisdom Literature	3
LD 521	Management for Leaders	3
HOM 501	Sermon Preparation and Delivery	2
T/M 602	602 Mentored Ministry Experience II	1
NT 512	Understanding the Epistles and Revelation	3
TH 501	Survey of Church Doctrine I	3
PME 701	Evangelism and Discipleship	2
IM 621	Communicating and Leading in Intercultural Contexts	3
LD 631	Handling Conflict and Change in Intercultural Contexts	2
T/M 611	Mentored Spiritual Formation III	1
TH 502	Survey of Christian Doctrine II	3
PME 602	Counseling in Pastoral Ministry	2
LD 794	Leadership in Action	2
T/M 612	Mentored Ministry Experience III	1
OT 512	Understanding the Kingdom of Israel and Its Prophets	3
AE 601	Christian Ethics and Modern Culture	3
Online Total:		28
On Campus Total:		34
Degree Total:		62

Organizational Leadership Concentration

Who can use this degree?

Those working in a secular leadership position who are interested in developing practical leadership skills from a theological and biblical perspective.

How can I use this degree?

Political or public sector leaders in the corporate environment
Executive leaders in missions organizations
Youth ministry, camp directors, and teen missions organizations

What classes will you take?

The inContext M.A. in Leadership degree with a concentration in organizational leadership is a total of 62 hours. 28 hours are done online and the remaining 34 are done on campus. You will only need to spend two weeks each year on campus.

*Note: bolded classes are taken online.

Course #	Class	Sem. Hrs
T/M 500	Introduction to Christian Formation and Training and Mentoring	1
LD 501	Theological and Theoretical Foundations for Leadership	3
T/M 501	Mentored Spiritual Formation I	1
BI 501	Effective Biblical Interpretation	2
LD 601	The Personal Life of the Christian Leader	2
LD 511	Strategy for Leadership Development	3
T/M 502	Mentored Ministry Experience I	1
NT 511	Understanding the Gospels and Acts	3
CH 501	Survey of Church History	3
LD 6**	Human Resource issues/Project Management/Meeting Management	3
LD 671	Systems Thinking and Decision-Making	2
T/M 601	Mentored Spiritual Formation II	1
OT 511	Understanding Early Israel and Its Wisdom Literature	3
LD 521	Management for Leaders	3
T/M 602	602 Mentored Ministry Experience II	1
NT 512	Understanding the Epistles and Revelation	3
TH 501	Survey of Church Doctrine I	3
EM 601	Teaching Practicum	2
IM 621	Communicating and Leading in Intercultural Contexts	3
LD 631	Handling Conflict and Change in Intercultural Contexts	2
T/M 611	Mentored Spiritual Formation III	1
TH 502	Survey of Christian Doctrine II	3
TH 672	Theology of Work	2
LD 794	Leadership in Action	2
LD??	Legal and Financial Issues in Leadership	3
T/M 612	Mentored Ministry Experience III	1
OT 512	Understanding the Kingdom of Israel and Its Prophets	3
LD 7**	Business Ethics	3
Online Total:		28
On Campus Total:		34
Degree Total:		62

Frequently Asked Questions

I’ve heard inContext called “hybrid learning”– different from “online learning”?
Is inContext an “accredited” degree program?
Are scholarships or financial aid available for the inContext program?
How and when do I apply for financial aid?
When does the inContext semester begin?
Can I change to inContext from my current on-campus degree or vice versa?
Will I be able to take a Leave of Absence if necessary and restart with another cohort?
Will I be allowed to register as a part-time student?
Can I transfer in or do an advanced standing exam for coursework?
Where will I stay during the weeks when I’m on campus?
I’m an international student; will I be able to enroll in the inContext program?
Will I be able to access the Library during the online learning portion of courses?
What is Moodle?
What are the computer and software requirements? Are those costs included in my tuition?

I’ve heard inContext called “hybrid learning”– different from “online learning”?
inContext is a hybrid learning educational delivery system (also known as blended, adaptive or distance learning). It combines online curriculum and instruction with on-site, face-to-face teaching in an on-campus setting. A Master of Arts in Leadership degree earned through inContext is no different than a similar degree earned through an on-campus program.

Is inContext an “accredited” degree program?
Absolutely. The program is accredited and governed by the Association of Theological Seminaries (ATS) like any other Master of Arts degree program at Denver Seminary.

Are scholarships or financial aid available for the inContext program?
Yes, inContext is treated no differently than any other Denver Seminary on-campus degree program.

How and when do I apply for financial aid?
The process to apply for financial aid is the same as on-campus programs. Please go to denverseminary.edu/become-a-student/financial-aid/ for more information on financial aid.

When does the inContext semester begin?
The first day of classes begins May 20^th, 2013.

Can I change to inContext from my current on-campus degree or vice versa?
You can. Your credits will be evaluated for their ability to transfer to the new degree/major in the same way we evaluate credits for any other on-campus changes to degree/majors. We encourage you to contact the Admissions Office to discuss your specific concerns. If you are a current student wishing to switch majors, you may meet with the Registrar’s Office to discuss your options.

Will I be able to take a Leave of Absence if necessary and restart with another cohort?
Yes, you are allowed to take a Leave of Absence. If you need to take a Leave of Absence, you will need to wait one full academic year before returning to classes, since you will need to return to the semester that offers the next courses in your curriculum rotation. For example: If the last semester you attended was Spring 2014 and you take a Leave of Absence during the Summer 2014 semester, you would need to wait until the Summer 2015 semester to register again and join the new cohort.

Anything beyond one academic year would result in an automatic withdrawal from the program. If you withdrew and wanted to re-enter at a later time, you would need to complete the admissions process once again and would also need to wait until the fall, spring or summer semester that matches where you left off in the curriculum.

Will I be allowed to register as a part-time student?
Yes, we can make accommodations if you need to attend as a part-time student. Give the Admissions Office a call to discuss your unique situation.

Can I transfer in or do an advanced standing exam for coursework?
Yes, however, there are limitations as to how many credits can be completed through transfer/advanced standing. Transfer credit and advanced standing are NOT available for the hybrid classes. The hybrid classes must be taken through Denver Seminary.

Where can I find a course description?
You can find a complete course description at: denverseminary.edu/inContext.

Where will I stay during the weeks when I’m on campus?
There are a number of local hotels in close proximity to Denver Seminary. A complete listing of hotels, shuttles, free time, etc. can be found by visiting: denverseminary.edu/become-a-student/visit-denver-seminary/travel-information

I’m an international student; will I be able to enroll in the inContext program?
Yes. You will be required to fulfill the on-campus portion of the program along with your cohorts. This will require you to have an F-1 visa.

Will I be able to access the Library during the online learning portion of courses?
Yes. Many of the library’s resources can be found online, including numerous eBooks, full-text articles, journal citations, periodicals, tutorials and other resources available through the Denver Seminary Library home page and through the Moodle learning platform. You can search these databases online or from your smart phone or tablet. For a complete listing of databases, resources, and access information, visit the Denver Seminary Library home page at: denverseminary.edu/resources/our-library. If you have specific questions, contact the Reference Librarian for more assistance.

What is Moodle?
Moodle (Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment) is Denver Seminary’s secure, online learning software platform, also known as a Course Management System. This will be your online learning environment for inContext classes, assignment submission, discussion forum, downloading syllabi, course scheduling, and instant messaging. Moodle operates on Windows, Mac OS X, Unix, Linux, FreeBSD, NetWare and any other systems that support PHP and a database, including most webhost providers.

What are the computer and software requirements? Are those costs included in my tuition?
The inContext program should operate on most newer computers running Windows or Mac OSX operating systems with internet connectivity. You must have a broadband connection - cable modem or better is recommended. You must have Microsoft Office. inContext students will need a USB headset and a web camera to use with Skype.

Internet fees are subject to your Internet Service Provider (ISP). In addition, hardware and software costs are not included in your tuition. For more information and our recommended technical specifications, please visit http: denverseminary.edu/become-a-student/online-learning.