MA in Christian Leadership (MACL)

Preparation for organizational leadership roles in church, parachurch, missions, and marketplace contexts.

Contact Information

Dallas Location:

1st Floor of Walvoord Student Center

Dallas Office Hours:

Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm (Central)

General Advising Number:

214-887-5080

General Advising Email:

advising@dts.edu

Degree Overview

Total Hours	66 credit hours
Degree Time Limit	7 years from first DTS class
Real-time courses	4 courses required (Fully Online degree)
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)	10 credit hours

• 0-20 Hours • 21-45 Hours • 46-66 Hours

• Degree Worksheets • After Graduation

0-20 Credit Hours

Refer to the degree plan for your entering catalog as an overall guide.
Register for core courses: BE5101, EML5101, ST5101, and PM5101.
Register for Spiritual Formation (SF5100 – Dallas, Houston, DC; SF5110 – Online/Extension locations).
- SF5110 Mentored Spiritual Formation requires an application process and will take some time to complete.
- For questions about Spiritual Formation, please email: sf@dts.edu
Familiarize yourself with the Academic Success Resource Center for various tools and links to assist with your courses.
Meet with an academic advisor to discuss:
- What led you to DTS
- What elective courses might be helpful to take
- When, where, and what courses to take in Real-time in the coming semesters. (See the Real-Time Courses chart for more information.)

How do I select Leadership and Ministry & Communications electives?

Students in the 2022 catalog or later will select their Leadership and Ministry Communication electives in consultation with an EML Leadership faculty member. Students must complete the MACL Elective Selection form in their first-year of student. All MACL students are encouraged to discuss their electives with faculty and their academic advisor using the form below. However, only those in the 2022 catalog are required to complete this form.

To schedule a meeting with one of the following EML Leadership professors, students should contact the EML department: eml@dts.edu or 214-887-5130.

21-45 Credit Hours

Should I do the Leadership Courses + Internship or Ministry Residency + Internship?

Those opting to do leadership courses and an internship will serve at a selected site in a volunteer or part-time capacity.

The Ministry Residency is limited to students serving in full-time vocational ministry. Those in the 2022-2023 academic catalog and beyond who opt to do the Ministry Residency will also register for a concurrent internship at their Ministry Residency site.

Both options require an application. Ministry Residency applications are due in January for the upcoming year (ex. January 2023 for Fall 2023). Those taking leadership courses plus an internship must submit an internship application the semester before starting.

	Leadership Courses + Internship	Ministry Residency + Internship
Courses (14 hours)	INT5150 (2 hours) EML5331 (3 hours) EML5332 (3 hours) 6 Hours of Leadership Electives	Fall: EML5801 (6 hours) Spring: EML5802 (6 hours) INT5150 (2 hours)
Semesters	2	2 (Fall-Spring)
Hours	7-10 hours per week	30+ hours in local church or parachurch ministry
On-campus	Not required	Fall: One-week in Dallas Spring: One-week in Dallas
Start Dates	Starts any semester (fall, spring, or summer)	Fall semester only

Internship Information

Phone Number:

214-887-5264

Internship Email:

internships@dts.edu

Internship & Residency Prerequisites

Credit Hours

30 hours completed

Courses

– Progress toward SF5100/5110

– EML5101

46-66 Credit Hours

What is required for Graduation?

Students must submit the Admission to Candidacy Application (including all references) by the deadline listed for each semester on the Graduation Information page.
Confirm the Graduation Date listed in the system corresponds to your plan along with your Academic Advisor and Registrar’s Office. (Update graduation date here)
Review/Confirm upcoming semester plans with an academic advisor to ensure all degree requirements are met.
Students should indicate their plans to participate in spring Commencement using the Commencement Ceremony Participation application during the available dates and after being approved for Candidacy.

What if I’m interested in applying for various ministry positions or need help with other ministry/job plans after graduation?

Students may benefit from a meeting with Career Services to discuss their ministry resume, interview skills, and ministry opportunities. Students are encouraged to work with Career Services 9-12 months before graduation.

Degree Worksheets

The following are degree worksheets specific to students who entered the MACL or reclassified to the MACL in the following academic years. If students have questions about their specific degree requirements or degree audit, students should contact their academic advisor.

After Graduation

Master’s level students keep their current Logos Bible Software package. Future Logos updates or upgrades are the responsibility of each person and not done through DTS.

DTS graduates have three options for further training:

Self-paced learning through Online Videos – All online courses and lectures are available for graduates to access through the Alumni portal. No application is required.
Alumni nondegree – Graduates may take additional DTS courses as a nondegree student, either for audit or credit at a reduced rate. If students take courses for Alumni nondegree credit and want to use the course(s) toward another Master’s degree, then the student will need to pay the difference of tuition between the Alumni rate and current tuition rate.
Pursue an additional DTS degree – Graduates may return to DTS to pursue a second Master’s degree or a Doctoral degree. Graduates must reapply through Admissions and previous DTS credits are reevaluated and remaining requirements are evaluated upon readmission. Doctoral degrees may require additional Master’s level work.