School of Ministry Mission Statement
Richmont Graduate University’s School of Ministry provides graduate programs that advance the Gospel of Christ by increasing the capacities of students to understand God’s Word, to become whole and holy people, and to lead and serve effectively.
School of Ministry Vision
School of Ministry prepares men and women to fulfill God’s call to transforming ministry.
Programs of Study
Richmont Graduate University's School of Ministry offers the following programs. Please consult the Graduate Catalog for complete details and course descriptions.
• Master of Arts in Ministry
• Master of Arts in Ministry: Anglican Studies Concentration
• Master of Arts in Spiritual Formation and Direction
• Doctorate of Ministry in Spiritual Formation & Leadership
Master of Arts in Ministry
The Master of Arts in Ministry is a 40 credit-hour degree that focuses on theology, spiritual formation, and practical leadership and ministry skills. The M.A. in Ministry has been designed to address a student’s whole being as it relates to their passion for authentic ministry leadership and service. Students experience amazing transformations in their knowledge and wisdom concerning scripture, their personal relationships with the Lord as they progress through the program and their ability to invoke Christ-centered leadership. Each student will carry these transformations with them after graduation to positively impact their churches, communities, and families.
Students divide their studies equally between the curriculum areas of:
• Bible History and Theology (Knowing)
• Spiritual Formation (Being)
• Practical Ministry and Leadership Skills (Doing)
Master of Arts in Ministry: Anglican Studies Concentration
The Master of Arts in Ministry: Anglican Studies is a 33 credit-hour degree meant to orient students to the history and theological distinctives of Anglicanism, including ecclesial and liturgical heritage as well as its context-sensitive approach to contemporary ministry. The Master of Arts in Ministry: Anglican Studies Concentration was developed in partnership with the Mission School of Ministry in Chattanooga, TN. It is focused on preparing students for ministry leadership within the Anglican tradition.
Master of Arts in Spiritual Formation and Direction
The Master of Arts in Spiritual Formation and Direction is a 40 credit-hour degree that focuses on Bible, theology, personal spiritual formation, and supervised training in spiritual direction. Students will experience challenging personal spiritual growth and in-depth foundation in biblical theology. Due to the nature of the intense training in spiritual direction, courses are offered only on a cohort model.
Doctorate of Ministry in Spiritual Formation and Leadership
The Doctorate of Ministry in Spiritual Formation & Leadership is a 31-32 credit-hour degree with a continuing relations Ministry Capstone Project that lasts from one to three semesters. The Doctorate of Ministry in Spiritual Formation & Leadership is meant to empower graduates to impact churches, organizations, clients, and communities through practical ministry projects, publications, and a specific focus on leadership development.
The curriculum focuses on:
• Integrating spiritual formation with biblical interpretation, church history, and Christian theology
• Enacting personal and corporate practices of Christian ministry reflective of holistic and mature spiritual formation
• Formulating spiritually-formative strategies for furthering justice and cultural engagement in today’s church
• Demonstrating a proficient understanding of specialized course content which will be instrumental in providing additional relevancy to varying areas of influence within the ministry of spiritual formation and leadership
School of Ministry Graduate Certificates
• Graduate Certificate in Spiritual Direction
• Graduate Certificate in Anglican Studies
Find additional information in the Richmont Graduate University Graduate Catalog.
Student Rights and Responsibilities
Richmont Graduate University is committed to honoring our mission and our students by setting standards of excellence in the areas of academics, ministry, spiritual formation, and spiritual direction. The university is also committed to students’ engagement in the evaluation process, which includes providing students with full information about the process, their roles, and the role of the faculty.
Richmont encourages the expression of ideas by students. Any official publication should be coordinated through the Student Affairs Office for approval. Richmont students have the right of freedom of expression and the right of the presumption of innocence and procedural fairness in the administration of discipline.
As students should know their rights and responsibilities, Richmont requires that all students review all program materials including, but not limited to, those posted on the university website, the Graduate Catalog, and this Student Handbook.
School of Ministry Statement of Student Rights & Responsibilities
All Richmont Graduate University School of Ministry students sign a Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities form prior to matriculation.
Writing and Research Standards
All papers written are to conform to the most recent edition of Kate L. Turabian’s
A Manual for Writers or as otherwise noted by the professor. All written documents are to reflect the highest standards of grammar, composition, and style. Students are expected to have adequate computer skills to produce all course assignments and to conduct research for those assignments independently. Any student desiring assistance for the research or production of assignments (other than basic proofreading) is required to seek prior approval from the professor.
Writing that is done in online classes, including, but not limited to, discussion posts, essays, research papers, etc. are expected to be at a graduate level. Proper grammar and sentence structure must be used.
Writing resources for School of Ministry students are provided in each School of Ministry course syllabus and through the Libraries.
Academic Advisement
Upon acceptance to Richmont, each student in the School of Ministry will receive academic advisement as needed. The program is sequential in nature, and many courses are only offered once per year; therefore, deviation from the planned curriculum may result in inadequate preparation for coursework and a delay in meeting requirements for graduation. Students who wish to depart from the standard sequence should consult with the Records Office and their advisor regarding proposed changes and implications for completing the program. Students who deviate from the suggested sequence of courses are held to the same standards of performance for the courses as students who have followed the prescribed sequence.
Student Evaluation
Richmont students are expected to maintain the highest standards of scholarship. The minimum standard of performance is a grade of 3.0 (B). Any student who receives a term grade point average below 3.0 during a given semester will receive a letter of scholastic warning from the Records Office. Should the student receive a GPA of less than 3.0 in two successive semesters, he/she will be subject to dismissal. A student dismissed for failure to maintain a 3.0 GPA may reapply after one year and must meet full admission criteria for the master’s program at the time of re-application in addition to any requirements stipulated at the time of dismissal. The full description of Student Evaluation and Standards of Performance is described in the Graduate Catalog.