Applied Ministry
Required Courses
Each M.Div. student is required to complete 2 credit hours of Applied Ministry (formerly “Field Education”) in the School of Theology. During the fall semester APLMN 4011 Applied Ministry Disciple-Making in the Local Church is offered. In the spring APLMN 4021 Applied Ministry Mentoring is offered. These courses have prerequisites of Spiritual Formation I (SPFTH 3101), Spiritual Formation II (SPFTH 3111), and Contemporary Evangelism (EVANG 3303). It is recommended that APLMN 4011 be taken before APLMN 4021.
Elective Courses
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary through the Applied Ministry Division encourages and assists all students in gaining a variety of Applied Ministry experiences during their seminary years. Participation in Applied Ministry experiences will make students more attractive to potential ministry positions while a student and more appealing to potential employers after graduation.
- Internship - The student works alongside a church leader in a covenant relationship to develop in areas of both competence and character to further his or her readiness for leadership in the local church or other ministry.
- APLMN 3101 (1 hour)
- APLMN 3102 (2 hours)
- APLMN 3103 (3 hours)
- Practicum - A structured and significant educational experience that takes place in a church, institution, or community environment under the supervision of ministry mentors and the guidance of the Applied Ministry Division.
- APLMN 3201 (1 hour)
- APLMN 3202 (2 hours)
- APLMN 3203 (3 hours)
- Mentorship - A relational experience in which one person (mentor) empowers another (mentoree) by sharing God-given resources such as personal strengths, resources, and networks (friendships/contacts) to help the student reach his or her goals.
- APLMN 3301 (1 hour)
- APLMN 3302 (2 hours)
- APLMN 3303 (3 hours)
- Apprenticeship - Usually a longer, more structured learning experience in which the student works with a church or ministry leader to develop a skill or cluster of skills to advance his or her competence in ministry.
- APLMN 3401 (1 hour)
- APLMN 3402 (2 hours)
- APLMN 3403 (3 hours)
- Disciple-Making - Advanced disciple-making practicum. The student works within the context of a local church to broaden their understanding and personal experience in New Testament one-on-one discipline of new or recent believers.
- APLMN 3501 (1 hour)
- APLMN 3502 (2 hours)
- APLMN 3503 (3 hours)
Course Requirements
The division utilizes the following formula for computing 1 hour of academic credit in Applied Ministry:
- 30 hours ministry involvement in a church, institution, mission trip, or community environment
- 15 hours mentoring face-to-face, one-on-one by an experienced ministry mentor
- 300 pages reading average (one book) for each credit hour
- Keep a ministry journal that chronicles your journey through this experience.
- Ministry Reflection paper of approximately 3 pages in length describing the ministry conducted and what was learned from the experiences (plus a "ministry trip log" for all short-term missions experiences)
Duration
Applied Ministry practica may be summer, semester, or year-long experiences and may earn multiple credit hours (see formula above).
- Summer ministries (8-10 weeks) - Credit hours computed using the division's formula.
- Semester positions (14 weeks) - Credit hours computed using the division's formula.
- Year long experiences (9-12 months) - Credit hours computed using the division's formula.
- Special Ministry opportunities - evangelistic meetings, missions trips, practica, etc.
The Division personnel will work with each student to design a program that will best correspond with their professional and academic goals.
The Applied Ministry Division also supervises the zero credit applied practica for PRCHG 3323 and PASMN 4313.
