A person who wishes to obtain a Master of Religious Education degree must complete a bachelor's degree, apply to a Master of Religious Education degree program, and complete two years of formal coursework. She receives her degree once the institution verifies no deficiencies exist in the student's course history. Once obtained, the degree qualifies the recipient to work in positions of directorship within a church. These degrees are available through campuses, online, or a combination of campus and online study.
To get a master's degree in any subject, including religion, a person first needs to get a bachelor's degree. Academic institutions do not always require that the bachelor's degree also be in religion, but this is ideal because it lays a solid foundation for focusing on the educational aspects of faith. If a person does not have a religious-based undergraduate degree, the institution might require additional training, which might add up to a year of study.
Once a person has a bachelor's degree, she may investigate master's degree programs that concentrate on religious education. Curricula vary, but all are designed to provide formal study of the Bible, explore world religions to give a broader religious understanding, and demonstrate how educational principles can be applied in a religious setting with different groups. A Master of Religious Education degree takes two years of study to earn in the majority of programs. Schools sometimes offer programs partially or completely online, so in looking at programs, students can decide how much flexibility they need and whether they prefer campus or distance study. Online study is ideal for those who want to continue to be active in their church and community while taking advantage of the chance to pursue higher education.
Application to a Master of Religious Education degree program is similar to application in other master's programs in what the institutions usually require. Students must produce evidence of the bachelor's degree with transcripts, take a standardized competency test such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), provide one or more letters of recommendation, and pay an application fee if the student does not hold a status that allows the college or university to waive it. Programs also may require completion of an entrance questionnaire or a personal statement to better understand why the applicant desires to go through the master's program.
Work for a Master of Religious Education degree includes basic courses such as Bible history, worship, world religions, Christian ethics, evangelism, the Old Testament and the New Testament. Following these core classes, individuals move on to courses such as religious and moral development, religious trends, theology and Christian education and ethics of education. Programs do not always require a thesis, but if a program requires one, the student completes it within the final stage of study, focusing on a religious topic. An institution that offers a Master of Religious Education degree program also might conduct a mid-point evaluation of the student's progress after the first year of work.
After successful completion of all required coursework, an individual may apply for graduation. At this point, representatives from the university audit the student's coursework to check that no deficiencies exist. If the representatives find that the student has met all the requirements, they approve the student's application for graduation and issue a formal diploma showing that the student has earned the Master of Religious Education degree.
