Christian Apologetics

Credential: Master of Arts (M.A.)

Degree Level: Master's Degree

Credits: 60 total, with up to 45 transfer credits accepted

School: School of Divinity

Program Overview

The Master of Arts in Christian Apologetics is a graduate degree for those who teach, write, and lead in the defense of Christian faith. Students move past introductory arguments into philosophy of religion, historical apologetics, the theology of revelation and reason, and sustained cultural analysis. The work is demanding because the questions are serious: whether Christian belief is rational, whether the historical claims hold, whether the God of Scripture can be reconciled with the world as we find it. The program is built for pastors who field hard questions weekly, teachers and campus workers, writers and speakers, and leaders who are training congregations for public witness. Courses treat secularism and pluralism as conditions to be understood rather than enemies to be denounced, and they attend to the pastoral dimension of doubt, deconversion, and the crisis of confidence many believers experience. The capstone is a substantial apologetics teaching project or written defense, reviewed by faculty. Graduates leave able to teach apologetics at institute level, to write for thoughtful readers, to speak publicly with credibility, and to pursue doctoral study.

Core Courses

  • APL 501 — Methods in Christian Apologetics (4 credits)
  • APL 510 — Philosophy of Religion (4 credits)
  • APL 520 — Historical Apologetics and the Resurrection (4 credits)
  • APL 530 — Science, Faith, and Human Nature (4 credits)
  • APL 540 — Secularism, Pluralism, and Cultural Analysis (4 credits)
  • APL 560 — Graduate Research and Argumentation (4 credits)
  • APL 590 — Capstone: Apologetics Thesis or Teaching Project (6 credits)

Admission Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent preparation from a recognized institution
  • Personal testimony of Christian faith and active church involvement
  • Statement of purpose describing calling, academic goals, and intended service
  • Current resume or ministry profile
  • Official transcripts from prior institutions when available
  • Short writing sample, teaching sample, or sermon manuscript when requested

Degree Levels in Christian Apologetics