Certificate for Mission Studies

Overview of the Certificate in Mission Studies

The certificate in mission studies is an interdisciplinary program with an experiential component to train students in analytical skills relevant for global missions today.

The Evolving Nature of Global Mission Work

The category of "mission" is changing rapidly. From the tens of thousands of church workers going out from countries in the global south to the growth of so-called short-term missions, while the call of the Great Commission has not changed, the ways people engage it have. It has never been more important for the church to be able to understand the changing work of Christian mission in the world.

Relevance for Aspiring Mission Workers and Academics

The Certificate in Mission Studies would be particularly relevant for students considering a career in mission work. In particular, students planning to go on to graduate school or seminary, whether in pastoral ministry, mission work, or other cross-cultural Christian work, would find benefit in the CMS. As a research-focused degree, the CMS would also prove advantageous for students planning to pursue a career in Christian academia.

Interdisciplinary Approach to Missiology

The Certificate in Mission Studies is a research-focused, interdisciplinary program designed to produce the next generation of missiologists. Missiology is an inherently interdisciplinary field of study focused on the historic and contemporary work of serving the church around the world. The primary disciplines that have long contributed to this field of study are cultural anthropology, history, and theology. The Certificate of Mission Studies at Wheaton brings together these fields, along with several others, to help students develop the analytical skills relevant to understand global missions work today.

Program Structure and Core Components

The core of the program is in Anthropology (ANTH 116) and Christian Formation and Ministry (CFM 322/CFM 332), with options for research methods (SOC 482, ANTH 482, INTR 572), elective credits chosen from a variety of areas, an experiential component through a summer practicum in conjunction with the program, and a final research project to be conducted as an independent study under the guidance of a faculty mentor in the field of the student's primary interest.

Requirements for a Mission Studies Certificate and Courses Offered

The Wheaton College Course Catalog offers more information about the specific courses listed below.

Core

Choose twelve credits from the following courses.

Number	Title	Credits
ANTH 116	Introduction to Anthropology (freshman or sophomore year)	4
CFM 322/332	Historical Foundations/Theological Foundations (sophomore or junior year)	4
XXX 495	Independent Study (In department of student's choice during fall and/or spring of senior year.)	1 to 4

Research Courses

Choose one of the following courses (4 credits)

Number	Title	Credits
ANTH 482	Ethnographic Theory and Method	4
SOC 482	Social Research	4
INTR 572	Cross-Cultural Research	2 or 4

Social/Historical Perspectives

Choose a total of four credits from these courses.

Number	Title	Credits
HIST 305	Introduction to the History of Christianity	2
HIST 483	History of Christianity in North America	4
ANTH 324	Anthropology of Global Christianity	2
ANTH 353	Biculturalism	4
ANTH 354	Culture in the Contemporary World	4
SOC 366	Sociology of Religion	4
INTR 563	Cross-Cultural Teaching and Learning	2
INTR 622	Cross-Cultural Human Development	2
INTR 623	Families in International Settings	2
URBN 362	Global Cities: Cities and the World	4
URBN 383	Cities in the Global South	2
URBN 371	Race, Poverty, and Reconciliation	4

Theological Perspectives