Master of Arts in Religious Leadership
for Social Change (MASC)
MASC program graduate Betty-Jeanne Rueters Ward shares how she is applying the skills she learned at Starr King in her role as a social justice organizer in California. (6 mins.)
The MASC is a professional degree designed for:
those who want to concentrate their work on promoting
goals of justice, equity and compassion in society,
through religious or secular institutions
those seeking a grounding in ministerial and theological
education to pursue their work
those already involved in ministry and social change
who want to improve their professional competency
in this area.
Each student's program of study is individually
designed to integrate theological study, spiritual practice
and professional development in a way that responds
to the particular interests, gifts and challenges of
that student.
The program emphasizes not only theological knowledge,
but also practical experience in community organizing,
media relations, non-profit management, political action
and social service ministry. In addition, the MASC program aims to foster personal growth, spiritual practice and deepened commitment to social justice.
Degree Requirements
a portfolio conference
a minimum 48 units of credit (at least 6 from courses
at other schools within the Graduate
Theological Union) distributed among:
- Threshold areas (see below)
- Required seminars
- Specialization
- Community placement
- Project representative of the student's learning during the program
at least 1/2 of the units of credit must be completed in residency (up to 1/2 of the units may be completed in low-residency mode, online and through field work)
Thresholds
1) Life in Religious Community and Interfaith Engagement
2) Prophetic Witness and Work
3) Sacred Text and Interpretation
4) History of Dissenting Traditions and the Thea/ological
Quest
5) Spiritual Practice and the Care of the Soul
6) Thea/ology in Culture and Context
7) Educating for Wholeness and Liberation
8) Embodied Wisdom and Beauty
The ability to act with integrity and knowledge in all these areas is foundational to religious leadership in society. Competence in religious leadership is not limited to academic ability
or professional skills. It will also foster personal
qualities and habits, such as mature judgment, self-awareness,
spiritual practice, integrity, responsibility, sensitivity
and ethical discernment.
Specialization
The MASC degree recognizes that individual students have particular interests and abilities. The student, in consultation with the advisor, will identify an area of specialization. Possible areas include:
racial justice work
gender issues
global economics
restorative justice
children and youth at risk
advocacy for people with disabilities
the struggle for peace with justice
immigration issues
environmental responsibility
HIV prevention, education and care
anti-oppression work
protecting civil liberties
fostering democratic community
medical ethics.
To accomplish this work, MASC students will draw on
Starr King and Graduate
Theological Union resources, GTU-affiliated advanced
centers for research and study, and the course offerings,
libraries, research institutes and faculty of the University
of California, Berkeley.
Free cross-registration in this array of educational
institutions will make possible an individualized course
of study, tailored to the student's professional interests,
experience and calling.
Community Placement
In the second year of the program, MASC students will
participate in a six-month community placement designed
to integrate religious leadership abilities with practical
skills required for social change. These placements
may be on a local, national or international level and
will include supervision from a mentor who is a seasoned
progressive activist.
Community placement examples:
chaplaincy programs in prison
advocacy programs for children at risk
interfaith programs for the homeless
organizations working for environmental responsibility
a think tank focused on the ethics of genetic research.
Readiness to Graduate
Readiness is assessed through conversation with a student's primary advisor, who will help determine if all degree requirements have been met and request from the student a written self-assessment of readiness. After a review, the advisor will make a recommendation to the core faculty. Then core faculty then votes on the recommendation and presents a list of approved students to the board of trustees, which votes to confer degrees.
Professional Roles Graduates
Might Assume
MASC degree graduates will leave the program prepared
to assume professional roles in institutions and organizations
that work for progressive social change. The employment
field will include non-profit organizations, social
service agencies, political action organizations, administrative
and leadership positions in denominational bodies and
religious associations, church staffs, educational programs,
health organizations, community centers, interfaith
organizations and research institutes.
Click to listen to a podcast of two MASC students discussing what drew them to the program, what they've learned about the skills and commitment of leadership and the important role in their program of SKSM's commitment to Educating to Counter Oppressions.
Click to view the Starr King catalog in PDF format.
