Family Ministry

M.A. in Family Ministry

Beginning in Fall 2023, this master's degree will be offered to exclusively online students. It will be available to new students who take all courses in the degree program online for $550 per credit hour.

Encouraging God’s Design for Christian Families

Family Ministry is a growing trend and a powerful tool in contemporary ministry. The need to strengthen, model instruction, and encourage Christian families has never been greater. Servant leaders with a heart for families will proactively explore best practices for encouraging Christian family formation through every phase of life. The program also approaches the family from a therapeutic perspective regarding the specific needs of certain life-stages and how to appropriately respond to family crises. Our emphasis on research equips graduates not only to impact Christian families but also to effectively speak truth into our culture regarding God’s design for the family.

"But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." — Joshua 24:15

How Our Graduates Impact Their World

We prepare students to minister to the unique needs of a variety of 21 st century family contexts, including serving on staff at a church or para-church organization as a Family Minister. Graduates also serve in family-focused community organizations and early education centers.

Experienced Faculty. Servant Leaders.

Learn from faculty practitioners who teach not only from the textbook but also from their ministry experience. We intentionally integrate Christ-centered, servant leadership principles into every aspect of study-from the courses students take, to the professors who teach. This DBU distinctive sets our program and our graduates apart.

Designed to Meet Your Needs

We enable you to pursue graduate study while balancing career, family, and ministry. DBU graduate students have many options for completing their degree, including schedule flexibility and financial aid.

Course Convenience

  • Online Courses
  • Hybrid Courses (Part Online, Part Classroom)
  • Evening Courses

The Degree Program

The 36-hour M.A. in Family Ministry consists of:
18 hours, Core Courses
9 hours, Program Specific Courses
9 hours, Concentration:

General, Christian Counseling, Leadership, or Special Needs Ministry

View Full Degree Plan
View Course Descriptions

Program Goals

  • Provide foundations in theological, educational, and practical programming for effective family ministry
  • Combine academic training and practical ministry application
  • Explore best strategies in Christian family formation
  • Implement ministries that partner with parents and impact families in different phases of life
  • Equip ministers to be servant leaders while addressing the needs of families

Meet the Director

program administrator picture
Dr. Shelly Melia
Program Director
Email: shelly@dbu.edu
Phone: (214) 333-5943

Pilgrim Suite 301B

The Master of Arts in Family Ministry is designed to equip ministers to be servant leaders in order to understand the needs of families, explore the principles of best strategies in biblical family formation, and implement ministry that impacts families in different phases of life. While the focus of this degree is to design ways to impact families proactively in the formation process, there will also be components that attempt to address the therapeutic issues of life as they arise developmentally and from crisis. The program will provide foundations in theological, educational, and practical programming for effective family ministry. It will combine academic training and practical ministry application that will focus intentionally on the world families live in and the faith they need to follow Christ.

Request More Information

Listen to Dr. Melia

Partnerships

FORGE

DBU's Graduate School of Ministry and Pine Cove's Forge have partnered to allow Forge alumni to earn up to 18 hours toward a master's degree offered through the Graduate School of Ministry.

Partnership Benefits for FORGE Alumni

Joni and Friends

The DBU Graduate School of Ministry and Joni and Friends partnership provides participants in the Joni and Friends' University Affiliated Internships program the opportunity to earn three credit hours towards a master's degree offered through the Graduate School of Ministry. Cause 4 Life Interns receive training on disabilities from a biblical worldview and the theology of suffering through practical application by serving families affected by disability. Visit the Joni and Friend's Cause 4 Life website for more information.

Sky Ranch

Tuition free master's degrees! The partnership between DBU's Graduate School of Ministry and Sky Ranch provides participants in their Legacy Fellowship the opportunity to pursue one of eight online ministry degree programs, paid for by Sky Ranch, while gaining invaluable real world experience at the same time. Visit the Sky Ranch website for more information.

More Options

Accelerated Degrees

Are you a current or prospective Undergraduate student? Get your Master's faster with our Accelerated Degree Programs.

Dual Degrees

Broaden your career possibilities and increase your competitive edge with our Dual Master's Degree Programs.

Advanced Certificates

Wanting to pursue graduate studies, but not ready to complete a master's degree? Consider an Advanced Certificate Program!

DBU's Ministry-Related Master's Degrees provide Christ-centered graduate level training for ministry leaders, equipping them with a biblical, theological, historical, and practical foundation for ministry.

Enhance your ministry by pursuing a master's degree.

Follow Us for the Latest News —
 Follow