The Master of Applied Biblical Leadership Degree Program

Applicants for the MABL Program must possess a four-year baccalaureate degree or its educational equivalent from a college or university accredited by a United States association holding membership in one of the seven regional accrediting associations, membership in the Association of Universities and Colleges in Canada, membership in the Association for Biblical Higher Education, or from an institution that maintains similar academic requirements and standards. Additionally, applicants must present a GPA of 3.0 or higher, including a breadth of liberal arts. Applicants who do not meet these general academic requirements may petition the seminary for consideration through the seminary’s Undergraduate Degree Exemption policy. A recommendation from the applicant’s pastor and three personal recommendations regarding the applicant’s Christian character and leadership abilities also are required.

In addition to these requirements, applicants to the MABL program must possess a strong foundational knowledge of Bible and at least a half a decade of full-time ministry experience and current full-time ministry involvement to enable them to participate in peer-to-peer learning done during class with other experienced pastors and highly experienced faculty facilitators. Recognizing the diverse backgrounds of applicants, this requirement of full-time ministry experience and involvement may be met in a variety of ways, including bi-vocational ministry experience. The deep relationships developed in the cohort enable friendship and trust which enhance mutual growth in knowledge, character, and skills for ministry. Discussions and assignments are done for immediate application in the student’s ministry context, enriching both the classroom and church life.

Applicants for the MABL are required to meet the following additional admissions criteria to be admitted to a Leadership Cohort:

• Document their past and current full-time ministry involvement.
• Provide contact information of a ministry leader for a personal interview to review their character and competence.
• Complete a personal interview with a core faculty member of the seminary's choosing who will assess their competency in the various topics and their leadership skills.
• Make a three-year commitment to the 9 courses to be used to complete the MABL program.

Because of the unique cohort model of the MABL, students must complete all 36 hours of the three-year program in Leadership Cohort gatherings. No transfer or advanced standing is allowed for the MABL.

The MABL program requires the completion of three sequences done in a Leadership Cohort: 12 credits of applied biblical studies, 12 credits of applied theological studies, and 12 credits of applied ministerial studies. There are no electives in this degree program though students are welcome to choose to add other courses to meet their own ministerial competence or to complete another Western's Master's degree programs.

The MABL degree is conferred upon the attainment of certain personal and academic requirements. Degree candidates must (1) give evidence of a genuine Christian character, orthodox belief, and conduct consistent with a God-given call to a position of leadership; (2) complete all courses in the prescribed curriculum with a minimum grade point average of 3.0.

This degree is designed to be completed in three years through a Leadership Cohort involvement. Students who must drop out of their cohort due to unanticipated personal circumstances may petition to re-enter the program with a subsequent cohort. The program has a five-year statute of limitations for degree completion. Permission to extend the five-year statute of limitations must be granted through the submission of an academic petition. Reinstatement to the program after withdrawal requires Admissions Committee action and may subject the student to additional requirements for the degree. All credits applied toward the degree requirements should be earned within ten years of the awarding of the degree.