Master of Arts in Christian Leadership
Completion
2 Years
Credits
45-46
Degree Type
Master of Arts (M.A.)
Delivery
Online, On Campus, or Hybrid
Cost per Credit
$540*
*2025-2026 academic year
Corban’s Master of Arts in Christian Leadership helps you grow as a Christ-centered leader, grounded in biblical truth and equipped for real-world impact. Blending courses in theology, ministry, and leadership, this program prepares you to make a difference in churches, nonprofits, schools, and beyond.
You’ll grow both personally and professionally as you engage with topics facing the Church today, learning alongside peers and professors who share your passion for equipping others. With an emphasis on real-world application, every course is designed to be immediately applicable to your current ministry while grounded in the unchanging truths of God’s Word.
Whether you’re discipling others, managing teams, teaching Scripture, or guiding organizational vision, this degree offers the tools and training you need to lead with purpose and serve with wisdom.
Featured Courses
THE501 | God and His Word: Theological Foundations
Dive into a thoughtful overview of Christian theology in the areas of bibliology, theology proper, and angelology. You’ll gain exposure to key doctrines, theological terms, and influential voices from church history, while learning to support your beliefs with Scripture. By the end, you’ll develop your own doctrinal statement rooted in biblical truth.
THE503 | God’s People: The Spirit, the Church, and the Future
Explore key areas of Christian theology—including salvation, the Holy Spirit, the Church, and the end times. You’ll engage with Scripture, theological vocabulary, and major historical voices to deepen your understanding of these doctrines. By the end of the course, you’ll craft a personal doctrinal statement that reflects your growing theological understanding.
BIB511 | Interpreting Scripture
Learn how to faithfully interpret Scripture by mastering the principles of exegesis and hermeneutics. This course equips you to understand the original meaning of biblical texts and apply them to modern contexts with clarity and care.
BIB522 | Learning and Living Gospels and Acts
Explore the life of Jesus and the early church through the four Gospels and the book of Acts. Examine the content, theology, and historical context of these New Testament books—and discover how their message applies to your own faith, thinking, and ministry today.
For a complete list of courses in this program, view the program overview.
For official course descriptions, refer to the academic catalog.
Choose from Three Tracks
Customize your degree for your calling, with a solid biblical foundation and focused courses in three tracks:
Ministry Leadership
Courses such as Becoming a Servant Leader, Growing in the Lord, and Teaching Scripture encourage students to apply new and sharpened ministry skills to their current and future ministry context. This program will challenge students to develop a deeper understanding of the practical application of biblical truth.
Non-Profit Leadership
By integrating business classes from the Corban MBA with core Bible and theology courses, students in the non-profit leadership concentration are prepared as spiritual leaders who also have the knowledge and understanding of business practices and challenges that occur within non-profit organizations.
Christian Teaching
Explore the foundations of education from a biblical perspective. This concentration builds upon the core of the Master’s in Christian Leadership by incorporating graduate-level courses from Corban’s highly-respected School of Education. This program is ideal for those looking to effectively educate students in churches, Christian schools, and on the mission field.
Get graduate credit for ministry classes you’ve already taken.
Advanced standing allows you to transfer up to 13 semester credits from your undergraduate degree toward your Master of Arts in Christian Leadership, saving you time and tuition
What to Expect
Commitment to the Authority of God’s Word
At Corban, our commitment to the authority of Scripture is at the heart of everything we do. Every course in the MACL program is grounded in the inerrant Word of God, treating it with reverence and integrity. You won’t just study biblical truth—you’ll learn how to apply it faithfully in today’s complex ministry environments. This foundation equips you to lead with confidence, clarity, and a deep commitment to Christ in whatever context He has called you to serve.
Flexible Format
The Master of Arts in Christian Leadership fits your life and ministry. Choose from an online, on campus, or flexible hybrid format that combines online and face-to-face instruction. You can study full time and finish your degree in as little as two years, or choose a part-time schedule that fits your current ministry responsibilities.
At Corban, we believe your seminary education should enhance—not interrupt—your ministry. That’s why every course is designed to be immediately applicable, allowing you to grow as a leader while continuing to serve where God has placed you.
Instruction and Mentorship from Ministry Experts
In Corban’s MACL program, you’ll be taught by faculty who are both scholars and seasoned ministry leaders—church planters, pastors, commentators, youth ministers, and nonprofit directors. They bring decades of real-world experience into the classroom and are passionate about helping you apply what you learn to your current context.
Whether you’re online or on campus, you can count on faculty who are accessible, engaged, and invested in your growth. They’re not just here to teach—they’re here to mentor, encourage, and walk alongside you as you pursue your calling.
Affordable Tuition
We’ve intentionally created a program that is low-cost and high-value. Corban’s graduate ministry programs are some of the most affordable among private universities in the West, while remaining committed to academic excellence and a biblical foundation.
Generous Scholarships
We’re excited to offer scholarships specifically for graduate students, including a 25% tuition discount for ministry and non-profit staff!
Program Takeaways
Expanded Leadership Skills
Whether you’re preparing to step into a new leadership role or looking to become more effective right where God has placed you, this program gives you the tools to lead with confidence. You’ll deepen your understanding of God’s Word while developing practical skills in leadership, communication, team development, and spiritual formation—equipping you for whatever ministry opportunities God brings your way.
Personal Spiritual Growth
Ministry training is not just for your career. You’ll also be challenged to grow personally in your walk with Christ as you study His Word and dig deep into His calling. Explore the work of the Spirit, the power of God’s grace, and the rhythms of Christian disciplines in your own life as you learn to lead others from a place of personal transformation.
A Partner in Ministry
When you enroll in Corban’s School of Ministry, you’re not just earning a degree—you’re gaining a network of support. Faculty are not only experienced educators but also active ministry leaders who understand the realities of your career. You’ll find encouragement through mentorship, collaboration on outreach activities, and Corban’s annual Refresher Conference, designed to support alumni and community leaders serving in ministry.
Featured Faculty
Program Outcomes
The Master of Arts in Christian Leadership will give you the foundation to:
- Understand and accurately interpret the Bible within its historical, cultural and geographical background.
- Explain, defend and consistently apply Christian theology and biblical worldview within any cultural context.
- Articulate and live out a biblical theology of spiritual transformation.
- Apply learned ministry leadership practices that reflect biblical principles and are informed by contemporary theory and practice.
- Communicate Scripture clearly and accurately in both public proclamation and private counsel.
- Communicate the gospel and its relevance effectively to those in their ministry and vocational circles.
- Locate, evaluate and synthesize information from a wide variety of sources for improving biblical and theological thinking and practice.