Media Ministry
David Bullock, Chair; Lynelle Ellis (director), Brent Bergherm, Jonathan Duncan, Paul Dybdahl, Linda Felipez, Jerry Hartman, David Thomas.
The Master of Arts in Media Ministry program is an interdisciplinary program in collaboration with Communications and Languages, Computer Science, Technology, and the School of Theology. The academic program is housed at The Center for the Study of Media Ministry at Walla Walla University within the Communication and Languages Department and is suitable for students who already hold degrees in theology, communication, or other related fields. These individuals will build upon past academic and ministry experience as they pursue a more specialized master’s degree in Media Ministry. Students enrolled in the program would contribute to the field through their research and projects. These research and media projects could range from social activism to evangelism--and all areas of ministry in between.
Admission. Applicants must meet general admission requirements as outlined earlier in the Graduate Bulletin. A complete application must be submitted by August 1. A complete application consists of:
- The application form
- Three professional references
- All transcripts for accredited colleges or universities previously attended
- A personal statement
Once a student is accepted, a $200 non-refundable deposit is due 30 days after notice of acceptance to reserve a place in the program. This deposit will be applied toward tuition charges when the student enrolls. Students accepted after May 1 should make this deposit as soon as they receive an acceptance letter. Accepted students who miss the deposit deadline may lose their place in the program. The deposit check should be made payable to Walla Walla University and sent to Walla Walla University, Center for Media Ministry, 204 South College Avenue, College Place, WA 99324; the student’s name and WWU ID number should be included to ensure proper credit.
Program Structure. The M.A. Media Ministry degree program is designed to be completed online in two years with intensive on-site workshops and featured speaker symposia. Students can participate online while working full-time, though certain classes require once yearly two-week intensives. Cohorts will begin with a pre-session before fall quarter every two years. Each program cohort will include 16-24 students who take all core courses together. Students will take courses within their concentration with 8-12 other students as a concentration cohort.
Curriculum. The curriculum for the program will include 52 credits divided between core courses and two concentrations from which students will choose one. Core classes include foundational theology courses exploring worldview and mission, communication theory and research methods, story structure, graduate seminar and capstone project.
Core Competencies. Students must exhibit core technical skills and illustrate knowledge of basic theory for both the core curriculum and their concentration in order to be a candidate to graduate. Students may demonstrate competencies in concentration courses by submitting a portfolio and/or taking a validation exam. This option is not available for courses in the core curriculum. Students will also either write a thesis paper or produce a capstone project.