High School to Masters in Five Years (KERN program)

For Graduating High School Students:
The School of Theology and Ministry (STM) at Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) has a special program that has really become the backbone of our undergraduate school: the KERN Mentoring Program

• About 25 students a year receive a significant scholarship from their second semester freshman year for 5 years (in the past, some have received as much as $3000 a year in their undergraduate time)
• Graduate with a bachelor's degree in three years.
• Then receive a Master of Practical Theology degree in two more years (an MDIV equivalent in hours and coursework)

The Bachelor's Degree Part
Major in one of four ministry tracks: Christian Ministries, Worship Ministry, Youth Ministries, or Children's ministry.

• Admitted into the Kern program in the second semester, with a significant scholarship each semester.
• Take the ministry core with courses like evangelism, inductive Bible study, Christian theology, advanced Bibles, and church history.
• Take general ordination courses like counseling, preaching, worship, and local church education.
• Take courses in your specialization in ministry, like teaching the Bible to children (Children's Ministries), the Christian year (Worship Ministry), youth in culture (Youth Ministries), or church leadership (Christian Ministries).
• Finish in three years if you want--one year less translates to about $10,000 in savings!

The Master's Degree Part (four possibilities)
The Master of Practical Theology

• A 72 hour curriculum (the required number of courses in an MDIV)
• Up to 9 hours of advanced standing with credit from your undergraduate work
• Your first year is onsite in a cohort with courses like spiritual direction, worship renewal, strategic pastoral counseling, biblical theology, hermeneutics, and more.
• Your second year is a residency (usually a paid residency) in a teaching church, finishing out your course work online while you are being mentored at a church. 
• These include courses like multi-ethnic ministry, pastoral care, church health, youth and family education, and philosophy for ministry. 
• Normally finish in two years, while possibly receiving almost $200 a credit hour in scholarships.

Other Master's Degree Possibilities

• Master of Arts in Spiritual Care (a one year option beyond the bachelor's degree)
• Master of Arts in Biblical and Theological Studies (a one year option after bachelor's)
• Master of Arts in Theology (a two year option after bachelor's)