Educational Effectiveness

Through an advanced academic program prioritizing biblical authority and local church discipleship, our mission is to train men for pastoral ministry—to preach the Word of God, reach the world for Christ, and teach others to do the same.

The Master’s Seminary offers graduate-level biblical, theological, and professional education designed to equip men for effectiveness in Christian ministry to the universal body of Christ, primarily through the local church. This educational task is accomplished through emphasis on the following:

• Careful instruction in the Scriptures, including the original languages.
• The study of various systems of theological thought including exposure to both past and present movements in church history and Christian missions with a view to embracing a comprehensive, coherent theology built from Scripture.
• A consistent focus upon involvement and accountability within the local church context.
• Ongoing efforts to challenge each student in developing a biblical philosophy of ministry.
• The development and improvement of communication, relationship, leadership, and administrative skills for ministry. The objective is to produce graduates who are recognized as men of God and who are equipped to serve effectively as pastors, missionaries, teachers, evangelists, counselors, and leaders in evangelical ministries around the world (1 Tim. 3:1–7; Tit. 1:5–9).

To adhere unswervingly to the founding purpose of training pastors to shepherd and equip Christ’s church.

To keep The Master’s Seminary faithful to its biblical foundations. All biblical content is to be based on God’s inerrant Word and developed through the exegetical process. The curriculum must constantly reflect scriptural absolutes to avoid deviation from God’s truth.

To enrich faculty leadership. Every member of The Master’s Seminary faculty fits a fivefold profile in that they are all men of God, men of the Word, men of scholarship, men of Christ’s church, and men of compassion.

To insist on an educational philosophy that is consistent with Scripture by:

• Majoring on biblical certainty, not doubt or theory
• Striving for spiritual development in The Master’s Seminary students, not intellectualism alone
• Preparing men to serve the Lord, not merely to know about the Lord
• Emphasizing a methodical, disciplined approach to studying Scripture rather than using a haphazard approach
• Encouraging excellence and never accepting mediocrity
• Expecting the faculty to be examples, not merely experts
• Stressing the imperative to function in the body of Christ, not merely function as an individual

To emphasize the well-articulated goals of The Master’s Seminary—both personal and pastoral:

Personal —

• To cultivate a holy, intimate relationship between every student and God
• To produce compassionate men who have gracious relationships with others

Pastoral —

• To study God’s Word with precision
• To speak God’s message with power
• To serve God’s purpose with zeal
• To shepherd God’s flock with care
• To fight God’s battle with courage

In pursuing the seminary’s mission, TMS values academic quality and educational effectiveness. To that end, the seminary regularly evaluates its academic programs and assesses student progress. Institutional research and the collection of assessment data is overseen by the Associate Dean of Academics, in coordination with the faculty, the office of the Registrar, the Student Services Department, and other relevant departments.

Specifically, the seminary evaluates its educational effectiveness in the following ways:

• Each semester, assessment data is collected that corresponds to student performance on key signature assignments strategically mapped throughout each program.
• Student feedback is acquired anonymously for specific classes through CAFÉ (Course Assessment and Faculty Evaluation) forms.
• Additional student feedback is received through the MAP (Ministry Aptitude and Placement) survey. Also, the Student Services Department conducts an anonymous student satisfaction survey on an annual basis.
• Once per semester, the faculty conducts a candidacy review of the student body. The purpose of this evaluation is to assess the academic progress and spiritual development of each student, identifying areas in which the seminary can assist students as they continue through their program of study.
• The Associate Dean of Academics annually meets with each faculty department to work through the data collected.
• The faculty committees that oversee each academic program meet regularly to assess student learning and educational effectiveness within that specific program. The seminary engages in a formal program review of each academic program once every five years.
• In addition to responses from students, faculty members are evaluated by the administration on an annual basis. The faculty review process includes the development of a faculty portfolio, ensuring that faculty members are approaching the student learning process in a manner consistent with their colleagues and with established best practices.
• In addition to the above data points, student retention and graduation rates are calculated and collected by the Associate Dean of Academics for each program.

The data collected through the above channels enables the seminary to evaluate and enhance the quality of its instruction and strength of its academic programs. All of this is done as an act of worship to the Lord, knowing that the work of training pastors represents a solemn stewardship that comes from Him.

As of Fall 2023, TMS had the following enrollment:

• 492 Master of Divinity students
• 160 Master of Biblical Ministry (Spanish language) students
• 42 Master of Theology students
• 86 Doctor of Ministry students
• 11 Doctor of Philosophy students

The Master of Divinity program, being the flagship program of the seminary, has a graduation rate of 52.4% (based on those who entered the program 6 years ago). This robust, 4-year program is a milestone of achievement for the graduates of TMS. Those who finish the program dedicate their lives to impacting the church for the glory of Christ. Graduates from the M.Div. program in the 2022-2023 academic year show the following placement:

• 83% are currently ministering or actively seeking placement
• 13.5% have moved into further seminary education
• 3.5% have found work in a non-ministry context

Of the graduates of the Doctor of Ministry degree in 2022-2023, 96% are currently ministering. This is a pattern seen throughout the graduating classes of The Master’s Seminary. Of the 1,966 graduates of The Master’s Seminary, dedication to the work of the ministry is a hallmark. The 19 full-time faculty of TMS are dedicated to investing in the lives of those who will lead the church.