The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. (Isaiah 50:4)
"Equipping Christian Educational Leaders"
If you are called to serve as a religious educator, chances are that you often experience the great satisfactions and the substantial challenges of that role.
The new Master of Religious Education (MRE) program at Quincy University has been designed to prepare you to teach with confidence and to share your experience within a community of fellow learners in a flexible, blended format.
The degree responds directly to the needs of Directors of Religious Education, educational administrators, high school religion/theology teachers, or pastors focusing on religious education. Our faculty members are prepared to provide the advanced training and theological depth required for success in this role. They also understand that study and guided practice in the techniques of teaching are fundamental to becoming an educator who inspires.
Of course, the MRE program is not limited only to those who seek opportunities to teach. Anyone who desires a deeper understanding of God, divine revelation, Scripture, the world, the relationship of faith and reason, and Christian ethics will benefit from the program.
Flexibility that Works
- Residence: Students begin the program with a two-week Summer residencyat Quincy University, forming lasting relationships with faculty and fellow students.
- Online learning: (Fall / Spring semesters).
- Culminating Experience: Portfolio, practicum, or comprehensive examoptions allow the student to customize the degree for classroom teaching, church ministry, ducational administration or further study.
This 33-credit program (10 courses and a culminating experience) includes a two-year academic cycle of required courses and electives, allowing students to complete the program at their own pace—from as little as18 months up to 5 years.
Coursework: During each fall and spring semester, students enroll in up to two online courses (6 credits). The two-week summer session allows students to enroll in up to 9 credit hours. Courses during the second summer session may be taken in residence or online.
Culminating Experience: Students may begin the 3-credit culminating experience upon completing 8 courses (24 credits). With faculty guidance and approval, the student chooses an experience most fitting to her or his vocational goals.
Things New and Things Old (Mt 13:52)—A Distinctive Degree
The MRE program explicates "things old" from Scripture and Christian tradition, yet the degree ---a "thing new"—meets contemporary challenges in Christian Religious Education. An ecumenically diverse faculty is committed to fostering the intellectual preparation of religious educators who seek to meet the need for a New Evangelization and to present the Christian faith in the modern world. Following in the way of St. Francis of Assisi, founder of the Franciscan order and spiritual foundation of Quincy University, the MRE program continues the Franciscan tradition of religious education in the present day. Our goal is to help students develop their own critical theological perspective through a rigorous engagement with sources both ancient and modern.
Whatever your role in religious education—teaching, administration, or ministry--- or for personal development, the MRE at Quincy University offers you an opportunity to deepen your understanding and appreciation of the Christian message. You are invited to participate in a rich theological education drawn from the treasures of "things old" in order to meet the ever-present need for well-equipped educators to embrace "things new."