Master of Arts in Christian Education and Formation (MACEF)

MACEF students take courses from the categories specific to the degree, choosing classes that emphasize areas such as teaching, ministry with young people, and spiritual formation and mission.

To earn the MACEF, successfully complete 52.5 credits in five categories:

1. Foundation Courses (20 credits)

Introductions or Foundations in the following areas (18 credits):

• Biblical Studies: OT 2102 – Orientation to Old Testament and Exegesis, NT 2102 – Orientation to New Testament and Exegesis
• History and Ecumenics: WCCH 2102 – World Christian History I, WCCH 2103 – World Christian History II
• Theology: TH 2102 – Doing Christian Theology
• Practical Theology: A course in Education and Formation

Speech Communication in Ministry I and II (2 credits)

2. Additional Department Courses (6 credits)

• One elective course in Theology
• One elective Practical Theology course in either Pastoral Care or Preaching/Speech Communication/Worship

3. Core Commitment Courses (6 credits)

• A Life Together course
• One course designated as fulfilling one of the following core commitments: Theological Imagination; Christian Leadership: Church, Religion, and Society; Renewal of Creation, Self, and Communities; Spiritual Practices of the Faith

4. Education and Formation Courses (16 credits)

One course from each of the following categories:

• Theological/Theoretical Foundations
• Human Sciences
• Contextual Issues in Ministry
• Skills and Practices

Elective Course in Student’s Focal Area of Education and Formation

Reflective Practicum (1 credit)

5. Field Education (5 credits)

• MACEF students must complete a 5-credit Field Education sequence, which includes one required placement and a concurrent practicum.

Overview

Field education at Princeton Theological Seminary is a formative and learner-centered component of every MDiv, MACEF, and Dual Degree program. Through supervised ministry in church-related contexts, students explore, deepen, and refine their vocational identity in conversation with mentors, peers, and the Seminary community.

Structure

Field Education Requirements

Students must complete a 5-credit Field Education sequence, which includes one required placement and a concurrent practicum (eligible for a $4,000 fellowship):

• Required Placement (4 credits):
  Completed during the second or third year, this placement takes place at a church-related site within the United States and must be approved by the Office of Field Education and Vocational Placement (OFEVP).
• Field Education Practicum (1 credit):
  Taken alongside the required placement, the practicum consists of ten in-person sessions focused on theological reflection, vocational discernment, and collaborative learning with peers.

Additional Requirements

• First-Year Seminars (non-credit):
  All students must attend two mandatory seminars in their first year:
  • “Nuts & Bolts of Field Ed” (Fall)
  • “Clergy Boundaries and Sexual Ethics” (Spring)

Optional Opportunities

• Elective Placements (2 credits each):
  Students may pursue additional field education placements during the summer or academic year for elective credit. One elective placement may be eligible for a $4,000 fellowship.

Students will have opportunities to learn about the program structure and the placements available to them through required meetings with their field education advisor and other regularly scheduled information sessions hosted by the Office of Field Education and Vocational Placement.

Student Agency and Support

Field education at Princeton Seminary is co-created: students are invited to approach this experience with intentionality, articulating their learning goals and discerning the kind of setting and supervision that will best nurture their calling. The OFEVP partners with each student to identify placements and supervisors that support this discernment journey.

Exceptions

Students with a strong vocational case for a non-church-related placement may petition for an exception in consultation with the OFEVP and their faculty mentor.

To qualify for admission, you need to have an undergraduate degree (typically a BA or BS) from a school accredited by one of the accrediting agencies our faculty recognizes. To apply, please submit the following:

• A completed admissions application
• Unofficial transcripts from all post-secondary institutions previously attended
• Three letters of recommendation: one pastoral endorsement, one academic, and one additional
• Application fee of $50
• English Proficiency Test Scores (for International Applicants only)

Interviews are not required but are strongly encouraged as they play a significant role in scholarship consideration. For U.S. citizens and permanent residents, interviews are available once the application is submitted. International student interviews are by invitation only. Instructions and a link to schedule an interview will be provided to eligible candidates after application submission.