ACADEMIC CATALOG - Luther Seminary

3. Ministry ProjectThe ministry project is intended as one option for students whosevocational objective is some form of ministry in a parish orcommunity context.Courses required for the ministry project:• IC 1615 Reading the AudiencesThe Ministry Project provides MA degree students theopportunity to develop and to implement a carefullystructured research project in a specific ministry setting.These projects are evaluated in both written and oral form.Successful projects will:• Present a substantive, well-crafted and focused projectthat is of significant theological and pastoral interest;• Demonstrate an exceptional level of clear and criticalunderstanding and integration of significant scholarly(particularly theological) resources addressing the specifictopics or issues of the project;• Offer an articulate and confident presentation of thewritten component of the project, and perceive therelevance of her or his positions to pastoral situations,during the structured conversation.• Include a project essay. This essay should be no fewerthan 25 pages, and no more than 40 pages in length andbe written with clarity, creativity, and an engaging style.Follow the general guidelines for the papers; seewww.luthersem.edu/library/Theses.asp.General Guidelines for the Papers/Thesis• In writing this project, the student will demonstratecompetence in a special area of interest, chosen inconsultation with an adviser. The student’s focus will beon an in-depth problem rather than several “broad”problems (i.e. research questions). When completed, theproject will reflect the student’s graduate level ability forindependent research and will include (a) scholarlyexposition of appropriate primary and secondaryliterature, (b) informed, critical analysis of major issuesinvolved, and, (c) thoughtful and academically defensiblediscourse reflecting the student’s position on the chosenresearch question(s). Although the project’s format mayvary according to the nature of the topic(s) beingexplored, scholarly and academic standards are expectedthroughout.• The student is not expected to conduct research with theextensive rigor of a doctoral dissertation. However, he orshe is expected to demonstrate both familiarity withrelevant, scholarly literature and growing expertise in thechosen area. Contributions to the larger academy are notrequired but may well occur. Guidance on how thestudent’s work may contribute to existing literature or tothe church at large may be explored with the student’sproject adviser, who will be involved throughout theproject’s completion.• The student will be responsible for proofreading the finalwork, checking for correct and clear grammar and forthe consistent use of formal, academically appropriatestyle. The ability for self-expression as well as for abstractthought will be revealed in this project. The Shortcut:A Condensed Manual of Style and Guide for Theses andPapers at Luther Seminary (2005), available in the LutherSeminary library and bookstore and online athttp://www.luthersem.edu/library/shortcut.asp, shouldbe used as the guideline for the paper’s format and style.For matters not covered in The Shortcut, studentsshould refer to A Manual for Writers of Term Papers,Theses, and Dissertations, by Kate L. Turabian (6th ed.)or The Chicago Manual of Style (15th ed.). Where it isappropriate, given the general practice in a specificscholarly discipline, APA style guidelines may besubstituted. Please check with the point person in yourMA specialization for guidance.• If the 2 papers project is chosen, the length for eachpaper may not be less than 25 nor greater than 40 pages.For the thesis project, the length will be 50 to 80 pages.The student is expected to work to condense papers thatexceed these maximum lengths before submitting them.44LU T H E R S E M I N A RY | 2009-2011 AC A D E M I C C ATA LO G