About the Department

The inclusion of experiential learning components and courses in the academic programs at Missional University has manifold benefits to students enrolled in each of School of Community Ministry's five departments namely: Pastoral Care and Chaplaincy, Community Transformation, Criminal Justice and Public Safety, Medical Health and Services, and Social Work and Ministry.

Experiential Learning Types

The Department of Community Renewal offers a variety of types of experiential learning activities for undergraduate and graduates in each of the five departments in the School of Community Ministry including observership, practicum, field instruction, internship, mentorship, capstone, portfolio, project, research and thesis courses.

Experiential Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete the experiential learning activities in the Department of Community Renewal gain valuable experience in their academic field.

Benefits to Pastoral Care and Chaplaincy Students

By engaging in experiential learning activities and taking experiential learning courses SCM students at Missional University who are pursuing Pastoral Care and Chaplaincy will be better equipped as pastors and providers of spiritual direction and guidance. They will:

• gain real-world experience in pastoral care and chaplaincy; in the process, they will develop needed skills to be an effective provider of pastoral care in various settings, such as healthcare, military, correctional, disaster relief, first responder, sports settings
• grow in self-reflection and in their ability to effectively respond to a person in need of pastoral care and spiritual guidance
• develop necessary spiritual disciplines through self-awareness activities and mentoring relationships
• discover innovative ways to share the gospel with those they minister to

Benefits to Community Transformation Students

By engaging in experiential learning activities and taking experiential learning courses SCM students at Missional University who are pursuing a degree in community transformation will be better prepared for Christian service in a church or community-based non-profit setting. They will:

• gain real-world experience taking part in the implementation of healthy and sustainable community development projects
• develop character and skills (i.e. administrative, communication, working in teams, attention to detail while working in communities, administering relief efforts towards affected communities etc.) necessary towards becoming an effective agent of community transformation
• acquire organization and problem-solving skills to effectively navigate and address an issue while serving in a community

Benefits to Criminal Justice and Public Safety Studies

By engaging in experiential learning activities and taking experiential learning courses SCM students at Missional University who are pursuing Criminal Justice and Safety Studies will be better equipped to serve in the multifaceted criminal justice system. Students will:

• gain analytical and problem-solving skills to deal with real-life problems at the workplace
• test the application of varied concepts, principles and theories learned in class and through course materials across varied contexts or settings
• grow in personal reflection, discover sustainable initiatives that can lead to social justice and public safety and courage to find resources to launch such initiatives.

Benefits to Medical Health and Services Students

By engaging in experiential learning activities and taking experiential learning courses SCM students at Missional University who are pursuing a career in Medical Health and Services will:

• gain a practical understanding of public health and healthcare
• develop necessary skills and competencies as a health-care service provider
• obtain practical knowledge of varied requirements (i.e. legal, societal, cultural etc.) healthcare service providers are expected to satisfy
• research and design ministries that encourage health and wellness

Benefits to Social Work and Ministry Students

By engaging in experiential learning activities and taking experiential learning courses SCM students at Missional University who are pursuing a career in Social Work and Ministry will:

• gain a practical understanding of how to do social work in diverse settings
• develop a philosophy of social work and ministry that is biblical and contextually-informed
• develop skills (i.e., analytical, relational, organizational etc.), habits, (i.e., compassion, generosity, commitment, patience etc.) necessary to succeed in the ministry of social work
• grow in their ability to mobilize resources to advance social work and ministry