WHERE EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE COLLIDE
Have you felt a call to vocational ministry? Do you want to finish your degree, join a master's program, or take a deep dive into your faith? At Horizon, we believe that helping the people of God pursue the call of God is top priority. That is why we have opened Horizon School of Ministry (HSM). Earn a fully accredited AA, BA, or MA in ministry through online courses at Northwest University while participating in hands-on ministry training at Horizon. All for a fraction of the cost of traditional schooling.
WHY CHOOSE HSM?
-Graduate with a degree of the highest accreditation
-Mix of online classes, in-person seminars, and hands-on experience
-One-on-one training and mentorship from experienced pastors and directors
-Personal leadership skills: practice spiritual disciplines, develop your mission statement, core values, etc.
-Lifelong relationships: conferences, retreats, regular prayer times, and day-to-day life with other students.
-Networking opportunities and all the tools needed to enter the workforce. Our goal for every ministry graduate is placement in a ministry position in a local church upon graduation
-Highly affordable
DEGREE OPTIONS AND TRACKS
Along with determining what degree you are after, decide what track you want to take to get there: Experience or Flex
EXPERIENCE
Our EXPERIENCE TRACK is a full-blown internship that allows you to earn 3 free credit hours per semester! Internship credits (a.k.a. experience practicum) count towards general electives in any of Northwest University’s degree programs – these credits are FREE, which is about a $7,000 savings over the course of 4 years.
EXPERIENCE students will have weekly interactions with the Horizon Community Church Staff through leadership trainings and serving in all the different church ministries in increasing capacities. This track also qualifies you for scholarships from Horizon!
FLEX
Our FLEX TRACK is designed for students who are already more established in life (career, family, etc.) and want to pursue a degree, but cannot commit to the weekly HSM Experience and Internship schedule. Our Horizon School of Ministry Team will work closely with you to find ways for you to earn the 3 credits of internship each semester. Or you can forgo the internship option altogether. (This option will require you to take 8 more classes over the timeline of a 4-year degree.)
FLEX students are personally responsible for completing and reporting all weekly internship work. While leadership training attendance is not required, you can still attend! This track is not eligible for scholarships from Horizon Community Church.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Horizon School of Ministry is a unique partnership program between Horizon Community Church and Northwest University. Northwest is a fully accredited Christian university in Kirkland, WA that has over 20 years of experience with non-traditional education. The courses taken and degrees earned through HSM are the same courses and degrees students earn on the Kirkland campus. Your diploma simply says “Northwest University.” There are no asterisks on your degree or your transcript.
(For more on the Northwest University Partnership Program, tap here)
Yes! Because we are partnered with Northwest University, we accept transfer credits from other accredited institutions. And it works both ways: any courses you take through our program will also transfer to other public and private colleges or universities.
Yes! Our program is intentionally designed to allow students to work while they are earning their degrees. The majority of our students are paying their own way through school, without assistance from their families. At HSM, we understand that you can’t complete your education if you can’t keep a roof over your head. Our weekly schedule leaves blocks of time to work 20-30 hours per week if you choose Horizon School of Ministry Experience – or a full-time job if you choose Horizon School of Ministry Flex.
Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 semesters combined
▪ Tuition ($333 per credit hour)..……………$7,992
▪ Registration Fee ($0/semester) …………$0
▪ NPP Program Fee ($1,300/semester)….$2,600
▪ Ministry Practicum Tuition (6 credits)..Free
Total Cost ………………………………………….$10,592 for the year
Master’s Degrees vary. Please see the specific degree for more information.
No! Our full-time Experience track can be undertaken at any age. To aid those who are past “traditional college age,” heads of household, or full time parents, we also offer a Flex program. Our Flex program is designed for students who want to pursue a degree but cannot commit to the weekly internship schedule at HSM. Our team will work closely with you to find ways for you to earn the 3 credits of internship each semester within your schedule. Examples: serving in a ministry, leading a small group, reading assigned books, planning an event, etc… Or you can forgo the internship option altogether. (This option will require you to take 8 more classes over the timeline of a 4-year degree.)
Classes are all online and learning happens asynchronously, so participants can learn on their own time and schedule throughout the week. Every week, assignments will be due at the same time, so it is easy to build a schedule around.
Monday-Tuesday: Reading and practice quiz
Wednesday: Quiz
Thursday: Discussion post
Saturday: Reply to another student’s discussion post
Sunday: Weekly essay due
We believe interns are not just extra hands to help stack chairs and organize closets; but are the future leaders of the Church. Thus, our internships are designed to give you as much experience and knowledge as possible.
We offer three different levels of internship depending on your year, what type of ministry you are going into, and what degree track you choose.
Level 1- “Ministry Tour” interns focus on the church as a whole. Learning the values that drive why we do what we do by observing seven ministries within Horizon: Middle School, High School, Kids, Horizon Littles, Worship, Tec, and Hospitality.
Level 2- “Volunteering” interns pick one ministry to volunteer in all semester. Interns will serve in every position within their chosen ministry every Sunday and meet monthly with the ministry lead to understand the why behind all that goes on.
Level 3- “Leading” interns are given leadership roles within the ministry they just completed level 2 in. They receive assignments, accountability, and evaluation from the ministry lead. Going “behind the scenes” to understand and assist with the functions that no one else gets to see.
Each level can be taken for credit twice, but choosing different ministry focuses.
Sunday: Sit one service and intern during the other
Monday: Intern Meetings from 7-9 pm: focusing on spiritual growth and leadership lessons
Wednesday: Bi-weekly, 1-1 Discipleship meetings with assigned mentor (can happen anytime during the day and in any location)