What is Maritime Christian College (mccpei.com)?

Updated

Maritime Christian College (MCC), at mccpei.com, is a Christian college founded in 1960 that now operates as a completely online school focused on ministry training and Bible study. It offers one online graduate degree and two online certificate programs, all built around a mission to "educate, equip, and inspire disciples of Jesus." If you are looking for flexible, distance-friendly theological or ministry education rather than a residential campus experience, MCC is structured for exactly that.

What MCC offers

MCC's site lists three programs, each with a stated time commitment:

Program Type Duration Weekly commitment
Master of Arts in Ministry Leadership Online graduate degree 2–3 years 10 hours
How to Study the Bible Online Certificate program 1 year 3 hours
Disciple Maker's Path Certificate program 1 year 3 hours

Master of Arts in Ministry Leadership is described as advanced leadership training that prepares students for disciple-focused ministry and leadership in the church.

How to Study the Bible Online walks students step by step through learning the meaning of scripture using proven interpretive methods.

Disciple Maker's Path focuses on Jesus' method of building relationships that change lives — described on the site as "Simple, Practical, Transformative."

Who it's designed for

The programs suit two broad groups:

  • Christians wanting to go deeper in Bible study without committing to a full degree — the two certificate tracks are one-year, low-hourly-commitment options.
  • People already in or preparing for ministry leadership who want graduate-level training, such as the Master of Arts track.

The site's student testimonials reflect both paths. Nikki Lewis (Disciple Makers Path) describes the course as a reminder of Jesus' command to share the gospel. Nathan Shelton (Master of Arts) notes that a bursary removed financial barriers that would otherwise have made a master's course impossible. Jamie Bombardier (Disciple Makers Path) says they had already begun implementing what they learned and wanted their whole church council to take the course.

What MCC says it stands for

The college lists five stated values:

  • Doctrine — honoring the Bible and its authority, with courses reflective of its teaching.
  • Commissioned — a focus on making disciples of Jesus.
  • Education — striving for high-quality learning experiences.
  • Standards — maintaining high expectations of faculty and students.
  • Stewardship — exercising faithfulness and wisdom with kingdom resources.

Practical considerations

  • Fully online. MCC states its platform is completely online, offering flexible and accessible learning "regardless of where they live." This is the main practical difference from a campus-based seminary.
  • Flexible schedules. The site emphasizes small classes and flexible schedules alongside the online format.
  • Financial aid may exist. One testimonial references a bursary that reduced the cost of a master's program. The site does not publish tuition figures or payment details, so anyone weighing cost should request information directly rather than assume a price.
  • Longevity. Founded in 1960, MCC describes itself as having 65+ years of Christian education experience.

How to decide if it fits

If you want structured, online, ministry-oriented study with a low weekly time commitment, the two certificate programs are the lighter entry point. If you need graduate credentials for ministry leadership, the Master of Arts is the relevant track. Because program costs, admission requirements, and start dates are not detailed on the pages reviewed here, the practical next step is to use the site's "Request Information" option or explore the individual program pages before committing.