Master of Arts in Theology

Preparation of candidates for ongoing scholarly research and publishing that is suitable for doctoral study or for teaching at the secondary or college levels.

Upon completion the student will be able:

1. To discuss and analyze theological issues and questions through habitual knowledge appropriate to Master’s level achievement;
2. To demonstrate graduate-level familiarity with scriptural and other theological sources while assessing and applying such sources critically and appropriately;
3. To compose research papers or articles appropriate for scholarly publishing.

See the section under General Admission Requirements for Graduate Studies at Master’s Level.

The candidate must complete a total of 36 credit hours. A concentration may be earned in the areas of Cultural and Historical Studies, Scriptural Studies, Systematic Theology, Moral Theology, Sacramental Theology, or Spirituality. No more than 12 credit hours of graduate studies completed in other graduate schools may be transferred. Normally credits earned more than ten years prior to admission will not be transferred.

Candidates must complete:

1. 21 credit hours of core courses
2. 9 credit hours of elective courses including a 2 or 3 credit Church History course. These electives may normally include no more than 3 credit hours in a relevant language and may not include courses whose primary outcomes are the acquisition of ministry skills (e.g. preaching or liturgical practice).
3. Thesis (6 credit hours)
   A student will be required to complete a final (four credit hours) thesis to demonstrate the level to which the goals of the program have been achieved. A (2 credit hour) project proposal is required, before the student may continue with the research and writing of the thesis. The objective and methodology of the thesis may require the working knowledge of a second language.
4. Full-time students can complete the 36 hour program in two years. A part-time student can expect the program to take three to four years.
5. A minimum grade point average of 3.25 is required for all courses applicable to the degree.

Core Courses (21 credit hours)
RW 6100                        MA Pro Seminar
SS 6200                         Scriptural Hermeneutics
SS 7331                           Synoptic Gospels
TS 6301                           Theology of Revelation and Faith
TS 6305                          Introduction to Missiology: Culture and Religion
TS 6350                          Foundations of Moral Theology
TS 7311                             Christology: Jesus Christ and Human Redemption
TS 7315                           Theology of Church and Ministry

Electives Courses (9 credit hours)
Students not concurrently enrolled in the MDiv program and who have not taken a Church History course must take two credits in Church History from one of the following:
CH 6310                            Church History I: The Patristic Era
CH 6311                            Church History II: Holy Roman Empire to the Present
CH 7220                            United States Religious History
CH 7235                            History of Hispanic/Latino Christianity in the U.S.

Otherwise, elective courses should be chosen to support study in the intended area of research.

Thesis (6 credit hours)
TS 9226                             MA (Theology) Thesis Proposal (2 cr.)
TS 9481                             MA (Theology) Research Thesis (4 cr.)

Concentration
A concentration may be earned in one of the following areas: Cultural and Historical Studies, Scriptural Studies, Systematic Theology, Moral Theology, Sacramental Theology, or Spirituality, if six credit hours of elective courses and the six credit hours of Thesis writing are all completed in one of these areas of study.