Master of Arts in Theology (MATH) Degree Program
Students participating in the Academic Master's degree programs must complete 20 courses (60 credit hours) with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher in order to graduate. Eight courses must be completed in the area of concentration plus up to six courses spread through the three divisions of Biblical Studies, Christian Thought, and Ministry.
Students completing degrees in Old or New Testament must complete two semesters of a biblical language as part of their concentration. The Biblical Languages degree requires advanced courses in biblical languages as well as at least one other ancient language. Students in the Church History or Theology degree programs may substitute a research foreign language suitable to the degree and vocational objective in place of the biblical languages; completion of the language requirement for Church History or Theology may be done on the undergraduate level prior to coming to seminary (in which case, other courses would be taken instead).
A summative evaluation is required of all M.A. students and may take the form of an oral examination, along with an integrative paper in the Division of Christian Thought, or a thesis, or, for students for whom English is a second language, a major integrative paper. The writing of a thesis is done only upon invitation by a faculty member in the field.
Degree Goals
- To understand the basic content and themes of the Old and New Testaments in their historical and cultural settings as well as the historical and theological dimensions of the Christian faith
- To develop competence in a biblical or research language in order to develop exegetical skills
- To develop skills of theological analysis and argument appropriate to the breadth of theological claims of Christianity
- To understand important periods of theological reflection and confession in church history, including the contemporary setting
- To develop aptitudes for living and speaking the gospel in the context of the Christian community so that individually and corporately the depth of Christian conviction can be applied in the ordinary practices of life
- To foster love for God and his word and therefore to cultivate the practices of spiritual maturity and Christ-like character, and to understand the Christian’s ethical responsibility in church and society
- To understand the ethical and missiological dimensions of the Christian faith in its global context.
