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Master
of Arts Degree in Theology
Purpose
The objective
of this degree is to provide the student a graduate-level mastery of
theological studies and research, i.e., sufficient familiarity with the
major theological disciplines to serve as a competent scholar and teacher.
The degree also prepares the student for the pursuit of doctoral studies.
Prerequisites
for Admission to the Program
In order to
apply, a candidate must have completed a Bachelor of Arts degree with a
3.0 average, or be currently maintaining a 3.0 average in the Master of
Divinity degree program. It is also expected that the student will
have already earned at least 24 quarter hours of undergraduate credit in
philosophy and/or religious studies. In order to be used toward
prerequisites, philosophy credits must have been earned in one or more of
the following areas: history of ancient, medieval, modern or
contemporary philosophy, critical thinking, philosophy of human nature,
metaphysics, God and reason, social, medical or business ethics, political
philosophy, aesthetics, or philosophy of history. However, other
courses may be used with permission of the dean.
Admission
A student
must apply to the Dean of the Athenaeum for admission either by May 1 for
autumn quarter admission or by October 15 for winter quarter admission.
The Admissions and Degrees Committee of the Athenaeum will decide on the
application. After reviewing the transcripts and other pertinent
material, the committee will determine whether or not the applicant has
fulfilled the prerequisites for the program. The committee may make
specific recommendations about what will satisfy the prerequisites or
about particular courses which ought to be taken by a given applicant in
light of the academic background.
The student
who is matriculated in the Master of Divinity program can apply for
admission to the Master of Arts in Theology program at the completion of
his second year of seminary-based study.
Language
Requirement
The student
will be expected to demonstrate a current reading knowledge in any of the
following: French, German, Italian, or Spanish. This knowledge will
be tested as follows: the student will have two hours in which to
read and translate approximately two pages of theological writing with the
help of a dictionary. Having completed 12 semester hours of study of
a language, with a B average, within the last 10 years, also satisfies the
language requirement. It is expected that at least one source in a
foreign language be consulted and cited in one’s thesis or one of the
two major research papers.
Candidacy
Before a
student is admitted as a candidate for the Master of Arts in Theology
degree 1) one must have completed the Proseminar (explained below); 2) at
least 15 quarter hours of work must be completed and reviewed by the Dean
of the Athenaeum as satisfactory; and 3) the student must have passed the
language examination.
Academic
Requirements
A student
must obtain a minimum of 46 quarter hours of graduate work to earn the
degree and must have a 2.5 grade point average at the end of the first
year of study for the degree, or the first 18 credits, whichever comes
last, and a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 at the end of
each quarter thereafter. Students falling below the required average
are on probation with regard to this program. More than two
successive quarters on probation will require faculty action for the
student to continue in the program. Each student will be assigned an
academic advisor who must approve all course registrations.
Course
Requirements
All
applicants must take the Proseminar which is a one-hour course designed as
a common introduction to masters-level study and research in theology.
The Proseminar should be taken as early as possible. The details of
the Proseminar will be the responsibility of the Athenaeum Dean.
The student
must take the following 39 quarter hours:
Biblical
Studies (6 hours)
LPB 301
or B 231
LPB 302
or B 233,234
Christian
Living (6 hours)
LPS 403
or CL 230
LPS
414, CL 234, 236 or 237
Historical
Theology or Church History (3 hours)
LPH 302
or H 301, 302, or 303
Systematic
Theology (12 hours)
LPS 300
or S 225
LPS
302, S 240 or S 241
LPS 303
or S 233
LPS
401, S 234 or ID 235
Electives (12
hours) - additional courses chosen from above areas of the curriculum.
The student
must identify an area of major research which can be achieved in one of
two ways: a thesis (worth 6 credits) or two 500 level electives. If
one chooses to do a thesis (at least 50-60 pages) one must first find a
full-time faculty member from one of the required interest areas who
agrees to be a director. It is the director’s responsibility to
approve the topic and outline, to supervise the research, to recommend
revisions in the draft and to accept and grade the final text. If
one chooses to take two 500 electives, a guided research paper (of 25-30
pages) is required for each course. The professor of the course acts
as director. In either of these options the student must follow the
K. Turabian Manual for Writers.
Comprehensive
Examination
One
must be admitted as a candidate for the degree and complete all course
requirements before one can apply for the comprehensive examination. The
exam is divided into two parts. The first part is a three-hour written
examination, consisting of objective and essay questions, on theological
study in the areas of biblical studies, Christian living, church history
and systematic theology. The second part is a 30-minute oral defense of
one’s major research before a board of three faculty members, including
the director of the research. The student must pass both parts of the examination. |