Master of Theology

The Master of Theology (ThM) is available on a limited basis to students who have earned a Master of Divinity degree or a Master of Arts degree in the relevant theological discipline. The development of mastery and competency in the selected major field is the primary purpose of this program.

Program Details

The 30-credit program consists of one of the following concentrations:

  • Old Testament
  • New Testament
  • Systematic Theology
  • Historical Theology
Each concentration consists of the following:
 
  • Major Field – A 20-hour unit in the selected specialization.
  • Enrichment – A four-credit unit in another division or cognate area with another professor, with the approval of the major professor.
  • Professional Practicum – A teaching and/or related professional learning experience under the supervision of the major professor, with approval of the dean. The student achieves no credit for the professional practicum.
  • Thesis - A six-hour unit composed of a thesis in the major field. The dean will appoint a faculty committee to review and evaluate the thesis. The student must submit the thesis topic to the major professor by the end of the second week of September for approval. The first draft of the thesis is due at the end of the second week of January. The student must submit the final draft to the major professor at the end of the first week of March. The student must perform an oral defense of the thesis, which the faculty committee will conduct.

The student must achieve a minimum 3.0 GPA in all Master of Theology degree course work. The student must repeat any work below a 3.0 GPA according to the seminary retake policy.

 The tuition for the Master of Theology is approximately $14,640. Learn more about Costs and Aid.

Time Limits

  1. The student must complete the degree, including the thesis, within three academic years. The major professor and dean conduct a formal evaluative meeting with any student who fails to complete the program within this time limit (three academic years and two summers).
  2. The Seminary Admissions Office will charge a continuing registration fee equal to the current rate of one credit hour for each semester that the student is in the program but not enrolled. Students who do not pay the continuing registration fee must reapply for admission to the program.

Admissions Requirements

We expect applicants for our Master of Theology program to:

  1. Have accredited undergraduate and Master of Divinity degrees, with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA in the Master of Divinity program.
  2. Take the Graduate Record Examinations General Test and have the scores reported to our Seminary Admissions Office.
  3. Demonstrate advanced competency in Hebrew or Greek, if applying for the Old Testament or New Testament specialization respectively.
  4. Possess well-developed critical thinking and communication skills, both of which are essential to theological research and writing.
  5. Show promise for exceptional productivity in Kingdom ministry through previous academic work and personal spiritual qualifications.
  6. Provide two letters of recommendation from former teachers — one from a former teacher in the anticipated specialization field.
  7. Submit to the Seminary Admissions Office a formal letter to the faculty indicating reasons for pursuing an advanced graduate theological degree. The letter should also include the selection of a program specialization and life objectives.

The faculty grants admission to the Master of Theology degree program by vote. Candidates generally cannot transfer credit to this degree program.

Degree Outcomes

  • Pastoral Ministry
  • Teaching Ministry
  • Advanced theological education

Course Plan

Our program checklist breaks this program into modules and lists the courses required for each module.

Student Learning Objectives

Students who complete the Master of Theology curriculum will be able to:

Old Testament Specialization

  1. Read with skill the prose and poetry of the Hebrew Bible with the use of lexical tools.
  2. Demonstrate advanced hermeneutical and exegetical skills that apply to Old Testament literature.
  3. Identify and describe the academic study of the Old Testament.
  4. Demonstrate competency to read the Old Testament against its Ancient Near Eastern background.
  5. Research and write an advanced-level master’s thesis in Old Testament.

New Testament Specialization

  1. Read with skill the Greek New Testament with the use of lexical tools.
  2. Demonstrate advanced hermeneutical and exegetical skills.
  3. Identify and describe the categories that comprise the academic study of the New Testament.
  4. Research and write an advanced-level master’s thesis in New Testament.

Historical Theology Specialization

  1. Describe the main eras of church history and their contributions to the development of theology.
  2. State the ideas of key theologians within the history of the church.
  3. Demonstrate critical reflection on the theological development of Western Christianity.
  4. Research and write an advanced-level master’s thesis in historical theology.

Systematic Theology Specialization

  1. Demonstrate competence in the methods of theology as applied to great theologians and major doctrines.
  2. Construct one’s own integrated theological system of belief.
  3. Critically analyze various theological problems and successfully argue for a position.
  4. Research and write an advanced-level master’s thesis in systematic theology.

 

Degrees