Master of Theological Studies

Degree Goals Degree Requirements

The purpose of the Master of Theological Studies (M.T.S.) degree program, which requires the completion of 57 semester-hours, is to develop broad theological understandings for general education purposes. It may be utilized by persons who seek to serve as theologically educated lay leaders in church and society or by students in preparation for further academic coursework leading to a doctorate in Religious Studies.

For most denominations, the M.T.S. does not include either a sufficient number of hours or an adequate emphasis on ministerial formation and practice in order to meet the requirements for denominational certification or ordination. Moreover, The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS) has determined that this degree is not designed to prepare students for ministry.

M.T.S. Degree Goals

Upon completing this program, students will be able to:

• employ appropriate methods of understanding the Bible as a product of the development of communities, institutions, and texts in Israel and early Christianity;
• articulate Christian faith in contemporary society, nourished by a critical awareness of the history of the relationship between Christianity and culture;
• demonstrate understanding of at least two periods in Christian history, including familiarity with the diversity of racial-ethnic and cultural elements which have been part of the church’s history;
• demonstrate by writing a thesis, an ability to integrate a program of studies and to sustain a focus on a specific theological topic.

M.T.S. Degree Requirements

The M.T.S. degree requires the completion of 57 semester-hours with a cumulative grade point average of 2.25 or higher. Students must take 36 semester-hours of foundational courses, plus 15 hours of specialization courses and 6 hours of thesis work. M.T.S. students should work closely with their advisers in selecting the courses that best prepare them to write a thesis on a chosen topic.