Top Masters Programs in Theology and Theological Studies

AcademicsOrganization of the CurriculumArea I Biblical Studies.

This area is concerned with the interpretation of the Christian Scriptures in the broadest sense, including the study of the classical biblical languages (Hebrew and Greek), the content of the Hebrew Bible and New Testament, critical methods of interpretation, biblical history, cultural and historical milieu of the Bible, and the theological and pastoral implications of the text.

Introductory courses are offered in the critical study of the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament. Except for the language courses, all courses in Area I normally have these foundation courses (or their equivalent) as prerequisites.

Language courses are offered at the elementary, intermediate, and advanced levels. Generally, elementary biblical languages are eligible for elective credit only.

Three types of exegesis courses are offered: those based on the English text those based on the original text and requiring a working knowledge of the biblical language and advanced exegesis seminars that require at least an intermediate knowledge of the biblical language. Exegesis courses of each type are offered each term on selected books or topics from the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament.

Thematic courses are offered on a wide range of theological and historical issues raised by the scriptures. These include courses on the cultural and historical milieu of the Bible.

Advanced seminars are designed for YDS students with the requisite background and qualifications, and for doctoral students.

YDS offers intensive courses in elementary Biblical Hebrew and elementary New Testament Greek for six weeks during the summer. Such work earns six hours of academic credit and prepares the student for the course in exegesis. Summer work will satisfy most denominational language requirements.

The master of theological studies (MTS) degree offers students the opportunity to explore how different elements of religion relate to language, culture, and the evolution of different faith traditions.

The MTS program is a two-year full-time degree with eighteen areas of focus that allow for diverse educational interests and vocational goals.

The program may be preparatory work for a doctoral program in religion or related discipline the program may also inform another field or profession, such as law, journalism, public policy, education, arts, or medicine, from a perspective enriched by theological study.

View a comparison chart of MTS program and other HDS degree offerings.

Conduct research using the methods appropriate to at least one subfield within the academic study of religion, or apply the fruits of research to a particular problem.

African and African American Religious Studies Courses in this area explore various dimensions of the religious experiences and expressions of the African and African American peoples, including the African diaspora.

Buddhist Studies Courses in this area foster the understanding of Buddhists and the life-worlds they have created, historically across Asia as well as in contemporary settings around the globe. This understanding is cultivated through self-reflective interpretations of Buddhist ideas, values, texts, languages, institutions, practices, and experiences, with the expectation that these interpretations will lead to both appreciation and critique of Buddhism, in all its diversity, as a human heritage.

Comparative Studies Courses in this area include the comparative study of religion and anthropology, comparative theology, and comparative ethics. They involve the disciplined study of the complex relationships among themes and concepts, as well as the study of texts, practices, and images, in two or religious traditions. Such studies by definition involve a self-reflexive, critical analysis of comparison itself. Some courses may be entirely methodological and or theoretical in content, but the emphasis is normally on concrete comparative practice. Students are urged to cultivate knowledge of at least two traditions by the study of them throughout their program.

While many courses focus on a particular religious community and or tradition, others consider the richly complex interactions among various religious communities in China, Japan, and Korea.

The courses are designed to serve both students with no knowledge of biblical languages as well as those who have studied Hebrew, Greek, and or other ancient languages relating to the Bible and who seek to continue building their linguistic foundation for further study.

Hindu Studies Courses in this area foster the understanding of Hindu thought and practice both in India and throughout the global Hindu diaspora. Students are also encouraged to undertake the study of Sanskrit and other relevant languages.

History of Christianity Courses in this area study Christianity in its evolving institutional, theological, devotional, social, cultural, and intellectual expressions from the first century to the present. In addition, the area offers courses in historical method, historiography, and interpretive issues in secondary literature.

Islamic Studies Courses in this area study different dimensions of the long and varied history and contemporary reality of the Islamic tradition. Islamic art, law, politics, and theology, Islamic mysticism, Islamic constructions of gender, pre-modern Islamic culture, and other topics are explored within the Arabic-, Persian-, and Turkish-speaking societies of the Muslim-majority world, South, Central, and Southeast Asia, Africa, and or the modern Western world.

Jewish Studies Courses in this area explore the Jewish tradition as it has developed over the millennia. Methodologically, it makes use of a number of diverse but interrelated approaches: literary, historical, theological, philosophical, and sociological. The language most relevant to Jewish Studies is Hebrew, though for work in some areas, others, such as Aramaic or Yiddish, may also prove essential.

New Testament and Early ChristianityCourses in this area focus on the interdisciplinary study of Christian literature (canonical and extracanonical), history, exegesis, and theology in the context of the ancient Mediterranean world, with special emphasis on hermeneutics, feminist interpretation, and material culture.

Philosophy of Religion Courses in this area engage in the philosophical interpretation and evaluation of religion, religious belief, and religious practice. Questions include the nature of religion, religious experience, and religious language the status and justification of religious belief the relationship between religion and ethics, and between religion and aesthetics and theories of practice relative to the interplay of religious subjectivity and ritual. Work in this area can be pursued in relationship to European and American philosophy, the philosophical traditions of Asia, and or comparative studies.

Religion and the Social Sciences Courses in this area attempt to explicate and account for connections between religious phenomena and several aspects of society including the organization of cultural, political, economic, and reproductive life. This area approaches forms of religious faith, religious experience, and religious organization from post-enlightenment perspectives associated with the disciplines of anthropology, sociology, social psychology, political and economic science, and sociobiology.

Religion, Ethics, and Politics Courses in this area focus on a range of normative issues that arise within political cultures. This area encourages students to understand the many social, cultural, and political contexts in which human agents are formed and take action. Special attention is given to the distinctive role that religious beliefs, practices, codes, and s play in shaping ethical subjects or instructing their dispositions and choices. The area is intentionally interdisciplinary and exposes students to normative issues within a variety of the world religious traditions.

Religion, Literature, and Culture Courses in this area provide students with the historical and critical methods necessary to analyze literary texts from a variety of genres (poetry, biography), religious traditions (Buddhism, Christianity), and cultural perspectives (Latin America, South Asia). Recognizing the intersectionality of religion, literature, and culture, this area combines literary and cultural criticism with theological and religious analysis. It also recognizes the aesthetic dimension of religion as a basis for understanding such themes as myth, ritual, and transcendence in much of world literature.

Religions of the Americas Courses in this area explore the diverse religious traditions and expressions of the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, and Latin America. Historical, ethnographic, and comparative approaches are brought to bear on immigrant, indigenous, diasporic, and new religions. While some courses take broadly hemispheric and multireligious perspectives, others focus in depth on particular geographical areas, traditions, or themes.

While many courses focus on a particular religious community and or tradition, others consider the richly complex interactions among various religious groups in South Asia and the South Asian global diaspora. Students in this area are encouraged to explore the religious cultures of the region broadly, including relevant classical and or modern languages.

Theology Courses in this area focus on all modes of the Christian tradition self-understandings of its faith and practice in historical, contemporary, and comparative contexts. The study of theology involves the articulation of diverse understandings of central topics such as God, salvation, and the Church analyses of the contexts of, constraints on, and methods of theological reflection and reasoning the relation of Christianity to other religions and the relation of theology to other pursuits of knowledge and practices of self-understanding.

Women, Gender, Sexuality, and Religion Courses in this area use gender and or sexuality as categories of analysis across the disciplines of religious and theological studies. The area engages feminist theory in relation to the experiences, thoughts, texts, and practices of both men and women as well as highlighting previously neglected areas of women religiosity.

(Note: individually designed programs should be created based on the course offerings and capacity of HDS to support that area as a field of study.) Not all courses available and of interest belong to an area of focus. The program is designed with sufficient flexibility to allow selection from among all course offerings. Students are encouraged to select these courses when appropriate to their interests or program.

The courses must be taken for a letter grade and the student must receive grades of B or higher.

Residency requirement: students must complete four courses each in two of their first three consecutive terms.

Thirteen of the sixteen required classes must be taken for a letter grade, three may be taken on a satisfactory unsatisfactory basis.

B average must be maintained throughout the program.

Language study at Harvard Divinity School is one of the highlights of many students' experience. Master of theological studies (MTS) students must satisfy a language competency requirement by demonstrating intermediate reading competency in a language of scholarship in theological and religious studies.

HDS offers instruction in several languages, including Pali, a written language of early Buddhism. Students are expected to address their language requirements as early in their programs as possible.

There are four ways MTS students may demonstrate intermediate-level reading competency to satisfy the language requirement with one of the seven languages examined by HDS:.

By completing with a grade of B or better the second semester of an HDS intermediate-level course in Greek, Hebrew, Pali, or Arabic (e.g., 4021 Intermediate Classical Hebrew II, 4221 Intermediate Greek II, 4055 Intermediate Pali II, or 4361 Intermediate Arabic II) or one semester of an HDS advanced intermediate-level course in Latin (e.g., Readings in Christian Latin: Hildegard of Bingen and the Gospels).

By receiving a grade of A or higher on the final exam in a modern language course in the School Summer Language Program.

For languages taught at Harvard University other than those offered and examined by the Divinity School, the same principles will apply for satisfying the language requirement. Students must achieve intermediate competency, which is usually measured as finishing with a B or better the fourth semester of a language course that follows the four-semester model.

Master of Religion and Public Life (MRPL) Program.

Graduate Program in Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies and Theology.

The Ph.D. program in Peace Studies prepares students in research methodologies associated with the disciplines of anthropology, history, political science, psychology, sociology and theology. Graduates are credentialed in one of the six disciplines and fully acquainted with the research questions and findings of interdisciplinary peace research. The program has a strong placement record, and graduates hold important academic, governmental, and non-profit positions around the world.

Official transcripts from each post-secondary institution one must show conferral of a bachelor degree. (Due upon enrollment).

Writing sample(s) refer to program site for details.

Georgetown offers a Ph.D. in Theological and Religious Studies, an interdisciplinary program that allows students to pursue the critical and comparative study of theology and religion.

Students admitted to our program receive five years of full funding, which includes tuition, health coverage, and a generous stipend. Our program also allocates funding for conference travel, and our current students regularly present at national and international conferences. Current students have also received grants and awards from outside fellowships for summer language study and dissertation research.

Our strengths as a department are augmented by a wealth of other resources at Georgetown, including the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, the Center for Contemporary Arab Studies, the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs, the Program for Jewish Civilization, the East Asian Languages and Cultures, and the Arab and Islamic Studies.

Dual Degree: Master of Arts in Bioethics (MA-Bioethics).

The MTS is especially designed for individuals interested in pursuing some aspect of teaching and research, whether in an academic context, the non-profit world, or in public policy and social engagement. It provides superb preparation for doctoral-level studies in religion and theology.

The program focuses on three areas: History, Scripture, Tradition of Christianity Modern Religious Thought and Experience and Global Religions. The MTS emphasizes historical and constructive issues of religious and theological reflection from a variety of perspectives. The larger Candler and Emory community provides a setting of open engagement and serious theological reflection that enhances the context of the MTS program.

The flexibility of the Candler MTS program allows students to focus their work within an area of specialization or construct a broader degree across the theological disciplines. The program is also intentional helping students discern their vocation through plenaries, small groups and professional development electives in areas such as Non-Profit Leadership and Management Religion, Violence and Peacebuilding and Youth Ministry.

Credit Hours The 48-credit hour curriculum is structured to be completed in two years of full-time study the maximum length of time allowed to complete the program is six years.

Curriculum All students, regardless of their area of focus, are required to complete six hours of courses designated as History, Scripture, Tradition of Christianity six hours of courses designated as Modern Religious Thought and Experience, and six hours of courses in Global Religions.

Thesis and Portfolio Students will complete the degree with course work plus a thesis or a portfolio. Theses or portfolios should be written within the declared area of focus.

That means that students can design a program to fit their academic interests. Up to two-thirds of the curriculum is customizable.

Prerequisites for advanced courses taken at Candler usually do not apply to MTS students.

In keeping with the flexibility of the program, no maximum limit is placed on the number of courses taken in an area of focus. At the same time, a candidate should pursue a cluster of courses that reasonably constitutes interests outside of the area of focus in order to balance depth with breadth in a course of study.

Candler offers the following certificates in conjunction with a Candler degree.

Black Church Studies A theoretical and practical exploration of the black church tradition and its role in contemporary society.

Human Rights (Emory Graduate Certificate)Combines the resources of Emory University with the applied programs of our professional partners, including CARE USA, The Carter Center, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, among others, for an interdisciplinary approach to human rights scholarship and training.

Candler offers four dual degrees with the Master of Theological Studies.

Applicants must have graduated with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 from an accredited college and have a broad liberal arts background with a general knowledge of theological subjects. Students who have already completed a previous Master of Divinity degree are not eligible for admission to the MTS and should seek the STM instead.

Focused knowledge in a specific discipline for students pursuing a particular MTS concentration or, in other cases, a survey knowledge of various theological disciplines.

The curriculum begins with two semesters of basic study of scripture and the yearlong interdisciplinary exploration of history, theology, and contexts contained in the TF 701 Introduction to Christian Traditions TF 702 Christianity Engaging Modernity sequence of courses. Reflecting on the contexts, theologies, scriptures, and historical experiences of communities of faith establishes basic frameworks for the deeper explorations that will lie ahead. And because all such exploration must take place in dialogue with the contemporary challenges of leadership, at some point during the course of study, all students engage in one semester of contextual education appropriate to their educational goals.

The successful completion of 49 credit hours is required for the MTS degree. This program is designed to be completed in two academic years of full-time work (four semesters). The time limit for the degree program is four years (eight semesters).

All awards are for a maximum of two academic years of full-time MTS study. If the student has been awarded a stipend in addition to their full tuition, the stipend will be split equally over the two semesters and be paid to the student by check in the first month of each semester.

Tuition Scholarships: Tuition Scholarships are awarded for the academic year, September to May. All awards are for a maximum of two academic years of full-time MTS study.

All MTS core requirements must be taken at the Boston University School of Theology.

Students who do not earn a passing grade in TF 701 Introduction to Christian Traditions may continue on to their second semester of coursework however, students will be expected to retake the semester that they did not pass. All core requirements must be passed for graduation.

Courses offered in the School of Theology (and certain courses available through the Boston Theological Institute [BTI] and elsewhere in the University) are organized into three curriculum clusters:.

The current list of courses available in each cluster is found in the STH Bulletin, and the STH Registrar maintains a list of alterations to that list between publications of the Bulletin. Students in the Master of Theological Studies program are required to complete:.

No core courses may be taken outside STH.

Grade Minimums No grade lower than C is acceptable for use in core course requirements for the Master of Theological Studies degree. will be accepted for cluster electives or specialization coursework.

Final Degree Assessment All candidates for the Master of Theological Studies degree will undertake a final degree assessment in the period between midterm examinations and the penultimate week of coursework in the final semester of registration.

MA and PhD Programs from Arts Sciences.

Note that this information may change at any time. Read the full terms of use.

The Concentration in Hispanic Studies is offered to students in all Perkins degree programs and is intended specifically for students who want to prepare for ministry in a bilingual and bicultural setting.

The student must complete 15 term hours in Hispanic studies. The student is strongly encouraged to take at least one course in Hispanic studies from each of the four divisions of the curriculum.

The following courses are currently designated among those that can be taken to fulfill the 15 term hours required for the Concentration in Hispanic Studies. Enrollment in Hispanic Studies courses is not limited to those admitted to the program, but is open to all students. Students may also receive credit for courses taken under the Hispanic Summer Program. International study opportunities in Latin America and the Caribbean are also available for credit.

Explore over 70 certificate, master and doctoral programs offered through the Graduate School at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Marquette is routinely listed among the country top universities, renowned for academic rigor, innovation and the achievements of its community of scholars.

The Theology offers a master program aimed at giving students an integrated approach to theological studies, emphasizing, within theological specialties, the interaction of Judaism and Christianity in antiquity, and in historical, systematic and ethical approaches to theology.

The Master in Theology program seeks to develop scholars who can make significant contributions to theological research and writing, and college and high school teachers who can teach a broad range of courses. This broad theological background has enabled program graduates to enjoy enviable success in securing teaching positions at than 200 colleges and universities, in church work and ministry, and in a variety of other education-related institutions.

Students considering careers in education may choose from three pre-academic specializations:.

Students with other vocational aspirations may prefer one of the following specializations:.

Students participating in the Trinity Fellows program may choose our interdisciplinary specialization in Theology and Society.

The Graduate School is excited to offer all students in humanities graduate programs a $500 per credit hour rate. Take advantage of this nearly 60-percent tuition reduction in the following master of arts programs: English, History, Theology and Philosophy.

Students typically begin their studies in the fall of each academic year.

Rolling admission, which means you may apply any time before the following dates:.

A brief statement of purpose that includes: reasons for wanting to enter the program, vocational objectives, special areas of interest, and reasons for selecting Marquette program.

The Theology draws on the university considerable financial aid resources to offer a variety of assistance opportunities to qualified students. These resources include teaching assistantships (TA), research assistantships (RA), minority student fellowships, graduate teaching fellowships, dissertation fellowships, M.A.C.D. scholarship, Smith Family fellowships, Arthur J. Schmitt fellowships, John P. Raynor, S.J., fellowships and Marquette University scholarships.

Private scholarshipsmay also be available. U.S. citizens and permanent residents may be eligible to apply forstudent loansto help fund their educational expenses as well.

Students interested in the theology master program may want to consider applying for theTrinity Fellows program as well. Trinity Fellows is a graduate fellowship program dedicated to developing urban leaders with a commitment to social and economic justice. Trinity Fellows participate in a 21-month study work program while earning a master degree.

Online Options available in our Christian Doctrine specialization.

2022-23 Tuition Cost Per Credit for Master Program: $500.00.

The Master of Theological Studies (MTS) is a two-year academic program suitable for those interested in pursuing careers in teaching or ministry or as preparation for further academic work. The MTS thesis demonstrates the student’s ability to develop a coherent, sustained theological argument reflecting an in-depth study of the theological topic.

The Master of Theological Studies (MTS) is a two-year academic program that provides a breadth of theological understanding for those interested in pursuing a career in teaching at the elementary, secondary, or junior college level in church ministry as preparation for further academic work.

Students choose an area of academic specialization among Biblical Studies (Old or New Testament), Christian Spirituality, Cultural and Historical Studies of Religion, Ethics and Social Theory Religion and Society, History, Liturgical Studies, and Systematic and Philosophical Theology.

Complete 48 semester units as described in the curriculum below, a maximum of 13 of which may be taken at the University of San Diego’s graduate schools.

The Master of Theological Studies (M.T.S.) program in Saint Louis University Theological Studies is geared toward students who want to pursue focused scholarship, prepare for future doctoral work or simply exercise their intellectual curiosity.

SLU M.T.S. program offers an ideal first degree in theology, orienting students to the major fields of theological study, including biblical studies, the history of Christianity, theological ethics and constructive theology.

Resources for theology students at SLU include the than 37,000 microfilms of the Vatican Film Library, the archives of the Institute of Jesuit Sources and than 150,0000 volumes of the Divinity Library in the Pius XII Memorial Library (which contains 1.4 million books, journals and other media). The library also provides access to many key research resources, including the Patrologia Latina, Brepolis, Early English Books OnLine, ATLA, Catholic Periodical Index, J-STOR, Index of Christian Art, as well as electronic access to major journals and other indexing tools.

Saint Louis University Center for Digital Humanities creates products and tools to support teaching and research in historical theology.

Graduates of SLU theology program have gone on to a wide range of careers in academia, educational administration, museums, libraries, archives and nonprofit agencies. SLU Theological Studies is committed to the professional preparation of every graduate student.

Applicants with a strong background (at least 18 credits of upper-level coursework) in theology or religious studies will also be considered.

Academic records, in English translation, of students who have undertaken postsecondary studies outside the United States must include:.

The grades earned or the results of all end-of-term examinations.

For priority consideration for a graduate assistantship, apply by the program admission deadlines listed. Fellowships and assistantships provide a stipend and may include health insurance and a tuition scholarship for the duration of the award.

Graduates will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the broad outlines of Christian scripture, Christian history, and the major theological developments in the tradition, as well as core terms, categories, and exempla that frame theological and religious studies.

Graduates will be able to articulate and apply the theories and methods that structure the study of theology and religion.

Graduates will be able to communicate effectively, both in writing and orally, demonstrating clear, coherent, and well-developed complexity of thought and analysis.

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate professional courses.

Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.

Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.

This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.