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The Master of Arts in Religion

This flexible two-year degree is designed for people who desire to understand their calling within a more complete theological perspective so that they may serve more effectively in the world. The degree is not designed for those pursuing pastoral leadership as a profession. It does not by itself equip people for church and professional positions involving specialized skills.

Degree Requirements
To qualify for the Master of Arts in Religion degree a student must:

1. Complete 20 courses with a grade point average of 2.0 or higher, including an integrative paper or project;
2. Take no more than eight of the 20 courses at other schools in the Boston Theological Institute;
3. Complete six courses in one area to constitute a concentration;
4. Complete an integrative paper or project equivalent to one course credit. Before completion of the tenth course, the student is to submit a paper or project proposal for approval by the MAR program director. Successful completion of ten courses plus approval of the proposal admits the student to candidacy for the degree.
5. The student is responsible for providing two unbound, finished copies of the integrative paper or project and to sign Gordon-Conwell's Copyright Release Form for Deposited Student Works, as well as copyright release forms for vendors, and pay the appropriate binding fees.
6. The student must be present for graduation exercises.

Learning Covenant

Before the completion of six courses the student must receive approval of a learning covenant from the M.A.R. director. The form for such contracts and related documents must contain:

1. Statement of purpose specifying a vocational goal or other organizing principle for the program;
2. Specification of the 20 courses required organized as to area of concentration, general courses, language, and free electives, with rationale describing how these courses contribute to the purposes stated in number 1 above;
3. Tentative integrative paper or project title.

Language Requirements

Complete or have completed, at least two semesters of a second language (or demonstrate equivalent proficiency therein). Fulfillment of this requirement will be determined by the M.A.R. Director, taking into account the area of concentration, the student's background, and vocational goals.

Program Director

The director of the Master of Arts in Religion program serves as the primary contact for M.A.R. students and is available to provide counsel and assist students in developing their programs and integrative paper/project proposals.

Degree Goals

1. To understand the basic content and themes of the Old and New Testaments in their historical and cultural settings (1) as well as the historical and theological dimensions of the Christian faith (2)
2. To be exposed to a rigorous study and practice of theology in its various disciplines through diverse faculty voices (2)
3. To demonstrate integration through a cumulative educational experience that embraces both academic preparation and life experiences (2)
4. To foster passionate commitment to ministry through individualized and flexible course of study and faculty involvement (3)
5. 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 (4, 5)
6. To acquire a biblical perspective and Christian worldview on the forces in our culture and to learn to engage those as they are at work both outside and inside the life of the church (5)
7. To develop a global vision for the Christian church (6)

Catalogs
To download the South Hamilton campus catalog, click here.
To request a catalog from the Boston/CUME campus, click here.
To request a catalog from the Charlotte campus, click here.

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