The Master of Theology degree is an advanced academic degree that requires the M.Div. as prerequisite, and may be regarded as an additional year of preparation for Christian ministry beyond the M.Div. or as preparation for advanced study. Completion of eight courses with a grade point average of at least 3.0 is required for graduation.

Nine areas of concentration are available in the Th.M. program through the three academic divisions:

• Division of Biblical Studies: Old Testament, New Testament, and Biblical Theology
• Division of Christian Thought: Church History, Historical Theology, Theology, Theology and Culture, and Missiology
• Division of Ministry: Preaching

Of the eight courses required for any concentration, at least four of them must be taken at the Th.M. level. Students in the Th.M. program may complete their eight courses by following one of two tracks:

Thesis Track: Complete five courses in a concentration which includes a directed thesis in the area (and counts as two courses). Students in this track must demonstrate competence to write a thesis in prior course work and be invited to write a thesis by the faculty director of the track. Two additional courses outside the area of concentration but related to the concentration round out the program. Also, a research methods course appropriate to the field of study must be completed and counts as one course.

Non-Thesis Track: Complete five courses in a concentration and two courses which may be outside the area of concentration, but related to it. Also, a research methods course appropriate to the field of study must be completed and counts as one course. Students in this track must write one major research paper which is done as part of one of the courses in the program, giving evidence of competencies similar to those demonstrated in a thesis. The student will consult with the faculty director of the track in determining which course will include the major paper.

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Graduation Requirements

Students participating in the Master of Theology program must complete 8 courses with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher and be present for graduation ceremonies. No more than 2 courses may be taken at schools in the Boston Theological Institute and these by approval of the Th.M. Directors.

Th. M. Program Directors

Each student designs his or her coursework in consultation with a Th.M. program director. At the present time, there are three program directors, one over the Th.M. tracks in Biblical Studies, one supervising the Th.M. tracks in Christian Thought, and one directing the Th.M. in Preaching.

Degree Requirements

Area of Concentration: At least 5 courses will be taken in an area of concentration. These courses will be determined in consultation with a Th.M. Director and their number may be reduced if the student is invited to write a thesis.

Th.M. Research Seminar: Students must complete a Master of Theology Research Methods Seminar appropriate to the concentration, which counts as one course.

Language Requirement: A student electing to enroll in one of the Biblical Studies Division Tracks must have successfully completed one year of biblical Greek and one year of biblical Hebrew prior to beginning the program. A student who has the minimal language requirements but is deficient in either Greek or Hebrew exegesis, as determined by the relevant Th.M. director, may be required to take basic exegesis courses as part of their required course load. A student electing to enroll in one of the Christian Thought Division Tracks or the Division of Ministry Track may be required to pass an examination in Latin or a modern research language where appropriate to the student's research interest. This will be determined by the relevant Th.M. director.

Electives: No more than two courses may be taken in an area outside of but related to the student's area of concentration. The relevant Th.M. director must approve the courses.

Th.M. Writing Project or Thesis: Every Th.M. student should select, in consultation with their Th.M. director, one course (from their concentration) in which they plan to complete the Th.M. Writing Project. In this course they will write one major research paper, giving evidence of competencies similar to those demonstrated in the thesis. Students who have demonstrated the capacity to write a thesis in prior course work and have been invited to write a thesis by their Th.M. director, are exempt from the Th.M. Writing Project. Instead, they will complete a thesis registered as two of the student's required courses. Because of the nature of preaching, students in this track are excused from the thesis/writing project requirement. They will complete their eight courses under the supervision of the director of the Th.M. Preaching Track.

Th.M.-level Coursework: At least one-half the courses must be taken on the Th.M. level (900 level), either through courses designed exclusively for advanced level studies, or by taking M.A. or M.Div. courses which are also being offered by the course instructor on an advanced level for Th.M. students. Independent study courses are also possible since the Th.M. is a research degree. No courses offered in the Seminary's D.Min. program are available for Th.M. credit.

Th.M. Approved Program Plan: Students are required to meet with their Th.M. director during the first two weeks of their first semester to establish a program plan. This plan will list the courses the student intends to complete to fulfill his or her program requirements. A copy, signed by student and director, will then be submitted to the Registration Office for degree tracking purposes.

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To view a Master of Theology checklist in Adobe PDF Format click on the appropriate concentration. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader (required for viewing PDF files), you may download it for free from Adobe Systems.

• Old Testament
• New Testament
• Biblical Theology
• Church History
• Historical Theology
• Theology
• Theology and Culture
• Missiology
• Preaching

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

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