Master in Theological Studies

Total hours required: 48

In December of 2000, the Faculty adopted a new curriculum for the MTS program. It means to encourage students to prepare for specific areas of ministry in the church and the world. Each MTS student must fulfill certain core requirements common to all. In addition, each MTS student must declare a concentration, and each concentration has its own additional requirements.
Students who enter the program with prior academic work in one or more of the required areas of study are encouraged to apply to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs for assessment and possible permission to fulfill the requirement by other means than the standard introductory course.

Core requirements:
Old Testament— 4.5 credit hours, fulfilled by taking OT 1, 2, and 3
New Testament—4.5 credit hours, fulfilled by taking NT 1, 2, and 3
Church History—4.5 credit hours, fulfilled by taking CH 1, 2, and 3
Systematic Theology: 3 credit hours, fulfilled by taking one of the introductory ST courses, ST1 A, B, or C.
One elective course taught by a member of the faculty of another school in the Washington Theological Consortium.

Concentrations:
Students must declare a concentration and fulfill its additional requirements.
1. Leadership in the Church
A. Christian Education or School Chaplaincy:
6 credit hours in Christian Education, 3 credit hours in Pastoral Theology, and 3 credit hours in Liturgics, Christian Ethics, and/or Mission and World Religions, plus 3 credit hours of Practicum/Thesis
B. Ministry in a Congregational Setting
9 credit hours chosen from among Homiletics, Pastoral Theology, Liturgics, Christian Ethics, and/or Mission and World Religions, and 3 credit hours of Biblical Languages, plus 3 credit hours of Practicum/Thesis
C. Chaplaincy in Institutions (e.g., ministry in hospital, nursing home or retirement community, or prison):
9 credit hours in Pastoral Theology, including at least 1.5 credit hours in Mission and World Religions
3 credit hours in Christian Ethics fulfilled by taking CE1
6 credit hours of Field Education in chaplaincy and/or one unit of CPE
2. Christian Leadership in the World
A. Discipleship in the World
12 credit hours chosen from the areas of Theology, Christian Ethics, and/or Mission and World Religions, plus 3 credit hours of Practicum/Thesis
B. Public Ministry (e.g., ministry in social justice, public service )
9 credit hours in Pastoral Theology, 3 credit hours in Christian Ethics, fulfilled by taking CE1, plus 3 credit hours Practicum/ Thesis
3. Academic specialization:
3 credit hours in Christian Ethics fulfilled by taking CE1, 3 credit hours of biblical language, and 9 credit hours in a specific academic discipline, plus 3 credit hours of Thesis

Special application for an interdisciplinary MTS concentration may be made to the Dean or Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Before approval, consultation with relevant departments concerning the nature of the concentration and the availability of resources is necessary. Application must be made by March 15 of the year preceding the student’s final year of study.

Notes: Master in Theological Studies
1. The MTS degree can be earned through part-time study, full-time residency, or any combination of the two.
2. Students must take at least one of the required sequences in biblical studies during their first year.
3. In their second year, depending on their concentration, MTS students may be required to do either a "Practicum" (MTS 301) or a "Thesis" (MTS 401). While each is normally for three hours credit, students may expand either into a six-hour Practicum or Thesis. Students may also elect to do both a Practicum and a Thesis. Since the Practicum is designed for lay persons, international students in the MTS program who are ordained are required to undertake a Thesis (MTS 401).
4. Students may take a quarter of Clinical Pastoral Education as an elective.
5. Faculty Approval of Registration. Students shall consult with their faculty advisors each semester before registering for courses. Advisors shall sign their advisees' registration forms indicating that such consultation has taken place. The faculty may require a student in the senior year to elect courses it specifies in order to remedy deficiencies.

Full Time MTS students will attend the August term for Orientation, biblical language, and Oral Interpretation of Scripture. Those not required to take a biblical language for their MTS concentration are free to omit it. Part-time students who are required to take a biblical language in their concentration and are unable to do so in the August term, will be permitted to fulfill the requirement through the Consortium or by other means. Requests from part-time students who attend chapel regularly, wish to be on a chapel team and to read in chapel, without having taken LMA4, will be considered on a case-by-case basis.