Dr. Steven C. Horine, Director

Purpose of the Master of Arts (Theological Studies)

The Master of Arts (Theological Studies) degree is designed for persons desiring graduate theological education for a variety of church-related ministries and personal goals, but who do not anticipate the senior pastorate. The M.A.(T.S.) provides a foundation in the theological disciplines for further graduate study, personal theological pursuit, and instruction in specialized ministries. By offering a variety of elective courses in selected areas of study along with a core of required courses, the M.A.(T.S.) can be tailored to each student's particular interests and goals.

The Master of Arts (Theological Studies) degree is especially appropriate for the following:

1. Persons who desire to become more competent in their biblical understanding in order to minister more effectively in their church
2. Christian school teachers who have been trained in educational specialties but not adequately in biblical studies and theology
3. Persons planning to teach biblical studies or theology in other than a college or graduate setting
4. Missionaries who desire to increase their understanding of the Bible.

The M.A. degree enables students to gain understanding of the development of theology, knowledge of premillennial theology, and ability to support their theological views and apply them to contemporary issues. The program emphasizes interpretive methodology, biblical background, and biblical content/theology courses in individual books or sections of the Bible. Courses are chosen by the student in consultation with the dean and registrar, allowing the student to specialize in areas of personal interest and ministerial need. The degree will help the student develop an ability to integrate his/her theology into active ministry.

Students who complete the Master of Arts degree will demonstrate the following:

1. An increased knowledge of the Bible
2. An understanding of the historical development of Christian fundamentalism
3. An understanding of dispensational, premillennial theology
4. An understanding of Baptist distinctives and congregational church polity
5. Critical theological thinking
6. An ability to support their theological views through application to contemporary issues
7. The ability to integrate the theological disciplines into the ministries of the church.

Admission requirements for the Master of Arts (Theological Studies)

In addition to the general requirements for admission to the seminary (see the General Admissions section), applicants to the Master of Arts (Theological Studies) program must possess one of the following:

1. A baccalaureate degree issued by a recognized postsecondary school in the United States of America authorized by that school's state to grant the baccalaureate degree
2. The educational equivalent of the baccalaureate degree. Degree equivalency is based on similarity to a North American degree in kind, quality, and stringency of academic work; foreign students may have completed the equivalency of a baccalaureate degree, even though the degree title may not specifically follow American nomenclature.

Degree requirements for the Master of Arts (Theological Studies)

For graduation with a Master of Arts (Theological Studies) degree, a student must complete 36 credit hours within six years. A minimum grade-point average of 2.0 must be maintained. One year (a minimum of 18 semester hours) must be completed in residence at Calvary Baptist Theological Seminary.

Christian service requirements. M.A.(T.S.) students report on two semesters of Christian service. Each report must reflect effort on the part of the student to integrate his or her classroom experience into service for the benefit of others through preaching, teaching, discipleship, or other means. Generally speaking, such work must push the student to accomplish a task he or she has not previously achieved (e.g., attempting a new style of evangelism, teaching, or preaching).

Capstone project. Students in the M.A.(T.S.) program must complete a capstone project and a project report of approximately ten pages in length. M.A.(T.S.) capstone projects are biblical/theological in nature and utilize the major subject areas in which the student has studied in his or her M.A.(T.S.) program. Capstone project topics are approved in writing by the M.A.(T.S.) program director before work commences and upon completion of 28 credits of coursework.

The seminary confers the Master of Arts (Theological Studies) degree upon students who complete the prescribed course of study. However, graduation is not automatic when academic requirements have been met. Since the seminary aims to graduate those who qualify as Christian leaders, the faculty and administration will evaluate a student's qualifications in terms of spiritual, doctrinal, and professional standards as well as academics. All financial obligations to the seminary must be paid prior to commencement, and students are encouraged to be present at the commencement exercises.

Course requirements for the Master of Arts (Theological Studies)

Core and elective courses for the Master of Arts (Theological Studies) program are as follows:

Core requirements

1. CE501 Research Methods, 1 credit
2. PT501 Spiritual Formation, 1 credit
3. TH500 Hermeneutics, 2 credits
4. TH501 Prolegomena/Bibliology, 2 credits
5. TH504 Soteriology, 2 credits
6. TH505 Ecclesiology, PT514 Baptist Polity, or CH500 Baptist History, 2 credits
7. TH510 Dispensationalism, 2 credits
8. CH503 American Fundamentalism/Evangelicalism, 2 credits

Elective requirements

1. Old Testament or New Testament biblical studies electives (selected from courses with OT or NT prefixes), 10 credits
2. Theology electives (selected from courses with a TH or CH prefix), 4 credits
3. General electives, 8 credits

Total: 36 credits

Suggested Two-Year Master of Arts (Theological Studies) Program