The Master of Arts in Theology is a first academic graduate degree program providing students with a substantial academic background in specific theological disciplines. ICSST offers the M.A in Theology in two formats: general and research. The general M.A. is a terminal degree program in theology for students that wish to pursue their studies in further depth without a formal research component. The general M.A. is well-suited for persons teaching at the secondary school level. The research M.A. program serves as the basis for further graduate studies, and includes both the language reading and research requirements that are usually deemed prerequisites to doctoral studies. Admission requirements, matriculation requirements, and concentrations are the same for both formats.
Students considering further studies in theology are advised to pursue the research M.A. Because the general format M.A. is a terminal degree, ICSST will not recommend graduates of the general M.A. program to doctoral programs.

Admission Requirements

In addition to the University's general admission requirements for graduate study and the special admission requirements for all ICCST programs, M.A. applicants should have completed at least 12 credits or the equivalent in theology/religious studies in their undergraduate programs. Students lacking this background may be required to enroll in additional course work to remedy this deficiency.

Matriculation Requirements

All students must maintain an average of at least 3.000 on a 4.000 scale in course work leading to the M.A. in Theology. Students must complete degree requirements within five years. Extensions of time to fulfill degree requirements may be requested for extenuating reasons from the ICSST Educational Policy Committee.

Concentrations

Concentrations are available in four areas: biblical studies, Christian ethics, systematic theology and Church history. A fifth concentration, in Judaeo-Christian studies, is available by taking courses offered through the University's Department of Jewish-Christian Studies.

Degree Requirements

General (Terminal) Option

Students selecting the M.A. in Theology, general option, must complete 36 credits of course work, credits obtained must include 21 credits in one of the major areas listed under "concentrations" and 12 credits in the other areas of concentration, divided as evenly as possible among them. Students concentrating in biblical studies must also complete 2 credits in Biblical Greek or Hebrew. As close as possible to their final semester of studies, students must also complete 3 credits in the M.A. Seminar (STHO 6999), a capstone course integrating their theological studies from among the various concentrations. It is anticipated that the M.A. Seminar will be offered at least biannually.

Research Option

The M.A. in Theology program, research format, consists of four components: course work, language reading requirements, comprehensive examinations and thesis. These four components are divided as follows:

I. Course Work (36 credits)

Students must complete 36 hours of graduate course work, must include 21 credits in one of the major areas listed under "concentrations" and 15 credits in the other areas of concentration, divided as evenly as possible among them. No pastoral theology (PTHO) courses are applicable to the M.A. in Theology degree.

II. Language Reading Requirement

Students must demonstrate a reading knowledge of French or German. This requirement should be met as early as possible; no student will be permitted to advance to comprehensive examinations without satisfying it. Substitution of other languages is generally not permitted unless the student demonstrates a compelling relationship between the proposed language substitute and his area of research. Students meet the language reading requirement by taking a one-hour translation examination that is administered and graded by a faculty member chosen by the associate dean.

III. Comprehensive Examinations

Students must complete written comprehensive examinations in their areas of concentration, demonstrating relative mastery of the chosen area of study. Comprehensives are taken after course work and the language reading requirement have been fulfilled. Details are available from the associate dean at (973) 761-9576.

IV. Thesis

After all other degree requirements have been successfully met, students must submit an acceptable thesis of substantial length (80-100 pages) in the chosen field of concentration on a topic previously approved by the Educational Policy Committee. The thesis will be read by a mentor and a reader, each of whom grades the thesis, and the final grade will be established by the associate dean as the average of the two grades. The final thesis must be filed in the ICSST Library.

V. Additional Requirements for Biblical Students

In addition to the requirements described in I-IV, students concentrating in biblical studies must successfully complete at least one semester of Biblical Greek (2 credits) and one semester of Biblical Hebrew (2 credits) prior to taking the comprehensive examinations.