Master's Degrees

The Master of Arts (Biblical Studies) or MAB equips students with the knowledge of the scriptural authors and their cultural context necessary to understand the Bible, and with skill in interpreting the Sacred Scriptures in light of the Holy Spirit. The program requires coursework in the Scriptures, Biblical Greek or Hebrew, elective courses in theology, and the development and defense of major research.  

Admission

Admission to the MAB requires an earned bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 cumulative GPA. Prospective students should submit the School of Theology Academic Application and official transcripts from any prior college course work. Applicants must possess an earned baccalaureate degree with a 3.0 average. 

Requirements

The MAB requires 36 credit hours of graduate course work, including the writing and successful defense of a thesis. Students must maintain a 3.25 GPA during their studies in order to be in good standing. After completing all course requirements, students must pass a comprehensive examination consisting of objective and essay-based questions. 

Course of Study 

  • Language: 4 credit hours 
  • GRK 301-302 Biblical Greek or HEB 301-302 Biblical Hebrew 
  • Biblical Studies: 23 credit hours 
  • B 510 Hermeneutics & Pentateuch (3 credits) 
  • B 521 Historical Themes & Wisdom Literature (3 credits) 
  • B 541 Prophets (3 credits) 
  • B 614 Gospels of Mark & Matthew (3 credits) 
  • B 619 Gospel of Luke & Acts of the Apostles (3 credits) 
  • B 621 Pauline Literature (3 credits) 
  • B 637 Catholic Epistles (2 credits) 
  • B 641 Johannine Literature (3 credits) 
  • Systematic Theology: 3 credit hours (choose one) 
  • S 541 Fundamental Dogma (3 credits) 
  • S 553 Theology of the Trinity (3 credits) 
  • S 560 Christology (3 credits) or S 5600 Christology (2 credits) 
  • S 591 Christian Anthropology (3 credits) 
  • S 611 Ecclesiology I: The Church (3 credits) or S 6110 Ecclesiology (2 credits) 
  • S 612 Ecclesiology II: Ecumenism, Mission, and Evangelization (2 credits) 
  • S 639 Mariology & Eschatology (3 credits) 
  • Thesis: 6 credit hours 
  • MA 696 Research Seminar (2 credit) 
  • MA 697 Directed Research (2 credits) 
  • MA 698 Thesis (2 credits) 
  • MA 699 Thesis Defense (0 credits; Pass/Fail) 

Thesis

Completion of the MAB requires the writing and successful oral defense of a thesis in biblical studies. The process for submitting a thesis topic, outline, and bibliography, and for writing the thesis, can be found in the Thesis Guide for MA Students. Students begin with MA 695 Research Seminar and MA 697 Directed Research in the Fall Semester of their final year, followed by MA 698 Thesis and MA 699 Thesis Defense in the Spring Semester.  

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The Master of Arts (Catholic Studies) or MACS is in interdisciplinary study of the Catholic intellectual tradition. Coursework examines Western philosophy from ancient to contemporary, systematic theology, Catechism studies, and electives. The program culminates in a synthetic research paper and a comprehensive exam.  

About

Recognizing that the nexus of truth and culture as being rooted in the Incarnation of the Eternal Word of the Father, the Masters of Arts (Catholic Studies) or MACS aims to penetrate the breadth of the Catholic intellectual tradition through the lens of Christian humanitas – the essence of the human person, ‘fully alive,’ participating in the very life God (see St. Irenaeus, Adversus Haereses, Lib. IV, Cap. 20, n. 7).  Since the Church “must enter into dialogue with the world in which she lives,” having “something to say, a message to give, a communication to make” (Paul VI, Ecclesiam Suam [1964] 65), the starting point for this dialogue is a recovery of the “wild and soaring sort of imagination” (G.K. Chesterton, The Everlasting Man [San Francisco: Ignatius, 1993] 14) that seeks to bring people “to look beyond penultimate realities and to seek those that are ultimate” (Benedict XVI, Address at the Cultural Center of Belém, Lisboa, Portugal [May 12, 2010]). 

The MACS degree program ties together foundational courses in the Church’s philosophical and theological tradition with specialized electives that invite the student to deeply probe the Catholic intellectual life in literature, film, history, and art. Furthermore, a major research paper and comprehensive exam at the conclusion of the program help foster a synthesis of the student’s approach to Catholic Studies and provide a foundation for further study and research. 

Admission

Admission to the MACS requires an earned bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 cumulative GPA. Prospective students should submit the School of Theology Academic Application and official transcripts from any prior college course work.  

Requirements

The MACS requires 36 credit hours of graduate course work, including the writing of a synthetic research paper (25 pages). Students must maintain a 3.25 GPA during their studies in order to be in good standing. After completing all course requirements, students must pass a comprehensive examination consisting of objective and essay-based questions. 

Course of Study: 36 credit hours 

  • Philosophy: 12 credit hours 
  • PH 511 Ancient Philosophy (3 credits) 
  • PH 521 Medieval Philosophy (3 credits) 
  • PH 531 Modern Philosophy (3 credits) 
  • PH 541 Contemporary Philosophy (3 credits) 
  • Theology: 12 credit hours (choose a track) 
  •  Catechism Track: 
  • S 501 Catechism: Catholic Doctrine (3 credits) 
  • S 511 Catechism: Liturgy & Sacraments 
  • S 521 Catechism: Moral Life in Christ 
  • S 531 Catechism: Prayer (3 credits) 
  • Systematic Theology Track: 
  • S 541 Fundamental Dogma (3 credits) 
  • LS 6120 Sacramental Theology (2 credits) 
  • MT 5000 Fundamental Moral Theology (2 credits) 
  • S 6110 Ecclesiology (2 credits) 
  • S 591 Christian Anthropology (3 credits) 
  • Electives: 10 credit hours (choose 5) 
  • Theology of the Body 
  • Theology of Saint Augustine 
  • Theological Themes in John Henry Newman 
  • Virtue Theory of Saint Thomas Aquinas 
  • Theology of Martyrdom 
  • Theology of Evangelization 
  • Carmelite Mysticism 
  • Sacraments in Film 
  • The Writings of Flannery O’Connor 
  • Immanence Apologetics of Walker Percy 
  • Memory and Psychology 
  • Foundations of Catholic Political Philosophy 
  • Religious Freedom in the American Context 
  • The Church in the Civil War 
  • Sacred Scripture Seen Through Sacred Art 
  • Sacred Music Seminar: The Requiem Mass 
  • Sacred Music Seminar: Holy Week 
  • Major Research paper: 2 credits 

Major Research Paper 

The paper topic will be established with a professor in an area of research proposed by the student. The format for the identification of the professor to direct the paper, and the chosen topic, will follow the format for independent studies. The length will ordinarily be 25 pages, a standard length for articles published in academic journals. The student will receive 2 credits for the work, with the professor serving as evaluator of the work. 

Comprehensive Exam

The exam will consist of objective and essay questions covering the core content of the degree program. Study materials for the Comprehensive Exam will be furnished to the students at the end of the Fall Semester of the academic year in which the completion of the degree program is anticipated. 

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The Master of Arts, Pastoral Ministry (MAPM) is both academic and pastoral in approach, and provides the core theology courses from the Master of Arts, Theology (MAT) in conjunction with ministerial formation. Students participate in formation components designed for personal, ministerial, and spiritual growth integrating theology and practice.

Admission

Prospective students should submit the School of Theology Application for Formation Programs, two letters of recommendation, and official transcripts from any prior college course work. Applicants must also possess an earned baccalaureate degree with a 3.0 average.

Requirements 

The Master of Arts, Pastoral Ministry requires 33 credit hours of course work, 100 hours of supervised field education, theological reflections, and a capstone ministry project. Students must maintain a 3.25 GPA during their studies in order to be in good standing. The program can be completed in three years.

Course of Study: 33 credit hours 

  • Biblical Studies: 4 credit hours
    • B 501 Old Testament (2 credits)
    • B 601 New Testament (2 credits)
  • Church History: 2 credit hours
    • H 570 Church History (2 credits)
  • Moral Theology: 5 credit hours
    • MT 5000 Fundamental Moral Theology (2 credits)
    • MT 6000 Catholic Social Doctrine (2 credits)
    • MT 650 Contemporary Issues in Moral Theology (1 credit)
  • Liturgical & Sacramental Theology: 4 credit hours
    • LS 6000 Theology of Liturgy (2 credits)
    • LS 6120 Sacramental Theology (2 credits)
  • Systematic Theology: 7 credit hours
    • S 5600 Christology (2 credits)
    • S 6110 Ecclesiology (2 credits)
    • S 613 Ecclesiology of the Domestic Church (1 credit)
    • S 614 Foundations of Lay Ecclesial Ministry (2 credits)
  • Pastoral and Professional Studies: 11 credit hours
    • P 502 Theological Reflection (1 credit)
    • P 600 Field Education (100 hours)
    • P 715 Catechesis: Vision, Content, and Methods (2 credits)
    • P 716 RCIA and Sacramental Preparation (1 credit)
    • P 731 Basic Canon Law (2 credits)
    • P 741 The Art of Effective Communication (1 credit)
    • P 748 Parish Seminar (2 credits)
    • P 798 Capstone I (1 credit)
    • P 799 Capstone II (1 credit) 

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The Master of Arts (Theology) or MAT studies the beliefs and practices of the Roman Catholic Church and the experiences of its members. Program requirements include philosophy (as a preparation for theology), biblical studies, moral theology, Church history, systematic theology, and the development and defense of major research. 

About

The Master of Arts (Theology) or MAT is designed to guide the student’s exploration of the rich patrimony of Catholic theological thought. This exploration is accomplished through an engagement with the five key disciplines of Catholic theology – biblical, historical, liturgical/sacramental, moral, and dogmatic – as well as the foundational principles of the Church’s philosophical tradition. 

The goal of this degree program is to steep the individual in the “dialogue between faith and reason” that bears witness to the place of Christ as “the center of creation and of human history” (John Paul II, Ex corde Ecclesiae [1990] 16-17). It is the goal of MTSM to assist individuals to serve the Church and the world in the “diakonia of the truth” (John Paul II, Fides et Ratio [1998] 2). 

Recognizing that “faith is necessarily ecclesial” (Francis, Lumen Fidei [2013] 22), the MAT degree program at MTSM places the study of theology “at the service of the faith of Christians” and sees its communion with the pastors of the Church as providing the “certainty of attaining to the word of Christ in all its integrity” (Francis, Lumen Fidei [2013] 36). 

Admission

Admission to the MAT requires an earned bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 cumulative GPA for admission. Prospective students should submit the School of Theology Academic Application and official transcripts from any prior college course work.  

Requirements

The MAT requires 36 credit hours of graduate course work, including the writing and successful defense of a thesis. Students must maintain a 3.25 GPA during their studies in order to be in good standing. After completing all course requirements, students must pass a comprehensive examination consisting of objective and essay-based questions. 

Course of Study: 36 credit hours 

  • Philosophy: 2 credit hours 
  • PH 509 Philosophy for Theological Studies (2 credits) 
  • Biblical Studies: 4 credit hours 
  • B 501 Old Testament (2 credits) or any B 500-level course 
  • B 601 New Testament (2 credits) or any B 600-level course 
  • Church History: 2 credit hours 
  • H 570 Church History (2 credits) or any H 500- or 600-level course 
  • Liturgy and Sacraments: 2 credits 
  • LS 6120 Sacramental Theology (2 credits) or LS 612 Principles of Sacramental Theology (3 credits) 
  • Moral Theology: 4 credit hours 
  • MT 5000 Fundamental Moral Theology (2 credits) or MT 500 Fundamental Moral Theology (3 credits) 
  • Choose one: 
    • MT 560 Catholic Medical Ethics (2 credits) 
    • MT 580 Catholic Sexual Ethics (2 credits) 
    • MT 6000 Catholic Social Doctrine (2 credits) 
  • Systematic Theology: 10 credit hours 
  • S 541 Fundamental Dogma (3 credits) 
  • S 5600 Christology (2 credits) or S 560 Christology (3 credits) 
  • S 591 Christian Anthropology (3 credits) 
  • S 6110 Ecclesiology (2 credits) or S 611 Ecclesiology I: The Church (3 credits) 
  • Electives: 6* credit hours 
  • Research & Thesis: 6 credit hours 
  • MA 696 Research Seminar (2 credit) 
  • MA 697 Directed Research (2 credits) 
  • MA 698 Thesis (2 credits) 
  • MA 699 Thesis Defense (0 credits; Pass/Fail) 

*Students opting for 3-credit courses rather than 2-credit courses (e.g., S 560 in place of S 5600) may reduce their elective requirement accordingly. However, the degree still requires a minimum of 36 credit hours. 

Thesis

Completion of the MAT requires the writing and successful oral defense of a thesis in systematic theology. The process for submitting a thesis topic, outline, and bibliography, and for writing the thesis, can be found in the Thesis Guide for MA Students. Students begin with MA 696 Research Seminar and MA 697 Directed Research in the Fall Semester of their final year, followed by MA 698 Thesis and MA 699 Thesis Defense in the Spring Semester. Visit the Maly Library page for more information on the thesis writing process. 

Comprehensive Exam

The exam will consist of objective and essay questions covering the core content of the degree program. Study materials for the Comprehensive Exam will be furnished to the students at the end of the Fall Semester of the academic year in which the completion of the degree program is anticipated. 

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