Master of Theological Studies

Program of Study: Curriculum

MTS Course Combination Guidance

List of Anticipated Courses for a Two-year Schedule

Masters Colloquium

Research Language Requirement

Comprehensive Exams

MTS Course Combination Guidance

Below is a suggested template for how your course of study might look in each of the five M.T.S. Concentrations. This is only suggestive, however, and is by no means normative.

Biblical Studies
Summer 1: Intensive Greek or Intensive Hebrew	Fall 1: Greek (Beginning or Intermediate) Hebrew (Beginning or Intermediate) Biblical Studies Systematic Theology	Spring 1: Greek (Beginning or Intermediate) Hebrew (Beginning or Intermediate) Biblical Studies History of Christianity
Summer 2: Intensive German or French	Fall 2: Greek (Intermediate or Advanced) Hebrew (Intermediate or Advanced) Biblical Studies(600 level) Biblical Studies	Spring 2: Biblical Studies Moral Theology History of Christianity Liturgical Studies

Biblical Studies

Summer 1:

Intensive Greek or Intensive Hebrew

Fall 1:

Greek (Beginning or Intermediate)
Hebrew (Beginning or Intermediate)
Biblical Studies
Systematic Theology

Spring 1:

Greek (Beginning or Intermediate)
Hebrew (Beginning or Intermediate)
Biblical Studies
History of Christianity

Summer 2:

Intensive German or French

Fall 2:

Greek (Intermediate or Advanced)
Hebrew (Intermediate or Advanced)
Biblical Studies(600 level)
Biblical Studies

Spring 2:

Biblical Studies
Moral Theology
History of Christianity
Liturgical Studies

Please note: you should have two courses in Hebrew Bible, and two in New Testament, by the time you complete your course work.

History of Christianity
Summer 1: Intensive German or French	Fall 1: History of Christianity (Early) Systematic Theology Moral Theology Biblical Studies	Spring 1: History of Christianity (Medieval) Liturgical Studies Biblical Studies Systematic Theology
Summer 2: Intensive Greek or Latin	Fall 2: Intermediate Greek or Latin History of Christianity (600 level) History of Christianity (Reformation) Elective	Spring 2: Intermediate Greek or Latin History of Christianity (Modern) Elective Elective

History of Christianity

Summer 1:

Intensive German or French

Fall 1:

History of Christianity (Early)
Systematic Theology
Moral Theology
Biblical Studies

Spring 1:

History of Christianity (Medieval)
Liturgical Studies
Biblical Studies
Systematic Theology

Summer 2:

Intensive Greek or Latin

Fall 2:

Intermediate Greek or Latin
History of Christianity
(600 level)
History of Christianity (Reformation)
Elective

Spring 2:

Intermediate Greek or Latin
History of Christianity (Modern)
Elective
Elective

Liturgical Studies
Summer 1: Intensive German or French	Fall 1: Liturgical Studies Biblical Studies History of Christianity Systematic Theology	Spring 1: Liturgical Studies Biblical Studies History of Christianity Moral Theology
Summer 2: Intensive Greek or Latin	Fall 2: Liturgical Studies (600 level) Liturgical Studies Systematic Theology Elective	Spring 2: Liturgical Studies Elective Elective Elective

Liturgical Studies

Summer 1:

Intensive German or French

Fall 1:

Liturgical Studies
Biblical Studies
History of Christianity
Systematic Theology

Spring 1:

Liturgical Studies
Biblical Studies
History of Christianity
Moral Theology

Summer 2:

Intensive Greek or Latin

Fall 2:

Liturgical Studies

(600 level)
Liturgical Studies
Systematic Theology
Elective

Spring 2:

Liturgical Studies
Elective
Elective
Elective

Moral Theology
Summer 1: Intensive German or French	Fall 1: Moral Theology Biblical Studies History of Christianity Systematic Theology	Spring 1: Moral Theology Liturgical Studies History of Christianity Biblical Studies
Summer 2: Intensive German or French	Fall 2: Moral Theology (600 level) Moral Theology Liturgical Studies Systematic Theology	Spring 2: Moral Theology Elective (not same area as other electives) Elective Elective

Moral Theology

Summer 1:

Intensive German or French

Fall 1:

Moral Theology
Biblical Studies
History of Christianity
Systematic Theology

Spring 1:

Moral Theology
Liturgical Studies
History of Christianity
Biblical Studies

Summer 2:

Intensive German or French

Fall 2:

Moral Theology

(600 level)
Moral Theology
Liturgical Studies
Systematic Theology

Spring 2:

Moral Theology
Elective (not same area as other electives)
Elective
Elective

Systematic Theology
Summer 1: Intensive German or French	Fall 1: Systematic Theology Biblical Studies History of Christianity Moral Theology	Spring 1: Systematic Theology Biblical Studies History of Christianity Liturgical Studies
Summer 2: Intensive German or French	Fall 2: Systematic Theology (600 level) Systematic Theology Moral Theology Judaism	Spring 2: Systematic Theology Liturgical Studies Elective Elective

Systematic Theology

Summer 1:

Intensive German or French

Fall 1:

Systematic Theology
Biblical Studies
History of Christianity
Moral Theology

Spring 1:

Systematic Theology
Biblical Studies
History of Christianity
Liturgical Studies

Summer 2:

Intensive German or French

Fall 2:

Systematic Theology
(600 level)
Systematic Theology
Moral Theology
Judaism

Spring 2:

Systematic Theology
Liturgical Studies
Elective
Elective

Notes and Suggestions:

The order of these courses may of course be changed, so long as all are taken in two years. Complete most of your distribution requirements in your first year, and pick up a modern research language by the summer after your first year. All summer language courses are free.
If you already have a modern research language when you arrive, pick up another before you complete the M.T.S., ideally in the summer between the first and second year.
The modern language exams are given every fall and spring, and may be taken during any of the four semesters in which you are taking courses. But it is desirable to have the language exams out of the way by the end of your third semester.
There are no ancient language exams in the M.T.S. programs. Biblical Studies and History of Christianity students need only complete successfully the required credit hours in ancient languages in their areas.
Students are advised to take a doctoral seminar either in the spring of the first year of the fall of the second year. The paper you write will be useful for the exams in the spring and may be the source of a writing sample for Ph.D. applications. Your performance in the seminar will also help your professors assess your promise for future doctoral work.

List of Anticipated Courses for a Two-year Schedule

To assist you with your preliminary plans for your curriculum, we offer below a list of anticipated courses for a two-year schedule. You may enter your degree program on either year A or year B. These courses are preliminary.

Curricular Master-level courses

Biblical Studies Area

Fall A
Elementary Biblical Hebrew I
Intermediate Hebrew
Introduction to the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible
Synoptic Gospels
Early Church Patristic Studies
Judaism
Bible History

Spring A
Elementary Biblical Hebrew II
Intermediate Hebrew II
Coptic
New Testament Introduction
Gospel of John
New Testament Theology
Ancient Near East & Bible
Bible in the Church
Temple

Fall B
Elementary Biblical Hebrew I
Intermediate Hebrew
Introduction to Old Testament/Hebrew Bible
Matthew
Rabbinic Literature
Early Christianity

Spring B
Elementary Biblical Hebrew II
Intermediate Hebrew II
New Testament Introduction
Genesis
Wisdom Literature
Apocalypse
Paul

History of Christianity Area

Fall A
Early Christianity Seminar
Medieval Theology Seminar
Reformation and Modern Period Seminar

Spring A
Early Christianity Seminar
Medieval Theology Seminar
Reformation and Modern Period Seminar
History of Christianity Topics Course

Fall B
Introduction to Medieval Theology
Introduction to Modern Theology
Early Christianity Seminar
Medieval Theology Seminar
Reformation and Modern Period Seminar

Spring B
Early Christianity Seminar
Medieval Theology Seminar
Reformation and Modern Period Seminar
History of Christianity Topics Course

Liturgical Studies Area

Fall A
Liturgical History
Eucharist
Liturgical Prayer

Spring A
Initiation
Ritual Studies

Fall B
Liturgical History
Eucharist
Liturgical Theology

Spring B
Initiation
Liturgical Year (Crosslisted with Undergraduate course: Feasts and Seasons)

Moral Theology Area

Comparative Religious Ethics: Buddhist and Christian
Foundations of Moral Theology
Christian Ethics and Pastoral Practice
Catholic Social Teaching
Human Rights in Theological Perspective
Virtue and Sin

Systematic Theology Area

Fall A
Fundamentals of Theology
Christology
Comparative Spirituality

Spring A
Myth and Story
Survey of Theology
Ecclesiology
Mystery of God

Fall B
Fundamentals of Theology
Christology
Hindu and Hindu-Christian Interaction

Spring B
Modern Theology
Myth and Story
Guadalupe
Ecclesiology
Themes in Contemporary Theology
Mystery of God

World Religions/World Church

Fall A
Scripture & Scripture Commentary in Buddhism & Christianity
Theology of Religions
African Christian Theologies
Holy Land

Spring A
Comparative Religious Ethics: Buddhist & Christian
Buddhist Doctrine from the Perspective of Catholic Theology

Fall B
Religion and Visual Culture: Christian & Buddhist
Hinduism and the Hindu Christian Encounter

Spring B
Comparative Religious Ethics: Buddhist & Christian
Selected Themes in Comparative Theology
Reading the Quran
Holy Land

Masters Colloquium

The Masters Colloquium is designed both to familiarize M.T.S. students with the methods and content of the five areas of theological study and to develop integrative skills regarding the five areas of theological investigation. The Colloquium also provides an opportunity for students to develop their research and presentation skills. Registration for the colloquium and attendance is mandatory for all M.T.S. students.

Research Language Requirement

All M.T.S. students must pass a Graduate Reading exam in either German or French in order to graduate. They are expected to do so by the end of their third semester. Students who already know one of these languages upon admission to the program should take the Graduate Reading exam in that language in their first semester, and acquire a second language during their time in the program, in order to pass an exam in that language as well. The University offers Intensive language courses in German and French, free of tuition, every summer, with exams at the end of the course. Students who wish to acquire a language other than French or German during their time in the M.T.S. Program may petition the M.T.S. Director for a substitution, based entirely on their future research interests. This language may not be one they already know upon admission to the program, as the point of this requirement is to continue to acquire language skills while in the M.T.S. program.

Comprehensive Exams

The comprehensive exams are administered toward the end of the final semester of course work. M.T.S. students are asked to submit one research paper within their area of concentration, and one paper written in the area most relevant to their own interests, which indicate the nature and direction of their studies. Students will also submit their Statement of Intent from their applications to Ph.D. programs (or an equivalent statement), and a set of three to five questions which reveal the direction of their theological inquiry. A board of three faculty, appointed by the M.T.S. Director on the basis of course work taken by the student, will administer an oral exam of sixty minutes, which will explore the student's competency in the area of concentration, and the student's ability to think creatively and synthetically.