Master of Theological Studies

Program of Study: Curriculum

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

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

 

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

 

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.
• Plan on taking three courses in your area in the second year, including one doctoral seminar. The seminar should be taken, if possible, in the fall, as the paper you write will be useful for the exams in the spring, and your performance in the seminar will help your professors assess your promise for future doctoral work.
• Please remember that faculty will be writing letters of recommendation for you at the end of the fall semester of your second year.

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. Each colloquium is led by a faculty member and a student from one of the five areas, who present a topic of interest to the colloquium, and lead the ensuing seminar discussion. 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, hopefully by the end of their third semester, in order to graduate. 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, 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.