About
Program Description
The Master of Arts, with a concentration in theological studies, is a 36-hour degree program that seeks to provide solid academic grounding in the classical theological disciplines of Biblical Studies, History, Systematic Moral and Systematic Doctrine. The program seeks to establish a broad foundation upon which the student can develop the academic skills necessary to teach at a high school or undergraduate level or to pursue doctoral research and scholarship. Courses for the Master of Arts are offered in daytime and evening formats.
Admission Requirements
- Applicants to the Master of Arts (MA) program must hold a BA or BS degree from an accredited college or university. Degree equivalency from foreign schools must be determined by an approved academic credential evaluation agency.
- Applicants must have a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale)
- Applicants must have completed the following pre-requisites with a minimum average GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale):
- 18 hours of undergraduate philosophy, theology or religious studies
- The equivalent of a minimum TOEFL score of 550, if applicable.
Degree Requirements
Completion of 36 hours of MA transcripted courses with a minimum cumulative GPA of B (3.00). The 36 hours include 30 hours of required courses and 6 hours of elective courses. In total, 6 YMA-Ievel courses must be completed.
Master of Arts Core Curriculum
Sacred Scripture
Pentateuch
Synoptics
Any YMS or YMA Scripture course
Historical Studies
Patristics
Christianity: Historical Survey
Systematic Doctrine
Revelation and Faith
Christology
Any YMA Doctrine course
Systematic Moral Theology
YMA Principles and Issues in Roman
Catholic Moral Theology
Sacramental Theology
YMA History and Theology of the Sacraments
Electives
Any 2 YMA courses
Transfer Credit
A maximum of 9 credit hours may be accepted toward the Master of Arts degree, provided there is a true equivalency with School of Theology course offerings.
Time Limit
Program requirements must be completed within ten years of initial registration.
Language Requirement
All candidates must demonstrate successful completion of two semesters of undergraduate level modern or classical foreign language prior to the completion of the Master of Arts. This can be demonstrated by course work or proficiency testing provided by the School of Theology. Candidates who anticipate pursuing doctoral studies in Sacred Scripture are strongly encouraged to take two semesters of both Greek and Hebrew.
Exit Procedures
The student must pass written comprehensive examinations in all four disciplines. The student must have completed 33 hours of the program in order to register for comprehensive examinations, which are scheduled annually in March and November only. | 
