Master of Theology
The Master of Theology (ThM) is a 24-hour advanced degree that provides pastors, chaplains, teachers, and others with an MDiv or equivalent degree with the opportunity for directed study. Students may use this opportunity to prepare for PhD studies or to deepen exegetical and research skills to use in a ministry setting. The ThM may be pursued either in residence or via a modular plan which is comprised of intensive courses on campus, advisor-guided research, and independent study.
Benefits of the Master of Theology
Advanced Theology Courses
Study the Bible and theology in a focused format. The ThM offers advanced courses that let you go deeper than ever before.
Advanced Research
Through independent studies, guided research, and a thesis or contextualized writing project, ThM students strengthen their research and writing skills under the guidance of expert scholars. These skills apply to a variety of work, from doctoral study to sermon preparation.
Modular Format
ThM students have the option of learning in residence in St. Louis or traveling to St. Louis a few times a year for week-long intensives.
Formats
The Master of Theology degree is 24 credit hours and can be completed in as few as 15 months—two summers with a year of study in between.
Residential
Learn in residence—or with a few trips to St. Louis a year—under a faculty of pastor-scholars and alongside a community of learners. On-campus housing is available for single students, couples, and families. Note that ThM students cannot take online classes.
Degree Tracks
Exegetical Theology
The ThM in Exegetical Theology is designed to help pas-tors, chaplains, missionaries, teachers, and others sharpen exegetical skills they obtained in a previous degree, deve-lop advanced research skills, and test a calling to further study. This track requires a written thesis in exegesis, bib-lical theology, hermeneutics, or biblical languages.
Biblical & Pastoral Theology
The ThM in Biblical and Pastoral Theology is focused on integrating applied theology, biblical theology, and other theological disciplines to research an issue in pastoral theology or practice from a biblical perspective. This track culminates in a contextualized writing project.
Program Requirements
The ThM requires satisfactory completion of 24 units as outlined in the curriculum with grades of A or B and a cumulative GPA of at least 3.1. The MDiv degree (including Hebrew and Greek) or its educational equivalent (at least 72 credit hours) with a minimum GPA of 3.0 is required for admission to the ThM program. An advanced research degree, the ThM requires a combination of faithful attendance in rigorous courses, independent study, and a research project or thesis completed under faculty supervision.
Modular Program Requirements
Both ThM tracks may be completed in a modular format. The modular program is structed to allow those in full-timie ministry or who are otherwise unable to study residentially to complete the ThM from a distance through a combination of intensive weeklong on-campus residencies and faculty-guided research. Students in both tracks must complete six hours of the ThM through residential, weeklong, intensive seminars. The remaining 18 hours are compleeted through a combination of residential intensives, independent studies, and a thesis or contextualized writing project.
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