MASTER OF THEOLOGY (M.Th.)

MASTER OF THEOLOGY (M.Th.)

PURPOSE OF THE DEGREE

The purpose of the Master of Theology program is to provide specialized training in any field of leadership in the Christian ministry–in the professional pastoral ministry or in theological research and teaching.

PRIMARY GOALS OF THE PROGRAM

The primary goals for this program include the development of an advanced understanding of a focused area or discipline in the context of general theological study, capacity to use research methods and resources in the discipline, the ability to formulate productive questions and to relate this focused area to the social and cultural context of the learner.

REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION

Admission to this program requires an M.Div. degree from an accredited theological seminary or college, or equivalent. Or, a person with an M.A. degree in theology (or equivalent) and another academic Master degree can apply for M.Th., likewise a person with an M.A. degree in theology followed by a Grad. Dip. in theology.

ii.

Applicants must demonstrate their competence in basic theological disciplines by passing written examinations of 4 hours duration.

AREAS OF STUDY

(1)

OLD TESTAMENT

(2)

NEW TESTAMENT

(3)

CHURCH HISTORY AND HISTORICAL THEOLOGY (including Luther Studies)

(4)

SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY

(5)

PASTORAL THEOLOGY AND COUNSELING

(6)

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

(7)

SPIRITUALITY AND WORSHIP

(8)

MISSION AND CULTURE

(9)

THEOLOGICAL LIBRARY STUDIES

CONTENT

The M.Th. program is an academic research program to be worked out by the student in close consultation with the advisors.

This program requires 24 credits of coursework, 6 credits for a comprehensive examination and 12 credits for a thesis, making a total of 42 credits. The 24 coursework credits may be taken in a combination of regular courses of 4 credits each and tutorials of either 4 credits or 8 credits each.

The student needs to provide a thesis proposal to his/her advisor for approval after taking all the course work.

After courses and thesis proposal, students must take a comprehensive examination. The comprehensive examination is designed to cover the full range of a student’s study program, giving each student the challenge and opportunityto show what they have learned and whether one has the ability to write the desired thesis. If on their first attempt a student has not adequately met the high academic standards of this program, he or she will be given further opportunities to retake a comprehensive examination according to the following arrangements.

‧	Within three months of the first failure, a second examination may be taken free of charge. If a second attempt is made after three months, but before six months have elapsed, a fee of the equivalent of one credit hour will be charged. If no second examination is taken within six months of the first failed attempt, the student is subject to dismissal from the program.
‧	If the second attempt results in failure, the student may have one final chance to take a comprehensive examination within 6 months of the second attempt, and a fee equivalent to one credit hour will be charged. If the third attempt results in failure, or if a third examination is not attempted within 6 months, the student will be dismissed from the program.
‧	If the student has completed the comprehensive examination successfully, he or she can start the work on writing the thesis.

ADVANCED STUDIES PROGRAM COLLOQUIUM

This program requires participation in the Advanced Studies Program Colloquium that is held monthly. An attendance record of 80% is required. The colloquium provides a setting in which students and faculty participate in academic presentations, responses, and discussion on current issues or work in progress. The purpose of this colloquium is to promote collegiality, academic endeavor, and intellectual growth for learners in the S.T.M., M.Th., and Th.D. program at LTS.

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT

Persons enrolled in this program must have sufficient English knowledge for study at the graduate level.

ii.

For a learner who takes an emphasis in the area of Biblical studies, 9 credits of Greek (for an emphasis in N.T.) or 9 credits of Hebrew (for an emphasis in O.T.) are required if the learner has not already taken them.

If the learner is planning on further graduate study, the development of appropriate language proficiency may be of special importance.

Learners need to notify the advisors of any prerequisite deficiencies prior to egistration
for the first semester of study. S/he can take the biblical languages at LTS, but without credit.

CREDIT HOURS

Learners cannot take more than 16 credits in each semester or more than 4 credits in each J Term.

DURATION

This program requires one year of full-time study or its equivalent. All learners are required to complete the degree within 4 years.

REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION

In order to earn the S.T.M. degree, a learner must have completed all the LTS requirements for a S.T.M. with a 2.50 grade-point average or above.

FURTHER STUDY

If learners wish to pursue a teaching position in certain theological schools requiring the M.Th. degree from the South East Asia Graduate School of Theology (SEAGST), all the S.T.M. credits can be transferred to the M.Th. degree, and then only an M.Th. thesis will be required. Either the S.T.M. or the M.Th. degree can be a basis for further study at the doctoral level.

LOCATION

Even though this program is undertaken chiefly through courses offered on our main campus where a sufficient number of learners exist to provide a peer community for mutual criticism and stimulus, courses can be taken also in the cooperating Institutes in order to widen the horizon of the learners.