Bible and Theology, MA

The purpose of the Master of Arts in Bible and Theology (MABT) is to enable effective witness and service both within the Christian community and to the larger society. Through exploration of the various influences on contemporary culture and theology, you will come to a better understanding of your own assumptions and those of your faith tradition.

The program encourages development of the necessary understanding and skills for effective engagement with cultural trends, social transformation, and the attendant challenges facing the church. The goal is to develop thinking and practice that is biblically informed and creatively faithful to the historic mission of the Christian faith.

The overall objective of the MABT is to immerse graduate students in an integrated, comprehensive arts approach to theological graduate education that draws from the best of theology, philosophy, history, and biblical studies, thus enabling the student to engage in theological and spiritual reflection within a vibrant, Christian community.

For a full-time student, this program can take as little as two years (24 months), with courses scheduled across three annual terms. The program delivery includes language courses meeting on week-nights and core courses meeting on Friday/Saturday intensives once a month. Three weekends complete one course. During the summer, some elective courses meet in one week block while others meet in Friday/Saturday intensives once a month. This flexible delivery format is designed to accommodate the diverse needs of our graduate students.

Admissions

Admission into the Master of Arts in Bible and Theology requires the completion of a Bachelor of Arts or Science (or an equivalent degree) from a regionally accredited college or university. Allowances may be made for degrees accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE). Students also complete the application and acceptance process for the College of Ministry Graduate School. The College of Ministry has rolling application dates. The application must be completed no later than two weeks prior to the individual class start date.

Credit Transfer

MAML and MABT students may transfer up to 18 credit hours of eligible graduate level coursework (subject to Program Director’s approval) from an accredited institution towards their degree requirements.

Program Outcomes

In addition to achieving the general goals of the University and the College of Ministry, completing the Master of Arts in Bible and Theology results in the following learning outcomes:

• Students will demonstrate awareness of contemporary culture and theological influences and develop effective engagement with cultural trends, social transformation, and current challenges facing the church.
• Students will further discover their personal faith-beliefs and assumptions while becoming aware of the theological challenges of the day and developing skills to articulate their theological beliefs.
• Students will understand the historic mission of the Christian faith while developing skills in thinking and application both within the church and in other ministry involvements.
• Students will develop skills to enable them to serve as effective, relevant, and unique witnesses within the Christian community and the society at large.