Master of Theology

Tucson
Theological
Seminary

OnLine Learning System

Master of Theology Tucson, Arizona

The Th.M. is a graduate degree in theology. Offering a high level of theological study, it provides an appropriate foundation for doctorate study in theology. A Bachelor's degree is usually required to be accepted into the Master's program. Previous pastoral experience may be important and assist with acceptance into the program through life experience credits. Many of our Master's level students are Pastors seeking a Master's degree and have substantial ministry experience and college, so we do consider life experience.
The master's program requires a personal statement (sometimes called Statement of Purpose or Letter of Intent), which includes indications of the intended area(s) of ministry.
Strong recommendation letters from pastors or supervisors of ministry experience provide evidence that the applicant can perform the studies. The Seminary considers many factors in admittance to the Master's program, including past ministry achievements, the compatibility between the applicant's study interest and that of the program, the statement of purpose and the letters of reference, as stated above. Within the master's program, students will perform research culminating in a paper, presentation, and defense of their thesis.
Applicants from non-English speaking countries may need to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The master's program allows successful students to continue toward the doctorate degree. Selected graduate students may qualify for the Graduate Instruction Program serving as assistants and tutors, however, they can be promoted to Instructor status, a position that comes with more responsibility.

FUNDING:
For those students qualifying for research or teaching responsibilities, TTS offers tuition-reduction through the Graduate Instructor Program. These funding options vary, and may consist of a merit fellowship accompanied by teaching responsibilities. To some students, research positions may be more appealing than teaching positions because student researchers (i.e.biblical archeology) are typically paid to work on the dissertation they are required to complete for their degree anyway - such as a student research grant, etc. The seminary may also be awarded funds for limited discretionary funding to supplement minor expenses such as research trips and travel to conferences for students in the post-graduate program.

Fellowships:

Graduate Fellowships are awarded through TTS Financial Aid application process. The seminary will issue an official award notification to the students. This letter is known as the "scholarship/fellowship award letter".

The conditions of a scholarship/fellowship award letter is important. this is the official documentation to the recipient as to the legal nature of the financial aid payments and TTS's expectations. (usually teaching) This letter will also be the primary document to be reviewed by the IRS if any questions should arise regarding the legal nature of the financial aid payments, whether the issue should arise through an audit of TTS or through an audit of the student's tax return.

The frequency with which award letters should be issued depends upon the facts of each case. For example, seminary-funded monthly fellowships, the award letter would normally be issued at the beginning of the academic year for that full academic year. For tuition scholarships, the award letter would normally be issued at the beginning of the academic semester for that academic semester.

If the student's financial aid package consists of a scholarship/fellowship then the student will be given an award letter clearly specifying the nature and conditions of expectations by the seminary. This is necessary to clearly distinguish a students two different relationships to TTS, one as a student and one as a graduate instructor.

The award letter should be signed by the Director and/or Department Chair. To ensure that this official documentation is available in TTS's official files for review by auditors years later, a copy of the award letter will be made in duplicate, filed and also put into the online file folder.
If an award is subsequently modified, a new award letter should be issued to the recipient and a copy of that letter should accompany the same filing procedure.

For pastoral candidates seeking a senior pastorate, the Th.D is the most acquired degree. This degree is also a fast-tracked program which allows the student to achieve their Master's in two and quarter (2.25) years by attending
year- round with limited school breaks.

The Master of Theology degree may be pursued by full-time or part-time study, not less than 2 and not more than 3 years.
The course comprises three areas of study:

* Biblical Studies provides instruction in the disciplines and fields of biblical study, and
lay the foundations for further work.
* Integrative Studies build on this foundation with practical skills in view of the theological disciplines.
* Theological Studies provide students with an opportunity to engage in a detailed study of
theological discipline.

The Master's degree requires:
* a Bachelors degree
* a Master's thesis

The Master of Theology (Th.M.) is a graduate religious degree.

In the Master's program the studies will be more challenging and the assignments more extensive than undergraduate studies, though many of the introductory units will cover similar areas.

NOTE: TTS offers one year Hebrew and Greek language courses. These courses are divided equally into 6 months apiece - 6 months Hebrew and 6 months Greek.

Degree Structure

Foundational Studies provides instruction to the disciplines and fields of biblical study, and
continue to lay the foundations for further work.

In this area, studies are required:

* Biblical Studies;
* Church History;
* Groundwork in Hermeneutics; and Exegesis
* Biblical Language (Greek and Hebrew)

Integrative Studies build on this foundation by taking up questions in study in such a way as to encourage a holistic view of theological disciplines.

In this area, studies are required:

* Philosophy and Christian Thought
* Worldview Analysis
* Apologetics
* Ethics
* Homiletics

Theological Studies provide students with an opportunity to engage in detailed study of
specialized theological disciplines.

Fields of Specialization:

* Biblical Theology
* Old and New Testament Theology
* Systematic Theology

MASTER’S AND DOCTORAL DEGREES

There is a big difference between a Master’s or Doctoral thesis. The difference includes both the length (the Master’s thesis is 20 - 30,000 words and a ThD thesis is 80 - 100,000 words) and the depth of analysis. As a rule of thumb, the Master’s thesis would include a major review of the subject and two major pieces of analysis and does not need to be an original work. The ThD thesis would include a larger review and three/four major pieces of analysis, as well as, bringing an original contribution to the Theology field. Each of the analytical pieces would be of a standard which could be published in an appropriate academic journal. Taken full-time, the Master and ThD programs would take a minimum of 3.5 to 4.5 years respectively.
There is a two-part enrollment process. Students enroll using the application forms and submitting their Official Transcripts for review. Next, they will be contacted by Administration for an interview and final acceptance. Once accepted into the Master or Th.D program, the student next prepares a detailed thesis abstract and will verbally explain their research and method approach to their adviser. If approved, the student is fully enrolled.
In the Master’s program, the student will take a full caseload of classes while working toward thesis completion in 2.5 years.
The Th.D program will involve an additional 1 or 2 years, depending upon the level of research and the progress of the thesis. All Th.D students are expected to be Graduate Student Instructors on a part-time basis throughout the year(s).
Given this, we are normally only prepared to accept students for ThD study if they have the following:
•    a very strong an average mark of 3.2+
•    a suitable research topic which can be supervised within the Seminary
•    the necessary research skills (or the demonstrated ability to acquire them)
•    access to adequate library facilities (a Master’s thesis could require the careful reading of 150 academic journal   articles and a ThD could require 450)
•    access to adequate computer facilities
•    a commitment to spend a minimum of 6 days per month on campus each year
Both degrees are available by full and part-time study and by distance education. Close communication with the seminary will enable students to make substantial progress on their thesis, take any coursework which may be helpful to their research and develop a good working relationship with their supervisors and other members of staff. The advantage of distance education is that students are able to continue living and working where they are but can still undertake postgraduate studies. However, distance education requires great self-discipline and perseverance. Students would need to devote around ten hours per week to their thesis throughout the year. The Doctorate supervising committee is made up of seminary professors and pastors from around the country and have graciously accepted the call to supervise our students.

MASTER OF THEOLOGY CURRICULUM

GRADUATE STUDENT INSTRUCTOR

GRADUATE PROGRAM POLICIES