The Master of Arts is a two-year degree for those who want to acquire general theological knowledge at the graduate level but who do not intend to serve as pastoral leaders in the local church. As a result, the M.A. is an "academic," not a "professional" or "ministerial" degree. It is designed for lay people who want to be better witnesses in their professions and leaders in their churches; people working in parachurch organizations who want theological education; medical or educational missionaries who need basic theological training; religion teachers in secondary schools or Bible colleges; or those planning to go on for a Ph.D. in one of the theological disciplines. M.A. students take core courses in Bible, theology, church history, and ethics, plus a number of electives to further their general survey knowledge or to specialize in one of the theological disciplines. Because the M.A. is an academic degree, students must pass a written comprehensive and oral exam and maintain a cumulative grade average of B. Students who plan to do a Ph.D. later can substitute a thesis for the comprehensive exam.

View the Master of Arts Degree Flier.