Master of Arts (Theology): Comprehensive Emphasis
The Master of Arts (Theology), Comprehensive Emphasis, is designed to provide students with a broad knowledge of the fundamental areas of theology and the ability to communicate that knowledge effectively to others.
Goals
The program with an Comprehensive Emphasis helps students to acquire:
- a broad knowledge of the fundamental areas of theology;
- a more focused knowledge of three areas of theological inquiry;
- the ability to communicate this knowledge effectively, especially through scholarly writing;
- the ability to integrate contemporary theological issues with the tradition of the Catholic Church, especially the theological tradition of Thomas Aquinas;
- a basic knowledge of the thought of a religious tradition other than the Christian one.
Outcomes
Upon completion of the MA (Theology) degree, the student will
- Be able to relate effectively the Catholic theological tradition to contemporary issues facing the Church and society;
- Demonstrate knowledge of the theology of Aquinas;
- Bring the theology of Aquinas into critical dialogue with contemporary philosophical or theological issues;
- Show competence in using library and other academic research tools;
- Demonstrate the ability to communicate theological concepts clearly in writing according to accepted academic form;
- Manifest a basic knowledge of a religious tradition other than Christianity;
- Manifest the ability to use a foreign language for theological research.
Degree Requirements
The Master of Arts (Theology), Comprehensive Emphasis, represents the successful completion of 42 units of course work as well as a comprehensive examination and discussion, for which an additional six units will be given. Students must also complete all assessment portfolio requirements, as described in the program checklist which is a downloadable PDF on-line through the DSPT website, or may be obtained from the Registrar.
Course Work
Forty-two units of course work are required. Two courses are required in each of the three areas of Biblical studies, systematic theology and moral theology. One course is required in historical theology and one in the theology or history of a non-Christian religious tradition. Students must take at least one-third of their total course work from DSPT and are encouraged to take one-third from outside DSPT. Students are required to maintain a 3.0 grade point average. At least one half of the course work must be from offerings above the introductory (1000) level. At least two courses must be at the 4000 level or above. The Academic Dean must approve exceptions in writing.
| Required areas |
Units |
| Biblical Studies |
6 |
| Historical Theology |
3 |
| Systematic Theology |
6 |
| Moral Theology |
6 |
| Non-Christian Religion |
3 |
Total Required |
24 |
| Electives |
18 |
| Comprehensive exam & discussion |
6 |
Total |
48 |
Comprehensive Examination and Review Discussion
The capstone demonstration of the student's competency in theology is achieved in the comprehensive examination, which involves both a written and an oral component and requires the demonstration of expertise in three areas of theology chosen by the student. Two of the areas must be either biblical studies, systematic theology, or moral theology. The third area may also be art and religion, Christian spirituality, cultural and historical studies of religions, historical theology, or homiletics. In two of the three chosen areas, expertise must be demonstrated by the presentation of a formal twenty-five-page research essay related to that area. In the third area, expertise may be shown by a twenty-five-page essay or by some equivalent method which must be specifically described by the student, endorsed by the advisor, and approved by the department. The equivalent method might involve, for example, a practical project (such as designing a course or a series of adult education lectures) or a creative project (such as producing a video and an accompanying theological reflection essay).
The student must present a proposal for the comprehensive examination by the end of the third semester in the program. The proposal must demonstrate the student's ability to organize a project of theological inquiry into a brief, coherent statement. The proposal will contain a brief description (one or two paragraphs), outline, and basic bibliography for each essay (or a detailed description of the alternative method chosen to fulfill the requirement for the third area). The papers may be suitably adapted program course papers. The student writes the proposal in consultation with the proposed chair of the comprehensive committee and gives it along with the signed comprehensive proposal committee form to the Theology Department Chair at least one week before the meeting at which it is to be discussed.
In the proposal, the student also nominates a director and one reader for the exam. These must be approved by the department, which may, at its discretion, make substitutions. It is the responsibility of the director to assist the student in completing the exam in whatever way is deemed appropriate. The director cannot be changed without the approval of the Department.
Review Discussion
Once the student has presented the comprehensive exam essays or equivalent material to the committee in final form, a one-hour review discussion between the student and the committee members of the exam materials will be scheduled. The discussion provides an opportunity for the student to demonstrate not only acquired knowledge and insights but also oral communication skills. The student must receive a grade of "pass" from the committee on the review discussion in order to receive the degree. In cases of disagreement between the members of the committee as to whether or not the requirement for an area has been satisfactorily fulfilled, the Department Chair shall have the deciding vote. If the department chair is a member of the student's committee, the Academic Dean shall have the deciding vote (if both the Department Chair and Academic Dean are on the committee, the President shall appoint a third faculty member to cast the deciding vote).
For detailed information on admissions procedures for the M.A. (Theology): Comprehensive Emphasis degree program, see the Admissions Section of the website.
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