The Master of Divinity/Master of Arts (Theological Studies)

The Master of Divinity/Master of Arts Theological Studies (MDiv/MA[TS] Dual) allows students to explore an area of study more deeply while preparing for a variety of ministry settings. The flexibility of the MDiv/MA(TS) Dual Degree makes it an especially helpful option for those pursuing further study or seeking to enrich their ministries by focusing on a particular area of interest through a combination of course electives and an independent research paper. Students can pursue an MDiv/MA(TS) in Biblical Studies or History, Theology, and Ethics.

Students can pursue the MDiv/MA(TS) in one of two pathways: 3-year or 4-year. Students in the 3-year pathway will combine the MA(TS) with the 2-year intensive MDiv. Students in this pathway go all in on their studies, spending an average of 43+ hours per week on their studies. Students in this pathway take courses most summers and engage in an immersion experience in January of their second year. Given the pace of this pathway, it is not appropriate for students engaging in part-time work next to their studies. Students who want a more moderately paced program which allows them to work alongside their studies are ideal candidates for the 4-year pathway. In this pathway students combine the MA(TS) with the 3-year MDiv, spending an average of 32 hours on their studies. Some students opt to take summers off, while others pursue their supervised ministry during the summer terms.

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MDiv/MA(TS) Curriculum Highlights

Beyond our core courses in biblical studies, theology, ethics, Christian history, world Christianities, worship, preaching, educational ministries, pastoral care, and church leadership, MDiv/MA(TS) students take additional courses in their area of concentration. Students also complete an independent research project with a faculty member in their area of study.

• Colloquy: cohort groups that meet one hour weekly during fall and spring terms to engage modules about matters related to flourishing in seminary and ministry, e.g., spiritual formation, Scripture reading, administrative skills, financial health and money management, creating and nurturing partnerships in communities, mindfulness, mental health, and conflict transformation.

• Intercultural Intelligence: seeks to develop the dialogical and leadership skills and capacities needed to co-create understanding between people of different religious identities, social locations, cultures, and religious traditions.

• Contextual Immersions: in which students take part in academic and experiential explorations of a significantly different cultural and church context. Locations include Cuba, South Korea, India, Kenya, the US-Mexico Borderlands, and Atlanta.

• Supervised Ministry: where students explore different forms of ministry in the Decatur/Atlanta area before gaining experience in a congregational setting.

• Concentration: students choose one of the following:
  
  Biblical Studies provides students with the necessary methods and tools to interpret the Bible with faithfulness, integrity, and imagination. In biblical studies, students analyze the historical and cultural contexts that produced the texts, and practice appropriate and creative means of hearing scripture anew today.
  
  Theology, History, and Ethics gives students the tools to trace global movements of Christian faith traditions through historical-critical analysis of primary texts; introduces the basic doctrines of global Christian faith traditions, focusing on theological paradigms, their contemporary and intersectional reinterpretations, and the significance of theology for the Church; and pays attention to how Christianity has influenced various ethical frameworks, focusing on the intersectionalities of race, gender, sexuality, class, and ability.

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Think the MDiv/MA(TS) could be for you?

Get in touch with our Enrollment Management and Vocational Outreach Team for more information. You can reach us at admissions@ctsnet.edu.