M.A. Theology
Introduction
The Master's in Theology program is designed to be general in scope, to provide a wide introduction to Christian Theology, and to offer a diversity of specializations in order to prepare students for a variety of missions in the Church, as well as answer the needs of students with differing interests and goals.
Students follow this degree program to enrich their general religious and theological life, to enhance their work as teachers on primary and secondary levels, as directors of religious education programs on the parish or diocesesan levels, as pastoral workers in hospitals or other settings, as professionals in a large number of apostolic careers. Besides helping students acquire a good grounding in theology and the tools needed to continue their theological education on their own, the M.A. in Theology also provides a readily understood evidence of competency in theology.
Admission and Application
Admission requires transcripts from all previous post-secondary education indicating at least a bachelor's degree and GRE general test scores not more than five years old. In addition to three academic letters of recommendation, the applicant is also to submit a carefully written two to three page statement indicating personal and academic goals.
Applications for admission to the M.A. programs may be accepted for all three semesters, and must be completed by April 1 for the Summer Session, July 1 for the Fall Semester, and November 1 for the Spring Semester. All applicants for this program must apply through the Graduate School under the rubric of "classified" status. The application may be downloaded here.
Prerequisites:
An undergraduate major in theology (18 hours). Deficiencies may be satisfied through specific, intensive, prerequisite courses offered by the Department of Theological Studies. Applicants with an undergraduate major in the humanities (with a strong liberal arts background) may also apply, although in these cases a greater number of prerequisite courses may be required in their first year.
Course of Study (30 hours)
Required Courses in three areas (15 hours)
Systematic Theology: 6 credit hours
Biblical Theology: TH A 500 and an additional 3 credit hours in this area
Moral Theology: 3 credit hours- Required Specialization (15 hours)
Minimally 15 credit hours are required in one of the three areas above. This means an additional nine hours are required in either Systematic Theology or Biblical Theology. If the specialization is to be Moral Theology, an additional twelve hours are required. - Elective Courses
Other courses that are suitable for the student's interest and program should likewise be taken in order to complete the program of thirty credit hours. - Required Grades
If the grade point falls below 3.0 in any two semesters during the course of study, the student placed on academic probation. The student is expected to maintain a 3.5 (B+) grade point average. - Time Frame
The student is expected to complete the program within three years, or a maximum of five years. - Participation
The student is expected to participate in the life of the department and to contribute to the development of a community of scholars. Attendance at special academic events sponsored by the Department is of utmost importance. - Continuous Registration
From the beginning of the program until graduation, the student must be continuously registered. If the student is not taking a course in a given semester, registration for 0 credit hours is required.
Language Competencies
All M.A. students are encouraged to acquire a reading knowledge of a language other than English. This is, however, not required.
Academic Advising
The Director of Graduate Studies serves as the student's initial advisor. As the student's academic focus becomes clear, the student is to seek out an advisor from among members of the faculty, whose area of specialization is similar to the student's and who can best direct the student's studies. The student is then to inform the Director of Graduate Studies of the advisor chosen. Throughout
the duration of the program, the student is to meet once each semester with the director of graduate studies at the time of registration to review progress in the program.
Student responsibilities:
- Communicate regularly with the advisor.
- Investigate and plan scheduling possibilities.
- Learn and follow all requirements, procedures, and deadlines of the department and of the Graduate School.
Advisor responsibilities:
- Be familiar with the overall program and the student's interests.
- Confer regularly and to help and guide the student.
- Be aware of the duties of research assistants.
- Know Graduate School policies.
Financial Aid
Financial aid is possible in the form of a research assistantship and in the form of tuition remission.
Research Assistants: For a research assistantship, apply during the month of February for the following academic year. Application forms are available in the Departmental office. Benefits for full-time assistants include: an annual stipend of $10,500, health insurance, and 18 credit hours of tuition remission to be divided between the fall and spring semesters. Full time assistants may not hold any other fellowship, assistantship, or employment during the 9-month appointment. Benefits for half time assistants include: an annual stipend of $5,250 and 12 credit hours to be divided between the fall and spring semesters. All research assistants are required to be in good academic standing and to have no delinquent "Incompletes." Download application here.
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Responsibilities for research assistants:
- Full assistants are required to work twenty hours per week during the academic semester. Part time assistants are required to work ten hours per week. Assistants are to be accountable for the required hours.
- Assistants should meet and communicate regularly with their assigned faculty member, preferably each week.
- Assistants should assist professors in their research and in their work on specific academic projects. Results should be delivered to the assigned professor in the form of abstracts, papers, dossiers, photocopies of books and journals, notes, or by providing the actual sources. Students may be asked to assist in editing or help in the preparation of conferences and lectures.
- Assistants may be asked to teach some classes or help in the preparation of classes.
- During the month of April, the research assistant should submit a written report to the Director of Graduate Studies, detailing the type of work done and evaluating the overall experience. This must be completed before the student can be considered for renewal of the assistantship.
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Responsibilities for faculty members:
- State research objectives clearly at the beginning of the academic year.
- Develop a work plan, provide research tools, and direct students in the performance of their duties.
- Meet with the assistant regularly, preferably weekly, in order to deal with any questions or problems in a timely manner.
- Insure that all research work is ordered toward the academic development of the student. (Research assistants are neither private secretaries nor factotums, and they may not carry out work that is not directly related to professional and academic responsibilities of the professor or of the department.)
- Acknowledge contributions of research assistants in any publication or particular project.
- During the month of April, submit a written report to the Director of Graduate Studies on the quality of the assistant's work and make a recommendation for possible renewal.
Tuition Remission: For those students who do not have a research assistantship, one-third tuition remission is often available to part-time students, and one half-tuition remission may be available to full-time students. Tuition remission may be applied only to courses required for the degree. Although the department attempts to meet the needs of all students, demands always exceed the available resources. Students are to investigate other sources of funding. The Office of Research Services at 314-977-2241 and the Office of Financial Aid at 314-977-2350 are two excellent services located on campus.
- Student responsibilities:
- Fill out a tuition remission application by mid-November for tuition remission in the spring semester and by mid-April for tuition remission in the summer and fall semesters. Forms are available in the department office.
- Tuition remission is granted only to students in good academic standing and to those who have no delinquent "Incomplete" in their record.
M.A. General Examination
The General Examination for the M.A. in Theology consists of a comprehensive written and oral examination. However, before the examination can be taken, the student must attend to several preliminary procedures. At the beginning of the final academic semester of course work, the student is responsible for the following:
- Request to take the M.A. examination by filling out a "M.A. Theology Exam Data Form" available in the department office. The form should be signed by the student's advisor.
- Register for TH-A 595, "Special Study Exams."
- Fill out an "Application for Degree Form" for the Graduate School Office (link).
- Complete and return candidacy papers, which will subsequently be sent to the student from the Graduate School.
- Be well informed of the Graduate School deadlines regarding the above preliminary procedures.
- Consult with the Director of Graduate Studies about the formation of an examination committee consisting of three members. Meet individually with the members of the exam committee at least two months prior to the examination to help prepare questions to guide preparation for written and oral examination.
M.A. in Theology Written and Oral Examination: The general three hour written examination and one-hour oral examination is considered one examination. It is administered by the committee of three examiners appointed by the graduate faculty, upon recommendation of the Director of Graduate Studies in consultation with the student. The examination focuses on the area of concentration. However, the student may request to incorporate a component from an elective area as part of the examination. In all cases, the student works out the approach and content for the examination with each examiner.
If the written component of the examination is not passed, the student may not proceed to the oral examination. In that case, the student may, upon recommendation of the examination committee, retake the written examination, or portions thereof, within three months. This may, however, be done only once. In event of failure of the oral comprehensive, the oral examination may, upon recommendation of the examination committee, be retaken in its entireity within three months. This may, however, be done only once.
- Student responsibilities:
- Confer with the members of the committee at least two months prior to the written examination. Schedule the oral examination around ten days after the written examination.
- Faculty member responsibilities
- Meet with the student prior to the exam.
- Complete grading of the written component in a timely manner.
- Follow the criteria for grading as decided by the graduate faculty.
Special Opportunities
- Departmental Graduate Student Advisory Council
The GSAC is a committee of four graduate students in Historical Theology who meet periodically with the Director of Graduate Studies to plan and facilitate events for the graduate life of the department. They also provide continuing review of the program. The four students represent four different years of entry into the program and are elected to serve for one year by the students who began their full time study in that specific year. The departmental representative to the Graduate Student Advisory Council of the Graduate School is an "ex officio" member.
- Graduate Student Association
The GSA represents all full-time and part-time students enrolled in the Graduate School. It sponsors the annual Graduate Student Research Symposium to showcase graduate student research. The GSA also helps with funding for travel to academic conferences and for meeting publication expenses. The Department of Theological Studies has a representative to the university Graduate Student Association. This representative serves as a liaison between theology graduate students and the other graduate students throughout the university. It is important for students to be in communication with the departmental liaison. Link to GSA.
- Center for Teaching Excellence
The Center for Teaching Excellence supports faculty and graduate students in the development of instructional skills and individual teaching pedagogy. For this purpose, two teaching certificate programs are available. Selected mentors guide participants through the program. During their course of study, all Ph.D. students in the Historical Theology program are strongly urged to acquire a teaching certificate. Visit the CTE Website.
- Puleo Scholarship
The Mev Puleo Scholarship offers a unique opportunity for students in the department. It combines formal study and experiential learning to foster awareness and understanding of the people and culture of Latin American countries, Liberation Theology and the influence and role of the Catholic Church as an agent of change in Latin America.
Learn more about this program here. - Theology Digest
Theology Digest is a quarterly journal published by the Department of Theological Studies at Saint Louis University. Theological articles published in languages other than English are translated, discussed, and digested for publication in English. Professors and students have the opportunity to participate in this project. Theology Digest sponsors a regular weekly meeting for discussion of current theological issues.
Visit the Theology Digest Website.
- Language Reading Groups
Language Reading Groups meet informally upon availability of a professor throughout the semester to encourage development and retention of language skills. These groups are usually headed by a professor and tend to focus upon primary texts in differing languages.