Loyola Marymount University Bulletin 2012-2013 > Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts > Theological Studies > Theological Studies Graduate Program

Theological Studies Graduate Program

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Theological Studies

Mission Statement

The Master of Arts (Theology) provides students with a critical understanding of the Christian theological tradition, especially from a Roman Catholic perspective. The program engages students in serious reflection on the broad range of theological studies and methods (biblical, comparative, historical, liturgical, and systematic theology, as well as ethics, spirituality, faith and culture, ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue). The goal of the program is to provide a general and integrated exploration of these areas for students seeking to teach on a secondary level, for students preparing for graduate education, and for students with a strong interest in theology beyond the undergraduate level.

The Master of Arts in Pastoral Theology engages the student in critical theological reflection on ministerial practice as preparation for active ministry in a pluralistic society. The program provides theological foundations in pastoral theology, especially in the Roman Catholic tradition, and integrates the formation of persons preparing for pastoral ministry with their study of the Christian theological tradition (spirituality, liturgy, faith and culture, ethics, as well as biblical, historical, and systematic theology, and ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue). Throughout the program there is a stress on the holistic relationships between pastoral theology, faith seeking critical understanding, and faith that does justice.

Admission Requirements

Baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution
Sufficient background in theology or religious studies
Demonstrated ability to do graduate studies

This last requirement can be fulfilled by providing a range of information including: graduate work completed or advanced degree obtained; evidence of undergraduate work, including GPA and submission of written academic work (e.g., a term paper); scores received on the GRE, the Miller Analogies, or other standardized tests (recommended but not required); a personal interview.

Applicants need to indicate the particular Master of Arts program to which they are applying, either M.A. (Theology) [THEO] or M.A. in Pastoral Theology (PATH).

All applicants for admission to the master’s degree programs are required to submit a Graduate Division application and $50.00 fee; two copies of all post-secondary transcripts; a personal statement; and two letters of recommendation, including one academic reference. All materials should be sent to the Graduate Admissions Office. Applicants who have applied for admission may be formally admitted or may be required to fulfill prerequisites before being formally admitted.

All materials for admission must be received in the Graduate Admission Office by the date listed below. Applications received after this deadline will be reviewed on an individual basis.

March 1 for the Fall semester

Students may take graduate courses in non-degree status with permission of the Graduate Director.

Degree Requirements

MASTER OF ARTS (THEOLOGY) (42 sem. hrs.)

CORE COURSES (7 courses—21 sem. hrs.) in categories A through G:

A) THST 600	Foundations of New Testament Theology
	or
THST 603	Foundations of Old Testament Theology
B) THST 620	Foundations of Historical Theology
	or
	any one course from the 620s
C) THST 630	Introduction to Systematic Theology
D) THST 660	Foundations of Theological Ethics
E) THST 692	Graduate Pro-Seminar (3 sem. hrs.) (usually taken during the first semester)
F) THST 695	Comprehensive Exam Seminar
	(3 sem. hrs.) (taken after completing 36 semester hours minimum)
G) THST 696	Directed Research Seminar (3 sem. hrs.)(taken after completing 36 semester hours minimum)

THEOLOGY ELECTIVES (21 sem. hrs.)

Theology students are to complete an additional 21 semester hours for a total of 42 semester hours.

COMPARATIVE THEOLOGY CONCENTRATION

An option for Students in the M.A. (Theology)

M.A. (Theology) students may choose to take elective courses that develop a concentration in Comparative Theology. The concentration in Comparative Theology serves students who wish to focus their program more specifically around questions of religious diversity, inter-religious dialogue, world religions, and comparative theology.

The concentration is comprised of four courses (12 semester hours), one (1) required course (THST 680: Comparative Theology), and three (3) other approved courses, which the student chooses in conjunction with the academic advisor. Students must also fulfill core requirements as listed above, items A through G.

COMPARATIVE THEOLOGY CONCENTRATION—COURSE OFFERINGS

Students who choose to do this Concentration are required to take:

THST 680

Comparative Theology

In addition, students are required to take three (3) of the following (or other courses approved by the academic advisor in concert with the graduate director):

THST 610	World Religions
THST 611	Islam
THST 612	Indic Religious Traditions: Hinduism
THST 613	Buddhism and Jainism
THST 614	Judaism
THST 615	Classics of Chinese Philosophy (see PHIL 606)
THST 616	Interreligious Dialogue
THST 619	Readings in Religious Literature
THST 643	Feminist Theology: World Perspectives
THST 681	Comparative Religious Ethics
THST 682	Comparative Mysticism

MASTER OF ARTS IN PASTORAL THEOLOGY

CORE COURSES (8 courses—24 sem. hrs.) in categories A through H:

A) THST 600	Foundations of New Testament Theology
	or
THST 603	Foundations of Old Testament Theology
B) THST 630	Introduction to Systematic Theology
C) THST 660	Foundations of Theological Ethics
	or
	one course from the Historical area (620s)
D) THST 670	Foundations of Pastoral Theology
E) THST 675	Spiritual Formation for Pastoral Ministry
F) THST 692	Graduate Pro-Seminar (3 sem. hrs.) (usually taken during the first semester)
G) THST 689	Supervised Pastoral Field Education (3 sem. hrs.) (student must have completed at least 27 semester hours in order to take this course)
H) THST 691	Pastoral Synthesis Seminar (3 sem. hrs.) (student must have completed at least 36 semester hours in order to take this capstone course)

PASTORAL THEOLOGY ELECTIVES

(18 sem. hrs.)

Pastoral Theology students are required to take one three-semester-hour course in either Liturgy, Religious Education, or Spirituality and select other elective courses offered by the Department of Theological Studies after consultation with their advisor.

The program is designed to allow a student to pursue general interests or a particular concentration. Concentrations are offered in two areas: 1) Pastoral Leadership and 2) Spiritual Direction. Under special circumstances, students may take up to two courses (six semester hours) outside the department.

SPIRITUAL DIRECTION CONCENTRATION

An option for Students in the M.A. in Pastoral Theology

This concentration is designed for anyone enrolled in the Master of Arts in Pastoral Theology who would like to acquire the art of spiritual direction, a ministry of accompanying others in their spiritual journey. The purpose of the concentration is twofold: 1) to provide a course of studies that integrates theology, Scripture, psychology, spirituality, skills acquisition and supervision in the art of spiritual direction and 2) to assist participants to discern whether they are being called to the ministry of spiritual direction.

Upon successful completion of the four required courses listed below, participants will be able to designate that their Master of Arts in Pastoral Theology included a concentration in spiritual direction training.

Students who wish to concentrate their electives in spiritual direction would take the following courses. NOTE: THST 685, Theory and Practice, needs to be taken first; THST 688, Practicum and Supervision, needs to be taken last. The other two courses can be taken whenever opportune, after completing the first course.

THST 685	The Theory and Practice of Spiritual Direction
THST 686	Ignatian Spirituality (prerequisite: THST 685)
THST 687	Psychological Foundations of Spiritual Direction (prerequisite: THST 685)
THST 688	Practicum and Supervision in Spiritual Direction (taken after completion of the three courses listed above)

PASTORAL LEADERSHIP CONCENTRATION

An option for Students in the M.A. in Pastoral Theology

Description:

The concentration is made up of four courses (12 semester hours) that the student chooses from the set of approved courses listed in the Bulletin for this Concentration.

The concentration is designed to educate those who will serve (or who currently serve) as leaders in pastoral settings, either as leaders in specialized ministries or as leaders in general ministry positions. Examples of leaders in specialized ministry: Directors of Religious Education, Directors of Youth Ministry of Campus Ministry, Directors of Catechumenate/RCIA. Leaders in generalist ministries include pastors and Pastoral Associates who are assigned a variety of general duties according to need.

The concentration is deliberately open to the students to design under the guidance of the academic advisor. In this way, students who find themselves actively engaged in, or aspiring to, leadership ministries within schools or parishes will choose courses for the concentration that fit their current or aspired ministry commitments.

Pastoral Leadership Concentration Course Offerings

THST 670

Foundations of Pastoral Theology (graduate core course)

Students are required to take:

THST 674

Pastoral Leadership

Students are required to take any two (2) of the following:

THST 650	Liturgical Theology: History and Interpretation
THST 652	The Rites
THST 671	Pastoral Approaches to Religious Education
THST 673	Faith and Culture: Catechesis in Southern California
THST 677	Pastoral Liturgy
THST 678	The Theology of the Parish
THST 679	Special Topics in Pastoral Theology
THST 687	Psychological Foundations of Pastoral Ministry

Pastoral Synthesis Project (PT capstone)

The Pastoral Synthesis Project is the required capstone experience for all Pastoral Theology students. The project is designed to elicit familiarity with scholarly sources and pastoral analysis of issues that impact the contemporary practice of ministry. The project is not solely a research paper nor a reflection paper, but a synthesis of both. The project is typically done in the last semester of the Pastoral Theology program.

Community College of Denver

Theological Studies Graduate Program