graduate program: Theology Graduate Program
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Curriculum

You may earn the Master of Arts in theology by completing 30 semester hours of coursework, or you may choose (with the approval of your advisor) to earn the degree by completing 24 semester hours of course work and writing a thesis, which earns six hours of credit.

The graduate program in theology is flexible so as to accommodate a wide variety of interests, while providing a firm foundation in the Christian tradition. The following courses are required of all students:

  • THEO 504 Foundations of Scripture Study
  • THEO 520 Survey of Christian Doctrine I
  • THEO 524 Survey of Christian Doctrine II
  • One course in ethics
  • One course in systematic theology

The remaining five courses are theology electives. All courses taken for the MA in theology must be numbered 500 and above.  You may discuss course selection with the department chair, Dr. Marie Giblin.

Social and Pastoral Ministry Concentration

Students engaged in or preparing for professional ministry in church and society may choose to complete a concentration in social and pastoral ministry. Students pursuing this concentration complete:

   (1) the five core courses required of all M.A. students,
   (2) two additional required courses, THEO 630 Theology of Ministry and
        THEO 632 Ethics, Ministry and Ministers,
   (3) six semester hours of ministerial skills courses, drawn from a menu of
        courses and workshops offered both inside and outside of the
        department,
   (4) three semester hours of a ministerial internship, which requires
        passing a ministerial assessment and evaluation as a prerequisite,
        100 clock hours of supervised experience, meetings with an on-site
        mentor and faculty advisor and an integration paper reflecting on the
        experience,
   (5) nine semester hours of elective courses and
   (6) a final research paper.

Religious Education Concentration

Students preparing to teach religion in Catholic secondary schools may elect to take a concentration in Religious Education.  These students complete:

   (1) the five core courses required of all M.A. theology students and 12
        credits of elective theology courses,
   (2) THEO 538 Religious Education and Youth Ministry,
   (3) three courses in education--EDFD 503 Advanced Educational
        Psychology or EDFA 510 Adv Human Development and Learning,
        EDMS 550 Technology and Topics for Teachers, and EDMS 470
        Student Teaching: Secondary (the latter is full time for one semester;
        nine credit hours).

For further information about the M.A. in theology, including an application, please complete the web inquiry form. Questions regarding the application process may be e-mailed directly to the office of graduate services at xugrad@xavier.edu.

 

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