Denver Seminary > M.A. in Theology

M.A. in Theology

What is a Master of Arts in Theology?

Who is God and what is His relationship to the world? How we answer those two
questions affects every aspect of our lives. If you find yourself constantly probing the
depths of those questions, the Master of Arts in Theology will guide your explorations.
Through theological study that is both classical and contemporary, you will examine the key doctrines of the Christian faith, learn to think theologically about all of life, grapple with theological issues and trends, and understand the methods of the theological process. Whether you envision doctoral work in theology, enrichment of your church or parachurch ministry, or deeper understanding of your faith, the M.A. in Theology will put you on that path.

At Denver Seminary, Theology degrees are under the Division of Christian Thought. To learn more about this division, watch a video from the Division of Christian Thought.

The M.A. in Theology is excellent preparation for goals such as:

Enrichment of preaching, teaching, and a variet of different ministries
Campus ministry
Doctoral study leading to advanced research and teaching

Structure

In addition to the M.A. core (33 hours), the M.A. in Theology includes 19 hours of required classes and 6 or 10 hours of electives (6 if enrolling in thesis, 10 hours if not):

Master of Arts in Theology	Course #	Sem Hrs.
M.A. Core		33
Academic Resources and Research	GS 589	1
Seminar in Theological Method	TH 550	3
Doctrine of God	TH 551	3
Contemporary Theologies	TH 643	3
Theology in Global Perspectives¹	TH 652	3
One course from the following:		3
Sixteenth Century Christian Thought	TH 656
Theology in the Early Church	TH 658
One course from the following:		3
Christology and Pneumatology	TH 552
Anthropology and Soteriology	TH 553
Ecclesiology and Eschatology	TH 554
Theology electives^{2, 3}		10
Christology and Pneumatology (if not selected in core)	TH 552
Anthropology and Soteriology (if not selected in core)	TH 553
Ecclesiology and Eschatology (if not selected in core)	TH 554
Evangelicalism and Its Theologies	TH 640
Eastern Orthodoxy and Roman Catholicism	TH 641
Liberation Theologies	TH 647
Traditions of Protestant Theology	TH 650
Calvin and Reformed Theology	TH 651
Sixteenth Century Christian Thought (if not selected in core)	TH 656
Theology in the Early Church (in not selected in core)	TH 658
Theology for the Practice of Ministry	TH 671
Theology of Work	TH 672
Theological Ethics	TH 673
Total hours for degree:		62

¹Includes components that meet the globalization awareness requirement.

² Choose six hours if enrolling in thesis, or ten hours if nonthesis. Only select elective hours not already taken in core.

³ With approval of the theology department, one of the following courses may be included in the theology electives: MJ 501; NT 601; OT 661; AE 601.

Those who anticipate doctoral study or for other reasons wish to write a thesis will take a research methods course for one (1) credit hour and write a thesis for three (3) credit hours. Those who do not take the thesis option take instead four (4) hours of coursework and a comprehensive examination.

The M.A. with a major in Theology also includes an additional three hours of Church History and 1 hour of research methods.

Department Faculty

Dr. David Buschart, Associate Dean and Professor of Theology and Historical Studies

Dr. Sung Wook Chung, Associate Professor of Christian Theology and Director of Korean Initiatives

Dr. Dieumème Noelliste, Professor of Theological Ethics; Director of the Grounds Institute of Public Ethics

Dr. Don J. Payne, Associate Dean and Assistant Professor of Theology and Ministry

Dr. Scott A. Wenig, Haddon W. Robinson Chair of Biblical Preaching; Professor of Applied Theology

Faculty Highlight

DBuschart Dr. David Buschart is Associate Dean and Professor of Theology and Historical Studies. He is a member of the American Academy of Religion, and the Evangelical Theological Society. He was a founding member of the Research Science and Ethics Advisory Committee at Wascana Rehabilitation Centre in Regina, Saskatchewan. He has authored Exploring Protestant Traditions: An Invitation to Theological Hospitality and has published a number of articles, essays, and book chapters. He is coeditor of, and a contributor to, Scholarship, Sacraments and Service and is a consultant on comparative Christianity for the Patheos website of religion and spirituality.