Courses extend over the fall, spring, and summer terms. Courses typically follow a hybrid format, combining independent study, online discussion, and a one-week instructional module in the middle of the term. To make these courses available for distance students, the modules are live-streamed. Thus, it is possible to earn the ThM without living in the Greenville area. Whether you are a residential or nonresidential student, this degree will prepare you for seminary/college teaching, theological research and writing, PhD work, and any preaching/teaching ministry in the local church. (Click the icons for information.)
Preparing You FOR THE HIGHEST LEVEL
(26 credits)
The Master of Theology allows students to deepen their expertise in a specific area of interest, qualifies holders for a teaching position in settings that consider it a terminal degree, and is the ideal degree for preparing students for PhD work. The ThM program is designed especially to benefit students interested in pursuing the Seminary’s PhD in Theological Studies. Upon completing the 26 doctoral-level credits, ThM graduates who continue to the PhD will have their credit requirements lowered from 60 to 34. Additionally, 12 of the 26 credits will focus on one of three disciplines students choose — OT interpretation, NT interpretation or biblical and systematic theology — which parallel the PhD concentrations.
As with both Seminary doctoral programs, the two interdisciplinary and three discipline-focused courses in the ThM program center on a week-long seminar in the middle of the semester, which students may participate in via livestream. The program also includes an online research and writing course. Following coursework, the ThM culminates in the writing of a scholarly thesis within the students’ chosen discipline.
The curriculum, which is adaptable to many life and ministry circumstances, is designed for flexibility. All degree requirements may be fulfilled in residence or by distance. Depending on students’ availability, the degree will take two to three years to complete. Admission to the program will require a master of divinity or equivalent with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above.
Master of Theology Program
Disciplines
- Biblical and Systematic Theology
- New Testament Interpretation
- Old Testament Interpretation
Preparing you for:
- College or Seminary Professor
- Academic and Church Writer
- Scholar-Pastor
- PhD Work
Class Options
RESIDENCE
LIVESTREAM
ONLINE
MODULE
EVENING FLEX
ThM courses are live-streamed, so you can earn the ThM without living in the Greenville area. You can interact live with your classmates from virtually anywhere in the world. Whether you are a residential or nonresidential student, this degree will prepare you for seminary/college teaching, theological research and writing, PhD work, and any preaching/teaching ministry in the local church.
If you lack some master’s level courses in order to qualify for the ThM, you may be able to take them in our convenient online format through SCOPE. Online courses do not meet at prescribed times. Instead, students complete their tasks on a week-by-week basis, typically over a seven-week period. It is possible to earn the ThM without living in the Greenville area. Whether you are a residential or nonresidential student, this degree will prepare you for seminary/college teaching, theological research and writing, PhD work, and any preaching/teaching ministry in the local church.
Courses extend over the fall, spring, and summer terms. Courses typically follow a hybrid format, combining independent study, online discussion, and a one-week instructional module in the middle of the term. The module is available by livestream. It is preceded by approximately six weeks of reading and online interaction and followed by approximately six weeks of research and writing. The module often includes student presentations. It is possible to earn the ThM without living in the Greenville area. Whether you are a residential or nonresidential student, this degree will prepare you for seminary/college teaching, theological research and writing, PhD work, and any preaching/teaching ministry in the local church.
If you lack some master’s level courses in order to qualify for the ThM, you may be able to take them in our evening-flex format. This allows students with day jobs to take classes on Monday or Thursday evenings. Five credits of class can be possible on both Monday and Thursday evenings, with two-credit classes meeting for one hour and three-credit classes meeting for two hours. It is possible to earn the ThM without living in the Greenville area. Whether you are a residential or nonresidential student, this degree will prepare you for seminary/college teaching, theological research and writing, PhD work, and any preaching/teaching ministry in the local church.
COURSES
Required Courses
Biblical Theology/Hermeneutics
(Choose 8 credits)
- STh 840: Advanced Biblical Hermeneutics (4)
- STh 850: Advanced Theological Method (4)
- STh 941: Advanced Biblical Theology (4)
- STh 945: Biblical Intertextuality (4)
ThM Electives (Within 1 Discipline)
(Choose 12 credits)
- SNT 850: New Testament Backgrounds (4)
- SNT 881: New Testament Textual Criticism (4)
- SNT 905: Advanced Greek Grammar (4)
- SNT 910: Advanced Greek Exegesis (4)
- SNT 935: Problems of New Testament Interpretation (4)
- SNT 955: Advanced New Testament Theology (4)
- SOT 801: Biblical Aramaic (4)
- SOT 850: Old Testament Backgrounds (4)
- SOT 905: Advanced Hebrew Grammar (4)
- SOT 910: Advanced Hebrew Exegesis (4)
- SOT 935: Problems of Old Testament Interpretation (4)
- SOT 955: Advanced Old Testament Theology (4)
- STh 875: Topics in Historical Theology (4)
- STh 882: Issues in Biblical Ethics (4)
- STh 901: Contemporary Theology (4)
- STh 907: Soteriology (4)
Objectives
General
- Exegete biblical texts at a high level of precision.
- Assess scholarship on select biblical/theological topics.
- Produce scholarly research in Bible/theology.
