MA (Theology)/MDiv Dual Program
Candidates for the Master of Divinity degree (MDiv) who hold a bachelor’s degree may additionally earn a Master of Arts (Theology) degree by acquiring eighteen additional graduate credits in courses taken at OST, i.e. not transferred from another institution, and by fulfilling either of the final project requirements (a Scholarly Paper or a Thesis) as designated for the MA (Theology) degree.
Eighteen hours from the MDiv degree are applied to the MA (Theology) degree. The extra courses taken in the appropriate areas of Cultural and Historical Studies, Scriptural Studies, Systematic Theology, Moral Theology, Sacramental Theology, or Spirituality may be distributed among these areas or along with the final project, focused in one of them to constitute a concentration in that area. Three courses at the 8000 level as required by the MA (Theology) degree must be included in the total number of credit hours required for the dual degree.
The total hours for the two degrees equal 98 graduate credit hours (for presbyteral candidates who must also obtain the Certificate of Advanced Studies for Presbyteral Ministry, a minimum of 104 graduate credit hours, depending upon the options chosen).
A minimum grade point average of 3.0 is required for all courses applied to or taken for the MA (Theology) portion of the dual degree. A student may not matriculate for the dual program before the completion of two semesters of full-time graduate study at OST. The dual program must be completed within six years after matriculation.
Candidates should strive to complete their final MA (Theology) project during the second-last year of their MDiv Program (i.e. during Year III Theology).
Curriculum
Completion of all requirements for an MDiv Degree plus one of the following two combinations:
- Paper Option: 18 appropriate credit hours (for presbyteral candidates this requirement is fulfilled by their program with one additional elective hour); 3 courses at the 8000-level; 1 scholarly paper (non-credit.)
- Thesis Option: 12 appropriate credit hours (for presbyteral candidates this requirement is fulfilled by their program); 3 courses at the 8000-level in an appropriate area or areas; 6 credit hours thesis (presbyteral candidates may substitute this requirement for six hours of electives in their program reducing their total hours to 104 hours).
Concentration
For a concentration in one of the five appropriate areas (Cultural/Historical, Scriptural, Systematic, Moral, or Spiritual) the above requirements should include 15 credit hours distributed in one of two ways:
- 9 credit hours in the selected area (for presbyteral candidates, this is fulfilled by
their program except in areas of Moral Theology and Spirituality)
3 courses at the 8000-level in the selected area
1 Scholarly Paper (non-credit) in the selected area - 3 credit hours in the selected area (for presbyteral candidates, this is fulfilled in
their program except in the area of Spirituality)
3 courses at the 8000-level in the selected area
6-credit hour Thesis in the selected area