The Master of Arts – Religion degree (MAR) imparts a sound knowledge of theology to prepare students for lay ministry or further study. Some students use this degree to prepare for further graduate study, and others use it to provide a Christian foundation for the work they do in the marketplace and in their places of worship. Students may choose from three foci: Biblical Studies, Christian History & Theology, or Christian Ministry & Missiology.
The MAR with a thesis constitutes 60 credits; the MAR with a concluding Capstone constitutes 52 credits. The MAR can be completed entirely in residence at our Ambridge campus, online, or a hybrid of both; many MAR electives can be completed at our January and June intensives. There is no residency requirement for the MAR.
Residential students generally take 4-5 courses per term in Fall and Spring, supplementing as desired with January & June intensives. Most residential students graduate after 2 years of full-time study. Hybrid/online students generally take 1-2 courses per term in Fall, Spring, and Summer, supplementing as desired with January & June intensives. Most online students graduate after 3-5 years of part-time study.
A Lutheran Track in partnership with the North American Lutheran Seminary (NALS) is also available.
Application Deadlines
Fall Start: July 1
Spring Start: December 1
The Curriculum – Biblical Studies Focus
| Biblical Interpretation 7 Languages (21 credits) | General Electives (18 credits) | ||
| BI500 | Biblical Interpretation | Elective 1 | Elective 2 |
| BL631 | Hebrew I | Elective 3 | Elective 4 |
| BL632 | Hebrew II | Elective 5 | Elective 6 |
| OT700 | Hebrew Exegesis | Thesis Track | Capstone Track |
| BL651 | Greek I | RW701 – Theological Research & Writing (non-credit) | RW749 – Capstone |
| BL652 | Greek II | RW799 – Thesis (6 credits over 2 semesters) | |
| NT700 | Greek Exegesis | Non-Academic Degree Requirements | |
| Old Testament (6 credits) | English Bible Exam | Liturgical Practica | |
| OT500 | Introduction to Old Testament | Cross-Cultural Immersion | |
| OT6xx | OT Elective | Other requirements listed in the Academic Catalog | |
| New Testament (6 credits) | |||
| NT500 | Introduction to New Testament | ||
| NT6xx | NT Elective | ||
The Curriculum – Church History & Theology
| Biblical Interpretation & Languages (3 credits) | General Electives (24 credits) | ||
| BI500 | Biblical Interpretation | Elective 1 | Elective 2 |
| Church History (9 credits) | Elective 3 | Elective 4 | |
| CH625 | Early Church | Elective 5 | Elective 6 |
| CH635 | Medieval & Early Modern Church | Elective 7 | Elective 8 |
| CH645 | Anglican/Episcopal History | Thesis Track | Capstone Track |
| Missions (3 credits) | RW701 – Theological Research & Writing (non-credit) | RW749 – Capstone | |
| ME699 | Global Anglicanism | RW799 – Thesis (6 credits over 2 semesters) | |
| Systematic Theology (12 credits) | Non-Academic Degree Requirements | ||
| ST625 | God the Father: Trinity, Creation, & the Fall | English Bible Exam | Liturgical Practica |
| ST635 | God the Son: Incarnation, Reconciliation, & Salvation | Cross-Cultural Immersion | |
| ST645 | God the Holy Spirit: Church Ministry & Sacraments | Other requirements listed in the Academic Catalog | |
| ST770 | Anglican Way of Theology | ||
The Curriculum – Church History & Theology – Lutheran Focus in partnership with the NALS
| Biblical Interpretation & Languages (3 credits) | Discipleship (3 credits) | ||
| BI500 | Biblical Interpretation | PT700 | Spiritual Formation: Catechesis & Discipleship |
| Church History (12 credits) | General Electives (18 credits) | ||
| CH625 | Early Church | Elective 1 | Elective 2 |
| CH635 | Medieval & Early Modern Church | Elective 3 | Elective 4 |
| CH670 | Modern Church (Lutheran) | Elective 5 | Elective 6 |
| CH680 | Theology & Writings of Martin Luther | Thesis Track | Capstone Track |
| Systematic Theology (15 credits) | RW701 – Theological Research & Writing (non-credit) | RW749 – Capstone | |
| ST540 | Creeds & Catechisms: An Introduction to Theological Thinking | RW799 – Thesis (6 credits over 2 semesters) | |
| ST550 | Lutheran Confessions | Non-Academic Degree Requirements | |
| ST660 | Introduction to Theology I | English Bible Exam | Liturgical Practica |
| ST670 | Introduction to Theology II | Cross-Cultural Immersion | |
| ST755 | Christian Ethics in the Lutheran Tradition | Other requirements listed in the Academic Catalog | |
The Curriculum – Christian Ministry & Missiology
| Biblical Interpretation & Languages (3 credits) | Systematic Theology (3 credits) | ||
| BI500 | Biblical Interpretation | ST735 or ST770 | World Religions or Anglican Way of Theology |
| Old Testament (9 credits) | Church History (3 credits) | ||
| OT500 | Introduction to Old Testament | CH635 or CH645 | Medieval & Early Modern Church or Anglican/Episcopal History |
| OT6xx | OT Elective 1 | General Electives (15 credits) | |
| OT6xx | OT Elective 2 | Elective 1 | Elective 2 |
| New Testament (9 credits) | Elective 3 | Elective 4 | |
| NT500 | Introduction to New Testament | Elective 5 | |
| NT6xx | NT Elective 1 | Thesis Track | Capstone Track |
| NT6xx | NT Elective 2 | RW701 – Theological Research & Writing (non-credit) | RW749 – Capstone |
| Missions & Evangelism (9 credits) | RW799 – Thesis (6 credits over 2 semesters) | ||
| ME500 | Introduction to World Missions | Non-Academic Degree Requirements | |
| ME600 | Missions & Evangelism: Church Planting | English Bible Exam | Liturgical Practica |
| ME699 | Global Anglicanism | Cross-Cultural Immersion | |
| Other requirements listed in the Academic Catalog | |||
The Curriculum – Christian Ministry & Missiology – Lutheran Focus in partnership with the NALS
| Biblical Interpretation & Languages (3 credits) | Systematic Theology (6 credits) | ||
| BI500 | Biblical Interpretation | ST540 | Creeds & Catechisms: An Introduction to Theological Thinking |
| Old Testament (9 credits) | ST550 | Lutheran Confessions | |
| OT500 | Introduction to Old Testament | Church History (3 credits) | |
| OT6xx | OT Elective 1 | CH680 | Theology & Writings of Martin Luther |
| OT6xx | OT Elective 2 | General Electives (12 credits) | |
| New Testament (9 credits) | Elective 1 | Elective 2 | |
| NT500 | Introduction to New Testament | Elective 3 | Elective 4 |
| NT6xx | NT Elective 1 | Thesis Track | Capstone Track |
| NT6xx | NT Elective 2 | RW701 – Theological Research & Writing (non-credit) | RW749 – Capstone |
| Missions & Evangelism (6 credits) | RW799 – Thesis (6 credits over 2 semesters) | ||
| ME500 | Introduction to World Missions | Non-Academic Degree Requirements | |
| ME600 | Missions & Evangelism: Church Planting | English Bible Exam | Liturgical Practica |
| Discipleship (3 credits) | Cross-Cultural Immersion | ||
| PT700 | Spiritual Formation: Catechesis & Discipleship | Other requirements listed in the Academic Catalog | |
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