"f'or me, the greatestjoy of the Th.M. program was the freedom to explore areas of study that interested me most. This kind of independent study gave me a much broader theological foundation. As a pastor, the program has helped me to competently guide people who have asked me questions that demand a far-ranging, comprehensive theology. " - Mike Bradaric, Talbot Adjunct Faculty Senior Pastor Valley Baptist Church, Burbank, Instructor ofBible Exposition Master of Theology Program PURPOSE PROGRAM DESCRIPTION AND REQUIREMENTS A. Residence Requirements: A minimum of two semesters in res idence at Talbot is re~ quired for the Th.M. degree. No more than four advanced graduate semester course units from an accred ited seminary or theological school will be accepted toward fulfillment of Th .M. course requirements. B. Time Limit for Degree:
All course, examination and thesis requirements must be completed within five years, beginning on the date of the student's first registration for Th.M. courses at Talbot. C. Major Areas of Academic Study: Majors in the Th.M. program are offered in the departments of Bible exposition, missions and intercultural studies, New Testament, practical theology , semitics, Old Testament and systematic theology . A working knowledge of French or German is required of Th.M. majors in semitics and Old Testament. This require ment may be satisfied in one of the follow ing ways: I) two years of college level instruction with a grade of "B" or better or 2) a satisfactory score on an examination adminis tered by the department. Students must fulfill this require ment during their first I6 units of course work in order to continue in the program . D. Course Work: The Th.M. program requires the completion of 26 semester hours of course work distributed as follows: IO units in the major department , six units in the major department or close ly related areas approved by the major advisor, 10 units in any area (two of which must be TPT/TCE 720). Students are required to take a minimum of 14 unit s in Th.M. courses numbered in the 800 series, with the remainder at the 600 and 700 levels. TPT/TCE 720 is required of all students, regard less of major. Additional research and reading assignments will be made in 600 and 700 level courses to make the work ofTh.M. character . At the discretion of the advisor, a max imum of four units in any department at any level may be credited toward the course requirements . E. Concurrent Enro llment Option: Senior Talbot M.Div. students who have completed 80 or more units and are accepted in the Th .M. program are per mitted to take a maximum of four units per semester of Th.M. courses, (with faculty permission) , for app li cation to Th.M. program requirements. Such course work must meet all normal Th.M. standards and cannot be credited toward M.Div. program requirements. This option allows students who accelerate their M.Div studies by taking courses in interterm and summer session to obtain both the M.Div.and Th.M. degrees in four years or les s. F. Admission to Candidacy: Students completing 15 hours of course work may be granted
The Master of Theology curriculum is a challenging post graduate degree program designed to equip the student with specialized academic knowledge and advanced professional skills. The program represents not merely an extra year of formal theological study but a high level of academic attainment, refine ment of research capabilities and personal professional develop ment. The program prepares students for both increased effec tiveness in professional pastoral ministry and further study at the Ph .D . and Th.D. Level. Since both A.T.S. (the Association of Theological Schools) and A.A.B.C. (the American Association of Bible Colleges) consider the Th.M. degree the minimum educational credential for teaching biblical and theological sub jects at accredited seminaries and Bible schools, the Master of Theology is of special interest to students pursuing a teaching career. Qualified students aspiring to excellence and leadership in many areas of ministry and service for Christ find the Th .M. program personally enriching and academica ll y stimulating. ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS The student must present acceptable Bachelor of Arts and Bache lor or Master of Divinity degrees. Specifically, he must have maintained at least a 3.25 average in his Divinity program and have completed at least eight semester hours of Greek beyond beginning Greek and 12 semester hours of Hebrew , four of which may be Aramaic. Applicants deficient in the biblical languages may take the prerequisite units at Talbot while taking other Th.M. courses but such deficiencies must be made up before more than 12 units in other subjects may be taken. Divinity degrees pre sented from non-accredited seminaries and theological schools are individually evaluated. Deficiencies discerned in such cases may be made up by course work at Talbot or other specified accredited institutions. Students must also have the personal qualifications necessary for a minister of Christ, including prom ise of future usefulness. They must be spiritually qualified by providing evidence of a born-again experience and a consistent Christian manner of life. Graduates of other seminaries must file a full application with the office of admissions and records. Master of Divinity students currently enrolled at Talbot may file for admission by submitt ing a written request to the Graduate Committee in care of the director of admission. All applicants are required to submit a statement of one to two double spaced typewritten pages explaining their career goals and personal objectives in seeking Th.M. training.
142
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker