Santa Clara University

Master of Theology

Introduction

The Master of Theology degree is a one-year program in advanced theological study beyond the Master of Divinity degree, and is available in almost any area of specialized interest. There is a wide variety of offerings in the GTU during any academic year (in fact, over 250 courses each semester). Through cross-registration into courses at the University of California, theological specializations can be developed in relation to many other concerns, e.g., sociology, psychology, education, the arts, and the religions and anthropology of most of the major cultures of the world.

Admission Requirements

The Jesuit School welcomes the application of all qualified persons who wish to pursue the Master of Theology program. Applicants should follow the general admissions procedures. See also Application Requirements by Program.

Prerequisites

The Master of Divinity or its academic equivalent must have been completed, with an overall 3.0 (B) average, within the previous five years at the Jesuit School or at a comparable theological center. Requests for exceptions will be considered by the Admissions Committee and the Academic Dean.

Advanced Standing

A student who has taken graduate courses in theology no longer than six years prior to registration may petition for advanced standing in the Jesuit School’s Th.M. program. This petition may be included with the Application for Admission, or it may be submitted during the first semester of study. No more than 6 units of advanced standing can be applied to the Th.M. program. These units must be from courses which cohere with the courses taken at the Jesuit School as a specialization. Petitions for advanced standing are available from the Assistant Academic Dean or from the Office of Admissions.

Master of Divinity Students at the Jesuit School

Work toward the Master of Theology degree may be begun by a Master of Divinity student at the Jesuit School when all course work for the M.Div. has been completed, even though the student may not yet have passed the Comprehensive Examination. Jesuit School students can apply six units of work done as an M.Div. student to a Th.M. degree, provided these six units are in the final two semesters of M.Div. studies and are not required for completion of the M.Div. degree. The letter from the academic advisor should testify to this (see “Application Requirements by Program/Th.M.”).

Degree Requirements

A student may expect to complete the Master of Theology degree in one academic year, but must complete the program within two calendar years from the date of initial registration in the program.

Program Focus

Students in the Master of Theology program will be expected to select a focus for their studies.

a. Students opting for a research Th.M. will focus their studies toward a deeper personal knowledge and scholarly advancement in some particular area of the theological disciplines. Such students will be expected to write a thesis.

b. Students opting for a pastoral Th.M. will focus their work toward the communication of the Christian Gospel. Pastoral Th.M. students may opt to do a project rather than a thesis.

Credit Distribution

1. Eighteen semester units of course work, all directly contributing to the student’s choice of specialization.
   Normally, courses should be at the 4000 level or above. A procedure for upgrading
   courses at the 2000 and 3000 level is outlined in the Guidelines for Advanced Master’s Degrees.
2. The student is responsible for registering for 6 semester units of research work which culminate
   in a thesis of at least 75 pages, directed by a full-time permanent member of the Jesuit School
   faculty. The thesis director should also serve as the student’s academic advisor for most of the
   degree program, including the coursework. The thesis research work may be in the form of a
   project. With the advice of the director, the student chooses one other competent reader for the
   thesis, and submits the names of the thesis director and second reader to the Academic Dean for
   approval. The grade for the thesis units will be the average of the evaluations given by the director
   and the other reader. In cases of serious discrepancy, the Academic Dean will appoint an
   additional reader.
3. A grade point average of at least 3.0 must be maintained for both course work and thesis; therefore,
   students normally will not take courses at this level on a pass/fail basis.
4. Language requirements may be assigned at the beginning of the program as appropriate to the
   area of specialization.