MASTER OF ARTS (M.A.)
In accordance with the specific mission and core values of Redeemer Seminary, the Master of Arts degree provides a basic understanding of theological disciplines for general educational purposes and is designed to train men and women preparing to serve Christ in occupations other than ordained ministry.
A student who holds a baccalaureate degree from an approved institution receives the degree of Master of Arts (M.A.) on the completion of the prescribed program of study. The program requires at least two years of full-time study for completion.
This program builds on basic biblical, theological, and historical foundations. These are integrated and sharpened through active involvement in an area of concentration chosen by the student, such as Biblical Counseling, Historical Theological Studies, or World and Urban Missions.
Requirements for the Degree
Twelve credit hours during a semester, or three credit hours during the winter term, is the minimum program for a full-time student. No student may take more than 20 credit hours during a semester without the permission of the faculty. Not more than five credit hours may be taken during the winter term.
No student will be granted a degree whose cumulative academic average at the completion of the program is lower than 1.80. The degree shall be granted only to persons enrolled at Redeemer at the time of the completion of their program of study. A student who has completed requirements by the end of the winter term of the year of graduation may receive the degree in absentia.
Students should be aware that many of the M.A. courses are offered in the evening hours.
The total requirements are: 30-32 Hours Core Courses Plus 23-25 Hours Electives and a Summative Evaluation Examination for a total of 56 credit hours.
All students must take the following core courses regardless of concentration, plus the electives:
- OT 131 Biblical Theology I 3 hrs
- OT 141 Old Testament for Ministry 3 hrs
- NT 133 Biblical Theology II 3 hrs
- NT 141 New Testament for Ministry 3 hrs
- CH 311 Reformation Church History 3 hrs
- CH 211 Ancient Church History 2 Hrs or
- CH 323 Modern Age Church History 4 Hrs
- ST 101 Intro to Systematic Theology 2 hrs
- ST 533 Westminster Standards 2 hrs
- AP 101 Introduction to Apologetics 3 hrs
- PT 173 Biblical Interpretation 3 hrs
- PTC 261 Human Personality 3 hrs
M.A. Core Required Courses 30-32 hrs
M.A. Electives See Elective Options 24-26 hrs
M.A. Summative Evaluation 1 hr
Total Program Requirements: M.A. Total Core + Electives + Summative Evaluations = 56 hrsThe M.A. Summative Evaluation Experience
To provide students in the various M.A. programs with an opportunity to review and draw into a comprehensive unity the material of the different courses in the curriculum, there will be a concluding examination that allows for a summative evaluation of the students’ total program. For all programs, this will involve an “open book” take-home examination to be completed within 24 hours in the spring semester of a student’s final year. Students finishing their course work by the end of December or January, prior to May graduation, will take the exam in the fall semester.
The summative examination involves three questions, one from each of three areas of study that the student chooses from six areas: Old Testament, New Testament, Hermeneutics, Systematic Theology, Apologetics, and Church History The examination must be typed (double-spaced) and each question answered separately in two to four pages. The examinations will be distributed on the Thursday of the sixth full week of the spring semester and are to be returned by the end of the next day (4:30 p.m. on Friday of the sixth full week of classes).
This summative examination will count for one semester hour of credit (taking the place of one hour of elective credit in the current curriculum). It will be graded on a Pass/Fail basis. If a student should fail, a petition for a retake examination within a three-week period may be considered. The questions of the summative examination aim at giving students the opportunity to demonstrate that they can apply the knowledge acquired in the M.A. programs. Research will not be necessary for answering these questions. Rather, the questions will be designed to allow the student to draw upon the course work here. Given that it is an “open book” examination, students may make use of any research materials that they see fit. The examination is administered through the Academic Affairs Office. A student may also request to have a suitable alternative project substitute for the summative examination, subject to review by the faculty.
