2024-25 Academic Draft Catalog

Master of Arts in Theological Studies

Overview

The Master of Arts in Theological Studies (MATS) is a 45-credit-hour degree designed for the purpose of shaping students as scholars and is ideally suited for those wishing to pursue a vocation in teaching or writing. 

The MATS program utilizes a hybrid, cohort-based delivery model, comprised of regular synchronous video conferencing sessions, asynchronous online coursework, and two in-person BridgeWeek intensive experiences.

The MATS curriculum includes courses in Christian history and theology, biblical languages, biblical studies, and spiritual formation. The curriculum begins with core courses that lay a foundation in these academic disciplines. There are two tracks in the MATS program: 1) Biblical Studies and 2) Christian History and Theology. The required courses in each track will offer the opportunity for the MATS students to gain the necessary scholarly expertise in their field.

The teaching or research apprenticeship requirement offers a unique and important opportunity for MATS students to learn about pedagogy in theological studies, with real-life experience in doing academic research or classroom teaching. A mentor guides students through the teaching or research apprenticeship courses. The spiritual formation courses give the student exposure to the development of deep moral and spiritual values, spiritual disciplines, and self-awareness and self-management skills. The thesis provides the opportunity for the MATS student to learn advanced research and writing skills and potentially prepare for doctoral study.

Degree Outcomes

Students will be equipped and formed to think with clarity as they:

  • Engage Christian Scriptures in their historical and literary contexts using a variety of hermeneutical approaches and language resources in order to articulate them in faithful practices. 
  • Examine Christian historical and theological developments by investigating practices and beliefs of Christian traditions in order to enable faithful practices within contemporary contexts.

Students will be equipped and formed to live with integrity as they:

  • Deepen awareness of God, self, and others through formative practices in preparation for life-long personal and vocational flourishing. 

Students will be equipped and formed to serve with the heart of God as they:

  • Develop the necessary skills for teaching, writing, and research in the context of higher education, ministry, and public life. 

Admission Requirements

Applicants seeking admission to the MA in Theological Studies program must hold a four-year baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university, with a minimum GPA of 3.0. In addition, applicants must complete the following to be considered for admission to the program:

  • Portland Seminary application and application fee
  • One official transcript from each college/university attended
  • Resumé or Curriculum Vitae
  • Personal mission statement and statement of faith
  • Three letters of reference (as specified in admissions materials)
  • An interview may be required in some instances

Transfer Credit

Transfer of up to 23 hours of credit is allowed toward the MA in Theological Studies program from ATS-accredited graduate schools. Students must have earned a grade of B or better for a course to be considered for transfer. In addition, only courses taken elsewhere within 7 years of the date of matriculation to the MATS program will be considered for transfer. Transferability of credits earned at this institution and transferred to another is at the discretion of the receiving institution.

Residence Requirements

Residence, as described in this section of the catalog, does not refer to the time a student spends on campus. It refers to the portion of a degree program that students are required to earn with Portland Seminary, as compared to transfer credits and credit applied as advanced standing. With regard to the MATS program, students are required to complete half of the degree (22 semester hours) directly with Portland Seminary. A leave of absence is valid for up to one year, after which the student must reapply to the program. Reinstatement to the program after withdrawal requires Admissions Committee action and may subject the student to additional requirements for the degree.

Course Requirements

The MATS program is generally three years in length but can be completed in two years, with 45 semester hours of coursework required as a minimum for graduation. Of the total hours required for the degree, 9 are in prescribed biblical studies courses, 3 in biblical languages, 6 in Christian history and theology, 6 in spiritual formation and discipleship, and 9 in professional development (teaching apprenticeship and thesis). The remaining 12 hours are in a chosen concentration of either biblical studies or Christian history and theology.

Thesis/Research Paper

The MATS degree requires a thesis project: 

  • In consultation with the thesis director, each student will choose faculty advisors/readers. The primary thesis advisor is normally a member of the seminary faculty and has primary responsibility for overseeing thesis work. The second reader may be chosen from a wider field of qualified academics with expertise in the thesis topic. 
  • The primary advisor will work with the student to define the thesis topic or the nature and scope of the project. Theses should be 15,000-18,000 words in length.
  • A thesis requires a one-hour oral defense before the primary thesis advisor and the second reader. 

Graduation Requirements

In order to graduate with the MA in Theological Studies degree students must:

  • Satisfactorily complete a minimum of 45 semester hours with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above within five years after advancement to candidacy
  • Achieve no grade lower than a B in all core courses. If a grade of a B- or lower is received in a designated course, that course must be retaken (for more specific information, please refer to the student handbook)
  • Fully participate in all required ‘Bridgeweek’ intensives. 
  • Successfully complete each milestone.
  • Be recommended by the seminary faculty for graduation from Portland Seminary of George Fox University.

Other Degree Requirements

The MATS degree requires a thesis project.

Curriculum Plan

Complete the following:
This course introduces students to the literature of the Old Testament in its socio-historical, literary, and theological contexts. Students will explore the contents of the Old Testament, the history of ancient Israel, historical geography, and interpretive approaches that explore the literary features of the Old Testament and its historical and cultural contexts.
This course introduces students to the literature of the New Testament in its socio-historical, literary, and theological contexts. This course will discuss the history that leads up to the New Testament; the voices in early Christianities represented in the Gospels, Pauline, and other letters, and the churches and/or persons who first received them; as well as the voices of those who read them today. Besides introducing the general information on each book, this course will also highlight different themes in the books of the New Testament.
This course applies the interpretive skills developed in SBIS 510 and 530, with special attention on the exegetical issues of the designated Old Testament book or a special theme in the Old Testament. Prerequisite: SBIS 510 and 530 or permission of instructor. Additional course fees may be required.
Complete the following:
This course introduces a basic knowledge of biblical Hebrew and Greek with an emphasis on equipping the students to use commentaries, lexica, Bible software, and other language resources. Additional course fees may be required.
Complete the following:
"Examines historical and theological developments in the Christian tradition during the early period and the Middle Ages. "
Examines historical and theological developments in early modern Christianity, with particular attention to the Protestant and Catholic Reformations and the early Methodist movement.
Complete the following:
This course is facilitated by a Formation Guide and is designed to provide students an opportunity to develop awareness of self-in-connection as a pathway to explore the triune God’s presence in their preparation for vocational flourishing. Students will reflect critically and constructively on their identity, spiritual histories, sociocultural contexts of formation, and sites of (un)belonging. Reflective practices and discernment skills will help students sift through their interior and exterior experiences to explore their origin and the movement of the Spirit for an increased awareness of shared humanity as a sacred site of God’s transforming work in the world. Additional course fees may be required.
A Formation Guide facilitates this course and invites students to deepen their awareness of God and self through the prayer practices of the Great Tradition of the Church. Students will explore the contemplative, liturgical, and sacramental dimensions of the Christian faith as pathways for experiencing the sacred in the ordinary. Finally, students will engage with the rich heritage of historic Christian spirituality, drawing insights from Scripture and the Mystics from around the world and across the centuries to consider how their images of God can expand and enrich a life of prayer.
Complete the following:
This course combines instruction in pedagogy for higher education paired with a teaching internship in a higher-ed setting and/or a research apprenticeship with a faculty member. Prerequisite: students will be placed in a class that they have previously taken.
This course is the second part of the sequence. It combines instruction in pedagogy for higher education paired with a teaching internship in a higher-ed setting and/or a research apprenticeship with a faculty member. Prerequisite: SPDV 570.
First semester of thesis. The MATS degree requires a thesis project. Each thesis student will work with a thesis advisor from the seminary faculty or a broader circle. The goal of this first semester of thesis is to produce the first half of the thesis. Pass/No Pass.
Second semester of thesis. The MATS degree requires a thesis project. In addition to their thesis advisor, each student will be assigned a second reader who may be drawn from the seminary faculty or a broader circle. The goal of the second semester of thesis is to finalize and defend the thesis. Pass/No Pass. Prerequisite: SPDV 580. First semester of research/thesis. Pass/No Pass.

MATS Concentration Courses (12 credit hours)

MATS students must complete one of the following concentration areas (12 hours).
Choose one of the following:
Complete the following:
Biblical Studies Courses (6 credit hours)
This course introduces a variety of analytical and critical approaches, from the development of biblical exegesis and hermeneutics in early Jewish and Christian tradition to modern-day readings of the Bible. Topics include: textual witnesses, reception history, issues of translation, historical-criticism, reader-response criticism, canonical analysis; postcolonial, feminist, womanist, intersectional, and other minority readings. Additional course fees may be required.
This course applies the interpretive skills developed in SBIS 520 and 530, with special attention on the exegetical issues of the designated New Testament book or a special theme in the New Testament. Prerequisite: SBIS 520 and 530 or permission of instructor.
Biblical Languages Courses (6 credit hours)
This course is the first of a two-course sequence in Biblical Hebrew language. Introduces Hebrew grammar and syntax and includes reading and analysis of selected Old Testament texts, and introduction to digital and print resources, such as grammars, lexicons and biblical language software.
This course is the second of a two-course sequence in Biblical Hebrew language. Students continue to develop mastery of Biblical Hebrew morphology and syntax, primarily through reading selected Old Testament texts. Prerequisite: SLAN 510.
OR
This course is the first of a two-course sequence in Koine Greek language. Introduces Greek grammar and syntax and includes reading and analysis of selected New Testament and Septuagint texts, and introduction to digital and print resources, such as grammars, lexicons and biblical language software.
This course is the second of a two-course sequence in Koine Greek language. Students continue to develop mastery of Greek morphology and syntax, primarily through reading selected New Testament and Septuagint texts. Prerequisite: SLAN 530.
Complete the following:
This course offers a comprehensive examination of how Christian beliefs, practices, and traditions intersect with, respond to, and influence contemporary societal, cultural, and global trends. Through a combination of theological, historical, sociological, and anthropological perspectives, students will gain a deeper understanding of the complex interplay between Christian faith and the ever-changing tapestry of human cultures.
Examines how Christianity developed in North America from the 15th to the 21st centuries. Special attention will be paid to the role of evangelicalism in American churches, the creative ways that Americans contextualize Christianity, and the contributions that American religious innovators make to global theological conversations.
Discusses the historical development and contemporary global expressions of core Christian beliefs and their relation to Christian practices. The course enables a well-informed, lifelong creative engagement with theology, whether through studying, teaching, preaching, writing, or counseling.
Examines key theories, methods, and concepts in Christian ethics. Discusses select historical sources influential in the development of theological ethics, with particular attention to its Protestant expressions. Evaluates major contemporary issues and competing moral claims in Christian ethics.