The Master of Theology Degree Program

The Master of Theology (ThM), facilitates the development of advanced competencies beyond that which is cultivated in other graduate-level programs. The program is designed to serve current and prospective pastors, teachers, scholars, and others who may benefit from advanced training in biblical and theological studies. Aims that accord with the program's purpose include preparation for Ph.D. studies, acquisition of proficiencies for teaching, sharpening for continued effective ministry, and focused research in a particular area of study.

At Western, the ThM program is shaped by a commitment to rigorous and integrative Christian scholarship done in service of the church. This is evident in the following items that distinguish the ThM program at Western:

• Academic Excellence. At every phase of the program, ThM students develop skills necessary to achieve a high level of academic success. To that end, our ThM program provides many opportunities for students to sharpen their critical thinking and writing skills through both coursework and independent research.
• Spiritual Vitality. Recognizing that biblical and theological research should take place primarily in the service of the church and its ministry in the world, the program continually challenges students to address the spiritual significance of their academic pursuits.
• Theological Integration. We understand the value of each of the various biblical and theological disciplines and, consequently, we encourage students to draw on the resources that each provides in their research and coursework. The ThM thesis is expected to reflect this commitment to interdisciplinary integration.

Along with the above items, the ThM program is unique in terms of its flexibility. The modular, intensive design of ThM seminars allows students to complete much of their coursework during occasional on-campus visits. In addition to this, the Western ThM allows students to customize the program to meet their specific academic and ministerial goals.

ThM seminars are offered within the five main areas:

• Systematic and biblical theology
• Historical theology
• Pastoral Theology
• New Testament
• Old Testament

Many other components contribute to the strength of Western’s ThM Program:

• ThM seminars are designed to maximize participation through paper presentations, critique, and content discussion, all of which will prepare the student for doctoral seminars.
• ThM Colloquia sharepen critical reading skills in the context of a learning community where relationships with professors and other like-minded students are cultivated.
• The writing of the ThM thesis joins a student with two faculty readers who advise and mentor throughout the thesis process: from research to rough draft to final publication.
• At the program's completion, students must successfully defend their thesis and pass comprehensive oral exams before a faculty committee.
• Participation at national and regional meetings of the Evangelical Theological Society (ETS) is encouraged. Our ThM students regularly read papers at regional ETS meetings, and some have done so at national ETS meetings.
• ThM students may also submit articles for potential publication on Western’s faculty website, Transform.
• Graduate fellowships are available at Western, linking ThM students and professors in close relationships and providing opportunities for students to teach, grade papers and exams, and carry out research.
• Western has a working relationship with the Jerusalem University College (JUC) in Israel. This allows interested students to join the Israel Study Tour, participating in the Geographical and Historical Setting of the Bible course at a ThM level for program credit.

Program learning outcomes:

• Students apply insights from multiple disciplines to particular theological problems.
• Students are conversant with a wide variety of theological traditions and committed to evangelical theology.
• Students demonstrate mastery of degree program content and their chosen subject by means of critical and independent thinking.
• Students demonstrate the ability to develop and execute a research plan that produces essays and monographs suitable for publication.
• Students engage academics holistically, embracing the synergy of scholarship and piety.
• Students orient their research in, with, and toward the church.

All students should exhibit evidence of a vital and growing spiritual life, teachability, and growing Christian integrity, especially regarding academic and scholarly honesty. Students should also be able to provide goals and motivation to match the ThM program's outcomes. A prospective Master of Theology student must hold either a three-year Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree or, in some instances, an academic Master of Arts (MA) degree. The specific requirements for each are the following:

Master of Divinity (MDiv)

Master of Arts (MA)

Of the 25 credit hours required for the ThM program, at least 13 must be completed through resident study coursework at Western Seminary’s Portland Campus. This normally looks like four to five one-week trips to the Portland campus to engage in classroom interaction while completing preparatory studies at home.

The ThM program includes a total of 25 credits and consists of Research Seminars (12 credits), Advanced Electives (8 credits), Research and Writing Methods (2 credits), ThM Colloquia (no credits), ThM thesis (3 credits), and Comprehensive Examination (no credits). Students may take up to two (2) credits of independent study. 

• ThM Seminars. Students participate in four ThM seminars (12 credits). Students are encouraged to choose seminars according to their academic interests and to focus on their areas of specialization as they complete required projects and assignments.
• Advanced Electives. Students select eight credits from advanced masters-level electives suitable for their program focus (with program director approval). A student may count additional ThM seminars (above and beyond the minimum requirement of four seminars) toward the eight advanced elective credits.
• Master of Theology Colloquia (RE604). Students participate in two semesters of ThM Colloquia during their program. The Colloquia are taken for non-credit with a Pass/No-Pass mark from the program director for participation.
• Research and Writing Methods (RE600). This course helps develop the skills needed to satisfy the thesis requirement and prepare the student for future research and scholarly writing.
• Master of Theology Thesis (RE602). Students complete a three-credit-hour thesis guided by two faculty mentors. The thesis seeks to make a worthy contribution to the fund of theological knowledge by exhibiting excellence in scholarly research, logical presentation, and literary quality.
• Comprehensive Examination. The examination includes both an oral defense of a student’s ThM thesis and an oral investigation of a student’s competency in his/her concentration courses.