The School of Theology offers three distinct master of arts degrees: the Master of Arts in Theology, the Master of Arts in Theology and Ministry, and the Master of Arts in Christian Leadership.

MATAnchor 

MASTER OF ARTS IN THEOLOGY 

Purpose 

The Master of Arts in Theology program in its various configurations seeks to accomplish the following purposes:

1. To cultivate competent skills in the study and interpretation of the Word of God;
2. To develop an understanding of theology and fashion a systematic theological framework, informing both the ethics of personal and social behavior and the practice of ministry;
3. To understand the origin and growth of the Christian tradition and to appreciate its richness and diversity;
4. To promote growth in Christian maturity and ministry in the church and in the world.

Students enter the Master of Arts in Theology program at Fuller with a variety of personal and career goals. A staff of academic advisors is available to aid in the selection of programs and courses.

Admission Requirements 

General standards of admission to Fuller Theological Seminary may be found in the Admissions section of this catalog. To be admitted to the MA in Theology program, applicants must have been awarded either a bachelor's or master's degree from an accredited institution before the starting date of the desired quarter of entry. Regular admission requires at least a 2.7 cumulative cumulative grade point average in all postsecondary work; students with a lower GPA may be considered for admission on probation. Students admitted on probation are subject to certain limitations during their first 48 units of course work at Fuller.

Residence Requirements and Transfer Credit 

A minimum of 48 quarter units must be earned at Fuller Seminary. Requests for transfer of credit for approved graduate studies done at an institution accredited by The Association of Theological Schools or a recognized regional or international accrediting agency will be evaluated on an individual basis by the Academic Advising Office. This may include a maximum of 48 quarter hours of graduate theological and biblical studies. Nontheological studies are normally not considered for transfer credit. Course work taken in a nonreligious setting which might be considered as parallel to course work in the Fuller curriculum may be considered on an individual basis if it is appropriate to the field of concentration, approved by the School of Theology academic affairs committee, and integrated through a 4-unit directed study.

Distance Learning 

A Master of Arts in Theology program may include up to twelve courses (48 units) of distance learning coursework, including both Individualized Distance Learning (correspondence courses) and online courses. This may include no more than four courses (16 units) of Individualized Distance Learning (IDL) courses, with no more than two IDL courses per department (where department means course prefix, except that NE/NS/NT are all New Testament, and ST/TH are both Theology).

Time Limit for Completion of Degrees 

In order to ensure that a degree, when granted, represents education that is current and reasonably focused (not acquired a little at a time over an unreasonably long period), all credit applied to the degree must be earned within a certain period of time. For the Master of Arts in Theology degree at Fuller, this period has been set at ten years. This includes all credit earned elsewhere and applied to the degree, as well as all credit earned at Fuller.

Degree Requirements 

Flexibility marks the Master of Arts in Theology program in the School of Theology at Fuller. The degree requirements can be completed in two years of full-time study, although many elect to earn the degree over an extended period of time through part-time study. All requirements for the Master of Arts in Theology may be completed at several locations, including Irvine, Seattle, Menlo Park, Sacramento, Phoenix, Colorado Springs, and Houston. Courses offered at any Fuller Regional Campus site may be counted toward the degree, but at least 48 units must be completed at the Pasadena campus or one of the areas listed above.

In general, the Master of Arts in Theology degree requires:

1. A total of 24 courses (96 quarter units);
2. A minimum of 12 courses (48 quarter units) earned at Fuller Theological Seminary.

Degree Outline 

Areas of Emphasis 

At Fuller, an emphasis consists of a minimum of five elective courses grouped around a particular area of interest. By choosing an emphasis, students will be guided to courses in the three schools taught by faculty doing research on topics relevant to the emphasis area. Please note that an area of emphases is a suggested guideline for selecting courses, not a curricular requirement, and is not officially recorded or identified on transcripts or diplomas.

Areas of emphasis recommended for the MA in Theology include:

• Biblical Studies and Theology
• Christian Ethics
• Theology and the Arts
• Ancient Near Eastern Languages and Literature

MATMAnchor 

MASTER OF ARTS IN THEOLOGY AND MINISTRY 

The Master of Arts in Theology and Ministry degree is designed for people who wish to develop a deeper biblical and theological understanding, spiritual formation, and cultural literacy for ministry in church, parachurch or nonprofit organizations, and other vocational settings.

This degree is a specialized ministry program designed for people who are exploring the possibility that they are gifted for and called to the service of God in multiple areas. One of them is the call to be a pastor or as part of a pastoral staff with a church or denomination that does not require the Master of Divinity degree as a qualification for ordained ministry. The curriculum covers the basic areas of theology, biblical studies and ministry, which combined with supervised ministry in a local church, promises to be especially effective in the preparation of students for pastoral ministry in today's world.

Admission Requirements 

General standards for admission to Fuller Seminary may be found in the Admissions section of this catalog. To be admitted to the MA in Theology and Ministry  program, applicants must have been awarded either a bachelor's of master's degree from an accredited institution before the starting date of the desired quarter of entry. Regular admission requires at least a 2.7 cumulative cumulative grade point average in all postsecondary work; students with a lower GPA may be considered for admission on probation. Applicants without an accredited bachelor's degree must meet  special requirements and will be considered for admission on probation on an individual basis. Students admitted on probation are subject to certain limitations during their first 48 units of course work at Fuller.

Residence Requirements and Transfer Credit 

A minimum of 48 quarter units must be earned at Fuller Seminary. Requests for transfer of credit for approved graduate studies done at an institution accredited by The Association of Theological Schools or a recognized regional or international accrediting agency will be evaluated on an individual basis by the Academic Advising Office. This may include a maximum of 48 quarter hours of graduate theological and biblical studies. Nontheological studies are normally not considered for transfer credit. Course work taken in a nonreligious setting which might be considered as parallel to course work in the Fuller curriculum may be considered on an individual basis if it is appropriate to the field of concentration, approved by the School of Theology academic affairs committee, and integrated through a 4-unit directed study.

Distance Learning 

An MA in Theology and Ministry program may include up to twelve courses (48 units) of distance learning coursework, including both Individualized Distance Learning (correspondence courses) and online courses. This may include no more than four courses (16 units) of Individualized Distance Learning (IDL) courses, with no more than two IDL courses per department (where department means course prefix, except that NE/NS/NT are all New Testament, and ST/TH are both Theology).

Time Limit for Completion of Degrees 

In order to ensure that a degree, when granted, represents education that is current and reasonably focused (not acquired a little at a time over an unreasonably long period), all credit applied to the degree must be earned within a certain period of time. For the Master of Arts in Theology degree at Fuller, this period has been set at ten years. This includes all credit earned elsewhere and applied to the degree, as well as all credit earned at Fuller.

Degree Requirements 

Flexibility marks the Master of Arts in Theology and Ministry program in the School of Theology at Fuller. The degree requirements can be completed in two years of full-time study, although many elect to earn the degree over an extended period of time through part-time study. All requirements for the Master of Arts in Theology may be completed at several locations, including Irvine, Seattle, Menlo Park, Sacramento, Phoenix, Colorado Springs, and Houston. Courses offered at any Fuller Regional Campus site may be counted toward the degree, but at least 48 units must be completed at the Pasadena campus or one of the areas listed above.

In general, the Master of Arts in Theology and Ministry degree requires:

1. A total of 24 courses (96 quarter units);
2. A minimum of 12 courses (48 quarter units) earned at Fuller Theological Seminary.

Degree Outline 

Areas of Emphasis 

At Fuller, an emphasis consists of a minimum of five elective courses grouped around a particular area of interest. By choosing an emphasis, students will be guided to courses in the three schools taught by faculty doing research on topics relevant to the emphasis area. Please note that an area of emphases is a suggested guideline for selecting courses, not a curricular requirement, and is not officially recorded or identified on transcripts or diplomas.

Areas of emphasis recommended for the MA in Theology and Ministry include:

• Worship, Theology, and the Arts
• Youth, Family, and Culture
• Recovery Ministries

MACLAnchor 

MASTER OF ARTS IN CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP 

The Master of Arts in Christian Leadership degree is a program designed to provide graduate theological education for women and men called to nonordained leadership roles. It seeks to develop lay leadership informed both theologically and practically and provides an opportunity for those who are currently in service to enhance their ministry and leadership skills.

This degree is designed to give lay leaders a strong biblical, theological and ministry foundation while providing areas of specialized study for particular areas of ministry.

Admission Requirements 

General standards for admission to Fuller Seminary may be found in the Admissions section of this catalog. To be admitted to the MA in Christian Leadership program, applicants must have been awarded either a bachelor's of master's degree from an accredited institution before the starting date of the desired quarter of entry.  Regular admission requires at least a 2.7 cumulative cumulative grade point average in all postsecondary work; students with a lower GPA may be considered for admission on probation. Applicants without an accredited bachelor's degree must meet  special requirements and will be considered for admission on probation on an individual basis. Students admitted on probation are subject to certain limitations during their first 48 units of course work at Fuller.

Residence Requirements and Transfer Credit 

A minimum of 48 quarter units must be earned at Fuller Seminary. Requests for transfer of credit for approved graduate studies done at an institution accredited by The Association of Theological Schools or a recognized regional or international accrediting agency will be evaluated on an individual basis by the Academic Advising Office. This may include a maximum of 48 quarter hours of graduate theological and biblical studies. Nontheological studies are normally not considered for transfer credit. Course work taken in a nonreligious setting which might be considered as parallel to course work in the Fuller curriculum may be considered on an individual basis if it is appropriate to the field of concentration, approved by the School of Theology academic affairs committee, and integrated through a 4-unit directed study.

Distance Learning 

An MA in Christian Leadership program may include up to nine courses (36 units) of distance learning coursework, including both Individualized Distance Learning (correspondence courses) and online courses. This may include no more than four courses (16 units) of Individualized Distance Learning (IDL) courses, with no more than two IDL courses per department (where department means course prefix, except that NE/NS/NT are all New Testament, and ST/TH are both Theology).

Time Limit for Completion of Degrees 

In order to ensure that a degree, when granted, represents education that is current and reasonably focused (not acquired a little at a time over an unreasonably long period), all credit applied to the degree must be earned within a certain period of time. For the Master of Arts in Christian Leadership degree at Fuller, this period has been set at ten years. This includes all credit earned elsewhere and applied to the degree, as well as all credit earned at Fuller.

Degree Requirements 

Flexibility marks the MA in Christian Leadership program. The degree requirements can be completed in two years of full-time study, although many elect to earn the degree over an extended period of time through part-time study. All requirements for the MA in Christian Leadership may be completed at several locations, including Irvine, Seattle, Menlo Park, Sacramento, Phoenix, Colorado Springs, and Houston. Courses offered at any Fuller Regional Campus site may be counted toward the degree, but at least 48 units must be completed at the Pasadena campus or one of the areas listed above.

In general, the Master of Arts in Christian Leadership degree requires:

1. A total of 18 courses (72 quarter units);
2. A minimum of 12 courses (48 quarter units) earned at Fuller Theological Seminary

Degree Outline 

Areas of Emphasis 

At Fuller, an emphasis consists of a minimum of five elective courses grouped around a particular area of interest. By choosing an emphasis, students will be guided to courses in the three schools taught by faculty doing research on topics relevant to the emphasis area. Please note that an area of emphases is a suggested guideline for selecting courses, not a curricular requirement, and is not officially recorded or identified on transcripts or diplomas.

Areas of emphasis recommended for the MA in Christian Leadership include:

• Worship, Theology, and the Arts
• Youth, Family, and Culture
• Recovery Ministries