Christian Thought M.A.

Stephen T. Franklin, Ph.D., Coordinator

The purpose of the Master of Arts in Christian Thought (MACT) is two-fold. First to prepare men and women for further study leading to the doctorate, and where these men and women, after obtaining their doctorate would look forward to serving Christ and his church by teaching at the university level.

The MACT scholar takes seven theology courses, but in addition to the regular content that all students receive, the MACT scholar takes an associated tutorial with the professor of each of the seven courses. The tutorial provides individual guidance in gaining an in-depth acquaintance with the scholarly literature in that area, in the methods and research in that area, and careful mentoring in developing the hypothesis, organizing and presenting that research, and writing the research paper.

In addition, the student will teach one or two courses in the School of Theology and Christian Ministry.

46 hours

Required:

THEO 606 - Introduction to Theological Research
THEO 694 - Teaching Theology
THEO 695 - Tutorial (7 hours)
THEO 696 - Thesis Research
THEO 699 - Thesis
BLIT electives (6 hours)

THEO electives (21 hours)

Note:

A cumulative GPA of 3.5 is required for graduation from the program, and no course counting toward graduation may carry a grade of less than a B-.

Before registering for classes, the MACT scholar must consult with the Program Director about the choice of classes and the scholar’s academic and ministerial goals. After a thesis advisor has been selected and approved, the MACT scholar will consult with the thesis advisor.

The normal time for selecting a thesis advisor and presenting the first proposal for a thesis topic will be at the end of the second semester and before beginning the first Thesis Research class.

Graduation Requirements

To graduate, the MACT student must:

Successfully complete 46 hours of coursework that meets the given curriculum matrix. A course may be repeated one time if it carries a different subtitle.
Earn a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5 or better.
Successfully teach at least one course in the School of Theology and Christian Ministry.

Time Limits

The student is allowed two calendar years to complete the program. Extensions of this time limit may be granted in the cases of serious illness or similar matters, but such grants are rare and not easily granted. Extensions can also be made on a semester-by-semester basis in order to complete the thesis. Extensions can be granted by the Program Director, the Director of Graduate Studies in Theology, or the Dean of the School of Theology. The total time, including extensions, may not exceed four calendar years starting from the time the student registers for the first courses as a MACT scholar.