Master of Theology (ThM)

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Overview

This course of study expands and deepens a student’s abilities in ministry. It is designed for students who possess a Master of Divinity degree (or its equivalent) to help them take their learning to a higher level.

It can be used as a terminal degree, or it can be used as a transitional degree for those wishing to pursue additional graduate studies, particularly a PhD program in religion or theology.

Objectives

You will learn to:

• Organize exegetical, historical, and theological data into a consistent and coherent theology.
• Articulate confessional Reformed theology on biblical-exegetical, historical, and theological grounds.
• Respond with biblical discernment to contemporary trends in biblical interpretation and apply Reformed theology to contemporary cultural issues that impact the church today.
• Demonstrate academic competence in the chosen field of study, including proficiency in the methods and tools of theological research and writing by conducting graduate-level research and evidencing skills of critical analysis.
• Demonstrate leadership competencies in academic environments.

Admission Requirements

Applications for admission to the ThM degree program at PRTS are considered on a rolling basis (approximately once a month). Although there are no deadlines for the ThM application, it is recommended that applications be received by the Admission Office by May 1 for the fall semester and by September 1 for the spring semester. Applications received after either of these dates will be considered, but we cannot ensure that immigration forms for international students will be satisfactorily processed should the applicant be admitted.

All ThM applicants must submit an online application form; this includes the following:

• Evidence of the possession of a Master of Divinity Degree or its equivalent (evidenced by official transcripts, which indicate successful completion of biblical languages [Hebrew and Greek]). If, at the time of application, the applicant has not completed his previous degree work, any admission to PRTS would be conditional on the completion of the degree. Evidence of this degree should be presented prior to enrolling in any ThM coursework. Official transcripts of all academic work beyond high school must be sent directly to the seminary; they are not to come from the applicant unless supplied in sealed envelopes. If more than one college or institution was attended, transcripts from each institution must be sent.
• Application essays: a short essay (200–400 words) explaining why they are applying to PRTS; a short essay (300-500 words) explaining the applicant’s conversion and call.
• An academic writing sample, preferably a research paper previously submitted in a graduate-level course. This sample may be a previously written paper, article, or essay that demonstrates an ability to construct, in English, a graduate-level paper.
• Two recommendations: an ecclesiastical recommendation from the pastor or consistory (i.e., session or council) of the church of which the applicant is a member, and an academic recommendation from a professor (preferably in the area specified as the major for the ThM degree), under whose guidance the applicant has pursued studies. The required forms are found in the online application.
• If applying to study in conjunction with a global partner, a recommendation is required from the ThM program director of the global partner.
• TOEFL or IELTS results. All ESL (English as a Second Language) students are required to submit their TOEFL or IELTS score. PRTS requires a minimum of 85 on the internet-based TOEFL. The IELTS equivalent required is 6.5. The PRTS reporting code is 0368.
• Application fee of $30. The application fee is non-refundable.

Residency Requirement

At least one-half of the coursework towards the ThM must be completed through on-campus classes offered at the Grand Rapids campus or any of the global campuses (modular or intensive-style courses offered at any campus qualify as on-campus courses). As many of the ThM courses are offered via modular format (usually intensive week-long courses), this means the accepted ThM student does not have to relocate to complete the ThM program. Completion of the program will require, however, a number of week-long trips back and forth to a campus where the ThM is offered (whether this is the Grand Rapids campus or another global campus).

Up to one-half of the coursework may be completed through a combination of: 1) live-streamed courses (i.e., courses that virtually “meet” synchronously with on-campus classes); 2) directed studies (a maximum of one course can be taken as directed study); or 3) transfer of credit from another institution.

Areas of Concentration

ThM students will choose a concentration in one of three areas:

• Biblical Studies
• Historical Theology
• Systematic Theology

Program Requirements and Time-frame of Completion

The ThM is composed of 30 credits, a final comprehensive examination (see below), and a spiritual formation summative exercise (see below). All credit hours, the comprehensive exam, and spiritual formation exercise must be completed within six (6) years of matriculation; any exception must be approved by the academic dean and program director.

The ThM degree can be earned following one of two tracks: either the classes-only track or the classes-plus-thesis track. Both tracks of the ThM require a total of 30 credits; the requirements for each track are as follows:

Classes-only Track (30 Credits)

The classes-only track of the ThM requires the following for completion:

• Research Methodology course – 3 credits
• At least 18 credits of coursework (six courses) selected from courses offered in the chosen concentration
• Up to 9 credits of coursework (three courses) selected from courses offered outside of the chosen concentration
• Minimum GPA of 3.0
• Successful completion and passing of the comprehensive exam at the end of the program.
• Completion of the program within six years of matriculation.

Classes-plus-thesis Track (30 Credits)

The classes-plus-thesis track of the ThM requires the following for completion:

• Research Methodology course – 3 credits
• At least 15 credits of coursework (five courses) selected from courses offered in the chosen concentration
• Up to 6 credits of coursework (two courses) selected from courses offered outside of the chosen concentration
• Completion of a six-credit thesis (enrolled in the final semester of the program)
• Minimum GPA of 3.0
• Successful completion and passing of the comprehensive exam at the end of the program.
• Completion of the program within six years of matriculation.

 

NB: All accepted ThM students are first admitted to the classes-only track of the ThM. If the student desires during the program to pursue a ThM by the classes-plus-thesis track, the student may apply to the faculty for permission to do so providing the successful completion of the Research Methodology course and at least one other three-credit ThM course. See the “Thesis Requirements” section below for more information.

Spiritual Formation

Read 2 books and submit 2 assignments: All ThM students will be required to complete two capstone projects and two short readings. The first project will be completed halfway through a student’s course of study. It will consist of two main questions:

1. Define piety and spirituality from a Scriptural perspective (ca. 800 words).
2. Define piety and spirituality from a Reformed theological perspective (ca. 800 words).

Prior to the completion of studies and second capstone project, students will be required to read: (1) Joel R. Beeke, Piety: The Heartbeat of Reformed Theology. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2015. (37 pages) and (2) Joel R. Beeke and Stephen G. Myers, Reformed Piety: Covenantal and Experiential. Darlington: Evangelical Press Books, 2019. (40 pages). Both books are available on Populi.

The second capstone project will be completed at the conclusion of the student’s study. This project will be “to describe your spiritual formation during your ThM studies, particularly highlighting growth/formation in experiential knowledge and godly character (1000 words).”

For any questions about the Spiritual Formation requirement, please contact Mr. Isaac Bronkema.

Comprehensive Exam

Each ThM student must take a comprehensive examination at the end of the program. This comprehensive exam will focus primarily on the student’s particular concentration. Deadlines for passing the comprehensive examination are stipulated in the academic calendar. Please contact the registrar for details of this exam.

Thesis Requirements

Admission to the thesis-track

1. All students accepted into the ThM program are accepted into the course-based track of the ThM. To apply to enter the thesis-track of the ThM, the student must successfully complete the Research Methodology course and at least one other course within their concentration with a grade of “B” or higher.
2. The student applies to the thesis-track by submitting a brief pro­posal of the the­sis topic (approximately five [5] pages in length, not including the bibliography). This proposal must be endorsed by a professor in the student’s area of concentration and then submitted to the ThM program director. This initial proposal must address the following elements:
   • What — a concise statement of the proposition. What is the thesis (approx. 50 words)? What does the thesis intend to accomplish (approx. 500 words)?
   • Why — a statement of the problem/need. Why is the thesis necessary (approx. 500 words)?
   • How — a synopsis of the methodology that will be employed. How will the propositions/arguments made in the thesis be developed (approx. 500 words)?
   • Who — a working bibliography of relevant literature. Who will the thesis interact with (approx. 20 – 30 bibliographical references)?
3. The ThM program director will convene a three-member jury to review the proposal; the jury may approve or decline the proposal with or without comment. If the initial pro­posal is accepted by the jury, the reg­is­trar and academic dean will be informed and the stu­dent will then be enrolled in the 6-credit the­sis; the student will be assigned a the­sis advi­sor by the academic dean in consultation with the jury. In most cases, this enrollment in the 6-credit thesis will occur in the student’s final semester. Finan­cial oblig­a­tions for enroll­ment in the the­sis will be treated as enroll­ment in any other course.

Completing the thesis

1. The stu­dent must present his or her thoughts and research in an accept­able style and for­mat. The for­mat­ting is accord­ing to Kate L. Tura­bian: A Man­ual for Writ­ers of Term Papers, The­ses, and Dis­ser­ta­tions (9^th ed.).
2. The stu­dent will next present to the thesis advisor a 10-page prospec­tus of the proposed 100-200 page the­sis, which must include: jus­ti­fi­ca­tion of the the­sis, delim­i­ta­tions, review of lit­er­a­ture rel­e­vant to the topic, a syn­op­sis of chap­ter devel­op­ment detail­ing the over­all method­ol­ogy, and an out­line of the the­sis. Much of this can serve as intro­duc­tory mate­r­ial for the final draft.
3. The stu­dent should sub­mit chap­ters to his or her advi­sor as they are com­pleted for input and pos­si­ble revisions.
4. When all chapters have been reviewed by the advisor and revised by the student, the student will submit a complete draft of the thesis in elec­tronic for­mat (MS Word) that will be given to a second reader who is selected by the thesis advisor. The advisor will review the second reader’s comments and determine whether additional revisions are necessary before submission is made to the librarian.
5. After the thesis is submitted to the librarian, it will be proofed according to Turabian 9^th edition requirements. Be sure to read the thesis submission guidelines. Necessary corrections will be submitted back to the student.
6. Once final edits/corrections are made, the thesis advisor will submit the final grade to the registrar. The librarian will have two bound copies made, one for the student (courtesy of the seminary) and one for the library collection. Additional copies may be purchased.

Deadlines for graduation and conferral of degree

1. The stu­dent must sub­mit the 100–200 page the­sis to his or her faculty advisor by the last Monday in September (for a December conferral of the degree) or by the first Mon­day in Feb­ru­ary (for a May graduation).
2. The final copy must be pre­sented to the reg­is­trar and head librar­ian no later than the last Monday in November (for a December conferral of the degree) or the first Mon­day in April (for a May grad­u­a­tion).
3. Fail­ure to reach either of the above two dead­lines will result in a delay of the student’s degree conferral or graduation.

Tuition and Fees

The following applies to the Grand Rapids campus. For tuition and fee structures for other global campuses, please contact a representative from that campus.

• Application for admission (non-refundable): $30.00
• Enrollment deposit: $100.00 (applied to tuition)
• Tuition: $275.00 per credit
• Late registration fee: 5% of total semester tuition cost
• Distance Education fee: $75.00 per course that is taken from a distance
• Graduation fee: $75.00