Master of Theology Aims of the Program THE MASTER OF THEOLOGY (THM) IS DESIGNED FOR PERSONS ALREADY HOLDING THE MDIV DEGREE OR ITS EQUIVALENT WHO WISH TO DEEPEN THEIR MASTERY OF ONE AREA OR DISCIPLINE OF THEOLOGICAL STUDY THROUGH REFLECTION, RESEARCH, AND WRITING FOR THE SERVICE OF THE CHURCH AND THE ACADEMY.
The distinctive element of Columbia’s ThM program is the opportunity to work closely with faculty mentors in research of mutual interest. Students pursue a one-year course of full-time study that includes coursework in relevant curricular areas; a seminar in research methods; close work with a faculty mentor; the production of a publishable research thesis project; and, by application to the faculty, the opportunity to serve as a research or teaching assistant. Once the student has concluded the degree program, the student is expected to be able to: • Demonstrate advanced research methodology
and scholarship in the production of a thesis. • Demonstrate an academic understanding in a focused area of study. • Demonstrate competency in teaching in a specific field of study, in the case of students accepted for teaching assistantships. These are the student learning outcomes for the Master of Theology degree program.
Components of the Program
Students must earn at least 15 credit hours in coursework, in addition to the 15 credit hours for the ThM thesis preparation (reading and writing) in the area of specialization.
ThM students participate in an intensive one-week Research Methods Seminar in the late summer and another intensive, the ThM Colloquium, in the spring with other students in the program. The intensive late summer session focuses on research methods, and the fall focuses on research and the beginning of thesis writing. During the spring semester, students present and discuss work they are doing on their thesis. Students complete a ThM thesis. The thesis is worth 9 semester hours of credit, 3 credit hours for focused reading and research, 3 credit hours for writing a literature review and 3 credit hours for writing the thesis. The progress of the writing and the provisional and final approval of the thesis are overseen by the student’s advisor and the ThM director in consultation with the Academic Affairs Office. SUMMER (REGISTERED AS FALL)
Research Methods Seminar (3 credits) (August 16-20, 2021) FALL TERM
Thesis research (3 credits) Literature review (3 credits) 2 electives (6 credits) JANUARY TERM
1 elective (3 credits) SPRING TERM
Thesis writing (3 credits) 2 electives (6 credits) ThM Colloquium (3 credits)
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