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MTS Degree Requirements

A stone slab with various languages etched into it

Master of Theological Studies - General Track Degree Requirements

Language

Students will take the equivalent of two semesters of Latin, Greek, or Hebrew. These will be taught by Loyola’s Classics department or, in the case of Hebrew, through affiliate faculty. Students with prior background in an ancient language can substitute another language with the permission of the Graduate Program Director.  Students may also fulfill their language requirements by passing the Language Proficiency Exam in an approved language.

Required Courses (6 Courses)

All students will take:

  • Old Testament Survey (TH 600)
  • New Testament Survey (TH 601)
  • Historical Theology I (Patristic-Medieval) (TH 621)
  • Historical Theology II (Early Modern-Modern) (TH 622)
  • Survey of Systematic Theology (TH 640)
  • Doing Lived Theology (TH 691)

Distribution Requirements (2 courses)

Take one course in Comparative Theology (TH 660-669) and one course in Ethics & Culture (TH 670-690).

Elective Courses (5 Courses)

Students should work with the Graduate Program Director to choose courses that fit with their long term goals. One of these elective courses may be a course that is co-listed as an upper level undergraduate TH course. MTS students will normally have extra requirements beyond those required of undergraduates.

Thesis (1 Course)

Students register for TH 800 to produce a thesis.

Master of Theological Studies - Research Track Degree Requirements

Language

Students will take the equivalent of four semesters of Latin, Greek, or Hebrew. These will be taught by Loyola’s Classics department or, in the case of Hebrew, through affiliate faculty. Students with prior background in an ancient language can substitute another language with the permission of the Graduate Program Director.  Students may also fulfill their language requirements by passing the Language Proficiency Exam in an approved.

Required Courses (5 Courses)

All students will take:

  • Old Testament Survey (TH 600)
  • New Testament Survey (TH 601)
  • Historical Theology I (Patristic-Medieval) (TH 621)
  • Historical Theology II (Early Modern-Modern) (TH 622)
  • Survey of Systematic Theology (TH 640)

Distribution Requirements (2 courses)

Take one course in Comparative Theology (TH 660-669) and one course in Ethics & Culture (TH 670-690).

Elective Courses (3 Courses)

Students should work with the Graduate Program Director to choose courses that fit with their long term goals. Most elective courses are cross-listed as upper level undergraduate theology courses. MTS students will have extra requirements beyond those required of undergraduates.

Thesis (2 Courses)

Students register for TH 800 and TH 801. They will engage in directed research with an advisor in order to produce a thesis.

Master of Theological Studies - Education Concentration Degree Requirements

Required courses (5 courses)

All students will take:

  • Old Testament Survey (TH 600)
  • New Testament Survey (TH 601)
  • Historical Theology I (Patristic-Medieval) (TH 621)
  • Historical Theology II (Reformation-Modern) (TH 622)
  • Survey of Systematic Theology (TH 640)
  • Ignatian Pedagogy Capstone (TH 803)

Distribution Requirements (2 courses)

Take one course in Comparative Theology (TH 600-TH669) and one Ethics & Culture course (TH 670-690).

Elective Courses in Theology (4 courses)

Students should work with the Program Director to choose courses that fit with their long-term goals. One of these elective courses may be a course that is co-listed as an upper level undergraduate TH course.

Education Concentration Courses (4 courses)

Choose four courses from the following:

  • Designing Inclusive and Engaging Learning Environments (ED 602)
  • Social Justice and Educational Technology (ED 609)
  • Philosophy, History, and Reforms in Education (ED 612)
  • Designing Effective Learning with Technology (ET 605)
  • Introduction to Special Education (SE 761)
  • Foundations of Education (TE 600)
  • Learning Sciences (TE 603)
  • Secondary Methods of Teaching (TE 612)

Comparing the Paths

  General Track Research Track Education Concentration
Old Testament Survey (TH 600)

New Testament Survey (TH 601)
Historical Theology I (TH 621)
Historical Theology II (TH 622)
Survey of Systematic Theology (TH 640)
One course in Comparative Theology (TH 600-669)
One course in Ethics & Culture (TH 670-690)
Elective
Elective
Elective
Elective  
Elective    
Two semesters of language    
Four semesters of language    
Thesis I (TH 800)  
Thesis II (TH 801)    
Doing Lived Theology (TH 691)    
Ignatian Pedagogy (TH 803)    
Four Education Courses