Online Religious Studies MA Programs*
St. John’s University School of Theology, Collegeville, Minnesota
http://www.csbsju.edu/sot
At Saint John's, we understand that God calls each person to serve in a unique way. We offer degrees to students preparing for all kinds of ministry and service to the church, from parish or pastoral ministry to teaching to further academic study. To help meet the needs of individuals whoare not able to come to campus, Saint John's brings people together in innovative learning environments inonline coursework.
The Master of Divinity (78 credits) Lay Ministry Candidates or Priesthood Candidates
A comprehensive preparation is provided for church leadership, hospital chaplaincy, social ministry, teaching, and other service in the church and society. The program guides students through discernment of their call to ministry, their gifts, and pathways to ministry.
Master of Arts in Theology (42 credits)
The MA in Theology prepares students to teach, to serve in church and social ministry positions, to work in religious communities and to pursue further theological study. In addition to gaining a broad theological education, students specialize in one of six concentrations: Church History, Liturgy, Monastic Studies, Scripture, Spirituality, and Systematic Theology.
Master of Theology(24 credits)
The ThM Increases the breadth and depth of knowledge required for doctoral study by building on the foundation of the Master of Arts or the Master of Divinity degree. This postgraduate program provides student with a strong foundation in a foreign language, thesis research, and writing.
Master of Arts in Liturgical Studies (36 credits)
This focused program presumes previous study in theology and prepares students for further study or for service in liturgical ministries. Situated in the context of a worshipping community, the emphasis is on the integration of academic work with practice.
Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry(48 credits)
The program grounds students in the theological tradition and prepares them for service in parish and social ministries. The program attends to the four pillars of formation: human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral. One track is designed for adults mentoring youth in the Youth in Theology and Ministry (YTM) program.
Master of Arts in Liturgical Music(36 credits)
Students are prepared to serve as pastoral leaders in the musical dimensions of worship. The program integrates musical training with academic study of the liturgy and formation in practical aspects of parish musical leadership.
Toll Free 800.544.1489
Chicago Theological Seminary, Chicago, Illinois
https://www.ctschicago.edu/
For nearly 160 years, Chicago Theological Seminary has pushed the boundaries of theological education. A world leader in transformative studies and progressive thought, CTS cultivates leaders for the next generation of ministry, education, advocacy and social justice.
CTS is breaking new ground once again. We are the first progressive seminary to offer an accredited Masters of Divinity program completely online. The Master of Divinity is a three-year program designed to prepare women and men to serve as transformative religious leaders in the church and society, often in an ordained capacity. This program combines critical reflection with real life application--emphasizing the idea of doing ministry and studying theology in the context of community--with consideration given to the wide and varied spectrums of history, culture, and theological perspective.
If you’re interested in a career in ministry, chaplaincy, teaching, social work, or justice advocacy, we want to talk to you. For more information, call 773.896.2410 to speak to our Admission Team
Saint Leo University, St. Leo, Florida
http://online.saintleo.edu/academics/masters-programs/master-of-arts-in-theology.aspx
Saint Leo University offers a Master of Arts in Theology (MTH), providing students with a broad introduction to academic theology from the perspective of Roman Catholic tradition. The program aims to provide students with a graduate-level knowledge of biblical, systematic, historical, pastoral, and moral theology that can then be applied to a variety of vocations.
Saint Leo’s MTH is comprised of 36 credits, 27 of which come from a core curriculum that includes Hebrew and Christian Scriptures, Christology, and Christian Ethics I, among others. Students complete the degree with three elective courses of their choice.
The online learning center at Saint Leo University has been around since 1998. Students can complete their entire degree without having to come to campus, making it a great option for students unable to attend conventional classrooms or even hybrid programs (many of Saint Leo’s online student population are stationed members of the military).
Graduate 800.707.8846
Loyola University, New Orleans, Louisiana
http://lim.loyno.edu/online/master-religious-education
Loyola Institute for Ministry offers two master’s degrees: the Master of Pastoral Studies (M.P.S.) and the Master of Religious Education (M.R.E.). Loyola has been successfully offering its distance program for over 25 years, making it uniquely mature in an otherwise young industry.
Each degree aims to develop the student’s theological and ministerial competency through a careful combination of academic study, theological reflection on ministerial practice, and the student’s personal experiences as a person of faith. The M.P.S. degree is a 36-credit program designed for the lay minister. In addition to the core curriculum, students select a focus area relevant to their ministry. Involving similar requirements, the M.R.E. is aimed towards those individuals working in religious education.
According to Loyola’s website, online students can expect high-quality content and equivalent opportunities as students who take the same courses on-campus. The program uses the popular Blackboard learning platform to conduct its web-based teaching and learning experiences.
Admissions: 504.865.3240 or 1.800.456.9652
Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
http://www.marquette.edu/grad/Theology.shtml
Marquette’s M.A. in Christian Doctrine is especially designed for those students who seek a better understanding and appreciation of their faith. According to the university’s website, Marquette’s goal is “to graduate students who are transformed by their education and will transform the world in which they live.” Based upon a Catholic, Jesuit tradition, the program is generally acquainted with students of Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant religious doctrines and practices.
Marquette offers its degree 100% online, though students may also take classes on campus if they wish to do so. Of the 30 total hours it takes to complete the degree, 21 of those hours must be taken from the core courses, while the remaining nine (3 classes) come from each of the principal theological disciplines: biblical, historical, and systematic. After completing all course work, students are then required to write a comprehensive paper.
Marquette has a strong reputation for strong theological education, and this reputation is only growing now that Marquette offers the enhanced accessibility of its online program. Though there are a number of convenient options to choose from, note that most online classes have required login times.
Phone: 800.222.6544
John Paul the Great Catholic University, Escondido, California
http://www.jpcatholic.com/overview/index.php#theology
The M.A. program at John Paul the Great Catholic University thus seeks to train students in the various branches of theology in such a way that is thoroughly exegetical, i.e., rooted in a careful study of Sacred Scripture. In this, our curriculum is truly unlike other theology programs. Whereas most systematic theology programs offer little more than basic introductory courses in the Old and New Testaments, ours involves in-depth study of all of the major categories of biblical literature.
Likewise, whereas as most graduate biblical studies programs offer their students little in terms of theological formation, students in the M.A. in Biblical Theology program at JPCatholic take courses in the major branches of Catholic theology.
858.653.6740 (ext. 1303)
Catholic Distance University, Hamilton, Virginia
http://www.cdu.edu/
The Master of Arts (M.A.) in Theology provides serious study of Sacred Scripture, philosophy, theological concepts, moral principles, the sacramental system, spirituality, and Church history among other subjects. The M.A. program is useful for individuals seeking careers in church work, who are already involved in teaching or religious education, or are preparing for a religious vocation. Many students choose the M.A., however, solely to increase their personal knowledge of the Catholic faith and in order to bring that knowledge to their families, careers, and individual lives.
Students in the M.A. program complete a core curriculum (19 credits) and select a concentration area (15 concentration credits) in one of four areas: Sacred Scripture, Philosophy/Theology, Ecclesial Service, or Catholic Culture and 5 five elective credits. In addition to coursework, students are also required to complete the following:
· A prerequisite, eight week course, The Light of Faith: Basics of Catholicism, unless waived by the academic dean.
· A comprehensive exam, which covers each of the five Theology core courses
· A comprehensive exam, which covers five of the concentration courses
· A thesis, which is a paper of approximately thirty pages on a topic, related to the area of concentration, to be submitted after all course work is completed. Students enroll in Thesis Direction (THEO 697) and consult with an advisor. The thesis usually takes six months to complete.
Toll Free 1.888.254.4CDU
The Graduate School of the Augustine Institute, Greenwood Village, Colorado
https://www.augustineinstitute.org/catholic-distance-education
A Curriculum ordered to Evangelization:
· Three courses in Sacred Scripture that teach you how to bring the Word of God alive.
· Three courses in Catholic Doctrine that prepare you to give a reason for the faith within you.
· Three courses on the history and theology of evangelization to spur you to mission.
· Three elective courses that allow you to hone your special theological or pastoral gifts.
A Faculty distinguished for Scholarship and Ecclesial Service:
· Tim Gray (Scripture) President of the Augustine Institute.
· Edward Sri (Theology) best-selling author and host of Symbolon.
· Douglas Bushman (Ecclesiology) long-time director of the Institute for Pastoral Theology.
· Pia de Solenni (Moral Theology) blogs regularly at www.moraltheologian.com.
· Sean Innerst (Sacraments & Liturgy) author of the Pillars series (Ascension Press).
· Mark Giszczak (Scripture) author of Unpacking the Old Testament at www.catholicexchange.com. with Jim Beckman, Christopher Blum, Tim Herman, Michel Therrien and others.
An Institute putting Dynamic Initiatives at the Service of the Truth of Christ:
· Over 200 alumni serving in parishes, dioceses, apostolates, and schools throughout North America.
· Over 250 current students, many who are already active in works of Evangelization.
· Symbolon is revitalizing adult faith-formation in over 3,000 parishes worldwide.
· YDisciple is reinventing youth ministry with its adult-led small-group formation approach.
· Weeklong intensive programs bring students and top guest faculty to Denver.
· Lectio Bible Study, Ad Gentes News & Commentary, and more.
303.937.4420
Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska
https://www.creighton.edu/program/Ministry-MA
Master of Arts in Ministry
If you’re interested in preparing for professional ministry in the Catholic Church or other Christian denominations, the Master of Arts (M.A.) in ministry at Creighton University may be perfect for you. This flexible, online master’s degree program will help you reach your goal of serving God’s people, whether that’s in a parish or diocese, on a college campus, or in a hospital, prison or other ministry setting.
In the M.A. in ministry program, you’ll learn from professors who are nationally and internationally recognized for their excellence in teaching and research. Visiting faculty from other Jesuit universities may also lend their expertise.
You will take one course at a time generally for 8 weeks. Courses are offered online year-round with summer, on-campus residency weeks, during which you will participate in weeklong seminars in personal, spiritual and professional development. The program requires 2.5 to 3 years of full-time study to complete.
2500 California Plaza
Omaha, NE 68178
402.280.2700
* Programs listed are a sampling of programs available, those on this list seemed the most user friendly for distance learners.
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