Southwestern College Professional Studies

Is a Master of Arts in Theological Studies for Me?

The Master of Arts in Theological Studies (MATS) degree is a nondenominational program designed for the individual interested in the examination of theological principles and constructs of Christian doctrines. Whether your focus is on Wesleyan, Holiness or Pentecostal theology, our Theological Studies master’s degree offers an educational path for academic preparation in the fundamentals of theology as a ministry in addition to biblical foundations, historical, and contemporary perspectives of various theologians. This degree is designed for those learners who want an academic alternative to the practical Specialized Ministry degree in Youth Ministry.

Complete Your Master’s Degree in Theological Studies from a Distance

Professional Studies offers online and on-ground theological studies programs for local and distant learners. All ministry coursework can be completed completely online in 6-week courses for anytime, anywhere convenience.

Southwestern College Ministry Vision

From ages past, philosophy and religion have been understood sometimes as partners and sometimes as opponents. At Southwestern College, we recognize the deep and sometimes contentious relationship between the two and seek to foster each, learn from their interactions and promote their complementary nature. Together they make a formidable pairing. In hopes of harnessing the power of that pairing, here at Southwestern College we are looking for students to join us to see that thoughtful engagement with knowledge from the past and knowledge from the present can give us guidance in our complex world for the future. We would like to see a multitude of Southwestern College graduates venture out into this world to lead and serve the church, seek further graduate education and assume positions as valuable assets in leadership and labor for the common good.

Graduate Studies Ministry Fellows

If you are looking for a place to “do” ministry and work on a master’s degree at the same time, a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Southwestern College is for you.

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Required Courses

SMIN 503 Studies of the Old Testament.
SMIN 505 Studies of the New Testament
THEO 511 History of Christianity I
THEO 512 History of Christianity II
THEO 521 Systematic Theology I
THEO 522 Systematic Theology II
THEO 523 Systematic Theology III
THEO 530 Spiritual Theology
THEO 540 Philosophy of Religion
THEO 545 Theological Ethics
THEO 550 Science and Religion
THEO 565 Studies in Theologians
THEO 591 Thesis I
THEO 592 Thesis II

Course Descriptions

SMIN 503 Studies of the Old Testament

This course is an introduction to the literature and history of ancient Israel with special attention given to the thirty-nine books of the Hebrew Bible. Ancient and Near-Eastern texts will be considered in light of the context that they provide for understanding early Judaism. (Existing Course in the MASM)

SMIN 505 Studies of the New Testament

This course is an introduction to the twenty-seven books that constitute the New Testament. The course will take into account the Jewish and Greco-Roman milieu in which the New Testament was developed. (Existing Course in the MASM)

THEO 511 History of Christianity I

This course provides an account of the history of the Christian church from its inception in the first century of the Common Era to the time of the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century. Special focus is upon the development of Christian doctrine by major figures and movements, including the Seven Ecumenical Councils.

THEO 512 History of Christianity II

This course provides an account of the history of the Christian church from the Protestant Reformation to the present day. The focus is upon the theological developments that characterize the various strands of Christian tradition in the modern period, and the major figures and groups that are representative of them.

THEO 521 Systematic Theology I

This course begins the systematic study of the Christian faith as articulated in the Nicene Creed. This course focuses on the First Article, which includes Trinity, the divine attributes, the doctrine of creation, the nature of the human person (theological anthropology) and the God/World relationship.

THEO 522 Systematic Theology II

This course continues the systematic study of Christian faith by focusing on the Second Article of the Nicene Creed, which includes the person of Jesus Christ (Christology), sin (hamartiology) and salvation (soteriology).

THEO 523 Systematic Theology III

This course concludes the systematic study of the Christian faith by focusing on the Third Article of the Nicene Creed, which includes the Holy Spirit (pneumatology), the church (ecclesiology), sacraments and the Last Things (eschatology).

THEO 530 Spiritual Theology

This course examines theology as a spiritual discipline, an act of worship undertaken by the Church in service to God for the sake of the world. The focus is upon the affective dimension of the theological enterprise. Major figures and systems of spiritual formation will be examined, such as Hesychasm, Ignatian spirituality and other monastic forms.

THEO 540 Philosophy of Religion

This course is an investigation into the nature and role of philosophy in religion, the relationship of faith and reason, the use of religious language, of the arguments for and against the existence of God, and the clarification and defense of the attributes of God in a particularly Christian theistic perspective.

THEO 545 Theological Ethics

This course is a survey and evaluation of various ethical systems and representatives of those systems from within a Christian framework. Emphasis will be placed on, but is not limited to, Aristotle, Augustine, Aquinas, the Utilitarians, Kant and a study of various issues in meta-ethics and normative ethics, as well as an investigation of ethical decision-making and case studies. The cases will potentially cover various topics currently being debated in ethics, e.g., abortion, euthanasia, genetic engineering, infanticide, surrogate motherhood, business ethics, environmental issues, etc.

THEO 550 Science and Religion

This course is a study of various issues that arise in the potential integration of science and Christian theology (e.g. models of integration, the distinctness of religion, relationship of scientific methodology to theological methodology, the range of positions in the creation/evolution debate) as well as an investigation of selected topics in philosophy of science relevant to a Christian perspective (e.g., the realist/antirealist debate, the nature, formation, use, and confirmation of scientific laws and theories, scientism and the assumptions and limits of science).

THEO 565 Studies in Theologians

This course is designed as a rotating topical course that will examine the major works of influential modern theologians. To be included are such major figures as Karl Barth, Wolfhart Pannenberg and Jürgen Moltmann.

THEO 591 Thesis I

This course is designed to provide the organized research for the forthcoming master’s thesis. A proposed thesis topic and a research bibliography will be developed in concert with the thesis advisor. The final product of the course is an annotated bibliography of the research materials and an outline of the thesis and a projected writing schedule.

THEO 592 Thesis II

This course is designed to facilitate the actual writing of the thesis. The course will require regular periodic submissions of chapter/section drafts for professorial guidance/critique. The finished product is a completed master’s thesis of 35-50 pages that constitutes an original scholarly contribution to the field of inquiry.

Admission Requirements

To be admitted into the MATS program, candidates must submit the following:

Southwestern College Professional Studies Graduate Program Application form – Application forms are accepted on an ongoing basis. No application admission fee is charged. Complete the online application.

Official transcripts of all prior college/university coursework – Applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution with a grade point average of 2.5 or higher (on a 4.0 scale).

Print a copy of the transcript request form and mail the request to the institution which awarded your bachelor’s degree.

Two confidential letters of recommendation – using the Graduate Recommendation Form (at least one from a current or former employer).

A one page Admissions Essay – submit your written statement electronically to graduate@sckans.edu or via mail or fax to 316.688.5218.

Resume- Applicants should have at least three years of professional work experience.

All international learners must show evidence of their English language ability by providing the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) report. A score of 550 (paper test) or 213 (computer-based test) on the TOEFL is considered the minimum acceptable for admission to the MASM program.

Applicants who hold bachelor’s degrees from a U.S. institution or from an institution in another English-only speaking country will receive a waiver of the TOEFL. Applicants who are from native English speaking countries are not required to take the TOEFL.

Admission requirements may differ for international learners, or for learners whose undergraduate degrees were awarded outside of the United States. Please contact an admissions counselor for more details.

In addition to the above, it is recommended that candidates have a working knowledge of word processing and presentation software.


A candidate’s file must be complete before an admissions decision may be made. It is the responsibility of each candidate to provide all of the information requested above. Candidates will receive a letter of admission to the program.

Meta

Southwestern College’s master of arts in theological studies (MATS) program is a nondenominational program designed for the individual interested in the examination of theological principles and constructs of Christian doctrines.