Theological Studies, M.A.T.S.

The Master of Arts in Theological Studies is an academically focused graduate degree that builds upon the foundation of the Master of Arts in Ministry. The M.A.T.S. degree is a 60-hour program that establishes a strong foundation for ministry leadership and also provides the groundwork for future graduate academic and ministerial training. Students engage in academically sound, biblically grounded and theologically challenging coursework that will equip them to capably integrate biblical truth and practical skills in their current ministry context.

Description of Master of Arts in Theological Studies (M.A.T.S.).

The Bethel Master of Arts in Theological Studies is a professionally academic focused graduate degree consisting of 60 credit hours (20 classes) of graduate study beyond the baccalaureate degree. Course can also be taken on a "special student" basis for those who wish to keep up on current theory/practice in biblical studies, Christian ministry, theology, history, ethics and society. Coursework can be completed in 4 semesters or more of full-time study. The program can also be pursued on a part-time basis.

Format of Program

Each semester, four courses are scheduled in a seven-week on-ground or online format. During the summer two courses are offered. Each course carries three graduate hours of credit. Students complete the degree at their pace. Rigid sequencing of courses is not a feature of the M.A.T.S. program and therefore students may apply, be admitted, and enroll at any time during the academic year. From the time of matriculation, 10 years are granted to complete the MATS.

Program Requirements

(unless special permission is granted by the program director to follow a different distribution of classes):

M.A.T.S. Required Courses:

BBST 531	Interpreting the New Testament	3
BBST 532	Interpreting the Old Testament	3
CHMN 516	Spiritual Formation	3
CHMN 522	Dynamics of Multicultural Ministry	3
THES 523	History of Christian Thought	3
THES 531	Systematic Theology	3
THES 534B	Biblical Theology Seminars - Old Testament Theology	3
THES 534C	Biblical Theology Seminars - New Testament Theology	3
THES 535	Christian Apologetics	3
	OR
THES 536	Philosophy of Religion	3
Total Credit Hours:		27

Remaining 33 credit hours electives can be selected from:

BBST, CHMN, and THES courses

Total Credit Hours:

33

Total Credit Hours: 60

Admission Requirement for the M.A.Min. and M.A.T.S. Degree Programs

1. A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants from non-accredited schools will be considered individually. Degrees other than a bachelor of arts (e.g. bachelor of science, etc.) are acceptable.
2. An adequate undergraduate foundation, based on the standard established by the Association of Theological Schools, is the basis for full acceptance into Bethel University's Master of Arts in Ministry and/or Master of Arts in Theological Studies degree programs.

    

3. An applicant whose undergraduate degree program does not meet these minimum requirements will be accepted provisionally and, in consultation with the program coordinator, determine the means of achieving the required adequate undergraduate foundation. The applicant may be allowed to register for graduate courses prior to satisfactorily meeting these requirements. If the applicant’s undergraduate academic record lacks evidence of basic college level courses in theology or biblical studies, additional work may be required in consultation with the program director. Courses in theology may require some assigned reading prior to registration. The enrollment counselors and advisors are responsible to determine pre-registration requirements.

   A student with a provisional acceptance will be allowed to take classes for one semester only (and will be limited to 9 hours total) until all admission requirements are met..

4. An undergraduate grade point average of at least 2.75 based on a 4.0 scale (“A” = 4 points)  An applicant whose average is below the standard may be admitted on probation at the discretion of the program coordinator. The probational period shall extend for a minimum of one  semester, and during this period the student is expected to maintain a 2.5 average in graduate or undergraduate study at Bethel University. Upon successfully completing a semester of  graduate study with a 2.5 or higher grade point, the student's probational status will be lifted to that of full acceptance, providing all other admission requirements have been met.  

5. Moral character consistent with the guidelines set forth in the Word of God and in accord with the ethos statement of Bethel University.

6. A clear indication based on transcripts, references and written work that the applicant is able and desirous of pursing graduate work successfully. Qualified candidates are considered without regard to race, national or ethnic origin, age, gender or physical handicap.

 

 

Application Procedures

Applicants for graduate study in ministry and theology shall complete the following steps:

1. Request a graduate admission application packet from Bethel University, office of Adult and Graduate Studies (574-807-7550).
2. Complete the application form included in the packet, and return it to Bethel University, office of Adult and Graduate Studies.
3. Schedule an interview with an enrollment counselor; this may be done through the Office of Adult and Graduate Studies (574-807-7550). During this interview ministry goals and objectives of the applicant will be explored, the graduate degree programs explained, possible financial aid discussed and any questions regarding the programs answered.
4. When all admission materials are on file in the office of Adult and Graduate Studies, they will be reviewed by the program director and a decision regarding the applicant's admission determined. The applicant will be notified by mail of the decision, together with any requirements for an adequate undergraduate foundation explained.

Regular Admission is granted when it has been determined by the program director that the applicant has fully met the admission requirements for the Master of Arts in Ministry and/or the Master of Arts in Theological Studies degree program(s).

Transfer Graduate Students may be granted transfer credit of graduate work successfully completed at other institutions when the work is determined by the program director to be acceptable. Courses with a "B" or higher grade may be transferred. A maximum of 18 semester credit hours may be accepted toward the Master of Arts in Ministry degree, and a maximum of 30 semester credit hours toward the Master of Arts in Theological Studies degree. Credits accepted from nonaccredited institutions are transferred at two-thirds value and the student is on academic probation for one semester. The last 18 hours of the Master of Arts in Ministry and the last 30 hours of the Master of Arts in Theological Studies must be completed at Bethel. Exceptions to this policy may be granted.

International Students: A student who is not a United States citizen or a United States permanent resident may be admitted to the graduate degree programs (M.A.Min. and M.A.T.S.) only after completing all requirements established by the office of admission, as set forth in the university Catalog governing the admission of international students to Bethel University. A valid, accredited baccalaureate degree must be documented prior to admission into the graduate degree programs at Bethel College. An international student applying for admission into the graduate degree programs who has an undergraduate degree from a foreign college or university may be admitted.

His/her transcript will be evaluated according to Bethel University’s evaluation procedure. Credits for the foreign undergraduate degree are assessed at a two/thirds value. If admitted to Bethel University, the international student will be required to complete all requirements for a valid, accredited baccalaureate degree. Undergraduate and graduate courses may be taken simultaneously as the student pursues his or her academic degrees from Bethel University.  Graduate courses completed may not apply for credit on both undergraduate and graduate degrees. Graduate credits earned will be applied toward the desired graduate degree, but the graduate degree will not be awarded until all requirements for the accredited undergraduate degree have been met.

Admission to an Individual Course for credit may be granted by the program director and the professor involved. This is on a "special student" basis, related to his/her transcript and personal interview. No references or biographical sketch are required. No maximum number of credit hours has been set that can be earned this way. If, however, a student later decides to pursue the Master of Arts in Ministry or Master of Arts in Theological Studies degree(s), he/she must meet all the specific requirements for admission into these degree programs.

Undergraduate Bethel University Students may register for graduate courses for which graduate credit is earned, provided they have completed at least 88 credit hours of undergraduate work, have a minimum GPA of 2.75, and have the permission of their undergraduate academic advisor and the program director. Such courses may not apply for credit on both undergraduate and graduate degrees. A maximum of nine (9) graduate hours of credit may be accumulated, and credit thus earned will be applied upon completion of the baccalaureate degree.

Permission to Audit a graduate course may be granted by the program director upon the consent of the professor teaching the course. The admission process must be followed at the time of registering to audit the first course. A graduate audit fee of $180 is to be paid for each course audited (Refer to fee schedule).

Prior Learning Experience

The faculty in the department of Religion and Philosophy of Bethel University recognizes that within the general parameters of its graduate curricula there are experiential learning experiences that are of an exceptional nature and may be considered valid evidences of learning at a graduate level and eligible to receive credit on a student’s graduate academic record. No more than 3 hours of credit may be granted. Requests will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Please see the pro-gram director for more details.

Financial Information

Graduate tuition and fees are available from the office of graduate studies or at the front of this catalog. Student loans are available; contact the financial aid office of the university. Financial assis-tance in the form of local church and/or denominational grants may be available to ministers and others employed by churches or parachurch organizations. The Missionary Church strongly sup-ports and may provide financial assistance for its credentialed ministers and ministerial students in these programs.

Graduation Requirements for M.A.Min. and M.A.T.S. Degrees

For the Master of Arts in Ministry and Master of Arts in Theological Studies candidates, the following requirements must be completed:

1. A total of 36/60 semester hours with a minimum 2.5 cumulative grade point average.
2. Successful completion of BBST 531, BBST 532, BBST 541, CHMN 522, THES 531, THES 535, or THES 536 for both the M.A.T.S. and M.A.Min. Degrees, with the addition of THES 523, THES 534B and THES 534C for the M.A.T.S. Degree. If these or comparable graduate level courses were successfully completed at another accredited graduate school and transferred to the student’s Bethel Col-lege graduate program, this requirement may be adjusted accordingly. The pro-gram director must approve any exception to this.
3. Courses for which a grade below "C-" is received may not count as hours earned for either of these degrees.
4. The final 15 semester credit hours for either of these degrees must be completed at Bethel University immediately prior to graduation. Any exception to this must be on the basis of appeal submitted to the program director. The appeal will then be sub-mitted to the Vice President of Academic Services of Bethel University, with whom the final decision will rest.
5. All financial accounts must be fully paid to Bethel University. Academic credit, transcript and diploma are withheld until the account is paid in full.
6. An Application for Graduation form must be completed by an advisor, signed by the graduate student, and approved by the program director. This must be completed and submitted to the office of the registrar no later than September 30 prior to the following spring commencement.

Academic Information

Six (6) hours of graduate academic work is the minimum required in order to apply for a student loan. However, a minimum of nine (9) hours of academic work may be necessary for certain kinds of student financial aid. A student who has full-time employment often finds that a maximum of six semester hours of study is advisable.

Academic Probation

A student whose cumulative GPA drops below 2.5 is automatically placed on academic probation. Failure to raise the cumulative GPA to 2.5 or higher the following semester will lead to dismissal from the program. A student who is placed on academic probation may register an appeal through the program director, citing mitigating circumstances. The program director will rule on all such appeals. Normally a student may reapply through the program director following one semester after being dismissed. If the student is allowed readmission, he/she will be placed on probation for one semester. During that semester the GPA must be raised to 2.5 or the student will be dismissed from the program.

Registration

The business office of Bethel University on the basis of approved financial arrangements must authorize registration for graduate courses.

Registration for courses may be done in person, via mail, or electronically. Registration forms are available in the office of Adult and Graduate Studies and will also be mailed, or emailed, each semester to every graduate ministry student. The registration form will list the courses being offered in a given semester. The student must check the courses he/she wishes to take, sign the form, and submit the form in person, by mail, via fax, or through email, to the office of Adult and Graduate Studies. An enrollment counselor or advisor must approve student registrations.

Registration for nonscheduled graduate courses including Supervised Field Experience, Directed Reading Experience, Private Tutorials, Independent Studies or a Position Paper or Project must be completed before the first week of a semester.

Re-enrollment

Continuing registration is generally considered the approved plan for completing a graduate academic degree. Bethel University is aware of the fact that most graduate students enrolled in the M.A.Min. and/or M.A.T.S. degree programs are heavily involved in ministry. Therefore, it is under-standable that there may be one or more semesters when the graduate student cannot register for a course. However, registering for graduate courses after a lapse of one year will require that a Re-enrollment Form be completed. This form is available in the registrar’s office. There is no re-enrollment fee.

Biblical Languages

BBST 450A (Greek) and BBST 504B (Hebrew as well as Aramaic and Latin) may be taken by enrolling in undergraduate classes and receiving graduate credit or, in unusual circumstances, by private tutorial.

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