Many people who desire a theological education may not be seeking ordination as a minister of the Word. Ministers, church leaders, or teachers may wish to complement their training and experience with continued education. Some students may wish to explore their abilities and interests through theological education while determining God’s call to ministry. Others who pursue a theological education may be unsure of their academic or career direction. For all such students, Mid-America offers the flexibility of a Master of Theological Studies (MTS) degree program.
The Seminary recognizes that theological training can meet a variety of service objectives. Ministers can sharpen their skills and expand their education. Church leaders who serve as elders, deacons, Bible study leaders, and church education teachers can profit from the same courses offered to those seeking ministerial ordination. Christian school teachers and others serving in Christian ministry capacities can benefit from a theological education.
The Master of Theological Studies degree program (MTS) may assist students in clarifying their education or career goals as well as their calling to the ministry. Students unsure of a career goal can explore areas of interest in a theological education. Those who are unsure of their abilities or interests relating to the ordained ministry can begin theological training in the MTS program in order to evaluate themselves and their aspirations for ministry. Enrolling in the MTS program even though one is unsure about God’s call to the gospel ministry will ensure that academic study will be applied for credit toward a graduate-level master’s degree.
Because the study of theology enhances and fortifies other kinds of secondary education, Mid-America Reformed Seminary is committed to offering its theological education to anyone who may serve the Christian community with this sound training. With a MTS degree in hand, graduates will be theologically equipped to pursue doctoral study in other areas of professional interest.
Many of the prerequisites for the MTS program are identical to those for the M.Div. degree program. The applicant for the MTS program must be a dedicated Christian who has usually earned a Bachelor of Arts degree or its equivalent with a cumulative grade point average or 2.67 (B-) or higher. Pre-seminary education should ordinarily include work in English, philosophy, natural sciences, and social sciences. An applicant whose academic history shows insufficient breadth in the liberal arts may be requested to do additional work as a condition of admission. Two years of Greek are required for admission to the program, but Greek study may occur during the course of seminary study.
The MTS program consists of the same rigorous academic work as the M.Div. program, but without the requirements associated with preaching and ministerial studies. The MTS program offers flexibility to non-traditional students by allowing them to concentrate on one of two areas: biblical studies or doctrinal/ecclesiastical studies.
The biblical studies concentration provides a thorough acquaintance with Hebrew and Greek language study, together with in-depth study of the canon, history, and interpretation of both Old and New Testaments. The concentration is filled out with course work in the ecclesiastical and doctrinal divisions of the curriculum.
The doctrinal/ecclesiastical concentration includes biblical language courses and emphasizes church history, apologetics, and theological doctrines.