Master of Arts (Theology)


Application to the Master of Arts (Theology) Program [PDF]

Admission Requirements (minimum requirements to be considered for admission)
Applicants should hold a recognized Bachelor of Arts degree in a subject closely related to Theology, such as Religious Studies, Classics, Philosophy, English or History. This implies that about two-thirds of all undergraduate courses should have been devoted to cognate subjects.

The applicant must present evidence of academic achievement: a minimum standing equivalent to a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3 out of a possible 4.0 or a CGPA of 3.25/4.0 for the last two full-time academic years. Admission to the program rests with the Faculty of Graduate Studies, upon the
recommendation of the Faculty of Theology. Admission decisions are not subject to appeal or reconsideration.

In cases where students hold bachelor’s degrees and show academic promise for graduate study in Theology, but do not have sufficient background in a cognate discipline, they may be advised (on a case-by-case basis) to take a qualifying semester or year in order to prepare them for graduate work in
Theology. The courses taken during the qualifying period will not be counted toward their Master of Arts Program.  Examples of such courses include “Introduction to Theological Writing” or requisite language courses, depending on their area of specialization.

Upon satisfactory completion of the qualifying courses, students may re-apply to the Faculty of Graduate Studies for admission.

Application Process Academic records, two letters of reference from former professors, and a personal statement of intent will be used to determine suitability of an applicant for admission into Graduate Studies. Any student who qualifies is welcome to enter the program regardless of religious affiliation or
faith stance.  Upon acceptance into the MA programs, students must consult with the Director of Studies or their faculty advisor to plan their course of study.

Proof of English Language Proficiency All applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate that they are proficient in the use of the English language by successfully completing one of the following English Language Assessment tests: TOEFL, IELTS, MELAB, CAEL or Level 5 of the 14-
week University of Winnipeg Academic English Program. The test must have been awarded within a year of the date a completed application is filled and official test scores must be forwarded directly to the Graduate Studies Enrolment Officer from the testing agency. Photocopies of test scores are not acceptable.
On occasion, a waiver may be granted if there is evidence of four or more years of education in a recognized post-secondary institution in which the language of instruction is English. Requests for a waiver must be submitted at the time of application and will be considered on an individual, case-by-case
basis by the Theology Faculty Council. Appropriate services to assist students in improving their English language capabilities can be arranged through the English Language Program.

Expected Time to Graduate Two years full-time; four years part-time
Maximum Time to Graduate Six years

Areas of Concentration
The Master of Arts (Theology) offers three areas of concentration:
Dialogue Theology
Biblical Studies
Historical Theology and Christian History

Residency Requirements The program requires the equivalent of two years of full-time study (36 credit hours). A minimum of 27 credit hours must be taken at the Masters level at the University of Winnipeg, Faculty of Theology (residency requirement).
The remaining 9 credit hours may be completed at one or more of the Cooperative partners.

GPA Requirements In order to maintain good standing, a student must have a degree GPA of 3.25 (B). Students dropping below this GPA must meet with the Director of Studies before further registration.

Degree Requirements (36 credit hours)

Core curriculum –
18 credit hours as follows:
GTHEO 7200 Introduction to Theology (3 hours)
GTHEO 7100 Introduction to Scripture I (3 hours)
GTHEO 7101 Introduction to Scripture II (3 hours)
GTHEO 7201 Survey of Christian History  (3 hours)
GTHEO 7202 Introduction to Dialogue Theology (3 hours)
GTHEO 7203 Indigenous and Christian Encounters (3 hours)
Elective courses - 6 credit hours related to area of concentration

Thesis - 12 credit hours as follows:
3 credit hours of Thesis Seminar (7340) (3 hours)*
9 credit hours of Thesis Writing (9 hours)
*Thesis Seminar is a required peer-learning course that helps candidates with the research and writing skills necessary to complete a thesis proposal and a
thesis.