M.A. Historical Theology
"Faith has nothing to fear from Historical Research"
-Pope John Paul II
(1999 address)
Introduction
The MA in Historical Theology builds on the firm general theological foundation the student is expected to have accomplished prior to beginning the program.
This MA level focuses on the historical development and context to provide a broad command of the full sweep of the Christian tradition. Basic to this are foundational courses in historical and in theological method.
Since Christian theology today must develop in a global context, the MA program includes a systematic comparative theology course.
Admission and Application:
Admission requires transcripts from all previous post-secondary education indicating at least a bachelor's degree and GRE general test scores not more than five years old. In addition to three academic letters of recommendation, the applicant must submit a carefully written two to three page statement indicating personal and academic goals.
Applications for the M.A. in Historical Theology program are accepted only for the fall semester, and must be completed by February 1st. All applicants for this program must apply through the Graduate School under the rubric of "classified" status. The application may be downloaded here.
Prerequisites:
Undergraduate major in theology,- Nine credit hours of upper division philosophy courses, and
- Nine credit hours of upper-division History of Western Civilization.
Deficiencies may be satisfied through specific, intensive, prerequisite courses offered by the Department of Theological Studies.
Course of Study (30 credit hours)
- Required Courses (21 credit hours)
TH-A 520 Historical Method
TH-A 521 Survey of Early Church
TH-A 522 Survey of Medieval Church
TH-A 523 Survey of Modern European Church
TH-A 524 Survey of American Church
TH-A 526 Comparative Theology
TH-A 536 Theological Method - Elective Courses (9 credit hours)
Three other courses that are suitable for the student's interest and program should likewise be taken. At least one of these must be taken from biblical, systematic or moral theology. - Required Grades
If the grade point average falls below 3.0 in any two semesters during the course of study, the student may be dismissed from the program. - Time Frame
The student is expected to complete the program normally within two years, a maximum of five years. - Participation
The student is expected to participate in the life of the department and to contribute to the development of a community of scholars. Attendance at special academic events sponsored by the Department is of utmost importance. - Continuous Registration
From the beginning of the program until graduation, the student should be continuously registered. If the student is not taking a course in a given semester, registration for 0 credit hours is required.
Language Competencies
All M.A. in Historical Theology students are expected to have a reading knowledge of two languages. One must be either Greek or Latin, and the other must be French or German. The student must demonstrate competency in both languages prior to consideration for the comprehensive examinations.
Language competency may be demonstrated by successfully passing a two-hour written examination composed and administered by the Department of Theological Studies and graded on a Pass/Fail basis by the Department of Modern and Classical Languages. Courses offered by the Department of Modern and Classical Languages are available to help the student prepare for the departmental language examinations.
Academic Advising
The Director of Graduate Studies serves as the student's initial adviser. Throughout the duration of the program, the student must meet once each semester with the director of graduate studies at the time of registration to review progress in the program. As the student's academic focus becomes clear, the student must seek out an adviser from among members of the faculty, whose area of specialization is similar to the student's and who can best direct the student's studies. The student should then inform the Director of Graduate Studies of the adviser chosen.
- Student responsibilities:
- Communicate regularly with the adviser.
- Investigate and plan scheduling possibilities.
- Learn and follow all requirements, procedures, and deadlines.
- Adviser responsibilities:
- Be familiar with the overall program and the student's interests.
- Confer regularly and help the student prepare a teaching dossier.
- Be aware of the duties of research assistants.
- Know graduate school policies.
Financial Aid
Financial aid is possible in the form of a research assistantship and in the form of tuition remission.
Research Assistants: For a research assistantship, apply during the month of February for the following academic year. Application forms are available in the Departmental office. Benefits for full time assistants include: an annual stipend of $10,500, health insurance benefits, and 18 credit hours of tuition remission to be divided between the fall and spring semesters. Full time assistants may not hold any other fellowship, assistantship, or employment during the 9-month appointment. Benefits for part time assistants include: an annual stipend of $5,250 and 12 credit hours to be divided between the fall and spring semesters. All research assistants are required to be in good academic standing and to have no delinquent "Incompletes." Download application here
- Full assistants are required to work twenty hours per week during the academic semester. Part time assistants are required to work ten hours per week. Assistants are accountable for the required hours.
- Assistants are to meet with their assigned faculty member, and communicate regularly, preferably each week.
- Assistants help professors in their research and in their other work on specific academic projects. Results should be delivered to the assigned professor in the form of abstracts, papers, dossiers, photocopies of books and journals, notes, or by providing the actual sources. Students may be asked to assist in editing or help in the preparation of conferences and lectures.
- Assistants may be asked to teach some classes or help in the preparation of classes.
- During the month of April, the research assistant should submit a written report to the Director of Graduate Studies, detailing the type of work done and evaluating the overall experience. This should be completed before the student can be considered for renewal of the assistantship.
Responsibilities for research assistants:
- Responsibilities for faculty members:
- State research objectives clearly at the beginning of the academic year.
- Develop a work plan, provide research tools, and direct them in the performance of their duties.
- Meet with the assistant regularly, preferably weekly, in order to deal with any questions or problems in a timely manner.
- Insure that all research work is ordered toward the academic development of the student. (Research assistants are neither private secretaries nor factotums, and they may not carry out work that is not directly related to professional and academic responsibilities of the professor or of the department.)
- Acknowledge contributions of research assistants in any publication or particular project.
- During the month of April, submit a written report to the Director of Graduate Studies on the quality of the assistant's work and make a recommendation for possible renewal.
Tuition Remission: For those students who do not have a research assistantship, one-third tuition remission is normally available to part-time students, and one-half tuition remission is often available to full-time students. Tuition remission may be applied only to courses required for the degree. Although the department attempts to meet the needs of all students, demands always exceed the available resources. Students should investigate other sources of funding. The Office of Research Services at 314-977-2241 and the Office of Financial Aid at 314-977-2350 are two excellent services located on campus.
Student responsibilities:
- Fill out a tuition remission application by mid-November for tuition remission in the spring semester and by mid-April for tuition remission in the summer and fall semesters. Forms are available in the department office.
- Tuition remission is granted only to students in good academic standing and to those who have no delinquent "Incomplete" in their record.
M.A. General Examination in Historical Theology
The General Examination for the M.A. in Historical Theology consists of two parts: (1) submission of an example of research writing to the examination committee; (2) a comprehensive written and oral examination. However, before the essay can be submitted and the examination can be taken, the student must attend to several preliminary procedures.
- Student responsibilities at the beginning of the final academic semester of course work:
- Request to take the M.A. examination by filling out a "M.A. Historical Theology Exam Data Form" available in the department office. The form should be signed by the student's advisor.
- Register for TH-A 595, "Special Study Exams."
- Fill out an "Application for Degree Form" for the Graduate School Office (link).
- Complete and return candidacy papers, which will subsequently be sent to the student from the Graduate School.
- Be well informed of the graduate school deadlines regarding the above preliminary procedures.
- Consult with the Director of Graduate Studies about the formation of an examination committee consisting of three members. Meet individually with the members of the exam committee at least two months prior to the written examination.
(1) Scholarly Essay: The student should submit an example of research writing demonstrating skills in historical methodology as a part of the written examination. The essay should be approximately 20 pages presented according to the form of the Chicago Manual of Style (latest edition). This essay will be evaluated by the examination committee on a pass/fail basis.
The scholarly essay should demonstrate the following:
- isolation of an historical problem,
- critical evaluation of primary and secondary sources,
- scholarly apparatus of footnotes or references,
- conclusions that arise from historical research.
The scholarly essay should also demonstrate the following skills:
- ability in the task of historical research,
- familiarity with the techniques necessary for independent historical study,
- facility in language(s) other than English where appropriate.
(2) M.A. in Historical Theology Written and Oral Examination: The general four-hour written examination and one-hour oral examination is considered a single examination. It is administered by the committee of three examiners appointed by the graduate faculty, upon recommendation of the Director of Graduate Studies in consultation with the student. The examination should focus on the history of Christian theology. However, the student may request inclusion of a component from an elective area as part of the examination.
In preparation for the examination the student must draw from material already covered in class, as well as explore new areas according to the direction of each examiner. Additional books or articles may be required for each area that is to be examined.
If the written component of the examination is not passed, the student may not proceed to the oral examination. In that case, the student may, upon recommendation of the examination committee, retake the entire written examination, or portions thereof, within three months. This may, however, be done only once. In event of failure of the oral comprehensive, the oral examination in its entirety may, upon recommendation of the examination committee, be retaken within three months. This may, however, be done only once.
- Student responsibilities:
- Submit copies of the scholarly essay at the time of the written comprehensive examination.
- Confer with the members of the committee at least one month prior to the written examination. Schedule the oral examination within about ten days after the written examination.
- As the written examination is four hours in duration, the student should arrange for one examiner to provide question(s) for two hours, with each of the other two examiners supplying question(s) for one-hour each.
- Faculty member responsibilities:
- Read and evaluate the scholarly essay.
- Meet with the student prior to the exam.
- Complete grading of the written component in a timely manner.
- Follow the criteria for grading as decided by the graduate faculty.
Special Opportunities
- Departmental Graduate Student Advisory Council
The DGSAC is a committee of four graduate students in Historical Theology who meet periodically with the Director of Graduate Studies to plan and facilitate events for the graduate life of the department. They also provide continuing review of the program. The four students represent four different years of entry into the program and are elected to serve for one year by the students who began their full time study in that specific year. The departmental representative to the Graduate Student Advisory Council of the Graduate School is an "ex officio" member.
- Graduate Student Association
The GSA represents all full-time and part-time students enrolled in the Graduate School. It sponsors the annual Graduate Student Research Symposium to showcase graduate student research. The GSA also helps with funding for travel to academic conferences and for meeting publication expenses. The Department of Theological Studies has a representative to the university Graduate Student Association. This representative serves as a liaison between theology graduate students and the other graduate students throughout the university. It is important for students to be in communication with the departmental liaison. Visit the GSA Website.
- Center for Teaching Excellence
The Center for Teaching Excellence supports faculty and graduate students in the development of instructional skills and individual teaching pedagogy. For this purpose, two teaching certificate programs are available. Selected mentors guide participants through the program. During their course of study, all Ph.D. students in the Historical Theology program are strongly urged to acquire a teaching certificate. Visit the CTE Website.
- Puleo Scholarship
The Mev Puleo Scholarship offers a unique opportunity for students in the department. It combines formal study and experiential learning to foster awareness and understanding of the people and culture of Latin American countries, Liberation Theology and the influence and role of the Catholic Church as an agent of change in Latin America.
Learn more about this program here. - Theology Digest
Theology Digest is a quarterly journal published by the Department of Theological Studies at Saint Louis University. Theological articles published in languages other than English are translated, discussed, and digested for publication in English. Professors and students have the opportunity to participate in this project. Theology Digest sponsors a regular weekly meeting for discussion of current theological issues.
Visit the Theology Digest Website.
- Language Reading Groups
Language Reading Groups meet informally upon availability of a professor throughout the semester to encourage development and retention of language skills. These groups are usually headed by a professor and tend to focus upon primary texts in differing languages.