Curriculum
School of Theology
Candidates for the MAT degree must complete the required curriculum of 37 credits with a Capstone, achieving a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0.
Each candidate chooses a focus (at least 3 courses) of either Dogmatic Theology, Liturgical Theology, Pastoral Theology (plus CPE), or Sacred Scripture. Based on this focus, MAT students will choose either Capstone Essays or Theological Research Capstone in consultation with an advisor in fulfillment of the MAT degree. Students in the Chaplaincy track will do the听Pastoral Research Capstone.
The degree can be completed听in two years听with full time study. Part-time students have a听six year limit to complete the program. With the permission of the Academic Dean, a total听of 15 hours of compatible graduate-level theological studies may be completed at other听institutions. Any grade below a B- does not transfer.
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Electives and Directed Independent Study
Elective courses are regularly offered to allow professors and students to explore听particular questions in detail or to approach issues and fields not covered in the听core curriculum. Academic progress normally does not allow MDiv students to听enroll in electives until their third or fourth years.
Students in all degree programs may elect to pursue an area of particular interest as听a Directed Independent Study (DIS). All DIS courses must be approved by the听Academic Dean upon presentation of a written description of the area and goals of听the investigation, together with a bibliography. The course may be directed by a core听or adjunct member of the academic faculty or, extraordinarily, by another qualified听professional who must be approved by the Academic Dean. A DIS may be designed听for 1, 2 or 3 credit hours. Evaluation of the work by the director should normally be听based on one or more papers, projects or examinations. A student may take only two听DIS courses per degree program.
Transfer Credits
For the MDiv/MAT programs, the Seminary will accept 15 credits, including those听successfully earned from Byzantine Online, as transferable. Only academic credits听from an accredited Masters program will be considered for transfer. Credits earned in听the last six years prior to application are eligible for transfer.
Applicants who have already achieved a Master鈥檚 Degree cannot use credits from the听previous program towards a second Master鈥檚 Degree at BCS. BCS will only consider听transferring credits which were not used towards the awarding of a degree.
Formal application for consideration of transfer credits is made to the Academic Dean.