Master of Arts: General Information

Pre-Seminary Studies | Admission Requirements | Academic Advisors
Bible Content Requirement | Graduation

Asbury Theological Seminary offers two basic master of arts programs, with options for concentration in each program. The Master of Arts with specialization in Biblical Studies or specialization in Theological Studies provides preparation for persons pursuing further postgraduate research; and the Master of Arts professional degree serves as a terminal degree for a ministry of teaching in congregations, parachurch organizations, and Christian institutes; pastors who perceive the need to update and enrich their theological education; and lay persons who desire to be more effective in their local churches through increased knowledge of theology and biblical studies.

The professional Master of Arts degrees are designed to prepare women and men for competent leadership in specialized ministries in their faith communities. The professional Master of Arts seeks to develop the general theological understanding required as a basis for specialized ministries and to nurture the practical abilities and skills needed for the special form of ministry expected.

With one exception, all M.A. programs require 60 semester hours of study and normally require a minimum of 30 hours of residency in the program. The M.A. in Counseling requires 64 semester hours of study and normally requires a minimum of 25 months of full-time study, with a minimum of 32 hours of residency.

Students in the M.A. degree programs are required to enroll in both Core Formational Courses within the first 21 hours of study. Typically, IS501 Christian Formation: Kingdom, Church, and World is taken in one's first semester, IS502 Christian Formation: Vocation of Ministry in the second. Together, these courses require year-long participation in small-group, covenant discipleship experiences.

UNITED METHODIST STUDENTS

The Master of Arts degrees, which prepare the student in their area of specialized study and ministry, may be used to satisfy the academic requirements for ordination as Deacon in The United Methodist Church. This is particularly true of the Master of Arts specialization in Biblical Studies or Theological Studies and the professional Master of Arts degrees (other than the Master of Arts in Counseling). Students wishing to complete requirements for the permanent Order of Deacons in The United Methodist Church should include the following courses in their elective hours: CL553 United Methodist Polity and Discipline [2], CH500 Turning Points in Church History [3], CH600 History of Methodism [2], DO670 United Methodist Theology [2], DO501 Basic Christian Doctrine [3] OR ST501 Method and Praxis in Theology [3], any worship course in the range WO510-549 [3], BS503 Inductive Bible Study [2], BS504 Intro to Old Testament [2], BS505 Intro to New Testament [2], and IS501 Kingdom, Church and World [3]. For the specific educational requirements required as preparation for the Order of Deacons, see The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church.

PRE-SEMINARY STUDIES

Students anticipating graduate work beyond the M.A. are urged to include in their undergraduate program a broad liberal arts background with major emphases on the humanities and the social sciences.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

For admission requirements, see the section on Academic Information .

ACADEMIC ADVISORS

Professional Academic Advisors assist students in the planning of their academic course work. New students are assigned an Academic Advisor after confirming admission and completing the FirstClass computer orientation process. Academic Advisors are housed in the Office of the Registrar.

The advisor serves as a guide through the curriculum at Asbury. They will help students interpret the curriculum and select courses that will enable students to fulfill their calls in ministry. They also clear students to register for new classes. Students must meet with their Academic Advisors at least once a semester. Students cannot register for classes until they have been cleared to do so by their Academic Advisors.

BIBLE CONTENT REQUIREMENT

The Bible Content Examination (BCE) tests the student's basic knowledge of the Bible's structure and content. It must be passed before the end of a student's first 32 hours in seminary. This is a timed, proctored exam, and is given periodically in the Information Commons on both the Florida and Kentucky campuses throughout the academic year, and for ExL students by special arrangement with the Director of Distributed Learning. Florida and Kentucky students may sign up to take the exam by calling or sending an email request to BCE@asburyseminary.edu. Students may attempt the proctored exam three times, with two months separating the sittings and with sign-up priority given to persons who are taking the exam for the first time. A passing score for the BCE is 80 percent or higher. If the proctored exam is failed three times, or if the student fails to pass the exam before the end of his or her first 32 hours of seminary work, the student is required to take BS400, which must be completed with a grade of "Pass." ExL students desiring to take the Bible Content Examination should contact the Director of Distributed Learning.

Students may prepare for the Bible Content Examination in a variety of ways:

By accessing the Bible Tutor through a web browser: acts.luthersem.edu/asbury. User name: "asbury." As the password changes periodically, students will need to consult with the Information Commons attendant to obtain the current password;
On the Florida campus, by borrowing the Florida Information Commons' copy of the Bible Tutor CD (two-hour maximum; see the circulation attendant);
By purchasing a personal copy of the Bible Tutor Educational CD: http://www.bibletutor.com; and/or by engaging in personal or group study of the Bible's content and world, and its important persons, places, and events.

GRADUATION

For students not transferring from other institutions, a minimum of four semesters or their equivalent is required for the M.A. degree. Students may choose to complete the M.A. in two, three, or more years (maximum of seven), depending upon their work load, financial, and other needs. For other general graduation requirements, see the section on Academic Information. In addition, the following specific requirements are necessary to receive the M.A. degree:

Satisfactory completion of 60 semester hours (64 for the M.A. in Counseling), including required courses.
Attainment of a grade point average of at least 2.00/4.00. Note: M.A. (Research) degrees require a G.P.A. of 3.00/4.00 as a prerequisite for writing the thesis.
The final year of study, including at least 30 semester hours (32 for the M.A. in Counseling), must be taken on the Kentucky or Florida campuses of Asbury Seminary. At least six semester hours of work should be taken within the 24 months preceding the date of graduation.
Satisfactory completion of all degree requirements in not more than seven calendar years from the time of matriculation.
Apply for graduation online.

Any exceptions to these requirements, such as missionaries on furlough, will come under automatic review by the Vice President of Academic Affairs and the Academic Committee.

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