Master of Arts in Theology

Integral to any Jesuit college or university is its Theology Department. This reflects the insight of the founder of the Jesuits, St. Ignatius Loyola, that humanity should attempt to find God in all things. Theology courses have been offered since the foundation of USF's parent school, St. Ignatius College, over 150 years ago. In 1961, the degree of Master of Arts in Theology was established. Since 1961, the M.A. program has undergone several revisions.

The Theology/Religious Studies Department has a three-fold task within USF as a Jesuit, Catholic university.

1. To help all the students and other faculty explore critically all human experiences to discover God's revelatory presence in history.
2. To examine how the various religious traditions, especially the Christian traditions, interpret these experiences of God, not only in classic texts, but also in later developments. This inquiry is best done in a contemporary university context through dialogue between religious traditions and scholarly disciplines. At USF this dialogue will be particularly rich because of the cultural diversity of faculty and students engaged in critical analysis and synthesis.
3. To encourage all the students, staff, and faculty to respond personally and as a community to the dimension of the Sacred in human life, drawing conclusions from it about human rights, responsibilities, and the need for both prayer and action to improve our world.

The Department of Theology and Religious Studies offers a thirty-six (36) unit Master of Arts degree program in Theology. The program consists of twenty-seven (27) units of courses (in the areas listed below) and nine (9) units of elective courses. The electives allow for emphases in various areas (e.g., Scripture; Historical/Systematic Theology; Spirituality and Ecumenical Theology; and Pastoral Theology). Courses in the prescribed areas will be taught, and student projects assigned, with those various emphases in mind. Listed below is the sequence of areas in which courses will be offered.

Fall

• Methods in Theology and Ministry (1)
• Spiritual Classics (2)
• Historical Theology: Christology and Trinity

Spring

• Historical Theology: Christology and Trinity
• Church, Sacraments, and Liturgy (3)

Fall

• Biblical Interpretation (4)
• Religions in Dialogue (5)

Spring

• Hebrew Scriptures/Christian Scriptures
• Methods and Issues in Moral Theology (6)

In addition, a Comprehensive Seminar (7) will be offered every Spring:

1. A laboratory in theological reflection; formulation of one's own theological method
2. A study of prominent figures in spiritual theology and their major texts
3. The post-Vatican II Church and its developing sacramental life in theory and in practice
4. A laboratory in scriptural exegesis
5. A comparative study between two or more religious traditions in depth, with an emphasis on the Asian traditions
6. Catholic Christian approaches to contemporary moral problems such as life-respect, religious dissent, and liberation theology
7. A personal systematic synthesis of all of the courses taken by the student and a practical application of this synthesis to the student's particular area of emphasis

Prerequisites

Nine (9) semester hours in undergraduate theology or religious studies courses. Students who lack undergraduate preparation in the three main areas of theology (Biblical and Early Christian Studies, Systematic/Historical Theology, and Moral Theology) may be admitted to the program conditionally and required to take designated undergraduate courses during their first semester. The prerequisites might also be fulfilled by passing qualifying examinations in these three areas.

Admissions

A bachelor's degree with an overall 2.7 GPA or higher, two (2) letters of recommendation.

Language

There is no language requirement, but students who intend to pursue a doctorate are encouraged to become proficient in Spanish, French, German (or other applicable languages such as Hebrew, Greek, Latin).

Thesis

There is no thesis requirement. A major paper will be required as a part of the Comprehensive Seminar. A thesis, however, may be written after the completion of thirty (30) units with the approval of the student's advisor and the Department Chair. The thesis will be for six (6) units.

Emphases

Each student should concentrate twelve (12) hours in one of the following four areas: Scripture, Historical/Systematic Theology; Spirituality and Ecumenical Theology; and Pastoral Theology.

For further information regarding the Master of Arts in Theology, please contact the Department of Theology and Religious Studies.

Summer School Programs

Each summer the University of San Francisco offers a course in the areas of theology, Scripture, or pastoral studies. USF's Gleeson Library aids the programs with an extraordinary collection of books and periodicals in these areas.

Learning Goals/Outcomes for the M.A. in Theology

The Master's Program, while rooted primarily in the Catholic biblical, theological, moral and spiritual tradition, seeks also, in the spirit of Vatican II, to educate its candidates in a solid appreciation for the religious insights and traditions of the other Christian communions as well as those of the other major world religions.

The graduate student who successfully completes this program will:

• understand the contemporary methodologies presently employed in biblical studies, systematic theology and religious ethics and be able to apply them.
• be conversant with the major issues in dogma development, Christology, ecclesiology, liturgical and pastoral theology.
• be familiar with the major schools of spirituality both within Christianity and among the other world religions.
• have developed some practical experience at ecumenical and interfaith dialogue.
• have made a practical, personal synthesis of the courses taken in this program.

To learn more:

• Please see Graduate Theology and Religious Studies Course Descriptions.
• Request Information
• Apply Online