MA (Biblical and Theological Studies)

The study of the Bible, spiritual formation, and Church history leads you to a richer experience of God, as well as the ability and desire to communicate His glory to others. The MA (Biblical and Theological Studies) offers you the chance to build a theological understanding rooted in a thorough investigation of the Scriptures, with an eye toward gospel-centered transformation. You'll develop into an informed theologian for work as a ministry leader, teaching pastor, or educator. And if your ministry work has already given you a toolbox full of ministry skills, this program will complement your work with a more robust theological framework to direct the way you serve. This blend of training also serves as an excellent foundation for later doctoral studies.

Credits

Reduce This!

Months

Graduate in as few as two years

Online?

Yes

Locations

Portland
San Jose
Sacramento

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What Sets Our Bible and Theology Training Apart?

An emphasis on Gospel-centrality and biblical theology, and how they shape your approach to ministry
Develop your own theological position directly from the Bible, rather than adopting an institutional doctrinal position
Visit either Israel or Greece and Turkey on faculty-led study tours for elective credit
New in 2022! the option to complete the Exegetical Track for those wanting to go deeper in the Biblical languages

Curriculum

See a list of courses

Foundational Studies: 12 credits
BT501	Hermeneutics	2
BT502	Understanding Biblical Theology	2
CS501	Learning to Love God and Others	2
CS502	Growing in Prayer and Other Key Spiritual Disciplines	2
MF501	Introduction to Theological Study and Ministry Formation	2
ML506	Ministerial Ethics	2
Biblical Studies: 12 credits
BL501	Interpreting Genesis to Song of Solomon	4
BL502	Interpreting the Prophets and Gospel	4
BL503	Interpreting Acts to Revelation	4
Theological Studies: 12 credits
TH501	Knowing the Living God: Theology I	4
TH502	Glorifying the Word of Life: Theology II	4
TH503	Living as the Community of the Spirit: Theology III	4
Church History: 2 credits
CH502	Learning from Church History	2
Program Electives: 12 credits
With the advisor's consent, select courses from BL, BT, CH, NT, OT, or TH prefixes. Students are encouraged to consider using part of these electives for study in the biblical languages.
Open Electives: 6 credits

Exegetical Track

For those students who desire to gain a deep grasp of the biblical languages, Western now offers the Exegetical Track. This track is tailored for students interested in ThM or PhD-level education. Highlights include:

This track has 62 credits
Students in the exegetical track are advised to take spiritual formation classes (CS501, 502, MF501) and RE500 within their first year.
Students in this track will follow a strict schedule, with four credits in church history, the full language track including Greek and Hebrew Exegesis.
This track highlights the commitment to the Biblical languages at Western.
This track is tailored for students interested in Th.M. or Ph.D. level education.

Get a detailed course listing in our catalog.

Specialize Your Ministry Studies

Increase the relevance of your training by tailoring it to your ministry context. Work with your academic advisor to develop a concentration in a given area of specialization. Specialized areas of study include (but are not limited to):

Biblical Languages
Biblical/Theological Studies
Chaplaincy
Coaching
Exegetical Studies
Pastoral Studies
Women's Transformational Leadership

Accessible Scheduling

Whether you hope to enroll at a part-time or full-time pace, on-campus or online, we provide many pathways to accomplish your ministry training goals while you continue to focus on the people, priorities, and places which God has already put in front of you.

Accessible Scheduling Options

Theological Education That Keeps Debt Down

Ministry work can bring limited financial reward. That's why we encourage wise financial stewardship as you pay for school. It might surprise you to learn that a minority of our students utilize loans, with most choosing instead to pay out of pocket, with scholarships, or via a monthly payment plan. Look into your options for financial aid.