To be considered for admission, prospective students must submit a completed application form to the Graduate School. The application is processed in the graduate office and sent on to the graduate director in Theology, Dr. Charles Pinches. He reviews the application and makes a recommendation to the Dean of the Graduate School, Dr. Robert Powell, who determines acceptance and its terms, and informs the prospective student by letter.

Sometimes the director and the dean admit new students under certain terms, such as, for instance, that certain basic courses be taken first, or that a certain grade point be attained in the first semester in the program. If there are any such stipulations, they are noted in the dean’s acceptance letter, and recorded on the back page of the application, which is filed in the graduate office. Since students in graduate theology have often studied some quite different subjects as undergraduates, or it has been some years since they last received formal education, it is not uncommon for their acceptance to include such stipulations. These should not be understood as a lack of confidence in the student. Rather, we have found it is often valuable for students as well as the faculty in theology to have an opening trial period in which they can become confident that study of theology at the masters level is appropriate.

Applications are considered as they arrive; there is no settled deadline. Once an application is complete, students should not need to wait more than two months to hear. Typically it is a shorter time. Once accepted, students are assigned a "mentor" in theology. This is always Dr. Pinches. They should call his office (570-941-4302) or the Theology office (570-941-6309) for an initial appointment to get set up for the first semester of classes.

While generally students enroll in the semester following the date of their acceptance, enrollment can be delayed. Admission stands for up to two years. Of course, it is a good idea for students to keep both the Graduate School and the director informed about enrollment plans.
 
 

2. EDUCATIONAL EXPENSES

In support of the program in Theology, the University of Scranton offers a tuition reduction of one half on all graduate theology credits. Other than this tuition reduction, there are no direct internal funds to help theology students cover their education costs. While no graduate assistantships are available in Theology, occasionally assistantships are available outside of specific departments. These are awarded through the Graduate office; theology students would need to compete with graduates students from other departments for these awards.

Generally most MA students either pay out of pocket for their tuition and books or find their own funding sources outside the University of Scranton. The financial aid office at the University (phone: 570-941-7700) can help in locating some of these sources.

Concerning housing expenses, the University does not provide graduate student housing. However, there are generally a good number of fairly inexpensive apartments available in the area. Students coming from outside the Scranton area should consult with the graduate director if they need help with housing questions.
 
 

3. COURSE AND HOUR REQUIREMENTS

The MA in Theology requires 30 credit hours. All courses in the program count as 3 credit hours. So the completed MA is a 10 course sequence. Additionally, in their final term, students are required to pass a comprehensive exam (see section 8 below). If the thesis option is chosen (see section 9 below) the course requirement is lowered to 24 hours or 8 courses, the student is exempted from the comprehensive exam, and the final 6 hours is awarded for the writing of the thesis.

Generally students choose their courses from the course offerings in each semester according to their interests. However, they must be sure that the general course requirements are satisfied as their studies progress, preferably within the first 5 or 6 courses. Students must have a course in each of the following 5 areas: Old Testament, New Testament, Moral Theology, Systematic Theology and Historical Theology. The first two, Old Testament and New Testament, are satisfied by the basic exegesis courses: T/RS 500 and T/RS 501. A variety of courses satisfy the requirements in the other three areas. Generally when a course fits within one of these three remaining categories it is clear from its title. For example, T/RS 540, "Sources of Christian Moral Thought," clearly fits within moral theology and would satisfy that requirement. Depending on the course and the student, it is sometimes possible to count a course in more than one category--at the discretion of the graduate director. His concern will be whether the student has had exposure within and demonstrated familiarity with the breadth of theological inquiry. The requirement exists to ensure that a general understanding of the discipline of theology is gained by all students.

Flexibility regarding in what area a specific course can count especially applies to courses marked T/RS 584 or "special topics." The 584 designation is used to cover reading courses as well as most first time offerings, for these will not yet be listed in the catalogue. Any 584 course carries a title that distinguishes it from other 584 courses. Again, the general area the course falls within can usually be inferred from the title; if there is some doubt, the director should be consulted. Students may take more than one 584 course.
 
 

4. COURSE SELECTION AND PROGRESSION

a. course offerings

Generally, three courses are offered in the fall and in the spring term. One additional course may be offered in the summer grad term. Classes meet once weekly, in the evening, for approximately 3 hours. This accommodates the needs of commuting students, and those who are otherwise employed. 9 credit hours per term is understood to be a full load for graduate study. The rotation of courses from semester to semester does not follow an exact pattern, although care is taken to offer a range of courses that will satisfy the basic course requirements in the five areas.

b. course selection

While students are finally responsible for their own course selection, advice should be sought out from the director. Each semester’s course offerings are listed in advance in the Graduate School’s "Course Registration Brochure." This is distributed in classes at approximately mid-semester for the next semester. It is also available on request in the Graduate office, or from the director. It contains information concerning courses offered and their day and time.

c. course registration

Course registration is done through the Graduate School office. Students who are established in the program (not new, and not on probation) may register by touch-tone phone without the approval of the director. Instructions about how this is done are included in the Course Registration Brochure. Every term a special PIN number is issued for these students; they will need it to register by phone. If they do not know their PIN, it can be obtained through the director. Otherwise, a triplicate registration form is available in the Graduate office, from Marie Gaughan in the Theology office (#361 St. Thomas Hall) or from Dr. Pinches (#378 St. Thomas Hall). This form must be signed by the student and by the director. It can be delivered to the Graduate office by the student, or sent over from the Theology office.

If the student is enrolling in a reading course (see 6), an additional form must be submitted with the registration form. It is green in color, and must be signed by the director, the Department Chair and the professor of the reading course. It is available in any of the three offices listed above. Registration for reading courses cannot be done by phone.

d. course progression

There is no requirement set concerning the pace at which a student must progress through the program--besides the general Graduate School requirement that any program be completed six years after the date that the first course is taken. (Even this six year requirement can be extended at the discretion of the dean.) Since their situations widely vary, students in Theology progress at quite different paces through the program.

Assuming no transfer credits, the minimum time students need to complete the program is 16 months. Typically, full time students enroll in their first courses in the fall. With three courses each regular term, and two additional courses, one in the January term and one in summer, it is possible to reach the thesis writing stage by the fall of the next year. (This is advantageous for good students who wish to spend no more than a year in residency, for it is possible to write a thesis at some distance from the University.) Such rapid progression makes sense for only a minority of students. Any students who wish to attempt it should consult with the director.

With 15 hours of required course work (with flexibility in 3 of the 5 areas), plus 15 hours of electives, it is convenient to divide students’ progression in the master’s program in half. In the first half, which in some cases corresponds to the first year, it is generally recommended that students take courses that fulfill the requirements and acquaint them with the broad scope of theology. In the second half, the latter 15 hours, students may wish to concentrate in an area within theology such as scripture or ethics. In the latter half of the program reading courses are easier to set up, and allow the student to gain more specific knowledge of an area by working directly with a professor who specializes in it. This is particularly recommended for those students who plan to write a thesis, for in it they will need to demonstrate familiarity with some one area in theology.
 
 

5. COURSE FORMAT, EXPECTATIONS, AND GRADING

Professors teaching in the program vary somewhat in their approach. However, some broad expectations for academic work in theology can be stated.

a. course format

A course syllabus will be distributed on the first day of class; as well, it may be available earlier from the course professor. This syllabus will describe the course and include expectations of the students, including grading procedures.

We are able to keep classes to a relatively small size, which allows for productive class discussion. Typically classes follow a seminar format in which student participation is expected. A considerable amount of reading, much of it from primary sources, will be assigned for each week. Students need to understand that a careful reading of these assignments before class is essential. Sometimes the reading will be difficult; it is expected that students will have questions. However, giving every effort to grasp what is being said in the readings is key to success in the program.

b. expectations for the level of academic work

Students must come to the graduate program prepared to write essays of a variety of sorts. In each course they will be required to complete at least two writing assignments; at the discretion of the professor, there may be a greater variety of kinds and numbers of these assignments. It is assumed that students have mastered the essential mechanics of writing English. Moreover, they should be familiar with, or quickly become familiar with, research methods in the humanities, which includes a familiarity with using literary sources and properly making reference to them. Students should expect and make every effort to learn from their professors’ criticisms of their written work. As well, they will receive occasional public criticism from their peers. If students are concerned about their readiness on this score, they should speak with their professor, or with the director. Either one may be able to find students special assistance if it is needed.

c. grades

Grading is the sole responsibility of the course professor. Procedures will vary. If students wish to discuss a particular grade with a professor, they should feel free to do so. Any significant ongoing disagreement about grades should be referred to the director. Graduate course grades and their "definitions" are listed in the catalogue. These definitions should be consulted, for the graduate grading standard diverges somewhat from the undergraduate standard.

To remain in good standing in the graduate program, students are expected to maintain a 3.0 (B) average. A grade lower than B in a course can be balanced by those higher and need not hinder students’ progress in the program. However, students and faculty alike should understand that a grade lower than B in an MA course signals some deficiency in the work done. If a student’s GPA falls under 3.0 (B average), academic probation is automatic in the subsequent semester. If the GPA is not raised subsequently, it can result in academic dismissal by order of the dean, in consultation with the director.

6. READING COURSES (READERS)

Reading courses are an important component of the graduate program in Theology. Not only do they provide students an opportunity to interact directly with a professor, which is important in developing the student’s capacities for advanced study, they also allow the student to pursue more specialized study. Since the program offers only about 7 regularly scheduled classes each year, these will typically cover more generalized subject matter. Readers can be well used to increase variety or to pursue a particular type of inquiry begun at a more general level in an earlier course. For example, students who have completed "Exegesis of the Old Testament" (T/RS 500) and "Exegesis of the New Testament" (T/RS 501) may wish to study scripture further. Readers are an excellent place to do this.

The department supports the use of readers by graduate students. However, students should be aware that arranging them may sometimes be difficult. They involve considerable work on the part of professors. Despite an enthusiasm for a topic or a student, in a given semester a professor may need to decline a request from a student. Moreover, over-utilization of readers can lead to difficulties, both for students and for the program. Too many readers with one professor or on one topic may undercut the program’s emphasis on a broad education in theology, as well as diminish the number of available students to fill regularly scheduled classes.

Students wishing to arrange a reader should choose a professor they wish to work with and visit him or her, arriving with some general ideas about a topic. (If a topic is known but not a professor, students should ask the director for guidance regarding faculty members’ areas of expertise.) Students should do this as far as possible in advance of the semester in which the reader is to be taken. The student and professor should then plan the course of study together. Professors will have different preferences about the format for the reader. However, students should expect to meet with the professor at least once per week, to be asked to read and discuss a number of texts, and to complete at least one significant writing assignment.

All readers are carried under the T/RS 584 designation. They require the signature of the instructor, the director and the department chair on a special green colored form. It is available either through the Graduate office or the Theology office.

7. LANGUAGE STUDY

Proficiency in certain ancient or modern languages such as biblical Greek or modern German is important for those pursuing advanced study in theology. No MA course in Theology at the University of Scranton presumes this proficiency. However, particularly for those who are considering further study in theology after completing their MA, it is highly recommended that some such proficiency be achieved while in the program. Auditing undergraduate courses in some of these languages may be possible; arrangements should be made through the director. If a student has or acquires adequate facility with one of those languages key to theological study (e.g., Hebrew, Greek, Latin), graduate credit in Theology can be given for a reading course using that language in reading theological sources. Students should contact the director for more information about how such readers might be arranged.
 
 

8. COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATIONS

In their final semester of classes, or subsequently, students in the non-thesis track must pass a comprehensive exam. This is understood to be the students’ final achievement in the program, what is called in the catalogue the "capstone experience." Students must apply to take the comprehensive exam by the deadline listed in the graduate catalogue on a form that is available through the Graduate office or in the Theology office. The date for this deadline is approximately at mid semester. The graduate catalogue also lists a date for the administration of the comprehensive exams; it will be followed unless special circumstances apply. Generally the exam day is a Saturday, approximately one month prior to the end of the semester.

The exam is written. Approximately a month prior to the exam day, the director will distribute to each student a list of questions. Typically, these will number 10, one for each class taken in the program. The questions will be authored by the various instructors in a student’s various classes. They will direct students’ attention to some crucial aspect of the course. They will also be general enough in nature so students can demonstrate knowledge, not just of facts or details, but of a whole subject matter. On the day of the exam, working with each individual student, the director will select 3 from the original list of questions. Students will then have three hours to compose essay responses to the three questions.

Review and evaluation of the completed examination will be the responsibility of the director and the professors whose questions were selected. While a grade will be assigned for each question and for the exam, any passing grade will be understood as the successful completion of the examination.
 
 

9. THE THESIS OPTION

Students may elect to write a thesis as their "capstone experience" in the program. For some a thesis is recommended (for example, those who plan to pursue doctoral studies). Students should consult with the director about whether a thesis is a good idea in their particular case.

Six credit hours are reserved for the thesis. This means that students can begin writing the thesis after having completed 24 hours of course work, with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0. Thesis credit hours are listed under the designation T/RS 599. The green colored reader request form must also be submitted when registering for the thesis.

a. preparation

Students considering writing a thesis should begin to explore their options well in advance of the thesis semester. The most important questions to consider are what topic to write on and with which faculty member to work. If a student is uncertain on one or both of these questions, the director can provide advice.

b. proposal

Initially, students should approach the faculty member they would like to work with a general plan for the thesis project. If the faculty member agrees to work with the student, he or she comes to be understood as the "thesis mentor." As students discuss their plans with their prospective thesis mentor, they should remain open to considerable modification of the plan on the mentor’s advice. Once a topic has been formulated and the thesis mentor has agreed to direct the project, the director should be informed. Then, in consultation with the director and their thesis mentor, students should draw up a thesis proposal. Generally this should be approximately 1000 words and include (1) a general description of the project, including some justification of its significance, (2) an outline of the thesis’ chapters and subsections and (3) a brief review of what sources will be consulted in the thesis research. The thesis proposal should be approved by both the thesis mentor and the director.

Also at this time, thesis students and mentors should consider what two other persons will serve as readers/examiners for the thesis. Typically both these readers are, like the mentor, full time faculty members of the department of Theology. If the topic or situation warrants it, however, with the director’s approval other qualified individuals may serve as readers. The agreement of the readers to read the thesis and the approval of the proposal by the thesis mentor and the director should be gotten by the beginning of the term in which the student expects graduation.

c. form and content

Recommended length for the thesis is between 60 and 90 pages. It should not exceed 100 pages, nor be less than 12,500 words. It should present and defend some plainly stated thesis, include a title page, a table of contents and at least two chapter divisions, and should employ either endnotes or footnote. It should be consistent in style, following either the MLA or Turabian’s format, and, in its final submission, be free of grammatical and spelling errors.

It is not required that the thesis defended be entirely original, neither must it be exhaustive in the literature it cites. However, students must demonstrate in their text that they are aware of the significant debates in theology that surround the thesis topic. It should demonstrate as well a capacity to carry out research and organize results. The end result of the thesis should be that its author has become conversant in the topic covered and possesses an understanding of the various positions about the topic that have been or might be taken by other theologians. Students should think of the thesis as an opportunity to explore these positions and develop and defend their own view in relation to them.

d. submission and defense

As the thesis nears completion, the thesis mentor should make a judgment about the readiness of the thesis for submission to the two readers. The thesis should reach this state of readiness at least one month prior to the due date for submission of the approved thesis to the Graduate School. (The catalogue lists the deadline for thesis submission. Usually it is approximately two weeks prior to the last day of class in the relevant semester.) This span of a month’s time is necessary for the readers to read the thesis and pass preliminary judgment, and for the student to make the revisions they require. When approval from the readers is gotten, a special form, available in the Graduate office or the Theology office, must be submitted in triplicate, each copy bearing original signatures of the thesis mentor and the two readers, by the deadline in the catalogue. These forms will eventually be bound in as the cover sheet of the thesis in its final form. The forms may be submitted with the completed thesis in its final form, although usually the forms are submitted by themselves, and the final form of the thesis submitted in triplicate sometime in the next few weeks, preferably on the date of the thesis defense. This extra time allows students to fix minor errors in the thesis document and place it in a pleasing form for binding. After binding, which is taken care of by the Graduate office, one copy of the thesis is retained by the Graduate School, one is placed in the department of Theology office, and one is given to the student.

Once the thesis has been officially approved, an oral defense must be scheduled by the thesis mentor. The defense is open to the public. It should last approximately an hour, and should include (1) an oral synopsis by the student of the thesis, (2) opportunity for the thesis mentor and each of the two reader/examiners to pose questions and (3) general opportunity for others attending the defense to ask questions of the student. After the defense, the thesis mentor, in consultation with the reader/examiners, should determine a grade for the thesis and submit it to the Graduate School.
 
 

10. GRADUATION

During the term in which they hope to graduate, students must submit an "application for degree" form to the Graduate School. It is available in the Graduate office or in the Theology office. On this form, students are asked if they plan to attend graduation exercises. If students are able, they are urged to attend these exercises, for this is a fitting way of crediting students’ achievements and an opportunity for faculty and others to congratulate them. Graduation robes are rented through the Graduate office and can be reserved on this same "application for degree" form. Attendance at this ceremony is recommended, but not necessary for graduation.

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