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This degree program, offered by the Graduate Theological Union in collaboration with Starr King School, provides:
- an opportunity to explore and enrich assumptions
about theological and ethical issues inherent in life
and work
- an academic structure for personal, sustained inquiry
into theological issues or concerns
- a high level of competence in a specific area of
study, preparing students for further study at the
doctoral level.
- a minimum two years of residence
- a minimum 48 units of credit (42 units of coursework
and 6 units for thesis preparation)
- proficiency in at least one modern language
- a master's thesis
Each M.A. student chooses an area of concentration
as a focus of study and thesis work. A Starr King faculty
member with expertise in the student's area of concentration
serves as the primary thesis advisor.
Areas of concentration available through Starr King
faculty include:
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Art and Religion
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Christian Spirituality
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Cultural and Historical Studies of Religions (including Asian Studies and Islamic Studies)
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Ethics and Social Theory/Religion and Society
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History
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Homiletics
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Liturgical Studies
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Religion and Psychology
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Systematic and Philosophical Theology (including Theology, Process and Relational Theology, and Religious Humanism)
M.A. students are required to demonstrate proficiency in at least one modern language other than their first language:
- by passing a language exam,
- by petitioning the GTU to accept 4 semesters (or 6 quarters) of coursework in the language,
- by petitioning the GTU to accept a successful semester of graduate study at a foreign univesity where the language was used in lectures and written work.
Coursework undertaken to meet the language requirement is not counted towards the 48 units of credit required for completion of the degree. Students are encouraged, whenever possible, to complete their language study before beginning the M.A. degree.
Each M.A. student is required to submit a thesis showing the student's competence in independent investigation, scholarly judgement and creativity. The thesis should demonstrate that the student is able to manage research materials and organize a problem in acceptable academic form. A general understanding of the problem is require as well as knowledge of the standard reference works and journals that focus on the subject. An adequate bibliography must be included.
A student determines the thesis topic in consultation with the thesis committee, which must approve the topic. The thesis committee chair must be a member of the Starr King faculty, who serves as the primary thesis advisor. The committee must include at least one faculty member from another GTU school. The committee works with the student during the writing of the thesis and then meets with the student for an oral examination on the completed thesis.
The committee may designate a pass with honors, a pass, a pass with minor revisions, a pass with substantial revisions, a failure with possibility of revisions, or a failure.
Because of a long-established, free cross-registration system, SKSM-affiliated M.A. students can draw on Starr King and Graduate Theological Union resources, GTU-affiliated advanced centers for research and study, as well as the course offerings, libraries, research institutes and faculty of the University of California, Berkeley.
For more information about the Master of Arts degree requirements,
visit the Graduate Theological Union.
Note that Starr King-affiliated M.A. students can begin the program
in either fall and spring.
M.A. application deadlines:
- Fall enrollment: Feb. 15
- Spring enrollment: Sept. 30
Click to view the Starr King catalog in PDF format. (Note: Seminary for the Laity certificate program is no longer offered.)
M.A. | MASC | M.Div.
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