Master of Theological Studies

Concluding Exercise

As part of the requirements to complete the Master of Theological Studies degrees, students must enroll in 70:100 - MTS Concluding Exercise (3 hours). The student may choose one of these options as the concluding exercise: a research paper or textual analysis.

Research Paper
Upon completion of at least 30 hours of the degree requirements and after consultation with the Director of Lay Degree Programs, the student will submit to the Academic Dean the name of a faculty member who has agreed to serve as director of the research paper and reader.

The research director will assist the student in choosing a topic and planning a calendar of dates for drafts of the paper and its final completion. The research director will secure one faculty member who does not belong to the director’s division to serve as second reader and will send the name of the reader to the Academic Dean.

The student will write a 25- to 30-page research paper that demonstrates achievement of theological literacy. For example, the student may write on some aspect of sacred Scripture, Church history, the Profession of Faith, the celebration of the Christian Mystery, the life in Christ, Christian prayer or ministerial practice. In addition, this paper must identify how it satisfies at least one other outcome of the degree, as defined above.

The paper is to follow a recognized writing style as indicated in A Pocket Style Manual (Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2000), and must be completed three weeks before the end of the semester/session in which it is undertaken. A hard copy and an electronic copy should be submitted to the director.

Each reader is to assign a letter grade and provide written feedback for the student. The two grades will be averaged to determine the student’s grade. A “B-” or above must be obtained before the student is allowed to graduate.

A student who is unable to complete the paper within the semester of enrollment may, at the research director’s discretion, receive an extension up to six weeks. Any paper not completed after the six-week extension period will receive a failing grade, unless the student arranges with the director to receive a grade deferral (DF). The DF grade may be replaced by re-registering (tuition will be charged) for 70:100 - MTS Concluding Exercise in a subsequent semester and earning a satisfactory grade.

Textual Analysis
Upon completion of at least 30 hours of the degree requirements and after consultation with the Director of Lay Degree Programs, the student will submit to the Academic Dean the name of a faculty member who has agreed to serve as director and reader of the textual analysis.

The director will assist the student in choosing a topic and planning a calendar of dates for drafts of the analysis and its final completion. The director will secure one faculty member within the director’s division to serve as a second reader and will send the name of the reader to the Academic Dean.

The student will write a 25- to 30-page analysis of a text(s) in the form of a journal article that focuses on a topic of theology. This paper must demonstrate a satisfactory achievement of the outcome concerning theological literacy in the following ways. In the analysis, the student must:

• gather a pertinent bibliography around a topic of theology;
• identify and critically evaluate the important text(s) relevant to the topic;
• present the analysis in an organized and coherent presentation; and
• discuss the implications of the analysis for contemporary Church life and ministry.

The textual analysis is to follow a recognized writing style as indicated in A Pocket Style Manual (Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2000), and must be completed three weeks before the end of the semester/session in which it is undertaken.

A letter grade is to be assigned to the textual analysis by the director and the designated reader along with written comments for the student. The two grades for the paper will be averaged to determine the student’s grade. A “B-” or above must be obtained before the student is allowed to graduate.

A student who is unable to complete the textual analysis within the semester of enrollment may, at the textual analysis director’s discretion, receive an extension up to six weeks.

Any textual analysis not completed after the six-week extension period will receive a failing grade, unless the student arranges with the director to receive a grade deferral (DF). The DF grade may be replaced by re-registering (tuition will be charged) for 70:100 - MTS Concluding Exercise in a subsequent semester and earning a satisfactory grade.