Master of Arts (Religion) Prerequisites

Prerequisites and Academic Requirements for Admission

Applicants to the Master of Arts (Religion) degree must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university that includes the following:

• 18 upper-level (junior or senior) hours in religious studies
• At least 12 hours (two years) in one biblical language (Hebrew or Greek)
• A course (of at least 1-hour credit) in theological research with a grade of “B” or better.

If students lack any of the prerequisite coursework, they are required to make up those prerequisites with either equivalent undergraduate courses or appropriate graduate courses, as specified by the program director. Applicants will also submit a writing sample that demonstrates their capacity for effective theological research and writing. If the student lacks an undergraduate course in theological research with a grade of “B” or better, or the writing sample is deemed inadequate, the student will be required to take a graduate-level theological research class.

Applicants will also demonstrate the following three items in their academic achievement:

1. A GPA of 3.0 in all upper-level (junior and senior) coursework OR an overall undergraduate GPA of 2.70
2. A GPA of 3.0 in all undergraduate coursework in religion (which must include a minimum of 18 upper-level hours in religion)
3. A competitive score on the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) or the MAT (Miller Analogies Test)

If students satisfy the above academic standards, along with other application requirements discussed here and in the section on Admissions, they may be granted full admission into the MA (Rel). Tentative admission may be granted to applicants who satisfy any two of the three academic achievement standards listed above based on approval from the program director. Students granted tentative admission must maintain a 3.00 GPA during their first 12 hours of graduate work to be eligible to receive full admission and continue their graduate study.