{"id":716,"date":"2019-08-23T14:48:58","date_gmt":"2019-08-23T18:48:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sth\/?page_id=716"},"modified":"2026-06-05T15:57:09","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T19:57:09","slug":"master-of-theological-studies","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sth\/academics\/degree-programs\/master-of-theological-studies\/","title":{"rendered":"Master of Theological Studies (MTS)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a id=\"mts\" class=\"jump\"><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Master of Theological Studies (MTS) degree program invites students and scholars who find fulfillment\u2014and even a sense of spirituality\u2014in the academic study of theology to deepen their knowledge through engagement with the School of Theology\u2019s scholarly community. MTS students engage this degree as a step toward a variety of career paths.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Many may be preparing for doctoral studies and an academic career, others for service within a congregation or for deacons orders, and some for work within nonprofit organizations. Recognizing that there is no \u201ctypical\u201d MTS student, Boston University School of Theology provides students resources and a flexible curricular structure, allowing them to explore many areas of theological interest. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With an exceptional faculty setting high academic standards, students enjoy many opportunities for interdisciplinary study within the School of Theology, across the broader Boston University, and with our partners in the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sth\/academics\/boston-theological-interreligious-consortium\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Boston Theological Interreligious Consortium<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The MTS degree<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is designed to be<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> completed over two years of full-time study. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Its curriculum includes core coursework in Sacred Texts &amp; Interpretation, History of Traditions &amp; Institutions, Theology &amp; Meaning-Making, Ethics &amp; Lived Values, along with a Contextual Education experience to help students learn beyond the classroom (18 units). <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Beyond the core curriculum, MTS students have the flexibility to design their course of study through 30 units of free elective courses from any discipline across the School of Theology\u2019s curriculum. MTS students may also use their elective credits to complete one of the School of Theology\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sth\/academics\/degree-programs\/certificates\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">certificate programs<\/a>, thereby adding an additional credential to their theological education record.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Please see the full description of the degree program in the <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.bu.edu\/academics\/sth\/programs\/theological-studies\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">STH Bulletin<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which also contains admissions and financial information.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The School of Theology offers the following variations of the MTS degree program:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><p class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">MTS Plan of Study<\/p><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/p>\n<h5><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Plan of Study<\/span><\/h5>\n<p><strong>MTS Core (18 units)<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">First Year Formation in the first fall semester(3 units)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sacred Texts and Interpretation (3 units)\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hebrew Bible <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">or <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New Testament<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">History of Traditions and Institutions (3 units)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Theology and Meaning-Making (3 units)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ethics and Lived Values (3 units)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One semester Contextual Education internship, project, or travel seminar (3 units)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Free electives (30 units)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><p class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">Dual Degree: MTS\/MSW<\/p><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Master of Theological Studies\/Master of Social Work (MSW) dual degree program is designed for students who are enrolled, or who plan to seek admission, in the dual degree program that the School of Theology shares with the<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ssw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">School of Social Work<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. The track ensures that courses counting for both degrees are tracked properly and guides the student through both programs efficiently. At present, almost one-third of MTS courses are shared with Social Work, thereby reducing the time it takes to complete both degrees had they been taken separately.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><p class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">MTS Learning Outcomes<\/p><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The MTS curriculum is shaped by the conviction that religious life in today\u2019s world may be enriched by deep exploration of theological traditions in dialogue with broad understanding of the complexities of our global context. Students have opportunities to prepare for a variety of contributions as religious leaders serving in diverse communities, analyzing religious life in relation to diverse social contexts, and increasing theological knowledge and understanding.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The primary learning outcomes of the MTS include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Develop a public theology that draws from <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">textual, historical, and lived faith traditions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Grow in capacities to communicate effectively to address the needs of various publics.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Demonstrate a critical understanding of and creative engagement with the cultural and global realities and structures within which religious and other forms of public leadership are carried out.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Develop capacities to interpret and to effect positive change within complex institutions.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Engage across differences (social, cultural, and religious) in ways that foster mutual understanding, learning, and\/or collaboration.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Grow in self-understanding of vocation, capacity for seeking and providing relational support, and habits that will build resilience and sustain wholeness.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><p class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">MTS Assessment Information<\/p><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/p>\n<h5>Assessment Process<\/h5>\n<h5>Assessment Process<\/h5>\n<p><strong>First Term: Degree Advising<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Students are encouraged to meet with their faculty advisor.<span style=\"text-decoration: line-through;\"><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Second Term: MTS Short Survey<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The student should check in\/set up appointment with the Contextual Education office about a placement <em>early in the semester<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li>Students take the MTS Assessment Survey (including an uploaded copy of their current transcript) and schedule a meeting with their faculty advisor <em>before registering for the third semester.<\/em>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sth\/student-log-in\/registration\/master-of-theological-studies\/mts-assessment\/\">MTS Assessment Survey<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>The faculty advisor is expected to read the portfolio materials in preparation for the meeting. The conversation should last between 45 minutes and an hour.<\/li>\n<li>Following the discussion, the faculty advisor should complete the post-conversation survey electronically.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Fourth Term: Final Assessment Survey<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The ATS Graduating Student Questionnaire must be completed <em>as part of the graduation application<\/em>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Master of Theological Studies (MTS) degree program invites students and scholars who find fulfillment\u2014and even a sense of spirituality\u2014in the academic study of theology to deepen their knowledge through engagement with the School of Theology\u2019s scholarly community. MTS students engage this degree as a step toward a variety of career paths. Many may be [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15163,"featured_media":0,"parent":656,"menu_order":4,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/716"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15163"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=716"}],"version-history":[{"count":50,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/716\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":60555,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/716\/revisions\/60555"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/656"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sth\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=716"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}