Master of Arts

Lincoln Christian Seminary’s Master of Arts (MA) is a 48-hour academic degree oriented toward general theological studies and requires either a master’s thesis or an extended research paper with a comprehensive exam or an oral presentation. This program allows a student to specialize in one of the Seminary’s major areas of study from a research perspective rather than for professional practice. Students with an undergraduate degree in professional ministerial or theological studies may arrange for a briefer degree program (as few as 30 hours). If you desire a degree that is oriented toward general ministry practice you should pursue the Master of Divinity instead of, or in addition to, this degree. This is a general degree, and the areas of specialization are diverse, however, there are some basic objectives that are germane to all Master of Arts students:

  1. To demonstrate advanced research and writing skills through successful completion of LS600 “Shaping the Mind of a Leader” and completion of a thesis or an extended research paper.
  2. To develop an ability to properly interpret God’s Word through proficiency in the Biblical languages of Greek and Hebrew or through completion of course work in those disciplines.
  3. To gain a deeper theological understanding of one of the Seminary’s major areas of study, evidenced through successful completion of course work in that area, culminating in a thesis or extended research paper and a comprehensive oral exam or graduate presentation over that area.
  4. To understand how deeper theological study of a particular area should be set within the context of the Seminary’s own religious heritage and its emphasis on leadership ministry.

Completing MA course work in one year:

Students with an undergraduate degree in Bible or a related field may complete the 48-hour MA in as few as 30 hours. Depending on prior courses and one’s chosen specialization, a student may be exempted from the 9 hours of electives listed below, reducing the 48-hour program to 42 hours. In addition, students may be exempted from as many as 12 more hours, further reducing their total hours to 30, based on the following conditions:

1) Having CH 801 (3 hours) waived if they have completed an undergraduate course in Restoration History with a grade of “C” or better.
2) Having 6 hours of Bible/Theology courses waived if one of the following applies:
a) a student is pursuing a specialization in Bible/Theology, and has completed two years of undergraduate Greek with a “C” or better, or passes the Greek proficiency, the student does not need to take NT 610 or NT 611.
b) a student is pursuing a specialization in Christian Ministries, they do not need to take six hours of Bible/Theology courses beyond BI 603-604. The student may substitute OT 610-611 for BI 603-604 if he or she has completed two years of undergraduate Greek.

MA Core Courses**
21 credit hours
Required for all areas of concentration*
LS 501 Graduate Research and Writing+ 0
LS 601 Shaping the Heart of a Leader 3
CH 801 Implementing Restoration Movement Principles Today 3
Required for concentration in Bible and Theology*
NT 610 Interpreting the New Testament I 3
NT 611 Interpreting the New Testament II 3
OT 610 Interpreting the Old Testament I 3
OT 611 Interpreting the Old Testament II 3
Required for concentrations in Christian Ministries
BI 603 Interpreting Scripture I 3
BI 604 Interpreting Scripture II 3
Two courses in Bible or Theology 6
Concentration Requirements1
21 credit hours
Courses 15-18
Extended Research Paper (3) or Thesis (6) 3-6
Electives2
9 credit hours
48 credit hours
1Students must choose an area of concentration from one of the areas of study listed in the Seminary Catalog and work with a faculty adviser in that area to write a thesis or extended research paper.
2Advising in some concentrations may require or strongly recommend that these hours be pursued within the area of concentration. See the program adviser for program specifics.
+Not required of all students. See catalog for proficiency information.
*Students may proficiency out of NT610, or OT610 by passing a proficiency exam, and taking electives instead. Students who demonstrate proficiency in NT610 or OT610 have the option of taking NT611 and OT611 or taking other exegetical courses. Students who have had course work comparable to LS601 or CH801, and who have passed these courses with a “C” or better, may substitute another course in that area with the permission of their faculty adviser. The total number of elective hours will be more for those who can demonstrate proficiency in NT610 or OT610.
**Please note that for some specializations, the Master of Arts degree may be completed without enrolling in traditional, semester-long courses on campus. To complete the degree through non-traditional means, students may choose one or more of the following means: intensive week courses (offered several times annually), three to five distance learning courses (see “Distance Learning” policy in Chapter 5 for more clarification on the exact hours of distance learning courses allowed), six to nine hours of independent study, or transfer credits (see “Transfer of Credits” policy in Chapter 5). The length of the program controls the number of distance learning courses or independent study courses which are allowable. If pursuing a degree through non-traditional means, at least nine hours must be taken through intensive week courses on campus.

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