Background Courses
The MATS presumes undergraduate background in theology and philosophy. Students who do not have this background may either pursue the Master of Arts degree in Theology and Christian Ministry or complete the following undergraduate background courses:
PHL 503/PHL 113 Philosophy of the Human Person
PHL 511/PHL 211 Metaphysics
THE 511/THE 211 Principles of Biblical Study I
THE 512/THE 212 Principles of Biblical Study II
THE 513/THE 213 Theology of Christ
THE 514/THE 214 Theology of the Church
THE 515/THE 115 Christian Moral Principles
THE 516/THE 314 The Sacraments
In the case of a student who has some but not all of the background courses, the Director of Graduate Theology will determine which background courses must be taken. Students must complete the background courses before they can take graduate courses, unless the required background credit hours do not equal a full load (15 credits), in which case the student may take background courses and graduate courses in the same semester. For full-time students, background courses must be completed within the first two semesters of course work.
CAT 517 Catechetics will be required for MATS students who pursue the Catechetics specialization. And the following undergraduate courses in Catechetics on the Catechetics Specialization itself will be required for students who complete a Concentration in Catechetics:
CAT 120 Introduction to Catechetics
CAT 204 Catechetics
CAT 301 Content and Curriculum
CAT 401 Catechetical Methods I
CAT 402 Catechetical Methods II
CAT 405 Catechetical Ministries Today
Students who have the full array of background courses (or equivalent) will not be permitted to take THE 600 Philosophy for Theology, THE 606 Dogmatic Theology I, THE 607 Dogmatic Theology II, THE 608 Dogmatic Theology III, THE 611 Interpreting the Old Testament, THE 612 Interpreting the New Testament, and THE 615 Moral Theology.
General Requirements
In order to provide a formation that deepens master in the major areas of sacred theology, we require the following courses of MATS students
Requirements List
In addition: a Moral Elective (prerequisites THE 615 or THE 715); O.T. Elective (prerequisites THE 510, THE 511, or THE 611); N.T. Elective (prerequisites THE 510, THE 512 or THE 612; Systematic Elective (prerequisites are all background courses or THE 600, THE 606, THE 607, THE 608; Historical Elective.
Concentrations
Students may complete a concentration in one particular field of theology or in catechetics. A concentration is 9 credits in a specific area of theology or in catechetics.
Students may acquire concentrations in more than one area, although the same course may not be used for different concentrations or specializations.
The following specializations are possible with the courses listed below (and others with approval of the director of student’s program):
Sacred Scripture Concentration
Note: THE 710 and THE 711 may be taken with different topics multiple times.
Historical Theology Concentration
| THE 722 | Fathers and Doctors of the Church | 3 |
| THE 733 | Tradition and the Development of Doctrine | 3 |
Note: THE 722 may be taken with different topics multiple times.
Theology of the Body Concentration
| THE 724 | Theology of the Body | 3 |
| THE 725 | Theology of the Body and Contemporary Moral Issues | 3 |
| THE 726 | Theology of the Body in Scripture | 3 |
Mariology Concentration
| THE 655 | Mariology I: Dogma, Doctrine and Devotion | 3 |
| THE 755 | Mariology II: Patristic, Medieval, and Conciliar Sources | 3 |
| THE 756 | Mariology III: Spirituality and Mysticism | 3 |
Moral Theology Concentration
Note: THE 700 may be taken multiple times
Systematic Theology Concentration
Note: THE 722 may be taken with different topics multiple times.
Note: Not all concentrations may be available in the online program.