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:
THE 600 Philosophy for Theology (or PHL 503 & PHL 511)
THE 606 Dogmatic Theology I (or THE 513)
THE 607 Dogmatic Theology II (or THE 514 & THE 516)
THE 611 Interpreting the Old Testament (or THE 511)
THE 612 Interpreting the New Testament (or THE 512)
THE 615 Moral Theology (or THE 515)
In the case of a student who has some but not all of the background courses, the MATS program director 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.
THE 517/CAT 517 The Church's Vision for 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
NOTE: 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 do not count toward the MATS or MTS degrees.
General Requirements
Requirements List
MTS students will take the following courses:
| THE 613 | The Church from Christ to the Council of Trent | 3 |
| THE 614 | The Church from Trent to the Third Millenium | 3 |
| THE 618 | Fundamental Theology | 3 |
| THE 619 | Biblical Hermeneutics | 3 |
THE
| Historical Elective | 3 |
THE
| Moral Theology Elective | 3 |
THE
| Moral Theology Elective | 3 |
THE
| New Testament Elective | 3 |
THE
| Old Testament Elective | 3 |
THE
| Systematic Elective | 3 |
| Electives | 6 |
| | |
| THE 894 | Thesis Direction | 3 |
| OR | |
| Elective | 3 |
| | |
| THE 895 | Thesis Defense | 3 |
| OR | |
| Elective | 3 |
Area electives include the following:
Historical-- THE 626 Franciscan Tradition, THE 656 Mariology II, THE 722 Father and Doctors of the Church: [any title], THE 724 Theology of the Body, THE 728 St. Thomas Aquinas, THE 730 Grace and the Virtues, THE 731 Christology, THE 733 Tradition and the Dev. of Doctrine, THE 734 Ecclesiology, THE 737 The One and Triune God, THE 751 Sacraments of Initiation, THE 752 Sacraments of Healing, THE 753 Holy Orders, THE 771 Greek Patristics, THE 772 Latin Patristics, THE 773 Medieval Theology, THE 774 Modern Theology.
Moral-- THE 616 Advanced Moral Theology, THE 631 Christian Spirituality, THE 700 Contemporary Moral Problems: [any title], THE 713 Catholic Social Doctrine, THE 724 Theology of the Body, THE 725 TOB and Cont. Mor. Issues, THE 727 Marriage and Family in Sacred Scripture, THE 730 Grace and the Virtues.
New Testament-- THE 643 Scripture the Heart of Catechesis, THE 651 Biblical Spirituality, THE 711 New Testament Writings: [any title], THE 726 TOB in Scripture, THE 727 Marriage and Family in Sacred Scripture, THE 744 Synoptics and Acts, THE 745 Johannine Literature, THE 746 St. Paul and the Catholic Epistles
Old Testament-- THE 643 Scripture the Heart of Catechesis, THE 651 Biblical Spirituality, THE 710 Old Testament Writings: [any title], THE 726 TOB in Scripture, THE 727 Marriage and Family in Sacred Scripture, THE 741 Pentateuch, THE 742 Former and Latter Prophets, THE 743 Wisdom Literature
Systematic-- THE 626 Franciscan Tradition, THE 641 Deposit of Faith, THE 650 Christian Liturgy, THE 655 Mariology I, THE 671 Canon Law, THE 722 Father and Doctors of the Church: [any title], THE 728 St. Thomas Aquinas, THE 730 Grace and the Virtues, THE 731 Christology, THE 732 Sacraments, THE 733 Tradition and the Dev. of Doctrine, THE 734 Ecclesiology, THE 737 The One and Triune God, THE 740 Theological Issues [any title], THE 751 Sacraments of Initiation, THE 752 Sacraments of Healing, THE 753 Holy Orders, THE 771 Greek Patristics, THE 772 Latin Patristics, THE 773 Medieval Theology, THE 774 Modern Theology.
Prerequisites for area electives include the following:
Moral Elective Prerequisites: THE 615 or THE 616
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: all background courses or THE 600, THE 606, THE 607, THE 608.
Additional Requirements
Students in the MTS will write a 6-credit thesis; or present two papers at approved academic conferences (not for credit); or have a paper accepted for publication in a peer-reviewed academic journal. The thesis will be completed in the last two semesters of course work, and in order to register for the thesis, the student together with the thesis director must agree on a suitable topic by the end of the student's third to last semester. Please see the MTS Manual for more detailed information on these.
Students who write a thesis will take two general elective courses. Students who present two papers at an approved academic conference or publish a peer reviewed article will take four general electives.
In addition, MTS students must demonstrate, by written examination, reading knowledge of one ancient and one modern language. Typically, students will choose from Greek, Latin, or Hebrew for their ancient language, and French or German for their modern language. Substitution of a different language for one of the required languages requires the approval of the director. Approval can
only be given once the student demonstrates that the language in question is more beneficial to his/her academic research than the languages that are typically required.
MTS students must maintain a B average or above (3.0 QPA) to continue in the program. If a student receives a C+ or below in a graduate course, this course will not count toward the fulfillment of degree requirements. The student must achieve a B- or better in all required (that is non-elective) graduate courses; otherwise the particular required graduate course must be repeated and a grade of B be achieved. For elective graduate courses in the MTS program, the student may elect not to repeat a course that falls below the required standard (at least a B-). If the course is repeated and a higher grade is attained, this grade will replace the previous grade on the student's transcript. If the course is not repeated, the grade for the course will be calculated as part of the student's cumulative QPA and another course must be taken (with a grade of at least a B-) to fulfill the degree requirement of 42 credits.
The final curriculum requirement for the Master of Theological Science is a comprehensive examination taken in the final semester of study or immediately after completing all required coursework. The examination will test the overall comprehension of the major tenets of theology. The proctored, online examination is offered once every semester.
Successful completion of 42 credit hours (14 courses), and the comprehensive examination are required for graduation. For all on ground MTS students, the minimum time required for residency at the University is one full academic year. In order to ensure continuity in the student's education students must complete the degree within ten years from the beginning of course work. If a student transfers to the MTS from another degree program, the time limit is reckoned from the date of original matriculation, not the date of transfer.
Catechetics Specialization
The Theology Department of Franciscan University of Steubenville now offers a specialization in Catechetics that leads to certification within its MTS program. This specialization provides professional catechetical training for those “who, imbued with an apostolic spirit, make an outstanding and absolutely necessary contribution to the spread of the faith and the Church by their great work” (Ad Gentes Divinitus, No. 17). This is only available for students in the on-ground program.
The mission of Franciscan University is to prepare young men and women for leadership in our society and in the Church. In accord with that mission the Theology Department offers this specialization to train professional Catechetical leaders who will join the Church's apostolate in diocesan offices, parishes, and schools across the country. Future Catholic high school teachers, RCIA directors, coordinators or directors of religious education, directors of youth ministry, pastoral ministers, family ministers, and sacramental preparation specialists will find this program invaluable.
The catechetics specialization rounds out an MTS degree by providing practical knowledge and experience. St. Francis heard the call, “Go, and rebuild my Church.” This specialization will help anyone who hears and wants to respond to the same call.
Required Catechetics Courses
To complete the specialization in Catechetics along with the MTS , students must accumulate 54 graduate credit hours. In addition to the undergraduate background course in Catechetics (THE/CAT 517), the specialization in Catechetics requires six 3-credit catechetics courses.
Students will take five required catechetics courses and one catechetics elective.
THE 641 and THE 643: These may be elected by non-catechetical specialization students.
Catechetics Electives
The elective is one of the following seven 3 credit courses, or another course approved by the Director of the program:
THE 693 and THE 804 may be elected by non-catechetical specialization students.
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):
Catechetics Concentration
Historical Theology Concentration
Note: THE 722 may be taken with different topics multiple times.
Mariology Concentration
Two Required Courses
| THE 655 | Mariology I: Dogma, Doctrine and Devotion | 3 |
| THE 656 | Mariology II: Patristic, Medieval, and Conciliar Sources | 3 |
One of the Following Courses
Moral Theology Concentration
| THE 631 | Christian Spirituality | 3 |
| THE 700 | Contemporary Moral Problems | 3 |
| THE 713 | Catholic Social Doctrine | 3 |
| THE 725 | Theology of the Body and Contemporary Moral Issues | 3 |
| THE 727 | Marriage and Family in Sacred Scripture | 3 |
| THE 730 | Grace and the Virtues | 3 |
Note: THE 700 may be taken with different topics multiple times.
Sacramental and Liturgical Theology Concentration
One Required Course
Two of the Following Courses
Student are permitted to take THE 724 or THE 727 toward the concentration, but not both. Only three credits will be applied from THE 724 or THE 727.
Sacred Scripture Concentration
Note: THE 710 and THE 711 may be taken with different topics multiple times.
Systematic Theology Concentration
Note: THE 722 and THE 740 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 |
| THE 727 | Marriage and Family in Sacred Scripture | 3 |
Note: Not all concentrations may be available in the online program.