M.A. Program

	Kaletsadike Argaw, MA (Orthodox Christian Studies) leads the Commencement Procession.  Read about the thesis topics of our graduates. more...
	M.A. Student Adam Strater (Jewish Studies) received an award to study for a year in Israel.  more...
	Alum Christine Gutleben (GTU/DSPT) is Director of the Animals and Religion program of the Humane Society of the United States.  more ...

The GTU Common M.A. is an exciting opportunity for you to explore theology and religion in response to the challenges posed by contemporary cultures.  Our students seek to understand the issues and hope to make a difference with their pursuits.  By studying with faculty and students from across the participating schools of the GTU community, our M.A. students experience true dialogue – talking with each other across what might be entrenched or insurmountable differences.

An extensive range of themes and issues can be studied through various areas of concentration, expanding our traditional strengths in ethics, theology, Bible, and history to include art and religion, cultural and historical studies, Christian spirituality, homiletics, liturgical studies, and religion and psychology.  Buddhist, Islamic, Jewish, and Orthodox Christian studies are also part of our program offerings.

The GTU is a religiously and culturally diverse environment, and students can incorporate exploration into their program through Certificate options in Women’s Studies, Islamic Studies, Jewish Studies, Orthodox Christian Studies, and new options in Asian and Oceanic Cultures and Faith Traditions and in Black Church/Africana Religions Studies.

One of the unique components of the program is the opportunity to affiliate with one of the GTU schools or Centers and work with a faculty advisor as your mentor from that school.  We would love to look with you at your interests and where you might best want to focus your study.  You are welcome to email GTU Admissions or call 800-826-4488 to start a conversation.

Some of the paths our M.A. graduates take include advancing to doctoral study to teach at a seminary or university, teaching at the high school level, and managing nonprofit agencies and departments.

Program Description

The Common M.A. is an academic degree offered in cooperation with the member schools and Centers of the GTU. The program provides ecumenical and interreligious learning opportunities, and students have access to courses offered throughout the consortium, and many courses at UC Berkeley. The purpose of the program is to provide a basic understanding of theological or religious studies for further graduate study or for general academic purposes.

The Common M.A. is offered in several fields of study related to theology and religion, including specialized offerings in Biblical Languages, Buddhist Studies, Islamic Studies, Jewish Studies, and Orthodox Christian Studies.

The M.A. student is required to affiliate with a member school, or a participating academic center or institute. The primary academic base for the M.A. is the school of affiliation, chosen according to study interests and/or denominational ties. Students select a specific academic field or Area of Study as the focus of their M.A. work.

The Common M.A. is a two-year degree program requiring a total of fourteen 3-unit academic courses plus six units of thesis work. All M.A. students are required to demonstrate proficiency in at least one modern foreign language early in the second year of residence. Non-native speakers of English may, with permission, certify English as their second language.

M.A. Course Requirements

M.A. Areas of Concentration

• Art and Religion
• Biblical Languages
• Biblical Studies
• Buddhist Studies
• Christian Spirituality
• Cultural and Historical Studies of Religion
• Ethics and Social Theory
• History
• Homiletics
• Interreligious Studies
• Islamic Studies
• Jewish Studies
• Liturgical Studies
• Orthodox Christian Studies
• Religion and Psychology
• Systematic and Philosophical Theology

GTU Member Schools

• American Baptist Seminary of the West
• Church Divinity School of the Pacific (Episcopal)
• Dominican School of Philosophy & Theology
• Franciscan School of Theology
• Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University
• Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary
• Pacific School of Religion (Multi-denominational)
• San Francisco Theological Seminary (Presbyterian)
• Starr King School for the Ministry (Unitarian Universalist)

FAQs
Request More Information
Apply to the M.A. Program
M.A. Handbook