Gain vocational clarity as you learn to integrate faith into your everyday life and work, whether in the marketplace, academy, or church.
Special note
On January 26, 2013, the name of the Master of Christian Studies was changed to the Master of Arts in Theological Studies. The changes come into effect in the 2013–2014 academic year. The information on this page is current until August 30, 2013. For the revised curriculum, please visit the new MA in Theological Studies page.
The Program Is
- Foundational: Acquire a solid foundation in the Christian faith through core courses built on theological integration and personal formation.
- Integrative: Learn to relate this foundational core to all areas of life and work.
- Focused: Pursue focused study in one of 13 concentration areas that interests you.
Typical Students
- are working/planning to work in the professions
- are preparing for certain types of church or parachurch work
- are pursuing an academic career
Graduates go on to a wide variety of pursuits, including resuming previous careers, following newly discovered interests, undertaking further education, or entering church or parachurch work—all with a new perspective and motivation for engaging in their vocation and ministry as mature people of God.
Credit Hours
60
Typical Completion Time
- minimum 2–3 years full-time
- up to 6 years part-time
Application Requirements
To apply to the program, you must EITHER:
- have completed an accredited bachelor’s degree OR
- be at least 30 years of age and able to demonstrate that your life/vocational/ educational experience can be seen as equivalent to a university degree
The minimum grade point average normally considered in the admission selection process is 2.8 on a scale of 4.0 (or equivalent).
For required documents and to learn more about the application process, visit our Admission Requirements page.
Concentrations
One of the primary appeals of the MCS is that it allows you to focus your studies in one of the following areas of concentration
- Applied Theology
- Mission Studies
- Marketplace Theology
- Old Testament
- New Testament
- Biblical Studies
- Church History
- Interdisciplinary Studies
- Christianity and Culture
- Christianity and the Arts
- Biblical Languages
- Spiritual Theology
- Theology
Program Costs
Regent College has announced a decrease in tuition for the 2012–2013 academic year to $440 per credit hour.
The total tuition for the MCS program is $26,400 (60 credit hours at $440 per credit hour).
For a breakdown of associated fees and costs of living, view our sample budget.
To help you offset the high costs of graduate education, we offer scholarships, financial aid, and work opportunities on campus.
Program Requirements
You will choose one area of concentration. You will complete a final project, which can take the form of a comprehensive exam, a thesis, or an integrative project in the arts and theology. The MCS degree will be awarded for the successful completion of 60 credit hours of study with a grade point average of 3.0 (= B) or better.
While each of the concentrations has its own specific requirements, the overall shape of the MCS program is as follows:
| Required Foundations* | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| Old Testament Foundations (BIBL 501) | 3 |
| New Testament Foundations (BIBL 502) | 3 |
| Christian Thought & Culture I (INDS 501) | 3 |
| Christian Thought & Culture II (INDS 502) | 3 |
|
REQUIRED COURSES FOR ALL CONCENTRATIONS |
|
| Biblical Languages** | 3, 12, or 27 |
|
Biblical Exegesis & Interpretation (BIBL 503) |
3 |
| History of Christianity I or II (HIST 502 or HIST 502) | 3 |
| Systematic Theology A, B, C, or Overview (THEO 605, THEO 606, THEO 607, or THEO 500) | 3 |
|
REQUIRED COURSES FOR EACH SPECIFIC CONCENTRATION |
|
|
The requirements for each concentration are described below. Generally, they involve: |
|
| Specifically required courses for your concentration of choice | vary |
| Concentration electives | vary |
| Upper-level seminar | 0, 3, or 6 |
| Final Project (comprehensive exam, thesis, or integrative project in the arts and theology)*** | 3, 6, or 12 |
| FREE ELECTIVES | 0 to 18 |
| TOTAL | 60 |
Concentration requirements are revised from time to time. You have the option to complete the concentration according to the requirements as published when you were admitted, or according to the current requirements.
Applied Theology
| CONCENTRATION REquireMENTS | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| MCS Field Education (APPL 691) | 3 |
| APPL Seminar | 3 |
| One of the following: | 12 |
| (i) Comprehensive Examination (3) + APPL Concentration Electives (9) | |
| (ii) Thesis (12) | |
| Free Electives | 18 |
APPL 691 is an eight-month field education experience, normally running from September to April.
Mission Studies
| CONCENTRATION REquireMENTS | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| MCS Field Education (APPL 691) | 3 |
| Introduction to World Christianity (APPL 533) | 3 |
| APPL Seminar | 3 |
|
Empowering the Church for Re-Evangelization (APPL 610) |
3 |
| One of the following: | 12 |
| (i) Comprehensive Examination (3) + Mission Studies Electives (9) | |
| (ii) Thesis (12) | |
| Free Electives | 12 |
APPL 691 is an eight-month field education experience, normally running from September to April.
Marketplace Theology
| CONCENTRATION REquireMENTS | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| MCS Field Immersion (APPL 692) | 3 |
| Marketplace Seminar | 3 |
| One of the following: | 15 |
| (i) Comprehensive Examination (3) + Marketplace Theology Electives (12) | |
| (ii) Thesis (12) + Marketplace Theology Electives (3) | |
| Free Electives | 15 |
APPL 692 is an eight-month field education experience, normally running from September to April. You will need to arrange with the Marketplace Theology concentration coordinator as to how you will fulfill the field immersion and seminar requirements.
Old Testament
| CONCENTRATION REquireMENTS | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| Biblical Hebrew |
12 |
| Biblical Hermeneutics & Criticism (BIBL 600) | 3 |
| Advanced Old Testament Exegesis (BIBL 701) | 3 |
|
Old Testament Seminar |
3 |
| One of the following: | 12 |
| (i) Comprehensive Examination (3) + Old Testament Electives (9)* | |
| (ii) Thesis (12) | |
| Free Electives |
6 |
|
*At least 6 of the 9 required credits of concentration electives must be completed at the 600 level or higher. |
New Testament
| CONCENTRATION REquireMENTS | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| New Testament Greek |
12 |
| Biblical Hermeneutics & Criticism (BIBL 600) | 3 |
| Advanced New Testament Exegesis (BIBL 702) | 3 |
|
New Testament Seminar |
3 |
| One of the Following: | 12 |
| (i) Comprehensive Examination (3) + New Testament Electives (9)* | |
| (ii) Thesis (12) | |
| Free Electives |
6 |
|
*At least 6 of the 9 required credits of concentration electives must be completed at the 600 level or higher. |
Biblical Studies
| CONCENTRATION REquireMENTS | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| Biblical Hebrew |
6 |
| New Testament Greek | 6 |
| Biblical Hermeneutics & Criticism (BIBL 600) | 3 |
| Advanced Old Testament Exegesis (BIBL 701) | 3 |
|
Advanced New Testament Exegesis (BIBL 702) |
3 |
|
Old Testament Seminar |
3 |
|
New Testament Seminar |
3 |
| Old Testament Comprehensive Examination |
3 |
| New Testament Comprehensive Examination | 3 |
| Free Electives |
6 |
Church History
| CONCENTRATION REquireMENTS | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| History of Christianity I (HIST 501) |
3 |
| History of Christianity II (HIST 502) | 3 |
| History Seminar | 3 |
| One of the Following: | 12 or 15 |
| (i) Comprehensive Examination (3) + History Electives (9) | |
| (ii) Thesis (12) + History Electives (3) | |
| Free Electives |
18 or 15 |
Interdisciplinary Studies
| CONCENTRATION REquireMENTS | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| Interdisciplinary Studies Seminar |
3 |
| One of the Following: | 18 |
| (i) Comprehensive Examination (3) + Interdisciplinary Studies Electives (15) | |
| (ii) Thesis (12) + Interdisciplinary Studies Electives (6) | |
| Free Electives |
15 |
Christianity and Culture
| CONCENTRATION REquireMENTS | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| Theology of Culture (THEO 515/INDS 515) |
3 |
|
Interdisciplinary Studies Seminar |
3 |
| One of the Following: | 15 |
| (i) Comprehensive Examination (3) + Christianity & Culture Electives (12) | |
| (ii) Thesis (12) + Christianity & Culture Electives (3) | |
| Free Electives |
15 |
Christianity and the Arts
| CONCENTRATION REquireMENTS | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| The Christian Imagination (INDS 560) |
3 |
| One of the Following: | 18 |
| (i) Arts-related INDS Seminar (3) + Comprehensive Exam (3) + Christianity & the Arts Electives (12) | |
| (ii) Vocation of the Artist Seminar (INDS 785) (3) + Integrative Project in the Arts & Theology (6) + Christianity & the Arts Electives (9) | |
| (iii) Vocation of the Artist Seminar (INDS 785) (3) + Integrative Project in the Arts & Theology (12) + Christianity & the Arts Electives (3) | |
| Free Electives |
15 |
Biblical Languages
| CONCENTRATION REquireMENTS | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| Biblical Hebrew |
12 |
| New Testament Greek |
12 |
| Advanced Greek or Hebrew Readings (LANG 720 or LANG 721) | 3 |
| One of the Following: | 3 or 12 |
| (i) Comprehensive Examination (3) | |
| (ii) Thesis (12) | |
| Free Electives |
9 or 0 |
For this concentration, you will choose one language to be your major focus, and the other language to be your minor focus. You will take the Advanced Readings course in your major language (which will substitute for a seminar in this concentration) and will have additional readings in your minor language in preparation for your comprehensive exam.
Spiritual Theology
| CONCENTRATION REquireMENTS | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| History of Christianity I (HIST 501) |
3 |
| History of Christianity II (HIST 502) | 3 |
| Systematic Theology A (THEO 605) | 3 |
| Systematic Theology B (THEO 606) | 3 |
| Systematic Theology C (THEO 607) | 3 |
|
The Christian Spirit (SPIR 500) |
3 |
|
Spiritual Theology Seminar |
3 |
| One of the following: | 9 or 12 |
| (i) Comprehensive Examination (3) + Classics of Christian Spirituality (SPIR 670) (3) + Spiritual Theology Electives (3) | |
| (ii) Thesis (12) | |
| Free Electives |
12 or 9 |
Theology
| CONCENTRATION REquireMENTS | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| Biblical Hebrew |
3 |
|
New Testament Greek |
3 |
| Systematic Theology A (THEO 605) | 3 |
| Systematic Theology B (THEO 606) | 3 |
| Systematic Theology C (THEO 607) | 3 |
|
Historical Theology (THEO 608) |
3 |
|
Theology Seminar |
3 |
| One of the Following: | 3 or 12 |
| (i) Comprehensive Examination (3) | |
| (ii) Thesis (12) | |
| Free Electives |
12 or 3 |
More details are available on our Program Requirements and Policies page.
Notes on the Requirements
*Required Foundations:
Most students take these four courses in their first year. If you are unable to do that (e.g., for unavoidable scheduling reasons), you may, upon approval of the Registrar, make the following substitutions.
Substitutions for INDS 501 or INDS 502:
- HIST 501 History of Christianity I & HIST 502 History of Christianity II
Plus any two of the following courses:
- INDS 510 The Christian Mind
- INDS 515/THEO 515 Theology of Culture
- INDS 563 Jesus in Literature
- INDS 581 Christian Faith & Practice in a (Post)modern World
Substitutions for INDS 501 and INDS 502:
- HIST 501 & HIST 502
- Plus one of the above INDS courses
If a concentration already requires one or more of these, you will have to choose a different course from the list above.
**Biblical Language Requirement:
Most concentrations require 3 credit hours of Biblical Language. You can take LANG 500, LANG 510, or LANG 550 to meet this requirement.
Concentrations in Old Testament, New Testament, Biblical Studies, and Theology require 12 credit hours of Biblical Language, while the concentration in Biblical Languages requires a minimum of 27 credit hours. For these concentrations, you can’t take LANG 500 as part of the Biblical Language requirement.
We recommend that you begin your language study in your first term. To prepare for BIBL 503 Biblical Exegesis and Interpretation, which requires knowledge of both biblical languages, we encourage you to become familiar with the other biblical language (i.e., the one you have not taken) by requesting the Hebrew or Greek Study Notes. You may also audit the relevant half of the LANG 500 course at a reduced audit rate.
***Final Project:
Towards the end of your program, you will complete a final project, which can take the form of a comprehensive exam, a thesis, or an integrative project in the arts and theology (for students in the Christianity and the Arts concentration only). With the approval of your supervisor, the comprehensive exam may take the form of a major paper. We offer a non-credit orientation seminar in both Fall and Winter terms for the thesis (GENR 301) and the integrative project (GENR 313). Visit the Final Projects page for more information.
Choosing a Concentration:
We advise you to choose a concentration early in your studies so that you can choose your courses wisely. Our Academic Advising page has helpful information on how to choose your concentration and select courses in your first year. The Program Requirements page has worksheets for each concentration.
Pursuing Doctoral Studies:
If you intend to go on to complete a PhD, we advise that you acquire reading knowledge of at least one more relevant language during your master's work: normally Latin, French, or German. You can take courses through UBC or private language institutes in Vancouver such as the Alliance Francaise or Goethe Institute.
Distance Education Component
When completing the MCS degree, you can take up to 20 credits of courses through Distance Education.
Next Steps
Not sure which program is right for you? Visit the Choose Your Program page.
Have questions? Connect with an Admissions Counsellor now:
Ready to apply? Start your application today.
Regent College's programs are built on a foundational set of core courses. Once you complete the foundations, you can choose a concentration for more focused study.