Regent College is introducing some exciting updates to the Master of Theology (ThM) degree, our most academically advanced program. These changes supplement an earlier curricular revision announced in 2024, bringing greater clarity to the program’s application and admission processes and further enhancing aspects of the program that students have found most beneficial.
Beginning in the 2026–27 academic year, ThM students will be invited to structure their academic journey around a concentration that reflects their research interests. Concentrations facilitate decision-making around course selection, supervisor relationships, and choices about thesis or major paper topics, while still giving students broad latitude to focus on specific research areas that have particular significance to their lives and communities.
Brittany N. Melton, Associate Professor of Old Testament and ThM Program Coordinator, commented on the ThM’s unique role in the Regent community and beyond.
“The Regent ThM provides the opportunity of further focused study for those discerning whether they want to pursue doctoral studies and for those seeking to explore theological studies in greater depth. The refreshed curriculum fosters a cohort community to walk through the writing process together, alongside one-to-one faculty supervision. I’m honoured to carry on the rich legacy of this program, which has equipped hundreds of thoughtful Christian leaders and teachers around the world.”
One of the highlights of the ThM program is the opportunity to work closely with faculty who have expertise in a student’s chosen discipline. Each ThM student is paired with a faculty supervisor for their thesis or major paper. Supervisors can serve as guides and mentors throughout the research and writing process and beyond. Students interested in Regent’s ThM program are encouraged to consider how potential supervisors’ areas of interest may align with their own.
In addition to building relationships with faculty, ThM students are encouraged to learn with and from one another. One of the convictions behind the refreshed ThM curriculum is that students thrive when embedded in a cohort community where they can come together to share their unique insights and learn from others in turn. This emphasis on scholarly community stands in contrast to the often-solitary experience of students pursuing advanced research degrees.
Registrar and Sessional Lecturer James Smoker teaches the Advanced Research Methods and Writing course, which was launched in Fall 2024. He spoke enthusiastically about how the course encourages students to develop and practice key academic skills while introducing them to a wide range of ideas.
“This new seminar is all about learning to be scholars in community. Together, the seminar hones their writing skills, deepens their research ability, and gives them a place to practice communicating their work to one another, all while they are discerning what their scholarly vocation may look like both at Regent and beyond.
“Teaching this seminar has been a privilege for me, since I get to spend a whole semester with our ThM students and their fascinating research projects. Among many other things, I’ve learned about Christology and creation care ethics, how church architecture affects our worship, and what St. John of the Cross can teach us about chaplaincy care.”
Applying for Regent’s ThM program is simpler than ever before, thanks to a streamlined admissions process. If you’d like to learn more about the ThM or any other Regent program, please get in touch with our Admissions team or reach out to plan a visit. We’d love to hear from you!
