University of Dubuque

Master of Arts in Religion (M.A.R.)

Recognizing the need to equip men and women for lay ministries, the seminary has designed the Master of Arts in Religion degree, a program with the flexibility to meet a variety of personal and professional goals. It is a two-year degree for individuals whose vocational plans do not require ordination.

Entrance into the Master of Arts in Religion program is permitted in any academic semester.

Curriculum
The goal of Master of Arts in Religion degree is for the students to attain a broad knowledge of all the theological disciplines and a deep knowledge of one of those disciplines. All graduates will attain:
     - a strengthened understanding of Scripture, the Christian tradition, and the living practices 
       of the church.
     - an in-depth understanding of a particular theological discipline.

Degree Program Requirements

The M.A.R. is a 54 credit, two-year degree, including a six-credit project completed through individual study over the final two-semesters of the program. M.A.R. students must complete at least two courses in each of the three divisions. The M.A.R. project will normally be forty to sixty pages in length and will be presented in the spring semester at an M.A.R. colloquium composed of all M.A.R. students and members of the faculty. The M.A.R. project is directed and evaluated by a member of the faculty. The M.A.R. Director will serve as an outside reader of the project. A cumulative grade-point average of 2.0 is required for graduation.

Residency Requirements

M.A.R. students are required:
      - to complete at least two consecutive semesters in residency at full-time status. ‘Residency' is defined
        as academic work done at U.D.T.S.. ‘Full-time' is defined as at least nine semester hours;
      - to complete at least 27 hours at U.D.T.S., including the six-credit project.