The M.A. programs require a minimum of 96 credit hours (MAR) and are normally completed in three years (MAR) of full-time study; you may, however, take up to six (6) years of part-time study. Students must maintain a minimum grade-point average of 2.0 to stay in the program. The M.A programs consist of 10 Common Core Curriculum Courses which requires 40 credit hours (or units), 10 Chapel meetings which require 10 Credit hours (or units), 27 Elective Curriculum Courses which require 36 credit hours (or units), and three (3) Thesis Option Courses and three (3) Project Option courses which require to complete 14 credit hours (or units) to choose one of the options.

M.A. Committee

The M.A. Committee and Students’ Advisors when a student is admitted to an M.A. degree program, the Program Director selects the Committee composed of three School of Theology faculty members to direct the student’s progress through the degree program and to administer and evaluate his/her exit option, including the M.A. thesis option, if the student selects this exit option. Additional faculty members may join the M.A. Committee as deemed appropriate and desirable by the student and his/her committee members.

Faculty Qualifications

Candidates for the position of instructor — as used here, the instructor covers candidates for all instructional positions: adjunct, assistant, associate, and full professor — must possess the minimum qualifications required by the California Education Code and the California Code of Regulations.  Each advertised position must include a statement of minimum qualifications and may include a statement of desirable qualifications.

Minimum qualifications are those required to teach in the discipline, as well as additional qualifications determined by the Search/Selection Committee (SSC). Additional minimum qualifications should be those considered to be essential to success in the position and include:

(1) subject area knowledge and competency;

(2) teaching and communication skills;

(3) commitment to professional growth and service; and,

(4) a potential for overall instructional effectiveness.

These qualifications should ensure that faculty are sensitive to student diversity in the University, are themselves representative of that diversity, and are well prepared by training and temperament to respond effectively to the educational needs of all the special populations served by the University.

Desirable qualifications may include the following:

1. Academic qualifications beyond the minimum set by law and regulation, if they would provide the basis for better teaching or other service without adversely affecting staff diversity/gender equity goals.
2. Pedagogical skill as demonstrated by relevant experience, education, training, and effectiveness as an instructor, clinician, counselor, or librarian.

Program Description

The M.A. in Religion program is dedicated to the integration of religion, faith and learning and consequently endeavors to promote a balanced commitment to God’s revelation and to academic excellence in the pursuit of knowledge.

The school programs are academic/professional programs designed to prepare men and women for a variety of purposes both within and outside the church. The programs provide academic study and training for participants to reflect theologically on the role of religion, Christian life, and the church in contemporary society, and to develop the skills for effective ministry within local churches, mission agencies and para-church ministries.

PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:

1. Articulate the backgrounds and nature of the Old and New Testament Scriptures.
2. Explain the historical development of Christian doctrine and church.
3. Adequately interpret the Word of God and apply it to contemporary contexts.
4. Demonstrate advanced proficiencies in critical thinking, research and writing at graduate level.
5. Manifest mature Christian character.
6. Effectively teach and educate biblical truth.
7. Effectively serve and lead churches or Christian organizations for the cause of Christ

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

This program prepares students for Missions or Christian education directors. Mission directors use their interpersonal, organizational and motivational skills to oversee missions’ programs and support missionaries. Missions work can be local, domestic or international. Christian education director function in local churches, Christian schools, and Christian colleges. They use their knowledge and skills to teach and supervise Christian education.

21-2010  Clergy

21-2011  Clergy

21-2020  Directors, Religious Activities and Education

21-2021  Directors, Religious Activities and Education

21-2090  Miscellaneous Religious Workers

21-2099  Religious Workers, All Other

Coordinate or design programs and conduct outreach to promote the Christian education or activities of a denominational group. May provide counseling, guidance, and leadership relative to marital, health, financial and religious problems. Christian education director, Youth Ministry Director.

Master of Arts in Religion (MAR) Course Curriculum

Core Curriculum Courses (Required): 40 units

CCC 510   Old Testament Interpretation (4 units)

CCC 512   New Testament Interpretation (4 units)

CCC 514   Pentateuch (4 units)

CCC 516   The Four Gospels (4 units)

CCC 540   Protestant Ethics (4 units)

CCC 610   Comparative Religions (4 units)

CCC 612   History of Theology and Revival (4 units)

CCC 614   Evangelism (4 units)

CCC 618   Systematic Theology (4 units)

CCC 640   History of Christian Missions (4 units)

Chapel (Required): 10 units

      Chapel (CHP 510 – 600)    I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X

Elective Curriculum Courses: 108 units (36 units required)

Biblical Studies (20 units)

ECC 510   Old Testament Theology (4 units)

ECC 512   New Testament Theology (4 units)

ECC 516   Paul’s Writings (4 units)

ECC 612   Eschatology and the New Testament (4 units)

ECC 616   Discipleship Theology (4 units)

Counseling and Educational Studies (16 units)

ECC 520 Religious Counseling (4 units) or Christian Counseling (4 units)

ECC 522   Christian Education (4 units)

ECC 524   Christian Leadership (4 units)

ECC 526   Life and Teachings of Jesus Christ (4 units)

Practical Studies (20)

ECC 530 Church and Worship (4 units)

ECC 532   Church Administration (4 units)

ECC 534   Mission and Culture (4 units)

ECC 536   Christ and Culture (4 units)

ECC 538   Intercultural Ministry (4 units)

Ethical Studies (12)

ECC 542   Formative Figures in Christian Ethics (4 units)

ECC 622   Methods of Ethical Analysis (4 units)

ECC 624   Contemporary Theological Ethics and Issues (4 units)

Religious Studies (20)

ECC 550   Philosophy of Religion (4 units)

ECC 552   Sociology of Religion (4 units)

ECC 630   Spiritual Formation (4 units)

ECC 632   Religious Ethics in a Secular World (4 units)

ECC 634   Concepts and Methods of Religious Thought (4 units)

Historical Studies (12)

ECC 560   American Church History (4 units)

ECC 562   Korean Church History (4 units)

ECC 642   History of Protestant Reformation (4 units)

Systematic Theology Studies (8 units)

ECC 650   Modern and Contemporary Christian Thought (4 units)

ECC 652   Pneumatology (4 units)

Minimum of 36 units required.

TOTAL UNITS…………………………………………… 108 

Exit Option for Graduation Requirements (EOR): 28 units (14 units required)

Project Option (14 units)

EOR 510      Research and Writing (4)

EOR 520      Preparation of Project (4)

EOR 610      Project (6)

OR

Thesis Option (14 units)

EOR 510      Research and Writing (4)

EOR 530      Preparation of Thesis (4)

EOR 620      Thesis (6) 

Master of Arts in Religion (MAR) Course Description

 Core Curriculum Courses

CCC 510 Old Testament Interpretation (4 units)

This course examines the Old Testament as an expression of the religious life and thought of ancient Israel, and a foundational document of Western civilization. A wide range of methodologies, including source criticism and the historical-critical school, tradition criticism, redaction criticism, and literary and canonical approaches are applied to the study and interpretation of the Bible. Special emphasis is placed on the Bible against the backdrop of its historical and cultural setting in the Ancient Near East.

CCC 512 New Testament Interpretation (4 units)

This course provides a historical study of the origins of Christianity by analyzing the literature of the earliest Christian movements in historical context, concentrating on the New Testament. Although theological themes will occupy much of our attention, the course does not attempt a theological appropriation of the New Testament as scripture. Rather, the importance of the New Testament and other early Christian documents as ancient literature and as sources for historical study will be emphasized. A central organizing theme of the course will focus on the differences within early Christianity.

CCC 514 Pentateuch (4 units)

This course covers the first five books of the Bible, treating historical beginnings, content of the covenant, and worship. Introduces the student to the cultural, geographical, and historical milieu of the Pentateuch.

CCC 516 The Four Gospels (4 units)

This course examines the four canonical Gospels to see what each of these four portraits of Jesus tells us. Students will explore the literary and theological relationships between the Gospels, and the major themes each one presents. Students will describe how the teachings of Jesus can be used in our very different circumstances today.

CCC 540 Protestant Ethics (4 units)

This course compares Protestant and Roman Catholic approaches to theological ethics. It analyzes the historical, conceptual, and methodological similarities and differences in the two traditions, applying their distinctive perspectives to several contemporary issues.

CCC 610 Comparative Religions (4 units)

This course covers major world religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, are surveyed in their historical, literary, and historical contexts. The sociology of religion is extensively addressed, and parallels in myths, rituals, conversion, and rites of passage are compared. Recent and contemporary religious trends are also addressed.

CCC 612 History of Theology and Revival (4 units)

This course introduces revivals and evangelistic thrusts within Christianity since the 17th century, especially noting their distinctive character, causes and effects, theological underpinnings, and the unique role of the Holy Spirit in promoting revival. What Christians did to bring birth to the revivals and why they could not sustain it. These norms, issues and questions will be examined from biblical and theological perspectives to arrive at a viable and practical model that can be applied within a contemporary ecclesiastical and personal context.

CCC 614 Evangelism (4 units)

This course will train students to be thoughtful and passionate evangelists and to understand and use biblical principles and methods of church outreach. Emphasis is placed on having a deep desire to reach the lost for Christ. Personal, relational, and corporate (organic) evangelism and motivating the laity for ministry will be considered.

CCC 618 Systematic Theology (4 units)

This course introduces systematic theology by way of a study of a series of central themes in historical and contemporary Christian thought. The nature of theology, the doctrine of God, theological anthropology, and approaches to the interpretation of scripture will be the foci, though a range of related subjects will be touched upon along the way.

CCC 640 History of Christian Missions (4 units)

This course covers the expansion of Christian faith from its beginning to the present time. Gives attention to emerging factors and themes contributing to advance or decline at key historical junctures and assesses the present state of Christianity in its world-wide spread.

Elective Curriculum Courses

 Biblical Studies

 ECC 510 Old Testament Theology (4 units)

This course covers the major teachings of the various parts and the whole of the Old Testament with concentration upon some of the most important themes to discover the intention of the biblical writers.

ECC 512 New Testament Theology (4 units)

This course investigates the dominant themes in the New Testament in the light of the cultures in which they were produced and the methods of representative contemporary New Testament theologians.

ECC 516 Paul’s Writings (4 units)

This course comprises an introduction to the life and letters of the apostle Paul, including critical issues pertinent to the whole Pauline corpus, as well as detailed reading of several representative letters.

ECC 612 Eschatology and the New Testament (4 units)

This course covers New Testament teachings on eschatology, including those aspects of the kingdom of God which are already present and those yet to be fulfilled. Specific attention will be given to concepts such as eschatological Gospel, Messiah, Parousia, second coming, resurrection, rapture, tribulation, millennium, judgment, signs of times, the Kingdom of God, and the present age and age to come.

ECC 616 Discipleship Theology (4 units)

This course covers fundamental theories of human psycho-social, moral, and faith development, transformational theology and theory, and foundational principles of discipleship as found in both the Old and New Testaments of Scripture.

Counseling and Educational Studies

 ECC 520 Religious Counseling (4 units) or Christian Counseling (4 units)

This course is designed to equip students to identify and distinguish counseling models that quantify Christian counseling. The content is designed to deliver essential knowledge and skill to help students become proficient in helping within a Christian ministry context. The course provides students with an overview of basic resources and knowledge that apply to a broad scope of counseling issues; secondly, it presents practical biblical counseling models and skills to address those issues.

ECC 522 Christian Education (4 units)

This course covers the basic principles and practices of organizing, administrating, and supervising a balanced program of Bible teaching ministries in the local church. Surveys all the educational agencies for the various age levels, particularly Sunday school.

ECC 524 Christian Leadership (4 units)

This course explores biblical and theological principles of Christian Leadership, organizational theory, and systems thinking appropriate to the church and seeks to instill in students the servant leadership qualities. Additionally, it facilitates growth in administrative areas such as strategic planning, managing change, finance, Christian education, and conflict management.

ECC 526 Life and Teachings of Jesus Christ (4 units)

The course is an exegetical, thematic, and theological study of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ as presented in the canonical gospels of the New Testament.  Special focus is given to the presentation of the life and teachings of Jesus in the Synoptic gospels.  Consideration is given to the message of each gospel within its own socio-historical and literary settings. Students will encounter interpretive issues surrounding these texts and the life of Jesus in contemporary scholarship and the history of Christian interpretation.  The implications of the life and teachings of Jesus for students’ participation in the mission of God and faithful discipleship are explored.

Practical Studies

ECC 530 Church and Worship (4 units)

This course is an introductory study of Christian worship. Application is made to worship as a lifestyle integrated into the community life of congregational worship in the church. Time is spent discerning what is meant by biblical worship and how it is enacted philosophically and practically in a worship service.

ECC 532 Church Administration (4 units)

This course covers administrative principles and practices for the local church. The course examines staff, finances, buildings, and public relations in churches and integrates material from both religious and secular sources.

ECC 534 Mission and Culture (4 units)

This course explores missiological principles with an emphasis on the cultural and religious context, and the development of cultural sensitivity and cross-cultural communication skills for Christian witness.

ECC 536 Christ and Culture (4 units)

This course equips students to identify the tension between the eternal plan of God and the reality of operating in a disintegrated culture. Students will examine the purpose of God for their earth and their role in applying their unique calling in this generation.  Students will compare common approaches to the relationship between Christ and Culture and formulate their own theological perspective and personal plan for application beyond the walls of the classroom.

 ECC 538 Intercultural Ministry (4 units)

This course engages the Bible, analytical lenses, the global Body of Christ, current issues and trends, collaborative methodology, and spiritual disciplines to develop a theology and practice of intercultural ministry that reflects Christ. This is worked out as students research, theologize, and form missiological responses to issues and phenomena encountered in a specific local context and reflect on what it means to do this before God.

Ethical Studies 

ECC 542 Formative Figures in Christian Ethics (4 units)

This course is covering major historical figures in Christian ethics as well as significant theological traditions that have shaped Christian understanding of the moral life.

ECC 622 Methods of Ethical Analysis (4 units)

This course provides a framework to increase accountability through ethical decision-making. The goal of this course is to allow you to understand the complexity and consequences of decisions, the utility of ethics in personal and professional life, and the motivations of others (be they ethical or not). You will gain the ability to recognize and address underlying principles in a variety of contextual dilemmas. Students will learn to practically apply established theory and methodology to create and sustain trustworthiness.

ECC 624 Contemporary Theological Ethics and Issues (4 units)

This course is an examination of how Christian ethics moves from biblical and systematic theology to moral theology and how theological commitments (e.g., theology proper, anthropology, Christology, soteriology, pneumatology, ecclesiology) structure and govern moral reflection. It explores the application of a robust, moral-theological framework to issues of contemporary personal, pastoral, and societal importance (such as personhood and human dignity, biomedical technologies, sexual ethics, and the pursuit of peace, justice, and reconciliation).

 Religious Studies 

 ECC 550 Philosophy of Religion (4 units)

In this course, students examine religious phenomena and concepts of God, miracles, truth claims of religion and religious traditions, the problems of evil and suffering, the afterlife, and religious ethics. One assesses the relationship of religion and philosophy and the perspective of philosophy for an understanding of religious experience.

ECC 552 Sociology of Religion (4 units)

This course is a study of religion from a sociological perspective is the study of religious practices, customs, beliefs, and rituals in the context of social structures such as religious institutions, politics, education, community, and family. In this class students will learn about the dialectical processes by which religion affects societies and societies affect religion by addressing the following three questions: 1) How do social scientists approach the study of religion? 2) What can religion tell us about a particular group or society? 3) Why is it important to study religion within the socio-historical context in which it is produced, reproduced, and reconfigured?

ECC 630 Spiritual Formation (4 units)

This course equips students in the process of spiritual formation as a life-long transforming and learning experience that emerges from our communion with Christ and forms the basis of Christian ministry. Spiritual formation involves the joyful sharing and participation in the life and love of the Father, Son, and Spirit. All our lives, individually and in communion together, are “in Christ”.

ECC 632 Religious Ethics in a Secular World (4 units)

This is an introductory course in ethical reflection which explores contemporary social issues from a variety of religious and philosophical traditions. Issues covered pertain to personal concerns such as sexuality, marriage, and reproduction, as well as broader societal issues regarding our economic lives and the environment.

ECC 634 Concepts and Methods of Religious Thought (4 units)

This course is an examination of religious thought, theology, and ethics in the Western traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Using primary texts, particular attention will be given to an exploration of the ways religious individuals and communities understand the divine, human experience, and the world.

Historical Studies 

ECC 560 American Church History (4 units)

The course is a study of the church in America from the time of British colonization until the mid-nineteenth century, with special attention given to the roots and varieties of American evangelicalism.

ECC 562 Korean Church History (4 units)

This course provides an overview of the history of the Korean Church from the time of its conception in early days of Protestant missions until today, spanning about 140 years. It highlights various challenges the young church faced during this tumultuous time, including the eclipse of old Korea (Joseon Dynasty), the rise of nationalism, the Great Revival (1904-7), Japanese imperialism and Shintocrisis, divided nation and the Korean war, post-war industrialization and democratization, theological liberalism and schisms, church growth movement, Korean-diaspora, and missionary expansion, etc. The course should stimulate both academic and ministerial interests in the study of the Korean Church as a remarkable 20th century phenomenon in the world Christianity.

ECC 642 History of Protestant Reformation (4 units)

This course surveys the origin and development of the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century in its magisterial and radical dimensions, and in its theological, social, educational, cultural, and political expressions. Provides a narrative overview of key developments; examines Reformation historiography; probes the impact of reform ideas on lived spiritual experience; outlines the dynamic between print, literacy, and reform ideas; explores changes in education, the arts and culture; addresses changes in the relationship between church and state wrought by new theological perspectives; and considers the legacy of the Reformation.

Systematic Theology Studies

ECC 650 Modern and Contemporary Christian Thought (4)

This course is a study of thought from Enlightenment trends to contemporary theological and philosophical developments. The latter subject includes Nineteenth Century liberalism, Twentieth Century new-orthodoxy, existentialism, and post-existential trends such as secular, liberation, and hope theologies. Attention is also given to recent philosophical movements such as logical positivism, linguistic analysis, and process thought. The course stresses the history of major ideas, the system of formative scholars, and the conservative alternative. 

ECC 652 Pneumatology (4)

This course explores the identity and mission of the Holy Spirit through listening to the witness of the Scriptures and the early church, and through critical engagement with contemporary conversations about the Spirit. The first half of the course addresses Biblical foundations and patristic developments, with a particular focus on the Spirt in relation to the doctrine of the Trinity. The second half explores a few contemporary issues in pneumatology. Topics to be covered include: the Spirit in relation to creation and contemporary cosmology; the Spirit in relation to the Church, Scripture, prayer, and the Christian life; Pentecostal and charismatic perspectives on the Spirit; and the task of discernment of the Spirit in the church and the world.