Master of Arts (Religion)
An 18-month academic degree program
The Master of Arts (Religion) (MAR) degree program provides a general foundation in theology, ethics, and religious history, and in-depth study in one or more of those areas. This degree is appropriate for students preparing for doctoral studies in religion, those seeking a grounding in religious studies to support vocational work in education, community organizing, social justice activism, or interreligious engagement, and those interested in religious studies for personal enrichment.
The MAR program offers you a chance to experience a low-residency theological school that centers a multifaith sensibility and infuses a social justice grounding into everything that we do. MAR students from all religious and spiritual backgrounds benefit from rigorous coursework that honors and draws on the many philosophical, ethical, scientific, and religious traditions concerned with love, justice, and peace, as well as being part of a vibrant learning community of faculty, peers, and mentors.
Degree Requirements
The MAR degree program requires 36 completed credits. The program can be completed in 18-months by full-time
Six credits are granted for a thesis written in consultation with a faculty advisor and three credits are awarded for the core course Theories and Methods in the Study of Religion. Students gain a foundation in religious studies by completing four additional required courses in the areas of theology, ethics, history, and global religion along with elective coursework in those areas and in other areas of their choice. Student may transfer up to 6 credits from another institution. Such transfer credit is subject to approval in compliance with the transfer credit policy.
MAR Thesis
All MAR Students are required to submit a thesis in support of completion of their Master of Arts (Religion) Degree. In order to begin the thesis, students must first submit a Thesis Proposal. All submitted theses should follow the Thesis Submission Guidelines.
Transfer Credits
Transfer credits must be pre-approved by a student’s academic advisor and are marked with a P (pass) on student transcripts in lieu of a letter grade.
