1. Admission and Regulations

2. Degree Requirements

3. Graduation Requirements

4. Regulations for the Master of Theology Thesis

5. Program Contents

6. Course Descriptions

The Master of Theology, offered by the St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology, is a three-year academic program that provides in-depth study in a particular discipline within theological education, and culminates in a thesis written under the supervision of a faculty member. The core educational purpose of this program is to train, equip, and inform students concerning the methodological diversity and variety of concerns within theological studies. Students are expected to become critically acquainted with the ‘sources’ of theology: e.g. scriptural writings, historical traditions, patristic literature, doctrinal issues, and liturgical traditions, with a special focus on the contributions of the theological heritage of Antiochian Christianity. In terms of training, students will be encouraged to interrogate and critically analyze their own, and others, presuppositions, and approach their studies in ways that show sensitivity to the multi-perspective nature of issues under discussion. The Master of Theology Program of the St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology is shaped in such a way that, in selected courses or seminars, it encourages inter-disciplinary approaches to the subjects of specialization. It is also meant as a base for further academic studies, or as a preparation for specific tasks such as religious education, writing, and editing in the field of religion, and last but not least, for better pastoral performance in the parish.

1.   Applicants to the MTh program must have completed their BTh at the Institute or at any other Orthodox theological school. Applications of students from theological schools other than Orthodox are individually evaluated and accepted upon approval of the Institute Council. In all cases, the Institute reserves the right to ask applicants to take additional courses to make up for deficiencies in undergraduate preparation.

2.  Candidates for the MTh program, who are following-up their undergraduate studies in theology at St. John of Damascus Institute of Theology, or at any other accredited institution of higher education, must have maintained a general average of 80/100 or its equivalent throughout their studies.

3.   Students wishing to pursue an MTh in fields such as the New Testament, the Old Testament, or Dogmatic Theology, must demonstrate their competence in Hebrew or Greek as part of the admission process. Deficiencies in Biblical Hebrew and Ancient Greek must be made up before more than nine credits in other subjects may be taken. Failure to do so may lead to the cessation of candidacy. Any credits taken in Biblical Hebrew or Ancient Greek do not count towards the total number of credits required for the MTh.

4.   Candidates for the MTh program must demonstrate an adequate knowledge of English equivalent to ENGL 203 or higher, as well as an adequate knowledge of Arabic equivalent to ARAB 203 or higher.

5.   Applicants for the MTh degree are required to file a full application providing the following documents:

a.        a letter of recommendation issued by the respective canonical ecclesial authority

b.        a personal statement expressing their career goals and personal objectives in seeking the MTh degree

c.        photocopy of acquired diplomas or degrees

d.        résumé and 2 passport photos

e.        medical report

f.         judicial record for non-clerics

g.        canonical certificate for clergy

h.        photocopy of identity card

i.         application form for admission

The Registrar of the Institute processes admission to this program. All inquiries, requests for application forms, and correspondence must be sent to the Office of the Registrar at the Institute of Theology.

2. REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE

 1.        Candidates for the MTh degree shall satisfactorily complete work amounting to 33 credits distributed as follows:

a.        3 credits in Research Methodology

b.        24 credits of specialized courses in the area of concentration

c.        6 credits in directed thesis preparation

2.   The normal course load is two courses per semester for four semesters. The fifth and sixth semesters are reserved for the thesis preparation.

3. The academic year is made up of two semesters. The first semester begins on Monday of the first week of October and ends in mid-February. The second semester begins in late February and ends in late June.

4. Courses are offered in block mode. Students are required to attend courses during the semester every fourth week for a period of five days of intensive study. During this period, accommodation is available at the Institute. Block courses may supply study material either at the beginning of the semester, or shortly before the block course itself. Regarding examinations, some block courses schedule examinations at the end of the semester while others complete all assessment within the block course.

5.  The field of specialization shall be one of the following: Biblical Studies (New Testament and Old Testament), History of the Church, Dogmatic Theology, Pastoral Theology, Canon Law, Polity and Administration, Liturgy, or Christian Education. Only two of these concentration areas are offered per academic year. The choice depends on availability of specialized faculty.

6.  Candidates must submit in the second and fourth semesters respectively, two research papers of 15 – 20 pages, conforming to the standards of research and writing reflected in MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, by Joseph Gibaldi (6th edition, 2003). Students will select the topic for their research paper with a faculty member from the area of their specialization, who is available to serve as the paper’s director. The research paper shall be completed no later than one month after the end of the semester.

 In rare cases exceptions may be allowed, but only by permission of the Academic Committee upon the recommendation of the teacher directing the research.

3. GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS 

1.        Students shall begin their course of study in the fall semester when the courses are offered.

2.        Students in the MTh program shall complete the degree within four years after admission to candidacy. Those who fail to fulfill their MTh requirements within that period of time, loose their candidacy for the MTh degree.

3.        To qualify for graduation, candidates must have completed all required coursework (27 credits) with a minimum grade average of 80/100. No grade less than 70/100 will be credited toward the MTh degree.

4.        After completing course requirements, students will register for the thesis preparation.

4. REGULATIONS FOR THE MASTER OF THEOLOGY THESIS

 1.        Candidates select the subject of their thesis in consultation with the faculty adviser and with the approval of the appropriate division of the faculty. The division then submits the thesis topic to the Academic Committee and then to the dean for final approval. A deadline for thesis submission is set.

2.        The thesis proposal must include the following:

a.        a title

b.        brief discussion of the existing scholarship on the topic

c.        a statement of the nature and purpose of the thesis

d.        a detailed outline describing the content of each chapter of the thesis

e.        a working bibliography

3.        Three months after the approval of the thesis topic, the candidate is required to submit a report, approved by the advisor, describing the work that was already done. The dean then appoints a second reader of the thesis, who follows up the work together with the advisor. The thesis cannot be submitted without the approval of the advisor and the consent of the second reader.

4.        The thesis must reflect the use of standard research methods, display appropriate familiarity with the primary and secondary sources, and demonstrate a sound grasp of the subject. The text of the thesis shall be approximately 90 - 100 pages long, and should conform to the conventional standards of research and writing reflected in Policy and Style Manual for the Preparation of a Graduate Thesis, University of Balamand, (2^nd Edition, 2004).

5.        Three copies of the thesis to be used for the oral examination must be submitted by April 20 of the year of graduation. In rare cases exceptions may be allowed but only by permission of the Academic Committee upon recommendation of the candidate’s division. A thesis abstract, in Arabic and English, of approximately 200 words must be submitted along with the examination copies.

6.        All theses shall receive a grade in the following manner:

7.        Corrected copies of the thesis shall be submitted within four months after sustaining the oral examination.

5. PROGRAM CONTENTS

In the coming academic years the Master of Theology program shall offer two areas of specialization:

A.      Pastoral Theology

B.       New Testament Studies

The courses are chosen in such a way that they show a certain inter-dependency, so that some of the subjects can be shared by students taking both specialties. Courses shall be offered according to the following schedule:

 Table: The Courses of the Program of “The Master of Theology”

6. MASTER OF THEOLOGY (MTh) COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

New Testament Studies

 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY THEO 301

Credits: 3                                                Hours: 45

Prerequisites: None

 This course introduces students to the methodology of research and writing through discussion of articles and theses, so that they acquire a critical perspective before starting their own research. This course presents the criteria to which the quality of a work is measured, most importantly, the advancement of knowledge and contribution to its evolution. At the end of the course, students are expected to present a research paper to be evaluated as a final examination.

MODERN CRITICAL METHODS OF BIBLICAL EXEGESIS THEO 311

Credits: 3                                Hours: 45

Prerequisites: None

 This course offers an introduction to the scientific approach to biblical texts, and to the texts of the New Testament in particular. In this course, attempts will be made to relate some of the methods based on linguistics with the analytical method of Biblical criticism in its historical, literary and narrative forms. The different methods will be dealt with on the basis of the text as a “means of communication”, taking into consideration the importance of the process of reading and understanding in discovering the meanings of the texts.

NARRATIVE ANALYSIS IN THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS: MARK THEO 312

Credits: 3                                                Hours: 45

Prerequisites: Modern Critical Methods of Biblical Exegesis THEO 311

In this course, students are first acquainted with the basics of narrative analysis as it is practiced in modern biblical exegesis, on the basis of the work of the Swiss scholar Daniel Marguerat. Then the course moves to the analysis of the Gospel of Mark for application of the method, and in order to discover the influence of this exegetical method on the understanding of the gospel texts. The Gospel of Mark is chosen because it was the first work in the New Testament to write about Jesus in a narrative way. Until today most scholars agree that it is the narrative gospel par excellence, while Mathew is characterized by its educational flavor and Luke by his style as a classical chronicler.

THE PASSION NARRATIVES IN THE GOSPELS THEO 313

Credits: 3                                                Hours: 45

Prerequisites: Modern Critical Methods of Biblical Exegesis THEO 311

In this course, students are introduced to the following topics: passion narratives in the gospels and the information available in other books, the sources of the passion narratives, comparison between the synoptics and the Gospel of John, and the veracity and the genuineness of the passion narrative texts. Study is based on the method of narrative analysis which underscores the particularity of each gospel author in writing his narrative about the passions of Christ.

GENUINE AND ASCRIBED LETTERS IN THE PAULINE CORPUS THEO 314

Credits: 3                                                Hours: 45

Prerequisites: Modern Critical Methods of Biblical Exegesis THEO 311

 This course deals with the question of the genuineness of some letters ascribed to Saint Paul. This question is of extreme importance; it is not only a matter of finding introductory or historiographical material about the emergence of these letters and evaluating them, but is also related to two important points: the acceptance of the content of the epistle contained in the Pauline corpus as a source of Pauline teaching, and the acceptance of the letter as a source of Christian teaching.

APOCALYPTIC LITERATURE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT THEO 315

Credits: 3                                                Hours: 45

Prerequisites: Modern Critical Methods of Biblical Exegesis THEO 311

 In the first section of this course, the apocalyptic texts found in the epistles, the gospels, and Apocalypse are discussed. In the second section, it deals with the Christian Apocrypha written during the first four centuries. At the end of the course, students will discover the importance of apocalyptic literature as an expression of faith in the early Church.

SEMINAR: ANCIENT ISRAEL AND THE CHURCH IN THE NEW TESTAMENT THEO 316

Credits: 3                                                Hours: 45

Prerequisites: Modern Critical Methods of Biblical Exegesis THEO 311

This is a seminar about a central issue in the texts of the New Testament, namely defining the identity of the nascent Church against ancient Jewish communities in Palestine and the Roman world. Who are the people of God and how do we express their continuity in the Old and New Testaments? In this seminar, every student will be asked to present a research paper building on a biblical text and on the most recent critical theological scholarship.

SEMINAR: SAINT PAUL’S PASTORAL THEOLOGY THEO 317

Credits: 3                                                Hours: 45

Prerequisites: Modern Critical Methods of Biblical Exegesis THEO 311

In the Pauline corpus the question of the Church is raised time and again from different perspectives. The Church is the body of Christ which receives the divine gifts, and its members must follow a certain order. In this seminar students are trained to investigate a particular topic in the Pauline texts, and to be acquainted with the pastoral care which characterizes the apostle of the nations.

SEMINAR: THE BIBLE IN PASTORAL WORK THEO 386

Credits: 3                                                Hours: 45

Prerequisites: None

 In this course, students learn how to approach the Bible from a practical and pragmatic perspective which enables them to convey the theology of the Bible to contemporaneous church followers in an efficient way. In the theoretical section of the course, students study the characteristics of pragmatic analysis and its application on the scriptures. In the practical section of the course, they learn different patterns of dealing with biblical themes in the parish, and they get acquainted with modern tools that activate the study of the Bible in pastoral work.

Pastoral Theology Studies

 PASTORAL THEOLOGY THEO 381

Credits: 3                                                Hours: 45

Prerequisites: None

Pastoral theology is the scientific effort which has sought to provide the means of study and analysis for the Christian communities so that they may be aware of the veracity of their faith and understand the meaning of their commitment to live that faith. Hence the interest of pastoral theology in investigating the theological discourse to see how much it corresponds to the truth of the faith, and hence its interest, on the other side, in ecclesial practice as a practical translation of this discourse. The course is divided into two sections:

A.      a theoretical section dealing with the history of the interest in pastoral theology and Church leadership and the development of this interest particularly in western theology

B.       A practical section discussing modern studies in this respect and containing some practical exercises

LEADERSHIP AND ADMINISTRATION IN THE CHURCH THEO 382

Credits: 3                                Hours: 45

Prerequisites: None

 This course introduces the students to administration as a tool of pastoral work, as there is no contradiction between good organization and the Church view of oikonomia. Students are expected, at the end of the course, to acquire the ability to deal with administrative matters in a creative and scientific way with regards to the different components of administration as supportive tools in building the body of Christ. Accordingly, all modern administrative notions are dealt with against the backdrop of their relation to the identity of the Church, and the role of those responsible in the Church administration in managing the affairs of the followers and Church institutions in a harmonious and complementary way.

HOMILETICS THEO 383

Credits: 3                                Hours: 45

Prerequisites: None

The aim of this course is to present necessary information on the history and sources of this science, on one hand, and the methodology of making a sermon and relating it to Orthodox rituals and liturgy on the other. The course also discusses the purpose of preaching and its need according to different contexts and situations. In addition, the course offers the necessary linguistic and rhetorical techniques required in preaching.

The course follows a double path of theory and practice, enabling the students to be trained in methodology and in acquiring theoretical information.

PASTORAL TESTIMONIES IN THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF ANTIOCH THEO 384

Credits: 3                                Hours: 45

Prerequisites: None

Students learn in this course the particularities of the Antiochian thinking in pastoral work. Prominent figures in the ancient and modern history of the Antiochian Church who have had pastoral achievements are studied and discussed together with the most important writings and manuscripts dealing with matters pertaining to pastoral care on different levels: Patriarchate, Diocese, parish and educational and social institutions.

This course offers students the opportunity to analyze pastoral work as it developed in Antioch throughout the centuries and to work on its realization and improvement in the present and the future.

LITURGY AND CANON LAW THEO 385

Credits: 3                                Hours: 45

Prerequisites: None

The course discusses the relationship between Canon Law and Liturgy, especially the sacraments, and the laws related to them, such as the laws of ordination and marriage of clergy, re-acceptance of priests who fell in apostasy, the election of bishops, and the geographical division of bishoprics. Regarding Eucharist, the course discusses the issue of communion, the preparation of the priest and his personal readiness, as well as all that is mentioned in the law about these issues and about the permission for lay people and clergymen to take the communion.

SEMINAR: SOCIOLOGY OF RELIGION THEO 388

Credits: 3                                Hours: 45

Prerequisites: None

This course aims at preparing masters students to think about religious experience and religious organizations as part of a vast social order. It presents important notions in the sociology of religion and a brief discussion of the historical and sociological dimension of religion in the modern world. Students are encouraged to read and discuss things openly in this class.

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