Additional Requirements
In addition to the scholarship standards in the Graduate Programs Academic Information section of this bulletin, students must fulfill the following requirements for both the research and the general academic orientation options:
- Cumulative GPA of 3.00 or above. (Only 2 credit courses can be used to meet these requirements.)
Research Requirement: An MA thesis/project (6 credits) or comprehensive exams (0 credits) are to be completed and defended. A student who has chosen to do a thesis/project and has registered for GSEM 697 Master Thesis/GSEM 695 Research Project but has not finished the thesis/project, must register for GSEM 688 Master’s Degree Continuation (0 Credits) until the thesis/project has been approved.
Graduation Requirements
Transfer Credits: A maximum of 6 semester hours of credit with a B (3.00) or above may be transferred from an approved seminary or university if applicable to the student’s program. Transfer courses must have been completed within the six-year time limit.
Time Limits: A student must complete the requirements for the MA (Religion) degree and graduate within six years of first enrolling in the program regardless of admission classification.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the MA (Religion) International program is based on the general admission requirements for all graduate students and the general Seminary admission requirements. Applicant must hold a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent, preferably with a major in religion or theology with a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.00 or above.
Prerequisites. Applicants must provide a transcript showing that they have taken the following courses at the undergraduate level with a GPA of 3.00 or better (on a 4.00 system). Prerequisites do not count as part of the 38 credits required for the MA (Religion) degree.
Prerequisites may be taken at any accredited educational institution. Students needing to take prerequisite courses, after applying to the MA Religion program, may submit courses by providing an official transcript showing that the course(s) taken meet the Transfer Credit Policy (see below) and the MA Religion prerequisite requirements to fulfill the course or language prerequisites.
- Church History - 2 credits
- New Testament Studies - 2 credits
- Old Testament Studies - 2 credits
- Theological Studies - 2 credits
- Ellen G. White Writings - 2 credits
- Adventist Studies - 2 credits
- Total prerequisite credits - 12
*(CHIS 504 - Adventist Heritage or its equivalent meets Adventist Studies and E. G. White Writings requirements)
Language Requirements. The applicant must meet the English proficiency requirements of the School of Graduate Studies and Research, if the program will be completed online or if the language of instruction is English.
Preparation for the Andrews PhD Religion program. Students completing the MA Religion Interactive Online Interdisciplinary Track will need to do additional coursework in an area of specialization before they can be accepted into the Andrews PhD Religion program. They will also have to show proficiency at the intermediate level in Greek, Hebrew, and a modern research language. Additional languages may be required depending on the area of specialization chosen for the PhD dissertation.
