2009 - 2010 Academic Catalog - Westminster Theological Seminary

{Degree Programs}
Master of Arts in Religion
answered separately in two to four pages. The examinations will
be distributed on the Thursday of the sixth full week of the spring
semester and are to be returned by the end of the next day (4:30
p.m. on Friday of the sixth full week of classes). Late submissions
will result in a failure.
This summative examination will count for one semester hour of
credit (taking the place of one hour of elective credit in the current
curriculum). It will be graded on a Pass/Fail basis. If a student
should fail, a petition for a retake examination within a three-week
period may be considered. The questions of the summative examination
aim at giving students the opportunity to demonstrate that
they can apply the knowledge acquired in the M.A.R. programs.
Research will not be necessary for answering these questions.
Rather, the questions will be designed to allow the student to draw
upon the course work here. Given that it is an “open book” examination,
students may make use of any research materials that they
see fit. The examination is administered through the Academic
Affairs Office.
2009–2010
course work by the end of December or January, prior to May graduation,
will take the exam in the fall semester.
The examination will involve three questions. For the M.A.R.
- Biblical Studies student, there will be one in Old Testament,
one in New Testament, and one in hermeneutics. For the M.A.R.
- Theological Studies student, there will be one in systematic theology,
one in apologetics, and one in church history. For the M.A.R.
- General Studies student, there will be a choice of any three from
the six topics above. For the M.A.R. - Urban Mission student, there
will be one from gospel communication, one from contextualization
and urban anthropology, and one from mission to the city. The
examination must be typed (double-spaced) and each question
Time Limit
The M.A.R. degree is designed as a two-year program. This is the
minimum time (without transfer credit) that it will take to complete
the degree. Frequently, students take three years to complete the
degree in order that they may take Greek and Hebrew in different
years.
Students who are taking courses on a part-time basis should
adjust their course work plans and time limits according to their
individual needs.
Sample Schedules
The following sample schedules place the courses in proper
order, according to the term offered and the prerequisites needed.
Students should consult with the Registrar before altering these
sample schedules.
Due to the large number of elective credit choices available to
the M.A.R. - General Studies student, no sample schedule is provided.
Students may consult the schedules for Theological Studies
and Biblical Studies for timing regarding taking core courses.
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