2009 - 2010 Academic Catalog - Westminster Theological Seminary

{Degree Programs}
Master of Theology
each semester; see page 40 for the number of semesters allowed
to complete the degree program.
The Th.M. degree shall be granted only to persons enrolled
at Westminster at the time of the completion of their program of
study. The degree may be received in absentia only with the permission
of the faculty. See the procedure for requesting permission to
graduate in absentia on page 45.
London program
The general regulations governing the Th.M. degree program apply
to the London-based program, and this section should be read
in association with the other relevant sections of the catalog.
While this program is open to all qualified students, it is primarily
designed for United Kingdom and European pastors involved in full
time ministry. Reflecting Westminster’s mission, a reduced tuition
rate is available to UK and European citizens. Please see page 142
for tuition rates.
Six courses are required for the Th.M. - Historical Theology
degree. These courses are offered at the John Owen Centre
for Theological Study (JOCTS) in Finchley, London, U.K., at the
London Theological Seminary. Five courses are normally offered
in each calendar year. The courses normally meet for four or five
consecutive days in January, March/April, June/July, August, and
September. These courses deal with a range of topics and themes
in Reformation and post-Reformation history and theology and are
published in advance on the Seminary’s website (www.wts.edu).
Details are also available from the Director of JOCTS.
In addition to six courses, students must complete a course
equivalent to PT 421P Theological Bibliography and Research
Methodology, which is offered at JOCTS each year.
Applicants must submit their completed application form and
supporting documents to the Director of JOCTS in London by
October 31 for January entrance, January 15 for March or June
entrance, and April 30 for August or September entrance. It is
anticipated that candidates will complete all the requirements for
the degree within five years of being admitted to the program.
Requests for extension should be submitted to the chairman of
the Field Committee before the fifth anniversary of the candidate
joining the program.
Each course normally requires readings to be completed prior to
the beginning of the course. The details of these pre-course requirements
are available from the Director of JOCTS. Assignments for
the course should be submitted to the Director’s office within six
weeks of the end of the course.
Candidates are required to maintain a general academic average
of 3.00 after the completion of three courses. Each candidate will
be informed of his or her GPA after the completion of the third
course and advised about his or her continuation in the program. If
the candidate’s GPA is below 3.00 after the completion of six modules,
the candidate will be withdrawn from the program. All inquiries
about a candidate’s academic standing should be addressed to the
Registrar at the Philadelphia campus.
For candidates who have completed all the required courses, a
continuation fee will be due for each semester following the first
year in which no new course work will be taken, until a student has
been fully approved to graduate. The fee is due on February 1 or
September 1.
It is also possible for those not enrolled in the program to attend
the lectures at a reduced fee.
Accommodation, if required, will be available (single study bedrooms)
during the teaching weeks.
In addition to the normal requirements for submission of the
master’s thesis, candidates in the London program should note
that members of the Philadelphia faculty will be available in person
in London twice each year to consult about the thesis subject
and the candidate’s progress towards completion of the thesis.
This time generally coincides with the time the Philadelphia faculty
member teaches a module.
Theses written double-spaced on good quality A4 paper, with
the appropriate margins, are acceptable. Two copies of the thesis
should be submitted to the Director’s office by April 1 of the year in
which the candidate hopes to graduate, along with the thesis fee.
A graduation service will be arranged in London in September for
those graduating from this degree program, although U.S.-based students
may choose to graduate at the Philadelphia service in May.
2009–2010
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