Master Of Theology

Master Of Theology (MTheol)

The Master of Theology (Research and Modular) is designed to combine research and modules to provide specialized training to students who wish to advance in professional pastoral ministry, in theological research and teaching, and also preparation for advance D.Theol, Phd research.

Admission Requirements:

BD or equivalent.
At least two to three years of practical experience in ministry.
TOEFL/IELTS score: The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is required. TOEFL score must be 173 computer based (500 paper-based) and IELTS overall band score 5. Test scores must not be more than one year old. Those who have completed their undergraduate education in English and have a good command of the English language may be exempted, with the approval of the STS Postgraduate Committee.
Application forms are available on request from the Registrar’s office at STS or can be downloaded from the website.

Enrolment:

Applicants will have to hand in a written paper of 6000 words (Chinese 9000 words) in the major area of study (typewritten, double spaced). The paper must demonstrate knowledge of the mechanics of paper writing: the use of proper footnotes, bibliography, etc, as well as the ability to research and organise material.
Students have to indicate a statement of interest in the area of thesis writing at enrolment.
A faculty advisor will then be assigned to each student.

Graduation Requirements:

All students have to take a seminar in Research Methodology (1 credit) and a seminar on Teaching (2 credits) and will participate in 3 interdisciplinary research seminars and present at least two research papers before graduation.
Study in 24 credits of courses, and individual research, resulting in a thesis.
Each course normally will be equivalent to 3 credit hours of course work and the thesis is equivalent to 6 credit hours.
18 credits will be chosen from the candidate’s specialized field of study and 6 from another area of interest preferable in the same field.
Study will be conducted by tutorial or lectures or seminars and writing.
Up to one third of the work may involve participation in lecture courses at undergraduate level (BD, MDiv) on the understanding that extra assignments will be given, and the courses do not repeat any courses students have previously taken, during other degrees.
The student’s advisor will work out a detailed programme of study, including a time frame, in consultation with the student. This programme should be submitted to the Dean of the Postgraduate Studies no later than one month after the candidate has begun their Studies.
The advisor will periodically submit a report on the candidate’s progress to the Dean of the Postgraduate Studies.
A fully residential student will be allowed a maximum of 5 semesters to complete the programme. In this case course work should be normally completed within a period of one academic year, and the rest of the time spent on individual research, writing, etc.
A non-residential student may take up to 4 academic years with 2 one-month courses per year to complete the course work and there after thesis writing in one academic year.

General Examination:

After course work has been completed, candidates will sit a general examination to test their ability to integrate what has been studied into an Asian setting.
This will be a six-hour exam (two periods of 3 hours each).
Questions will be set by the advisor, together with other lecturers involved in the study programme. The dean of the Postgraduate programme shall coordinate the setting of the questions.
2 members of the Postgraduate Committee (or appointed faculty members) will each, separately, read and grade the general examination.
The candidate is required to obtain a passing grade of 80% from all examiners to pass the general examination. If the candidate obtains a failing grade from any of the examiners, the candidate is required to re-sit the paper, but only once. If the candidate fails the exam a second time, he/she will not be able to continue the program.
Examiners will send their evaluation directly to the Dean of Studies.

Evaluation and Grades:

An average of grade B- (80%) is required for work in the candidate’s specialist field.
Grade B- (80%) is also required for both the general examination, and the thesis. Candidates are allowed to re-sit the general examination once if they do not meet this requirement.

Individual Research:

Individual research involves the gathering and analysis of data, drawing conclusions on the basis of the data, and where appropriate, presenting recommendations or proposals. The competency of candidates is shown both in the research and in the presentation of the results of the research in written form.
Research results should be presented in the form of a thesis of at least 20,000-30,000 words of text on a single subject, demonstrating both the mastery of a single subject and the ability to present the results of original research in written form.

Individual Research:

Individual research involves the gathering and analysis of data, drawing conclusions on the basis of the data, and where appropriate, presenting recommendations or proposals. The competency of candidates is shown both in the research and in the presentation of the results of the research in written form.
Research results should be presented in the form of a thesis of at least 20,000-30,000 words of text on a single subject, demonstrating both the mastery of a single subject and the ability to present the results of original research in written form.

Thesis Proposal and Writing:

A proposal for the subject of the thesis should be submitted to the Dean of the Postgraduate Studies, within the first two/three months of the study programme, for initial approval by the Postgraduate Committee.
Final approval will be given after the general examination, and after candidates present their thesis proposal to the Postgraduate Committee and other postgraduate students, in a 60-minute seminar session.
Candidates should use approximately 20 minutes to present matters relevant to their thesis, including: the purpose of research; the research methodology; their objective and hypothesis; the envisioned value and contribution of their research area to the general public and to churches; a provisional outline of the content of each chapter. The remainder of the time will be used for clarification, and discussion between the student, the committee members and fellow post-graduate students. A preliminary bibliography, schedule for writing and completing the thesis should be given, in written form, at the same time.
Following any amendments to the proposal resulting from the seminar, candidates submit a final proposal to the Dean of the Postgraduate Program and advisor for its approval.
The advisor will guide the candidate’s research, and one reader, named by the Postgraduate Committee, will be assigned to oversee the writing of the thesis. It is the students’ duty to initiate appointments with their advisor and reader to solicit advice.
The first complete draft of the thesis must be submitted to the advisor / reader for their approval and evaluation, at the latest, by the end of August of the year that the degree will be awarded. It is not the duty of the advisor and reader to edit grammatical matters in the writing, but they may do so if they wish to. Students are responsible for finding a suitable person to edit their writing. Editors should retain the student’s writing style.
After the advisor is satisfied with the content, style and format of the thesis, candidates can schedule for oral exam in consultation with the advisor. A copy of the thesis should be made available to the Dean of the Postgraduate Studies at least one month before the oral exam.
The Postgraduate Dean arranges the oral exam, which will take place in the presence of the advisor and reader, and an examiner (external if an internal examiner is not available) who will all have speaking privileges. The advisor can recommend external examiner to be contacted by the Dean of the Postgraduate Studies (enough time need to be allowed for contacting the external reader). A hard copy of the thesis shall be given to them at least 2 weeks before hand.
The exam will be about 2 hours, in which the candidate shall give a short presentation of the thesis in 20-25 minutes before the examiners.
After successfully completing the oral exam and making any necessary revisions or editorial changes approved by the advisor, and Dean of the Postgraduate Studies, students should submit a final, typographically error-free copy in the required format, to the Dean’s office, on the date set for the submission of graduating students’ results, in the year the degree is to be granted.
The thesis should be typed on good quality, A4 size paper. The form of the thesis should conform to standards set in the STS Manual for Thesis Writing, which is available from the Library. The thesis may be written in English, Malay or Chinese.
The thesis should contain a page for the signatures of the advisor, reader, examiner (before the title page), and an abstract of not more than 600 words.
Advisor and reader and examiner will sign the thesis, indicating their approval of the final drafts, and submit their evaluation to the Dean of the Postgraduate Studies.
Candidates are required to submit an unbound copy of the thesis (printed using a laser printer) and a copy on a CD to the Dean of the Postgraduate Studies to be given to the STS library.

Time Limit:

A maximum of five semesters for full-time scholarship students to complete all work.
A maximum of five academic years for part-time students.
Application can be made to the STS Postgraduate Committee for extension of study programme, at RM1,200.00 per annum. Extension is limited to one year for full-time students, and two years for non-residential part-time students.

Fees:

Research Methodology RM140; Teaching Seminar RM580; Other 8 modules @875 (RM5000), Thesis RM3000. (Self-support alumni can enjoy 50% discount). Fees are subjected to change.

Award of Degree:

When the Postgraduate Committee is satisfied that candidates have fulfilled all the requirements of the Master of Theology degree, they will report this to the Faculty, who will, in turn, recommend to the to the Board of Governors that the degree be awarded.

Fields of Study Available

Fields of study available depend on the availability of supervisors and professors.

The Bible and its Interpretation
Pre-requisites:
Knowledge of the original language of the candidate’s specialist field is required. For example: candidates specialising in a field relating to the Old Testament, are required to have a knowledge of Biblical Hebrew which enables them to do exegesis in the original language, plus a working knowledge of New Testament Greek; those specialising in a field relating to the New Testament, are required to have a knowledge of New Testament Greek, sufficient to enable exegesis, plus a working knowledge of Biblical Hebrew.
Candidates pursuing a comparative study of texts from the Old Testament and an Asian religion, are required to have a knowledge both of Hebrew and the language (s) in which the scripture/texts of that religion are written.

Specialist areas:
Old Testament

Required courses:
– Old Testament Methodology
– Old Testament literature, Canon and text
– Sociology of Ancient Israel / Theology of Old Testament from the perspective of the marginalised
– Reading the Old Testament through the eyes of Asians / Comparative reading of the Old Testament and an Asian religious text
– Elective (in consultation with the advisor)
– Elective (Thesis area)
– 2 Topics selected from another field

New Testament

Required courses:
– New Testament Methodology
– New Testament literature, canon and text
– Sociology of the New Testament / The historical, culture and religious background of the New Testament from 167 BCE to 110 CE
– The origins of the ancient Church / The Role of Women in the formation of the Christian Tradition / Reading the New Testament with Asian eyes
– Elective (in consultation with the advisor)
– Elective (Thesis area)
– 2 Topics selected from another field

Theology of the Christian Tradition

Required courses:
– Theological Methodology
– A Survey of Contextual Theology / Survey of Contemporary Theologies and their significance in Asia / Feminist Theologies
– A Critical analysis of an Asian society / Study of a particular theologian of significance for Asia / Interreligious practices and living / People movements and their theological significance
– A selected doctrine
– Elective (in consultation with the advisor)
– Elective (Thesis area)
– 2 Topics selected from another field

Christian Education

Required courses:
– CE Methodology
– The biblical, theological and historical foundations of Christian Education
– The philosophical, psychological and sociological bases of Christian Education
– The educational ministry of the church in Asia; its objectives, methods, programmes, curriculum and contemporary development in Christian Education, in a particular Asian location
– Elective (in consultation with the advisor)
– Elective (Thesis area)
– 2 Topics selected from another field