BIBLICAL STUDIES | CHRISTIAN EDUCATION | COUNSELING | INTERCULTURAL & URBAN STUDIES | PASTORAL STUDIES | THEOLOGY
At ATS, most degree programs have three designations: Graduate Diploma, Master of
Arts, and Master of Divinity. For each degree ATS students choose from one of six possible
focus areas: Biblical Studies, Christian Education, Counseling, Intercultural and Urban
Studies, Pastoral Studies, or Theology.
Graduate Diploma (G.Dip.) programs are designed for students who find it best to
pursue a shorter program of study. All course work is at the graduate level and may be
transferred to higher degree programs if the student desires to go on in his/her studies.
Graduate Diploma programs require 30 credit units and may be completed in one year.
Each Graduate Diploma student will choose a focus area.
Master of Arts (M.A.) programs require 60 credit units and may be completed in two
years. Typically each M.A. degree contains 9 core courses (27 units), 9 to 11 focus
courses (27 to 33 units), and up to 2 elective courses (6 units) depending on the focus.
Several programs offer thesis (Plan A) and non-thesis (Plan B) tracks. Students
considering future doctoral-level studies should opt for Plan A.
Master of Divinity (M.Div.) is a 90-unit professional degree program designed to
prepare students for a variety of ministries. Each M.Div. degree contains 18 core courses
(54 units), 9 to 12 focus courses (27 to 36 units), and up to 3 elective courses (9 units)
depending on the focus, for a total of 30 courses (90 units).
A student who does not hold an undergraduate degree may qualify to graduate-level masteral classes as a diploma student. Asian Theological Seminary is sensitive to the call of God upon the lives of mature men and women who do not possess the academic qualifications for graduate study but are capable of graduate-level work. A limited number of such students may be accepted for study at the Seminary, and upon successful completion of their selected degree program will be awarded a diploma in the particular focus area of study rather than a master's degree. Diploma graduates who present evidence of obtaining a bachelor's degree within five years of completing their program at the Seminary are eligible to exchange their diploma for the specific ATS master's degree for which they qualified. Applicants for the diploma should be at least 35 years old.
A summary of the Master of Divinity and Master of Arts core and focus courses, and suggested course schedules for each focus area appear on the following pages.
ATS also offers other degree programs through the auspices of specific ATS Centers and Special Programs. The ATS Center for Biblical Stewardship offers the Graduate Diploma in Biblical Stewardship and Christian Management. The Center for Urban Transformational Leadership offers the Graduate Diploma in Transformational Urban Leadership. It is working towards offering the M.A. in Transformational Urban Leadership and Doctor of Ministry (D. Min.) in Transformatinal Leadership for Ministry in the Global City in the near future.
ATS, through its Center for Continuing Studies (CCS), also offers non-credit, short-term seminars and modules that appeal to the needs of pastors and lay leaders in the church, community, marketplace, and profession who do not desire a credited degree. Please contact the CCS Program Director for more information. |
