Purpose of the M.A.T.S. Degree Program
As part of its overall mission to educate persons for service in the Christian Church, Erskine Seminary offers the Master of Arts in Theological Studies (M.A.T.S.) degree. The purpose of this degree is to prepare scholars who have an in-depth knowledge of a given field in Biblical, historical, or theological studies and who can integrate the various fields into a coherent whole, to the end that God may be glorified. The M.A.T.S. may serve as a terminal degree, or as preparation for further graduate study in Biblical, historical, or theological disciplines. The M.A.T.S. degree includes four concentrations (Old Testament, New Testament, Theology, and Church History), each of which serves to prepare students for doctoral-level academic studies and, eventually, a teaching career. It is not aimed at professional leadership in the Church and is not intended for persons preparing for pastoral leadership in local congregations.

Institutional Goals for Erskine Theological Seminary
The following general institutional goals apply to all degree programs offered by Erskine Seminary and reflect intended outcomes for all Seminary graduates.

Knowledge of Religious Heritage (Knowing)
1. Graduates will articulate the Bible’s message in light of its own literary, historical, and theological setting.
2. Graduates will utilize the Church’s historical and theological heritage as an important resource in their personal spiritual development and ministry.
3. Graduates will communicate the Bible’s message so as to make clear that its meaning is relevant for today.

Understanding of the Cultural Context (Knowing)
4. Graduates will articulate the relation between the Bible and the contemporary contexts in which ministry takes place.

Capacity for Ministerial and Public Leadership (Doing)
5. Graduates will write and speak using theological language that is clear, well considered, disciplined, and meaningful for those to whom they minister.
6. Graduates will view their ministries in light of the Church’s mission to worship, follow, bear witness to, and serve Jesus Christ.

Growth in Spiritual Depth (Being)
7. Graduates will serve the Church with Christian character and integrity in their personal and professional lives.

Goals of the M.A.T.S. Degree Program
Graduates will be prepared to:

1. Be conversant with important scholarly literature from engaging in research and serious critical thinking in their field. (Knowing)

2. Possess a reading knowledge of the ancient languages needed for scholarly research in their field (Hebrew and Greek). (Knowing)

3. Organize ideas and material so as to write well at a scholarly level. (Doing)

4. View their academic work and their ministries in light of the Church’s mission to worship, follow, bear witness to, and serve Jesus Christ. (Knowing/Being)

Residency and Graduation Requirements
To qualify for the M.A.T.S. degree in one of the four concentrations (Old Testament, New Testament, theology, or Church history), you must complete 66 semester hours of coursework, including nine semester hours each of Greek and Hebrew. No more than 33 semester hours (1/2 of the degree) may be transferred in from another institution, and no more than 32 hours (less than 50% of the degree) may be taken at Erskine Seminary’s extension centers or online. At least 33 semester hours must be earned in residence at the Due West campus (Columbia campus courses do not count toward residency in the M.A.T.S. program), by directed study, or through transfer credit taken in residence at another institution. No thesis or dissertation is required for this degree, although there is an option to write a thesis in place of one of the electives in the student’s area of concentration. If you elect to write a thesis above and beyond the minimum 66 hours required for the degree, your MATS degree may be conferred upon the completion of those requirements and you may complete the thesis within the next academic year. If you choose the thesis option, you should take the non-credit Research Methodologies course in the January term prior to beginning your thesis. The program is designed to be completed in two years of full-time study, although you may spread their program over a longer period by studying part-time, not to exceed four years.

Relation to Other Degrees
Students whose ministry goals warrant doing so may combine the M.A.T.S. with another of Erskine Seminary’s master’s degrees. Students who combine the M.A.T.S. with a 60-hour degree must complete 93 hours of total coursework and must take all courses required for both degrees. Students who combine the M.A.T.S. with the M.Div. must complete 123 hours of total coursework, including all courses required for both degrees. The M.A.T.S. may not be combined with the M.A.P.M. Students who combine degrees will ordinarily be conferred both degrees at the same time, after the requirements for both have been met.

Curriculum
The M.A.T.S. includes extensive study of the foundational disciplines of Old Testament, New Testament, Theology, and Church History. It also offers electives which you use to focus on your chosen area of concentration. The required courses are as follows:

Bible Department (33 hours):
BI 502 Principles of Exegesis (Mandatory 1st year)
OT 501 Old Testament I
OT 502 Old Testament II
NT 601 New Testament I
NT 602 New Testament II
HB 501 Biblical Hebrew I
HB 502 Biblical Hebrew II
HB 601 Biblical Hebrew III
GK 501 Biblical Greek I
GK 502 Biblical Greek II
GK 601 Biblical Greek III

Theology Department (21 hours):
CH 501 Early and Medieval Church History
CH 502 Reformation and Modern Church History
HT 560 Reformed Spirituality
ST 601 Systematic Theology I
ST 602 Systematic Theology II
ST 603 Systematic Theology III
Ethics Elective

All M.A.T.S. students, full-time and part-time, must take BI 502 Principles of Exegesis during their first year of study. Furthermore, all M.A.T.S. students are expected to take and pass the Bible Challenge Exam during their first year of study. Students who do not pass the Challenge Exam must take BI 501 Bible Survey (or BI 501Z). Students may take this course either for continuing education credit or for full academic credit, but the hours will not count toward the 66 hours required for the degree.

In addition to the coursework required for the degree, you must complete a summative evaluation in consultation with the M.A.T.S. program director. This evaluation may take the form of an integrative paper demonstrating critical analysis of a timely issue in the field of Biblical, theological, or historical studies. In lieu of the paper, you may elect to take a comprehensive written or oral examination.

You should pay close attention to the schedules for each year and the projected long-term schedule (posted on the website and the bulletin board in Bowie Hall), to make sure you know when your required courses will be offered

A Suggested Schedule for the Master of Arts in Theological Studies Degree
(Old Testament, New Testament, Theology, or Church History)

Junior Class First Year

Senior Class Second Year