Graduate Course Descriptions
All courses are three credits. Courses that are co-listed with upper level undergraduate Theology seminars require graduate students to complete more reading and writing than the undergraduate students, and may require additional graduate-level assignments. The faculty members of such courses may choose to schedule additional check-ins with the MTS students to ensure the course is meeting graduate-level expectations.
Courses by topic:
- Scripture
- Historical Theology
- Systematic Theology/Doctrine
- Comparative Theology
- Ethics and Culture
- Track-specific courses
- Thesis (General and Research tracks)
Scripture (TH 600-619)
TH 600 Old Testament Survey
This course will introduce students to the content of the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament (the Torah, Prophets, Writings, and Deutero-Canonical Books) and to the history of its interpretation, including scholarly approaches since the rise of historical-criticism. Students successfully completing this course will be able to: 1) demonstrate familiarity with the diversity of material in the Old Testament; 2) display knowledge of the historical contexts which gave rise to its literature, theories about its development, and the ways in which it has fueled the Christian imagination and nourished Christian communities over time.
TH 601 New Testament Survey
This course introduces students to the text of the New Testament and a variety of historical concerns related to Second Temple Judaism and the Greco Roman worlds in which the story of the New Testament is set and from which the text of the New Testament emerges. Students successfully completing this course will be able to demonstrate: 1) a strong knowledge of the content of the New Testament; 2) a familiarity with the historical context in which the New Testament is set; and 3) a working knowledge of some of the critical debates characteristic of contemporary New Testament scholarship.
TH 602 Prophets and Prophecy [This is a joint BA/MTS course (TH 350)]
This course will examine the biblical stories about prophets, as well as the works of the classical or 鈥渨riting鈥� prophets. Students will be introduced to the roles of Israelite prophets in the light of Ancient Near Eastern prophecy in general, and to the role of prophetic preaching in the development of Israelite religious thought. Examination of prophetic books will include the study of prophetic poetry, the historical contexts in which prophets spoke, the theological perspectives of each prophetic work, as well as the ways in which Old Testament prophecy is taken up in the proclamation of the New Testament. Students successfully completing this course will demonstrate ability to: 1) compare the prophetic preaching and rhetoric of the major and some of the Minor Prophets; 2) analyze some of the ways in which the legacy of the biblical prophets helped shape the thought of the New Testament, and the Christian ethical traditions; 3) explain why it is that piety, for Christians, involves concern for social justice, and discuss how the concern for social justice fits into the larger Christian theological outlook and analyze scholarly literature related to the Prophets.
TH 603 Genesis and Exodus in the History of Interpretation
This course will offer a close study of the first two books of the Bible鈥攆rom the story of creation, through the covenants with Abraham and all of Israel on Mt. Sinai鈥攂y means of the study of their history of interpretation from the New Testament to the Patristic writers, through to contemporary literary approaches. Students successfully completing this course will be able to demonstrate: 1) a firm knowledge of the various textual details of Genesis and Exodus; 2) a knowledge of key figures and patterns in the history of interpretation; 3) the ability to evaluate critically these figures and patterns.
TH 604 Old Testament Texts in Hebrew
This course will closely examine selected Old Testament texts in Hebrew. The course seeks to build on the language skills students have developed in order to introduce more advanced exegetical, linguistic and text critical skills. Students who are successful in this course will be able to demonstrate: 1) an appropriate level of the technical skills and methods needed for advanced Old Testament study at the PhD level; 2) a working knowledge of the relevant technical secondary literature and be able to evaluate its claims.
TH 605 Jesus and the Gospels [This is a joint BA/MTS course (TH 347)]
This course is devoted to learning how to read and analyze the gospels and their portrayal of Jesus. The gospels are both narrative accounts of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus and historical artifacts of early Christianity. The course will reflect on both of these aspects of the gospels. Students successfully completing this course will be able to demonstrate: 1) a mastery of the content of the gospels both in their similarities and differences and 2) familiarity with a variety of scholarly approaches to analyzing the gospels.
TH 606 The Life and Writings of St Paul [This is a joint BA/MTS course (TH 355)]
This course is devoted to learning how to read and analyze the letters of Paul. The arguments in Paul鈥檚 letters are often subtle, couched in an idiom and rhetoric that is often more foreign to us than we might think, and engage different issues from what one might normally expect. Second, there is more secondary literature on Paul than almost any other figure in the history of the world. Students will be introduced to some significant pieces of scholarly literature related to the texts we are reading. Students who successfully complete this course will demonstrate: 1) a familiarity with the texts of Paul; 2) a comprehension of some of the main scholarly issues related to the study of Paul.
TH 607 New Testament Texts in Greek
This course will closely examine selected New Testament texts in Greek. The course seeks to build on the language skills students have developed in order to introduce more advanced exegetical, linguistic and text critical skills. Students who are successful in this course will be able to demonstrate: 1) an appropriate level of the technical skills and methods needed for advanced New Testament study at the PhD level; 2) a working knowledge of the relevant technical secondary literature and be able to evaluate its claims.
TH 610 Wrestling with the Old Testament [This is a joint BA/MTS course (TH 348)]
Engages a number of the problems readers confront when reading the Old Testament as Scripture. Explores interpretive approaches that help make sense of these texts and allow them to speak as a word of God for today. Topics examined include ethical lapses on the part of biblical saints; God鈥檚 representation as vengeful and punishing; violence; exclusion; and discrimination on the basis of gender, ethnicity, and disability.
TH 611 Special Topics in the Gospels [This is a joint BA/MTS course (TH 353)]
Explores a focused area or theme in the Gospels 鈥� for example, the Beatitudes, the parables of Jesus, or the passion narratives. The class uses a seminar-style format to explore the chosen topic in its historical context and its relevance for today.
TH 619 Independent Study in Scripture
An opportunity for students to pursue advanced study on topics of individual interest within the subdiscipline of Scripture. The structure, requirements, and aims of the independent study will be determined through consultation between the instructor and the student.
Historical Theology (TH 620-639)
TH 621 Historical Theology I (Patristic to Medieval)
This course surveys major figures in Christian theology from the second through the fifteenth centuries, including Church Fathers of both the East and West and the Western Medieval tradition. This course will emphasize reading primary source material, with an eye both to its historical context and to its relevance for theology today. Students successfully completing this course will be able to: 1) identify key Christian thinkers of the medieval and patristic eras and be able to articulate accurately their chief theological contributions; 2) trace the development of key Christian doctrines (e.g. the Trinity, the two natures of Christ) from their patristic formulation through medieval disputes concerning them; 3) describe the intimate relation in the patristic and medieval eras between the development of theological doctrines and the interpretation of the Bible; 4) relate the historical development of Christian thought to the wider course of events in the patristic and medieval eras.
TH 622 Historical Theology II (Early Modern to Modern)
This course will survey major figures in Protestant and Catholic theology from the sixteenth century through the twentieth, with special emphasis on the Reformations of the sixteenth century and theological responses to the Enlightenment and modernity. This course will emphasize reading primary source material, with an eye both to its historical context and to its relevance for theology today. Students successfully completing this course will be able to: 1) identify key Christian thinkers of the early modern and modern eras and be able to articulate accurately their chief theological contributions; 2) trace the development of key Christian doctrines (e.g. nature and grace, ecclesiology, sin and forgiveness) from their early modern formulation through to the modern period; 3) relate the historical development of Christian thought to the wider course of events in the early modern and modern eras.
TH 623 The Theology of Thomas Aquinas [This is a joint BA/MTS course (TH 338)]
Thomas Aquinas was a major medieval theologian who remains as controversial in the twentieth century as he was in the thirteenth century. This course studies Aquinas鈥� life and social context, his exegesis of Scripture and selections from his major theological works. The course also focuses on how Aquinas might be a resource for contemporary theological and philosophical work. Students successfully completing this course will be able to: 1) demonstrate knowledge of the content of Aquinas鈥檚 thought: i.e. the particular positions he takes on selected questions in theology and philosophy; 2) demonstrate facility with the style of Aquinas鈥檚 thought: i.e. how to read a discussion in the queastio format, the role played by the making of distinctions, the relationship of philosophy to theology; 3) formulate cogent objections to Aquinas鈥檚 positions, as well as possible responses that Aquinas could make to those objections.
TH 624 Patristic Biblical Interpretation
This course will introduce students to the exegetical and homiletical writings of the Greek and Latin Church Fathers. The course will cover early Christian debates concerning methods of scriptural interpretation as well as the influence of Greco-Roman and Jewish exegetical practices. It will also include close study of biblical interpretation as the Fathers practiced it, in homiletical and formal interpretive works. Students will also be introduced to the vast body of secondary literature on this topic. Students who are successful in this course will be able to demonstrate: 1) an appropriate level of the skills necessary for advanced study of patristic biblical interpretation at the Ph.D. level; 2) knowledge of the relevant secondary literature, as well as the ability to critically evaluate it.
TH 625 Introduction to the Theology of St. Augustine [This is a joint BA/MTS course (TH 335)]
This course will examine the writings of the most influential Latin theologian of the patristic period, Augustine of Hippo. It will emphasize close study of Confessions and The City of God, but it will also include careful examination of a selection of Augustine鈥檚 other writings, especially those arising from controversies surrounding Pelagianism, Donatism, and Manicheeism. The course will also devote attention to Augustine as preacher and biblical interpreter. Students who are successful in this course will be able to demonstrate: 1) an appropriate level of the skills necessary for advanced study of Augustine at the Ph.D. level; 2) knowledge of the relevant secondary literature, as well as the ability to critically evaluate it.
TH 626 Medieval Women Authors [This is a joint BA/MTS course (TH 329)]
An exploration of the social setting and theologies of medieval women authors, including such figures as Catherine of Siena and Julian of Norwich.
TH 628 Theology of Dante's Divine Comedy [This is a joint BA/MTS course (TH 382)]
Dante鈥檚 Divine Comedy is widely regarded as one of the greatest literary works in the Western canon. It is also a remarkable contribution to Catholic theology. Students survey the Comedy鈥檚 theology by attending to Dante鈥檚 understanding of the nature of humanity and human language, sin and salvation, the relationship between justice and politics, and the possibility of knowledge of God. Special attention is given to some of the classical and medieval sources of Dante鈥檚 theology.
TH 630 Readings in Greek and Latin Patristics
This course will examine closely selected writings from the Greek and Latin Church Fathers. Students in this course will study the writings of specific Church Fathers and/or theological themes that are most important for the development of Christian theology. The course will build on the language skills students have developed in order to introduce more advanced exegetical, linguistic, and text critical skills. Students who are successful in this course will be able to demonstrate: 1) an appropriate level of the skills necessary for advanced study of patristics at the Ph.D. level; 2) knowledge of the relevant secondary literature, as well as the ability to critically evaluate it.
TH 631 Eastern Christianity and Islam
TH 639 Independent Study in Historical Theology
An opportunity for students to pursue advanced study on topics of individual interest within the subdiscipline of historical theology. The structure, requirements, and aims of the independent study will be determined through consultation between the instructor and the student.
Systematic Theology/Doctrine (TH 640-659)
TH 640 Survey of Systematic Theology
This course surveys the major topics in Christian theology and their relationship to each other. It treats significant developments in contemporary theological discussions of God, Christ, the Spirit and the Church, grace and human destiny. Students successfully completing this course will be able to: 1) describe specific theological doctrines and topics and the various interconnections between elements of Christian theology; 2) demonstrate a familiarity with key figures and movements in theology and 3) evaluate them critically.
TH 641 Christianity and Its Critics [This is a joint BA/MTS course (TH 322)]
Beginning with the earliest followers of Jesus, Christianity has responded to criticism from those outside the faith and from dissenters within. This course investigates historical, theological, political, socio-cultural, and philosophical problems related to Christianity and asks students to evaluate ancient and modern critiques of Christianity and judge the adequacy of Christianity鈥檚 response. Students who successfully complete this course will be able to: 1) criticize some of the reasons for dissent from Christianity and offer a reasonable defense of aspects of the Christian faith; 2) identify and critically explain some of important apologetic moments in the history of Christian thought; 3) apply their learning to situations and contexts in the contemporary world.
TH 645 Contemporary Doctors of the Church
A 鈥渄octor鈥� is a teacher. Who are the best teachers of the Church today, why, and how can others learn from as well as criticize them? Students will read and discuss contemporary theologians who are or may be teachers of the universal Church. Students who successfully complete this course will demonstrate the ability to: 1) describe and analyze specific contemporary theologians in the light of the traditional notion of 鈥淒octor of the Church鈥�; 2) analyze contemporary theological issues in the light of the work of specific 鈥淒octors鈥�; 3) analyze and evaluate the scholarly literature related to specific 鈥淒octors.鈥�
TH 646 Debates in Twentieth-Century Theology
This course will introduce students to a selection of theological debates from the 20th century. The course will present the figures and arguments of both sides of the debate. Students successfully completing this course will be able to: 1) demonstrate familiarity with the works of specific theologians; 2) analyze and evaluate competing theological claims as they arose in specific times and places.
TH 651 Faith and Reason [This is a joint BA/MTS course (TH 369)]
An investigation of the ways faith has reasoned about itself in relation to challenges in the ancient, medieval, modern, and postmodern worlds.
TH 652 God and Radical Evils
This course addresses the general question, 鈥淗ow does God deal with evil?鈥� and primarily the more specific question, 鈥淗ow does the triune God of Jesus Christ deal with radical (non-trivial) evils?鈥� The diverse and conflicting responses to such difficult questions bear, directly and indirectly, on how Christians and others should deal with radical evils in their lives and those of their neighbors. Students read responses in the biblical and Christian tradition, as well as contemporary literary, philosophical, and theological responses. Students develop their own responses in conversation with these readings.
TH 653 Hope, Death, and the End of the World [This is a joint BA/MTS course (TH 362)]
This seminar studies the partly overlapping and partly diverging claims about life after death among Christians (Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant), Jews, members of other religions, and those with no professed religion. Topics include salvation, judgment, heaven, hell, and Purgatory. What end does God intend for the world, and how can this end justify hope in a world so deeply wounded by our own indifference and despair, wars, and deaths? Students will read traditional and contemporary books on these issues and will develop their own answers to these questions as they learn the answers of others.
TH 655 Liberation Theology [This course is a joint BA/MTS course (TH 370)]
Liberation theology emerged as one of the most important theological movements of the 20th century. From its beginning, this movement has focused especially on explicating what it means to follow Jesus in a world marked by staggering poverty, oppression, and structural injustice. In this course, students examine the social and ecclesial contexts out of which liberation theology was born, consider closely several seminal liberationist texts, analyze various critiques of liberation theology, and consider the present and future of the movement. Additionally, the course places special emphasis on examining, through a liberationist lens, Christian responses to the 鈥淏lack Lives Matter鈥� movement in the United States.
TH 656 Deaf and Disability Theologies [This is a joint BA/MTS course (TH 394)]
Provides an introduction to Deaf and disability theologies, a growing field that provides transformative ways for thinking about God, church, and society. Students engage in topics such as the historical treatment of Deaf and disabled people, biblical interpretations of disabilities, the theological underpinnings of the eugenics movement, contemporary models of disability, disabilities in relation to worship and the sacrament, and the current status of people with disabilities in the life of the church.
TH 657 Contemporary Catholic Intellectual Life [This is a joint BA/MTS course (TH 399)]
Explores the wide spectrum of contemporary Catholic intellectual life, focusing on the areas of theology, philosophy, politics, and literature. Students seek to understand, not only debates within those areas, but also attempt to explore lines of continuity stretching across the different genres of thought. For instance, how are the debates in philosophy related to different approaches to literature? Or, how do different theological methods affect how one approaches politics? Examples of thinkers studied include Karl Rahner, Hans Urs von Balthasar, Elizabeth Johnson, and David Tracy in theology; Edith Stein, Charles Taylor, Alasdair MacIntyre, and Jean-Luc Marion in philosophy; Dorothy Day, Gustavo Guti茅rrez, and Richard John Neuhaus in politics; as well as Shusaku Endo, Flannery O鈥機onnor, Mary Gordon, and Graham Greene in literature.
TH 658 The Resurrection [This is a joint BA/MTS course (TH 371)]
The resurrection of Christ is central to the message of the Gospel. But what does the resurrection of Christ mean for us? How do Christians understand what God has done for the world in and through this pivotal moment in history? What type of claims does the resurrection make on followers of Christ with regard to how they should live their lives? This course explores these questions through engagements with the biblical accounts of the resurrection and the thought of some of the most noteworthy Catholic theologians of the contemporary era.
TH 659 Independent Study in Systematic Theology/Doctrine
An opportunity for students to pursue advanced study on topics of individual interest within the subdiscipline of systematic theology. The structure, requirements, and aims of the independent study will be determined through consultation between the instructor and the student.
Comparative Theology (TH 660-669)
TH662 Buddhism and Christianity
This class provides a general survey of the encounter between Christianity and Buddhism. The course examines the metaphysical and theological conflicts between them. Topics will include God, the soul, metaphysics, causality, epistemology, and ethics. The course will take special care to dismantle many of the fantasies that contemporary Europeans and Americans have about Buddhism, and we will conclude with a discussion of the political uses and abuses of reincarnation in Tibetan Buddhism. Students successfully completing this course will be able to: 1) demonstrate knowledge of the basic history and teachings of Buddhism; 2) articulate the relevant points of agreement and disagreement between Buddhists and Christians.
TH 663 Jews, Muslims, and Christians in the Middle Ages
This course examine the philosophical and theological trialogue among Jewish, Christian, and Muslim thinkers in the Middle Ages on such questions as the nature of divine power, the status of human speech about God, and the problems and possibilities associated with belief in the Incarnation. Among the thinkers discussed are Al Ghazzali, Ibn Sina (Avicenna), Maimonides, and Aquinas. Students successfully completing this course will be able to: 1) identify key Jewish, Christian, and Muslim thinkers of the medieval era and be able to articulate accurately their chief theological contributions; 2) employ with facility the philosophical categories (Platonist and Aristotelian) used by medieval theologians; 3) articulate the theological similarities and differences that obtain among Jewish, Christian, and Muslim thinkers.
TH 664 Comparative Theology: Its History and Methods
Surveys the Christian encounter with other religions in the Bible, Patristic and medieval theology, and the early modern missions to the Americas, Africa, and Asia. In doing so, the course provides the historical and theoretical background of the development of Catholicism as a global, multicultural religion in dialogue with Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Confucianism, Taoism, and various indigenous religious traditions. Topics include controversies over Christian uniqueness, debates about the salvation of non-Christians, conceptions of grace and virtue in other religious traditions, and the comparative anthropology of religion.
TH 668 Encounters Between Christianity, Judaism, and Islam [This is a joint BA/MTS course (TH 383)]
Discusses some of the most important theological topics in the encounters between adherents of the three 鈥淎brahamic鈥� religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Topics include dialogues and polemics about the nature and the properties of God; human action and free will; revelation and the Word of God; the role and function of prophets; the limits of human language about God; and the rival claims of each tradition to Abrahamic parentage. Encounters examined include those in both the medieval and contemporary periods.
Ethics and Culture (TH 670-690)
TH 672 Natural Law in Catholic Context
This course would examine the development of natural law as a central mode of moral reflection in Catholicism. The classical (Cicero) and biblical (Wisdom Literature, Paul) roots of natural-law ethics would be studied. Aquinas鈥檚 Treatise on Law would be the centerpiece of the course. Diverse contemporary Catholic natural-law thinkers (Connery, Grisez, Finnis, McCormick, George) would be studied. Students successfully completing this course will be able to: 1) demonstrate a knowledge of the historical development of the natural-law moral tradition; 2) demonstrate a mastery of the specialized concepts used in natural-law arguments; 3) assess critically divergent schools of natural-law thought in contemporary Catholic ethics.
TH 673 Catholic Social Doctrine
In examining the major documents of the Catholic social tradition (such as Rerum novarum, Quadragesimo Anno, Centesimus annus), the course will focus on the shifting methodologies used in this versant of Church teaching. The interdisciplinary nature of this canon (theological, philosophical, sociological) will also be examined, as well as the controversies among contemporary theologians in the interpretation and development of this doctrine. Students successfully completing this course will be able to: 1) demonstrate a knowledge of Catholic social doctrine through an analytic grasp of the basic concepts used in this tradition; 2) display a hermeneutical ability to interpret key texts of the tradition in historical context; 3) display the capacity to engage critically with the central theories of this tradition in light of changes in contemporary society.
TH 677 Theology and Ethics of Social Justice [This is a joint BA/MTS course (TH 393)]
Students are introduced to religious social ethics, as well as moral and liberation theologies. This course helps students develop and refine their theo-ethic of justice and hone skills in social analysis and theological reflection. Students apply these skills to contemporary issues such as immigration, consumerism, globalization, and world poverty.
TH 678 Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation [This is a joint BA/MTS course (TH 395)]
Students explore the ways in which justice, peace, and the integrity of creation are interrelated, and reflect upon the character of Christian discipleship in light of this interrelatedness. In order to carry out these tasks, students work to interpret sources of Christian revelation (e.g., scripture, doctrine, etc.) in a manner that is attentive to both the 鈥渃ries鈥� of the earth and the poor; and use these theological interpretations to help analyze the contemporary socio-ecological crisis. Special attention will be paid to Pope Francis鈥� recent encyclical Laudato Si'.
TH 680 Class and Poverty in Theology, the Bible, and the Real World [This is a joint BA/MTS course (TH 391)]
Assists students in understanding poverty from biblical, theological, and political perspectives. What did Jesus mean when he said 鈥淭he poor will always be with you鈥�? What causes poverty? How are we to treat 鈥渢he poor鈥�? This course engages these questions and examines contemporary social issues related to class, poverty, homelessness, and social justice in America today.
TH 681 Worship, Culture, and Justice
Explores the theological relationship between culture and worship from an interdisciplinary perspective with an emphasis on the ethics surrounding worship practices. By examining historical, theological, and liturgical texts alongside select readings in sociology of religion and cultural anthropology, students learn to evaluate the social and spiritual impact of incorporating or excluding cultural practices in worship among varied populations within the U.S. and in the majority world, among immigrants, racial minorities, and people with disabilities.
TH 682 Health and Healing in Early Christianity [This is a joint BA/MTS course (TH 324)]
Explores the interplay between medicine, philosophy, psychology, and religion in antiquity and how these fields may overlap today. This course compares medical treatises from the Hippocratic corpus and Galen to early and medieval Christians who saw physical and spiritual health as intimately connected. It concludes by examining the possible benefits of these ancient insights for contemporary healthcare professionals.
TH 690 Independent Study in Ethics and Culture
An opportunity for students to pursue advanced study on topics of individual interest within the subdiscipline of theology, ethics, and culture. The structure, requirements, and aims of the independent study will be determined through consultation between the instructor and the student.
Track-Specific Courses
TH 691 Doing Lived Theology
This course in theological method and contextual theology treats Baltimore itself as a test. Students in this course will learn to read 鈥渢he signs of the times鈥� (Gaudium et spes, 4), as these signs present themselves within the historical context of the Baltimore area, in light of the gospel. In so doing, students will reflect on how the life of Christian faith might be lived out concretely within the Baltimorean context. Topics may include, but are not limited to, Maryland Jesuits, interfaith and ecumenical movements, and faith and justice movements in the area. This course is required for the General track and may also be taken as an elective by students in the Research track, the Education concentration, or the Certificate program.
TH 803 Ignatian Pedagogy Capstone
Explores the history and application of the Ignatian Pedagogical tradition. Students draw on their theological and pedagogical education to prepare a culminating project that is relevant to a specific primary or secondary educational audience. Required for students in the Education concentration and may also be taken as an elective by students in the General or Research tracks or in the Certificate program.
Thesis (TH 800鈥�801)
TH 800/801 Masters Thesis
The thesis is an opportunity for students both to bring together discrete elements from the curriculum and to explore a topic in greater depth than would be possible in a specific course. The thesis should draw together work from some of the theological sub-disciplines covered in the curriculum. Students will prepare their theses during their second year in the program. [Theses must conform to the university standards as listed in the Student Handbook.]
Normally, a thesis will neither be shorter than 15,000 words nor longer than 30,000 words including notes and bibliography. Students will be assigned a thesis advisor at the end of their first year in the program. Such assignments will be made by the Graduate Program Director in consultation with the student, the chair of the department, and available faculty members.
When students have submitted their thesis, a date for an oral examination will be set. The examination will cover material contained in the thesis and material related to the student鈥檚 course work. The examiners will include the student鈥檚 faculty advisor, at least one other faculty member (a second reader of the thesis), and a faculty member who will serve as the chair and moderator of the examination. That person鈥檚 primary role is to make sure that the examination proceeds in an orderly, civil, and fair manner. The student will receive a grade for the written thesis and a grade for the oral examination. The final grade for the thesis will be the average of these two grades. Students may not pass TH 800/01 unless they pass both the written and the oral part.
Timeline for TH 800/01
- Summer before the second year: Students will be assigned faculty advisors. They should begin to read with the aim of formulating an acceptable thesis topic. This topic must be submitted in writing to the Graduate Program Director.
- First Friday in October: Students must have submitted their written thesis topic to the Graduate Program Director.
- Oct. 20: Graduate Program Director conveys written approval of the thesis topic.
- March 1: Final copy of thesis must be submitted if a student wishes to graduate in May.
A final copy of the thesis must be submitted to the Library. In addition to the specific formatting rules in the graduate catalogue, theses must use standard Greek and Hebrew fonts; abbreviations should follow the guidelines in the SBL handbook of style.