Master of Arts (Christian Studies) (MACS)*

The MACS degree is based on the principle that any follower of Christ will benefit from advanced training in biblical and theological studies, becoming a more effective minister of the gospel wherever they serve.

Graduates

Online and Distance Education

The MACS can be completed by taking courses online or at one of our eight locations. View a sample of an online class.

Purpose

The program leading to the Master of Arts degree with a major in Christian Studies (MACS) is designed to provide a graduate-level biblical and theological foundation for various kinds of Christian service. This degree is designed primarily for lay leaders who desire training for more effective ministry within their church or organization. The MACS may also provide supplemental training for those engaged in parachurch ministries or those in support positions with missions agencies or churches. Those who are seeking full preparation for vocational ministry should apply for admission to one of the professional degree programs.

The MACS is offered in English, Chinese, and Spanish with some customized requirements. The program can be completed entirely online in English. Most of the courses in the Chinese-language MACS can be complete online, but some will need to be completed in residence. Courses in Chinese are also offered on the Dallas campus and at the seminary’s Houston extension. See www.dts.edu/Chinese or contact the Chinese Studies of ce for more information on completing the MACS in Chinese.

a基督教研究碩士學位 (Master of Arts [Christian Studies]) 乃是以基督教研究為主修的中文學位 課程,其設計主旨是為各種華人基督教事工,無論是在教會或是基督教機構事奉人員 奠定碩士程度的聖經和神學根基。雖然本學位大多數課程可以通過網絡完成,但有一 些課程的要求需在傳統課堂裡完成。所有關於基督教研究碩士學位的詳情資料都可以 在本目錄中或者直接上網 www.dts.edu/chinese 查詢。也可以與我們的中文入學部同工聯 絡洽詢。

El programa de Maestría de Artes en Estudios Cristianos (MAEC) está designado para proveer fundamentos bíblicos y teológicos a un nivel de posgrado para diferentes tipos de servicio Cristiano. Este programa esta designado primeramente para líderes cristianos que desean prepararse para un ministerio más efectivo con su iglesia u organización. El MAEC también ofrece entrenamiento suplementario para aquellos que estén involucrados en ministerios fuera de la iglesia o aquellos que tengan diversos puestos en ministerios paraeclesiásticos o iglesias. Para más información acerca del Programa MAEC visite www.dts.edu/espanol.

Program Goals

All students in the MACS program will be able to:

• demonstrate a general knowledge of the Bible, including a synthetic understanding of the major books;
• evidence an understanding of the historical development of theology, a knowledge of premillennial theology, and an ability to support their theological views and apply them to contemporary issues;
• evidence an increasing likeness to Christ as manifested in love for God, love for others, and the fruit of the Spirit;
• evidence an interest and involvement in the local church or other ministries with which they are associated; and
• minister within a local church or other group by means of leadership skills, evangelism, and service.

In addition, to the above goals, students in the Chinese-language version of the MACS will also be able to:

• design an effective strategy for Chinese ministry and
• communicate biblical and theological knowledge to a contemporary Chinese audience.

Admission Requirements

Admission requirements and application procedures for the MACS are the same as for all programs of study at the seminary (see the Admission section of this catalog). Students generally will not be admitted into this degree program without goals consistent with the ministries for which the program is designed to equip them.

Transfer of Credit

Transfer of up to 31 hours of credit is allowed toward the MACS program from accredited graduate programs in related fields of study. Students must have earned a grade of C or better (2.0 on a 4.0 scale) for a course to be considered for transfer. Transferability of credits earned
at Dallas Theological Seminary and transferred to another institution is at the discretion of the receiving institution. Consult the registrar’s office for information on eligibility for transfer credit.

Residence Requirements

While the MACS can be completed entirely online, all of the courses are also offered as classroom courses on the main Dallas campus. Most of the courses are also available at the seminary’s extension campuses. This is to enhance the learning objectives of certain subjects that may be better achieved through a live interactive setting as well as for those who prefer a traditional face-to-face format.

Not all of the MACS courses are offered in a live face-to-face format in Chinese. Some are offered live at the Dallas and Houston campuses, and 30 hours can be completed in face-to-face courses in Chinese at the seminary’s extension in Hong Kong. For more information on course availability in Chinese, contact the of ce of Chinese Studies.

Regardless of the mode of delivery (online or in face-to-face classes in Dallas or at an approved extension), at least fifty percent of the course work required for the degree must be earned through DTS.

All work toward the MACS degree must be completed within seven years from the time of initial matriculation. Extension of this time limit requires approval of the Credits Committee. Reinstatement to the degree after withdrawal requires Admissions Committee action and may subject the student to additional requirements for the degree.

Spiritual Formation

Because DTS values Christlike character and spiritual maturity, MACS students are required to register for and participate in Spiritual Formation (SF) groups each of their rst four consecutive fall and spring semesters at the Dallas, Houston, or Washington DC Campus. Online MACS students or those who are not planning to be in residence in Dallas or Houston for four consecutive semesters must contact the EML department and apply for an alternative program for completing SF requirements.

In the SF curriculum, small groups of ve to seven students focus on identity, community, integrity, and delity. The groups also provide an atmosphere for prayer, fellowship, and the integration of learning with life and ministry.

Because students participate with the same group during four consecutive semesters, they should plan their schedules so they may meet on the same day and at the same time each semester. SF is a noncredit, transcripted experience. The prerequisite for all required internships is SF100 Spiritual Formation (or an approved SF substitute).

Students in the Chinese-language MACS must contact the Chinese Studies Department concerning how to meet their Spiritual Formation requirement.

Accelerated MACS

Students entering the English MACS with a strong background in Bible or theology from an approved Christian university, Bible college, or parachurch ministry may apply for the accelerated program during the admissions process. In place of core courses in the MACS curriculum, accelerated participants take four advanced standing courses (AS103–106). This results in a curricular reduction of up to 12 credit hours. The accelerated program is limited to students taking courses on the Dallas campus.

For more information about the accelerated program visit www.dts.edu/advancedstanding.

Course Requirements

Sixty-two semester hours of coursework are required as a minimum for graduation. Students may pursue this degree on a year-round basis or during summers. By taking about 12 hours of coursework each year or summer, students can complete the program in five years or five summers depending on scheduling needs.

Students who intend to complete the requirements for the MACS online, but do not have prior experience with online courses are not encouraged to take more than one course their first online semester.

All students in the MACS, regardless of language, are required to take 24 hours of prescribed Biblical Studies courses, 18 hours of prescribed Theological Studies courses, 3 hours in the Christian Life and Witness course, 3 hours in an approved communications course, and 2 hours in research for a total of 50 core hours.

MACS in English

In addition to the common 50 hours of core requirements above, all students in the MACS in English are required to take PM102 Evangelism for 2 hours and HT200 History of Doctrine for 3 hours. Of the remaining 8 elective hours, students in the English-language MACS must take at least 2 hours from the Department of Educational Ministries and Leadership and at least 2 hours from the Department of World Missions and Intercultural Studies.

基督教研究碩士

學生可以藉著中文的網路神學課程及面 授課程來取得基督教研究碩士的學位, 世界各地的華人信徒都可以註冊修讀這 些網路課程。這些課程所有的教材、作 業和師生互動都是以中文進行,面授課 程則需在有提供中文課程的分校修讀。 就讀中文基督教研究碩士的學生除了必 須完成達拉斯神學院 50 學分的核心課 程之外,還要修讀 WM340 華人文化環 境中的事工(2 學分)、 WM545 華人教會 歷史/當代神學趨勢(3 學分)、 EML101 教 會教育進程與領袖學(3 學分)。另外還 有 4學分可選修配合個人興趣或事工需 要的課程。

MAEC En Español

El MAEC puede ser completado en línea y en español. Hispano hablantes de todo el mundo pueden inscribirse en cursos que dirijan hacia la MAEC. Toda la literatura, tareas e interacciones entre los estudiantes y los profesores son en español. Para más información acerca del MAEC en español visite la página web de DTS en español www.dts.edu/espanol. 

Degree Plan(s)*

2-year plan

First Year

Fall Semester

Code	Name	Hours
PM105	Christian Life and Witness1	3
BE101	Bible Study Methods and Hermeneutics	3
BE103	OT History II & Poetry	2
ST101	Theological Method and Bibliology	3
RS101	Orientation & Research Methods	1
SF100-1	Spiritual Formation Spiritual Formation2
	Elective(s)3	3
		15

Spring Semester

Code	Name	Hours
NT113	New Testament Introduction	2
BE102	Old Testament History I	3
BE105	The Gospels	2
BE109	Ruth, Psalms, Jonah, & Selected Epistles	3
ST102	Trinitarianism	3
SF100-2	Spiritual Formation Spiritual Formation2
	Elective(s)3	3
		16

Second Year

Fall Semester

Code	Name	Hours
BE104	OT Prophets	3
BE106	Acts & Pauline Epistles	3
ST103	Angelology, Anthropology, & Hamartiology	3
ST105	Sanctification & Ecclesiology	3
SF100-3	Spiritual Formation Spiritual Formation2
	Elective(s)	3
		15

Spring Semester

Code	Name	Hours
BE107	Hebrews, General Epistles, & Revelation	3
HT200	History of Doctrine	3
ST104	Soteriology	3
ST106	Eschatology	3
RS103	Summative Research Project	1
SF100-4	Spiritual Formation Spiritual Formation2
	Approved Communications Course	3
		16

1. EML103 and EML104 (or EML105), EML450, or an approved PM Communication Course.
2. Completion of SF100 Spiritual Formation requires two calendar years. Students who register for SF100 need to keep in mind that the course is a four-semester-long course that will meet at the same day and time each of the four semesters. The first Spiritual Formation class is only offered in the fall semester. See the Educational Ministries and Leadership department section of this catalog for more information.

3-year plan (Dallas, Houston, OL)

First Year

Fall Semester

Code	Name	Hours
BE101	Bible Study Methods and Hermeneutics	3
ST101	Theological Method and Bibliology	3
HT200	History of Doctrine	3
SF100-1	Spiritual Formation Spiritual Formation1
		9

Spring Semester

Code	Name	Hours
BE102	Old Testament History I	3
ST102	Trinitarianism	3
PM102	Evangelism	2
RS101	Orientation & Research Methods	1
SF100-2	Spiritual Formation Spiritual Formation
		9

Summer School

Code	Name	Hours
PM101	Spiritual Life	2
		2

Second Year

Fall Semester

Code	Name	Hours
BE103	OT History II & Poetry	2
ST103	Angelology, Anthropology, & Hamartiology	3
BE109	Ruth, Psalms, Jonah, & Selected Epistles	3
###	Communications Course2	3
SF100-3	Spiritual Formation Spiritual Formation
		11

Spring Semester

Code	Name	Hours
BE104	OT Prophets	3
ST104	Soteriology	3
NT113	New Testament Introduction	2
SF100-4	Spiritual Formation Spiritual Formation1
		8

Summer School

Code	Name	Hours
###	Elective	3
		3

Third Year

Fall Semester

Code	Name	Hours
BE105	The Gospels	3
ST105	Sanctification & Ecclesiology	3
BE107	Hebrews, General Epistles, & Revelation	3
###	Elective	3
		12

Spring Semester

Code	Name	Hours
BE106	Acts & Pauline Epistles	3
ST106	Eschatology	3
###	Elective	2
		8

Summer School

Code	Name	Hours
RS103	Summative Research Project	1
		1

1. Students have two calendar years (four consecutive fall/spring semesters) to complete the SF100 Spiritual Formation requirement. Students who register for SF100 need to keep in mind that the course is a four-semester-long course that will meet at the same day and time each of the four semesters. See the Spiritual Formation and Leadership department for more information.
2. The following courses are approved to meet the Communications course requirement: EML103 Teaching Process (2 hrs.) AND EML104 Media Presentations (1 hr.), EML105 Teaching Process and Media Presentations (3 hrs.), EML450 Women Teaching Women (3 hrs.), or an approved PM Communications course (3 hrs.). For more information contact the Student Advising Center.

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*Note: This curriculum plan is intended for new students only. Current students should refer to the degree requirements available from the Advising Center.