Master's degree from
Westminster Theological
Seminary, Philadelphia
The John Owen Centre offers a ThM degree course in association with Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, USA. This Master of Theology course is in the area of Historical and Systematic Reformed Theology and is taken as a series of week-long modules followed by a thesis, making it accessible to those already in full-time ministry. Individual modules may also be audited, in which case the admission requirements are waived.
Westminster Theological Seminary is the doyen of intellectually rigorous Reformed seminaries worldwide. Established in 1932, it has over 700 students currently enrolled. Past faculty members have included J. Gresham Machen, E. J. Young, and Cornelius Van Til. WTS has a proven track record of serious theological teaching and writing that is faithful to Scripture and the historic Reformed faith.
The purpose of the ThM course is to increase the student's knowledge of the theology of the Reformed and Puritan periods. This is done through training and practice in theological research, with a strong emphasis on the study of primary texts. The aim of the course is to enrich the student's pastoral and preaching ministry through the study of some of the giants of Reformed history. For some the course may prepare the way for doctoral study. It is aimed especially at theology graduates, ministers and missionaries.
The course itself consists of six modules, taught by visiting faculty members of WTS and adjunct faculty members. Lecturers have included William Edgar, Jeffrey Jue, Peter Lillback, Stephen Nichols, Robert Oliver, Craig Troxel, Carl Trueman, and Garry Williams. Modules last for a week and an essay is required following each module, plus the writing of a thesis after all the modules are completed. Five modules are normally offered in each calendar year, so that the modules can normally be completed within a minimum of thirteen months, though they may be taken more slowly. Students are also required to complete and pass a Theological Bibliography and Research Methodology course which is included in one of the modules.
Credentials for admission to the course include an initial baccalaureate degree (in the UK a Bachelor’s degree) plus the MDiv degree or its theological equivalent. Students applying from countries where the academic structure is different from that in the United States should provide full details of their prior theological studies for consideration when they apply. This will enable WTS to determine whether the studies form a suitable equivalent basis for admission. For example, for the purposes of this course, the two-year training course at LTS has been recognised by the Association of Theological Schools of America and Canada, and by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, following on-site inspections, as equivalent to a Master of Divinity degree in the USA.
For admission to the ThM a knowledge of both Hebrew and NT Greek is also required, as well as a working grasp of one other written language relevant to theological study (e.g. Dutch, French, German, or Latin). A short examination based on a text in this chosen language must be passed before the course's thesis can be submitted.
Fees: There is an initial application fee plus a matriculation fee payable when acceptance on to the course is confirmed. The tuition fees are payable in instalments at the commencement of each module and there is a small charge for meals and facilities. There is an additional fee on submission of the thesis.
Click here for fees for UK and EU nationals
Click here for fees for non-EU nationals
Accommodation, if required, is available during the teaching weeks in single study bedrooms. Meals are also available. Residence at the John Owen Centre at other times is also possible subject to availability.
There are deadlines for applying for the course:
January entrance: October 31st
March or June entrance: January 15th
August or September entrance: April 30th