ThM in Theology
School of Mission and Theology
Center for Advanced Theological Studies
The ThM prepares graduates for vocations as leaders in ecclesial and paraecclesial institutions and organizations devoted to serving the church in the world.
Enhanced Scholarship
Ecclesially Located
Diverse Learning Community
Request More Information About the ThM in Theology
Faculty
Faculty mentors work with ThM students in three primary concentration areas, New Testament, Old Testament, and Theological Studies.
In the Center for Advanced Theological Studies (CATS), “Theological Studies” is defined integratively, with students in this concentration working with faculty mentors specializing in Christian ethics, church history and historical theology, public theology, political theology, practical theology, Pentecostal studies, systematic theology, and theology and culture.
Residential and Hybrid Study
Students may complete their work either in residence on Fuller Seminary’s Pasadena campus or in a hybrid format.
For students in the ThM in Theology who wish to complete coursework primarily from a distance, hybrid coursework is expected in at least one term and in as many as two terms. Each hybrid course requires participation in a five-day seminar involving face-to-face instruction; these seminars are later completed through distance-learning. Additional coursework for the program is completed through synchronous and asynchronous seminars and courses.
Before You Apply
The ThM degree enables qualified graduates in theology to broaden and deepen their theological knowledge and competencies beyond the MDiv level. The ThM prepares graduates for vocations as leaders in ecclesial and paraecclesial institutions and organizations devoted to serving the church in the world. Although completion of the ThM may serve some graduates in their preparation for further graduate studies, this degree is designed as a self-contained terminal degree.
CONCENTRATIONS:
THM IN THEOLOGY STUDENTS PURSUE RESEARCH IN ONE OF THREE CONCENTRATION AREAS:
- New Testament
- Old Testament
- Theological Studies
THEOLOGICAL STUDIES CONCENTRATION STUDENTS PURSUE RESEARCH IN ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING RESEARCH DISCIPLINES:
- Christian Ethics
- Church History
- Historical Theology
- Practical Theology
- Public Theology
- Systematic Theology
- Pentecostal Studies
- Theology and Culture (arts and media)
Graduates from the ThM program should evidence:
- A substantive understanding of the discipline of their field of theological study appropriate for advanced academic study in the service of the church
- The capacity to formulate research questions and to use research methods and resources appropriate to the discipline, with a focus on scholarship that advances theological understanding in the service of the global church
- Capacities for the cultivation of theologically reflective practices of Christian discipleship
- Hospitality toward diverse theological approaches and positions––traditional and emerging––characteristic of the church catholic
Faculty Mentors
Watch this playlist of videos featuring our faculty talking about the things they care about.
Applying for Admission
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must have a first theological master’s degree with a foundation in biblical languages (either an MDiv or Fuller’s MA in Theology, or its equivalent, from an ATS-accredited school), and a cumulative graduate grade point average of 3.5 or above. Applicants wishing to have their transcripts assessed concerning this requirement should contact the Office of Admissions for details.
To be considered for admission, applicants must submit an online application, essay responses, writing sample, three academic references, and official transcripts from all prior post-secondary study. Applicants for whom English is a second language must provide test scores from an approved English language proficiency exam. Some requirements vary by concentration and/or research area of interest. Learn more about Fuller’s ThM admission requirements.
APPLICATION DEADLINES
Online application opens: August 1
Application and file completion deadline: April 15
Degree Completion Requirements
The ThM degree is awarded upon successful completion of the following:
- 36 quarter units of coursework
- Competence in a research language in addition to the biblical languages (Hebrew and Greek)
- ThM thesis
With careful planning, the coursework may be completed in one calendar year of full-time study or its equivalent. The thesis is designed to demonstrate the student’s competence in his or her area of study by dealing with a specific topic in a way comparable to a paper published in a professional journal. Competency in at least one biblical language (or, depending on the track chosen, two languages) to the level required by the Fuller MDiv degree is also required. Students who do not enter the program with this requirement completed may take biblical language courses as part of their ThM course work.
You May Also Be Interested In
The PhD in Theology program quips faculty and other leaders through the cultivation of research capacities and skills, global sensibilities, ecclesial commitments, theological discernment, personal and vocational formation, and the craft of teaching and learning.
The ThM ICS enables practitioners to pursue concentrated coursework in one area of missiological study, culminating in a reflective and research-based thesis. The ThM is designed as a one-year, self-contained degree, though it may act as a possible transition to the PhD in Intercultural Studies program.
Fuller’s practice-oriented Doctor of Ministry (DMin) program encourages ministry leaders to think creatively, cultivate new skills, and nurture their hearts to pursue their calling with excellence and passion in an ever changing world.
get to know your admissions counselor | Joel Short
I came to study at Fuller in 2004 and have worked on Fuller’s admissions team since I graduated in 2007. I am inspired by the many people I meet who are seeking to change the world by changing hearts and minds. I am privileged to listen to so many wonderful stories and to help pour light on the path. I love history and enjoy books, podcasts, museums, maps, antiques and anything else that helps me understand how the past relates to the present and the future.
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