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Yale Divinity School
409 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT 06515YDS Home>Admissions
Master of Arts in Religious Studies (M.A.R.)
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| Comprehensive Program | Concentrated Program | Extended Degree Program | Online Bulletin |
Overview of the degree program:
The degree of Master of Arts in Religion (M.A.R.) certifies either completion of a comprehensive program of study in preparation for one of the many forms of lay ministry or service, or completion of one of the concentrated programs of advanced study described below.
The minimum requirement for the M.A.R. degree is the successful completion of forty-eight credit hours and a two-year residence with the following exceptions:
- Students with heavy responsibilities outside of school are strongly advised to reduce their course load, but the total program of study for the M.A.R. degree shall not be expanded beyond four years.
- The residency requirement of two years may be reduced when credits, up to a maximum of twelve hours, are transferred. In order to receive the M.A.R. degree, students who transfer credits must complete at least three terms of resident work at this School, one of which must be the final term.
Students are encouraged to elect courses in other schools and departments of the University. Any student who takes more than nine hours in another school or department of the University comes under the regulations for interdisciplinary study.
Minimum requirements of the comprehensive M.A.R. program include the following distribution of courses in the curriculum:
- Area I Bible: Twelve credit hours. Elementary Hebrew and Greek do not meet this requirement, but are counted toward the total number of hours needed for graduation.
- Area II Theology/Ethics: Nine credit hours.
- Area III Historical Studies : Six credit hours.
- Area IV Practice of Ministry : Six credit hours.
- Area V Cultural and Comparative Studies: Three credit hours.
- Electives: Twelve credit hours.
No course may be counted toward meeting the distributional requirements simultaneously in more than one area. The distributional requirements of the M.A.R. degree are sufficiently flexible that students can devote a significant part of the program to specialized interests.
The concentrated M.A.R. program offers the opportunity to pursue advanced work in one of the disciplines of theological study. A minimum of thirty-six credit hours will be devoted to the planned program. The student may choose to use some or all of the remaining twelve credit hours for further concentration. A project, thesis, or major seminar paper is required in some of the programs. In cases where an M.A.R. project is required, the course registration number and title are REL 899, M.A.R. Project. The faculty member who is supervising the project will determine area credit.
The faculty limits the number of applicants accepted into the concentrated programs and reviews the progress of each upon completion of the first term. If progress is not satisfactory, the student becomes responsible for fulfilling the requirements of the comprehensive program.
Programs permitting concentration are offered in:
The concentrated program in Asian Religions offers students the opportunity to study an Asian language and religion, while at the same time gaining a firm understanding of scholarship in the Judeo-Christian tradition. This is an interdisciplinary program based in the Divinity School and directed by Dr. Koichi Shinohara (koichi.shinohara@yale.edu)in the department of Religious Studies. Students are encouraged to take courses pertinent to Asian Religions in the Religious Studies and other relevant departments. The requirements include 12 hours of language study and 12 hours of study in Asian religions. The Biblical courses, Old and New Testament Interpretations, are required of all candidates as are three hours of ethics, three hours of history, and three hours of philosophy of religion. There are nine hours of electives. At least half of the candidates work must be in Yale Divinity School classes.
The concentrated program in Bible requires study of both biblical languages. Twelve credit hours are required in the language chosen for primary emphasis, at least six of which must be in exegesis courses. Six credit hours are required in the secondary language. The foundation courses, Old Testament Interpretation and New Testament Interpretation, or their equivalent, are required. Six credit hours, selected in consultation with an adviser, are taken in the disciplines of Area II or Area III of the curriculum.
The concentration in Black Religion in the African Diaspora is an interdisciplinary program based in the Divinity School curriculum and encourages students to take courses pertinent to African American religious studies in other departments of the University. At least eighteen credit hours must be taken in courses focusing on Black religion, with one course in at least four areas of the curriculum. In addition, six credit hours of foundational study are required in Bible and twelve in history and theology. Although not required, up to six hours of credit may be given for a major paper or project.
Individual programs are planned for each of the students concentrating in Ethics. Ordinarily six credit hours of foundation study are required in Bible and twelve in history and theology. At least eighteen credit hours must be taken in ethics, and it is possible to plan the program so that primary emphasis is placed on either theological ethics or social ethics. Although not required, up to six hours of credit may be given for a major paper or project. Courses may be taken in other departments of the University (for example, in philosophy, history, political science, sociology) or in another professional school.
The program in the History of Christianity permits concentration primarily in either church history or the history of Christian theology, with twelve credit hours given to one, six to the other. If the student is insufficiently prepared in biblical studies and theology, six credit hours will be required in Old Testament, six in New Testament, and six in theology. An individual program is formulated for each candidate, within these guidelines.
The concentration in Judaic Studies/Second Temple Judaism focuses on the Second Temple and Rabbinic periods (approximately 500 B.C.E. to 500 C.E.). This program is a cooperative one that brings together students and faculty from the Divinity School and from the Department of Religious Studies. The period in question covers the later stages of the Hebrew Bible and the formative period of both rabbinic Judaism and Christianity. The centuries between the last books of the Hebrew canon (early second century B.C.E.) and the emergence of both rabbinic Judaism and Christianity (by the second century C.E.) are especially crucial for the development of both traditions. This program then overlaps the M.A.R. in Bible but is distinguished by its emphasis on non-canonical Jewish material and on the early rabbinic tradition.
Concentration in Liturgics requires twenty-seven credit hours of study in the major area, including six credit hours of tutorial or seminar work in the area in the second year. The other twenty-one credit hours will be taken in Bible, theology, and church history, and in courses in Christianity and culture in Area V of the curriculum, according to the student’s needs as determined in consultation with faculty in the area of concentration. A senior project is expected to emerge from the seminar taken in the final term. Admission to the program requires previous work in religious studies, but not necessarily on the graduate level.
Individual programs are planned for each of the students concentrating in Philosophical Theology and Philosophy of Religion. Eighteen credit hours are required in biblical studies and systematic, historical, or liberation theology, with at least six in each of the two areas. At least eighteen hours must be taken in philosophical theology or philosophy of religion. Courses in the social sciences and in historical and philosophical study of religion may be taken in other departments of the University, especially in religious studies and philosophy.
In the program in Religion and the Arts, concentrating in either literature or the visual arts, the student devotes at least twenty-one credit hours to courses in literature or art history, some of which may be earned elsewhere in the University. At least fifteen credit hours are required in Bible, theology, and history. The program allows twelve credit hours as electives, six of which are in the Divinity School.
The program in Theology permits concentration in theological studies with a sequence of courses totaling eighteen credit hours selected for this purpose. Suggested concentrations are systematic, historical, or liberation theology. The biblical courses, Old Testament Interpretation and New Testament Interpretation, or their equivalent, are required of all candidates, as are six credit hours in the history of Christian theology. Individual programs are designed utilizing these guidelines.
An interdisciplinary program in the context of the Divinity School curriculum is planned for students concentrating in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. At least eighteen credit hours must be taken in feminist studies, with one course in each of the four areas of the curriculum. In addition, six credit hours of foundation study are required in Bible and twelve in history and theology. Although not required, up to six hours of credit may be given for a major paper or project. Students may take courses pertinent to women’s studies in other departments of the University.
A concentrated program is offered in World Christianity for students who intend to work in other countries, but are not seeking ordination. The candidate takes a minimum of two courses in one of the four area studies programs of the University: Latin American, African and African American, East Asian, or Southeast Asia Studies. Courses in the Department of Anthropology may also be included. The foundation biblical courses, Old Testament Interpretation and New Testament Interpretation, or their equivalent, are required, as are twelve credit hours of work in theology and ethics. Four courses in missions are required.
An extended degree program is offered for selected students in the concentrated M.A.R. programs. This allows students to take additional courses during a third academic year in the program.
No more than fifteen students will be admitted to this program each year. An application for admission to the extended degree program must include both a statement explaining why the student wishes to extend a concentrated M.A.R. program and a letter of recommendation from at least one faculty member in the field in which the degree program is concentrated. Applicants will be selected by a committee appointed by the academic dean; the committee shall consist of one faculty member from each teaching group related to a concentrated M.A.R. program.
Applications for admission to the extended concentrated M.A.R. program are due by October 15 of the third term of a student’s concentrated M.A.R. program. Admission decisions will be announced by November 1 of that term.
--Last updated: August 5, 2009