Theology Schools and Programs in The United States

Theology Studies in The United States

Theology is the systematic study of religious belief, sacred texts, doctrine and practice. In the United States it is taught in two settings. Undergraduate students take a major in theology, theological studies or religious studies at a college or university, very often one with a church affiliation. Graduate students attend a divinity school or seminary, which may be part of a university or an independent institution, and which prepares both scholars and future ministers.

Most of the schools listed on this page have a Christian background, and the approach differs from one tradition to another.

How the degree is organised

The first degree is the bachelor's, which according to EducationUSA is usually completed in four years of full-time study. Examples from the schools on this page:

• Saint Louis University: B.A. in Theological Studies, with minors in Greek and Latin
• University of Dayton: Theology and Religious Studies (B.A.)
• Concordia University Wisconsin: Bachelor of Arts in Theology, covering the Old and New Testaments, systematic doctrine and practical theology
• Loyola University New Orleans: a major in Religious Studies with options in Christianity and World Religions

At graduate level the main degrees have names that are used across the country. Vanderbilt University's Divinity School describes the Master of Divinity (M.Div.) as a three-year professional degree for students preparing for ordained ministry, and the Master of Theological Studies (M.T.S.) as a two-year degree for ministry, academic study or leadership in faith-based and nonprofit settings. It also offers a Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.). Research doctorates are taught in university departments: Fordham University's Department of Theology has B.A., M.T.S., M.A. and Ph.D. programmes, Saint Louis University offers a Ph.D. in Theological Studies and the University of Dayton a Ph.D. in Theology. EducationUSA gives five to eight years as the usual length of a US doctorate.

Some universities link the levels. Saint Louis University has a combined B.A.-M.T.S., and Loyola University New Orleans has a dual programme from the B.A. in Religious Studies to a Master of Pastoral Studies or Master of Religious Education.

Accreditation and recognition

US higher education is not centrally organised: institutions are accredited at national or regional level by independent bodies. Graduate theological education has its own specialised accreditor, the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS). The Commission states that it has more than 270 accredited member schools and that it is recognised by the United States Secretary of Education and by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Vanderbilt Divinity School and Azusa Pacific Seminary both state that they are accredited by the ATS.

Recognition for church purposes is a separate matter. Ordination requirements are set by each denomination. Students who need a qualification recognised by their church or by the education authorities of their own country should check this before they enrol.

Admission and language

EducationUSA states that undergraduate applicants in general must have completed high school and be at least 17 years old, and that US universities require an English language proficiency test before admission. Applications for a September start are typically due between November and January.

Teaching is normally in English, with some exceptions: Azusa Pacific Seminary offers master's and doctoral programmes in Spanish and Korean alongside its English-language master's in pastoral studies. To apply for an F student visa, a student must first be accepted by an institution certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). EducationUSA notes that an SEVP-certified institution may not hold national or regional accreditation.

Where to study theology in the United States

The schools on this page are spread across the country. They include Jesuit universities such as Fordham University in New York, Georgetown University in Washington, Saint Louis University and Loyola University New Orleans; the University of Dayton, a Catholic and Marianist university in Ohio; Concordia University Wisconsin in Mequon, a university of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod; Azusa Pacific University in California; Vanderbilt University in Nashville, with its Divinity School; and Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Careers

Typical fields are ministry and chaplaincy, religious education, faith-based and nonprofit organisations, and teaching and research. Concordia University Wisconsin lists religion teacher, pastor and director of ministries as sample careers, and explains that its programme is intended primarily for students preparing for certification as professional church workers. For university teaching, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics states that postsecondary teachers at four-year colleges and universities typically need a Ph.D. or other doctorate in their field.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between an M.Div. and an M.T.S.?

The Master of Divinity is the professional degree for ordained ministry and usually takes three years. The Master of Theological Studies is a shorter academic degree, two years at Vanderbilt Divinity School, often used as preparation for further study.

How long does a theology degree take in the United States?

A bachelor's degree usually takes four years of full-time study. A master's takes two or three years depending on the degree, and a doctorate five to eight years according to EducationUSA.

Can I study theology in Spanish in the United States?

Most programmes are taught in English. Azusa Pacific Seminary states that it offers master's and doctoral programmes in Spanish and Korean.