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Catalog 2021-2022

History of Christianity, MA

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The History of Christianity MA program (42 hrs) provides an opportunity for students to explore the contours of Christian history across two millennia in a liberal arts context. Over the course of two years, students will undertake rigorous and critical study of the history of the Christian church as it interacted with theological, social, political, intellectual, economic, gender, and cultural factors. Core courses will provide a comprehensive knowledge of Christian history and equip students with skills necessary for advanced historical work. Students will then have the foundation to progress in their understanding of the field through more in-depth seminar courses.

Students may choose to tailor the program or to focus the program by selecting from three concentrations:

  • Early Christianity
  • Reformation Christianity
  • Modern Christianity

In addition to the pursuit of academic excellence, skills for service in the church and society worldwide will be fostered. Those who excel in the program will be prepared to undertake doctoral work in the history of Christianity, historical theology, and history.   

Coordinator, Associate Professor Jennifer Powell McNutt

The History of Christianity  MA, requires 42 hours:

Course List
Code Title Credits
Historical Studies24
BITH 576History of Christianity to 19004
BITH 577World Christianity 14
BITH 581The Reformation4
BITH 585History of Christianity in North America 14
BITH 677Topics in the History of Christianity 1, 2, 3,48
Historical Theology4
Select 4 credits of the following: 34
BITH 653
Historical Theology: Patristic
BITH 654
Historical Theology: Medieval Christianity
BITH 655
Historical Theology: Reformation
BITH 656
Historical Theology: Modern
Biblical and Systematic Theology 44
BITH 525Biblical Theology4
or BITH 565 Christian Theology
Historical Skills & Methodology 56
Four credits from: 4
BITH 503
Language Study I
BITH 504
Language Study II
BITH 505
Language Study III
BITH 506
Language Study II
BITH 683Historiography of the History of Christianity2
BITH 684Vocation Formation in Biblical and Theological Studies (strongly recommended)0
Electives 64 or 8
All concentration students are required to select from the following:
BITH 695
Independent Study (4 credits in their concentrated subject)
or BITH 698
Thesis
Comprehensive Exam
BITH 692Graduate Comprehensive Exam (Students should not take the exam before they have completed 32 credits of the program.)0
1

Early Christianity concentration students choose either BITH 577 or BITH 585 and will complete 4 additional elective credits from BITH 677 or BITH 679.

2

Reformation concentration students are required to take one seminar (BITH 677 that corresponds with the Reformation concentration; one seminar must be taken from the Early or Modern concentrations.

3

 Modern concentration students are required to take one seminar (BITH 677) that corresponds with the Modern period; one seminar must be taken from the Early or Reformation periods.

4

 Students without a concentration must take seminars from two different periods, chosen from Early, Reformation, or Modern.

5

Students with qualified coursework in this requirement and with permission from their advisor may choose instead from the following options:

  • BITH 674 Theology and the Liberal Arts
  • BITH 626 and BITH 653,  BITH 654, BITH 655 or BITH 656
  • BITH 675 Advanced Systematic Theology.
6

Students not planning to pursue doctoral work may receive permission from their advisor to use these credits towards their electives.

7

8 elective credits required if students opt out of BITH 505 Language Study III with permission.

8

Concentration students are required to take one Historical Theology course that corresponds with their concentration.

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