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United Theological Seminary

MA in Theology and the Arts

The MA in Theology and the Arts degree program will prepare you to engage theological questions through the lens of the arts. You’ll engage these questions in a broad and systematic way, drawing on art history, aesthetics, practical arts, creativity, and imagination. The program has an academic focus on exploring justice, spirituality, and the human condition through the lens of art and theology.

If you are interested in preparing for ministerial leadership through the lens of the arts, check out the MDiv in Theology and the Arts.

This program may be a good fit for you if you are interested in pursuing:

  • A doctoral degree in theology and the arts, aesthetics, art history, art and culture, or religious studies in preparation for a career as a professor
  • Work in a museum
  • Curatorial work
  • Work as a gallery coordinator
  • Work in an arts institution

 

CONCENTRATION LEARNING OUTCOMES

In addition to achieving the core MA degree learning outcomes, a graduate of the MA in Theology and the Arts program will be able to:

  • apply the arts to their ministerial or vocational context in a way that demonstrates an informed understanding of the use of the arts as a means of theological or religious expression and reflection;
  • articulate an informed understanding of the historical use of the arts as a means of theological or religious expression and reflection;
  • articulate an informed understanding of the complex relationships among art, culture, and religion;
  • analyze a contemporary artistic or cultural work for the ways it expresses spiritual and religious ideas;
  • express a studied theological or religious concept, question, or issue via an art form; and
  • demonstrate, within the scope of a particular arts-related religious or theological topic, question or issue, their capacity for analysis and evaluation of the topic in relation to diverse contexts, and for integration of diverse resources in the service of construction of theology or worldview. OR
    Work of Art Thesis: create a work of art that expresses a religious or theological concept, question, or issue and demonstrates an advanced degree of technical skill, and reflects substantively on the work.

 

United’s MA at a Glance

  • 36 credits
  • Eleven 3-credit courses plus a 3-credit thesis, or ten 3-credit courses plus a 6-credit thesis
  • Can be completed in two years if you take a full-time course load (24 credits per year) and complete your thesis in approximately one trimester
  • All MA concentrations can be completed entirely via distance learning

Program Course Guide Sheet for Academic Year 2023–2024

LEARNING OUTCOME
NUMBER OF COURSES
COURSES
Religious Texts 2 RT1001 Introduction to Religious Texts
One 2000-level Religious Texts course
Theological Tradition 2
Invitation to Theology: Truth, Goodness, and Beauty
Choose one:
History of Christian Theologies
History of Modern Theologies
Ethics/Justice 2
Choose one:
Christian Ethics
Comparative Religious Ethics
Choose one:
Queer and Trans Theologies
Black and Womanist Theologies
CORE SUBTOTAL
6
Academic Contextualization 5
Art, Religion, and Contemporary Culture
History of Arts and Theology
Arts Praxis Seminar
Two elective courses (as approved by advisor)
Academic Skills 1 MA Thesis
CONCENTRATION SUBTOTAL
6
DEGREE TOTAL
12

Learn More

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