The MA in Bahá’í Studies degree program develops your skills in academic theological study with an emphasis on the interdisciplinary themes of the Bahá’í faith. This program may be a good fit for you if you are interested in becoming a teacher, professor, or community leader grounded in the Bahá’í faith.
Concentration Learning Outcomes
In addition to achieving the core MA degree learning outcomes, a graduate of the MA in Bahá’í Studies program will be able to apply their knowledge of and interdisciplinary insights into the Bahá’í faith to the creation of statements of their individual reality as well as their participation in social discourse, community-building, and social action.
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; many courses can be taken completely asynchronously
Program Course Guide Sheet for Academic Year 2023-2024
| LEARNING OUTCOME |
NUMBER OF COURSES | COURSES |
| Religious Texts | 2 |
Introduction to Religious Texts
Introduction to Baha’i Scripture*
|
| Theological Tradition | 2 | Invitation to Theology: Truth, Goodness, and Beauty Bahá’í Theology* |
| Ethics/Justice | 2 |
Choose one:
Christian Ethics
Comparative Religious Ethics Approaches to Non-Violent Social Change*
|
| CORE SUBTOTAL |
6 | |
| Academic Contextualization | 5 | The Bahá’í Faith* Bahá’í History 1844–2021* Bahá’í Institutions, the Community, and the Individual* Two elective courses |
| Academic Skills | 1 | MA Thesis |
| CONCENTRATION SUBTOTAL | 6 | |
| DEGREE TOTAL | 12 | |
| * United courses offered online in affiliation with the Wilmette Institute | ||
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