Master's in Theology

[C794]

I’m interested in one day studying theology so that I can teach it at a high school level. Right now I’m getting a BA in an unrelated field, but I head that some programs will admit such students, as long as they take some intro courses (FUS being one example). How hard would doing something like that be? What GPA should I aim for? Currently I have a high GPA, but that will be dropping very soon, which has caused me to be worried.

Thanks

 

[PietroPaolo]

I almost returned to school (I’m in my early thirties) with the intention of picking up a Masters in Theology and spoke to several schools, including FUS and Ave Maria, both of which were fine with my background (BA in History, MA in Teaching). Keep your GPA as high as possible and hope for the best. God bless.

 

[pianistclare]

Realize though, that schools will expect you to also have a Teaching certificate, which means an Education degree.
I was teaching in a Catholic School as Director of Religious Ed, (I had an advanced Theology degree along with my degree in Music) and even though the Bishop stated that DRE’s and Theology professors are exempt from having a traditional teaching certificate, the principal eliminated my job anyway. She said it was HER policy, not his to make. She wanted everyone to be certified by the State, and as you know, States do not certify religion teachers of any faith. Game, set, match.
The school has no DRE now. No one teaching religion with experience. I understand they watch a lot of religious movies.
Peace,
pianist

 

[adawgj]

What’s the “unrelated field”?

 

[C794]

Thanks for the replies. I do plan on getting a teaching degree, but that will have to come later – it isn’t offered at my school. The unrelated field is political science.

 

[SecretGarden]

As a master’s in theological studies student. I suggest that you do some research now and see what are the requirements because I know some schools prefer that their students have some theological courses on their transcript while others don’t. Plus determining their GPA is also a necessity because it will help to keep you informed regarding which requirements you need.

I have found it is also a good idea to contact the schools you are interested in arrange to meet with them either in person or through skpye so that you can learn more about the programs. Contacting them every year until your present degree is completed would also be a good idea since requirements change sometimes and you want to stay as informed as possible.

 

[akemner]

I got my degree in the Music, and now working on my Masters of Pastoral Theology. I would strongly recommend courses in logic and historical philosophy. Theology and Philosophy were not fully separated until during the Renaissance. Also, when thinking about the teaching degree, review the requirements of the state and the school where you you will teaching. Some schools will accept the Masters degree as adequate for teach, others will not. Requirements are different by state. Some states have different levels of certification with different requirements, some states will accept another states, others will not.

 

[marylauravicuna]

Genesis 25:20 - 34

1. Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram* and the sister of Laban the Aramean.h 21Isaac entreated the LORD on behalf of his wife, since she was sterile. The LORD heard his entreaty, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. 22But the children jostled each other in the womb so much that she exclaimed, “If it is like this,* why go on living!” She went to consult the LORD, 23and the LORD answered her:

Two nations are in your womb,

two peoples are separating while still within you;

But one will be stronger than the other,

and the older will serve the younger.* i

24When the time of her delivery came, there were twins in her womb.j 25The first to emerge was reddish,* and his whole body was like a hairy mantle; so they named him Esau. 26Next his brother came out, gripping Esau’s heel;* so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when they were born.k

27When the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country; whereas Jacob was a simple* man, who stayed among the tents.l 28Isaac preferred Esau, because he was fond of game; but Rebekah preferred Jacob. 29Once, when Jacob was cooking a stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. 30He said to Jacob, “Let me gulp down some of that red stuff;* I am famished.” That is why he was called Edom. 31But Jacob replied, “First sell me your right as firstborn.”* m 32“Look,” said Esau, “I am on the point of dying. What good is the right as firstborn to me?” 33But Jacob said, “Swear to me first!” So he sold Jacob his right as firstborn under oath.n 34Jacob then gave him some bread and the lentil stew; and Esau ate, drank, got up, and went his way. So Esau treated his right as firstborn with disdain.