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M.A.

The M.A. is a rigorous post-baccalaureate program of theological studies intended for:

persons who are ordained ministers in churches that do not require the M. Div. degree who wish to pursue theological study for the enrichment of their ministry;
persons in church-related vocations that do not require ordination, who wish to pursue theological study for the enrichment of their ministry;
persons in non-church-related vocations (e.g., secondary school teacher, counselor, writer) for whom graduate study in the humanities may be particularly helpful or enriching;
persons who, for reasons of professional specialization, wish to supplement a professional degree (e.g., the Master of Library Science or the Master of Social Work) with a theological degree;
persons who have already completed the M.Div. degree but desire further in-depth theological study;
persons who, with or without an M.Div. degree, wish to prepare to enter a Ph.D. program in a theological discipline, or in some other related field within the humanities.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
The application deadline for a term is two months before the first day of classes. Applications received after the deadline will be considered for admission in the following semester. The applicant must:

1) hold an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution with an academic record indicating scholarly ability and academic achievement, including a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher. Official transcript(s) of all undergraduate and graduate work pursued to date are required. Applicants completing undergraduate study are accepted on the basis of a partial transcript, but a transcript showing a baccalaureate degree must be provided prior to matriculation;

2) complete the application form supplied by the Seminary's Office of Student Services which includes two letters of recommendation, and an indication of the applicant's area of concentration within the M.A. program;

3) pay a $50.00 non-refundable application fee;

4) once admitted, pay a $250.00 admissions deposit 30 days prior to the beginning of the first day of the new term to indicate acceptance of admission. This deposit is applied to the student's first-term tuition. New students are required to complete their registration two weeks before the first day of classes for the term. Registration after that date will be assessed a $100.00 late fee.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
In addition to the admissions procedures mentioned above, applicants who seek to enter the US to pursue a degree program at NBTS must:

• Submit transcripts of undergraduate degree programs, letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose written in English
• Demonstrate their proficiency in English (see English Proficiency Requirements)
• Apply to the US Government for an F-1 nonimmigrant student entry visa.

ENGLISH PROFICIENCY
Applicant whose native language is not English (with the exception of those who have graduated from a 4-5 year degree program where the language of instruction is English) must demonstrate their proficiency with a score on TOEFL, the Test of English as a Foreign Language. Minimum score requirements are 213 (Computer-based), or 80 (internet-based). Information about the TOEFL is available at http://www.toefl.org/. New Brunswick Theological Seminary’s TOEFL school code is 8937.

Applicant with TOEFL scores lower than those listed must also be evaluated by taking a placement test administered by the Program in American Language Studies (PALS) at Rutgers University’s New Brunswick Campus. Applicants may be required register for intensive English language coursework prior to matriculation in NBTS courses. Information about Rutgers PALS is available at http://pals.rutgers.edu/. When beginning a Seminary degree program, English-as-a-Second-Language students must successfully complete the NBTS courses ESL Theological Writing I& II.

F-1 NONIMMIGRANT STUDENT VISAS
Once the Admissions Committee approves an application from an international student, the Office of Student Services sends information on how to obtain Form I-20, the Certificate of Eligibility for F-1 Nonimmigrant Student Status in the United States. Prospective students use the form and supporting documentation to apply for an F-1 visa. The United States Government makes all visa decisions according to its regulations:

• F-1 applicants must document in advance that they (and/or their financial sponsors) have sufficient funds available to cover tuition, fees, textbooks, and living expenses for the entire course of study at the Seminary.
• F-1 visa applications must demonstrate to the consular officer at a US embassy or consulate abroad that they seek to enter the US temporarily and solely for the purpose of full-time study at the Seminary.

Once students enter the US in F-1 status, regulations require that they maintain full-time study at NBTS. The Seminary defines full-time as 12+ academic credits per semester.

NON-TRADITIONAL STUDENTS
Under exceptional circumstances, a student without a baccalaureate degree many be admitted with a probationary status to the M.Div. Program. Non-traditional students admitted will be on probationary status until the college courses are completed with a grade of “B” or better and 16 credits of NBTS course work has been completed. At that time, the student’s faculty advisor in consultation with the faculty will review the student’s progress in the M.Div. Program and make the appropriate recommendations for the student. The faculty will vote on the status of non-traditional students enrolled in the program at least once each year.
Such a student shall complete the process described above, and:

a) be at least forty years of age;

b) have demonstrated distinguished service to the church and shows a sense of vocation and commitment to professional ministry;

c) prepare for the M.Div. program by completing five college courses with a grade of “B” or better at an accredited college or university. At least three of these courses must be completed with a transcript submitted and with a plan for the completion of the other two courses before the admissions committee will process the application. These course must cover five areas: English composition, history, philosophy, behavioral science (psychology, sociology, or anthropology), and literature.

Please contact the Admissions office for information, transcript review, and aid in selecting the needed college courses, and the ordaining body within your church and/or denomination about the possibility of ordination without a college degree. Admission to the non-traditional program does not guarantee you are eligible for ordination within your church.

TIME LIMIT & RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT
Advanced Standing
Advanced standing of up to, but not exceeding, twenty-eight credits may be granted on the basis of the student’s previous academic work. The dean or assistant dean, working together with the student’s projected adviser, will determine this advanced standing upon the student’s acceptance of admission.

Residency Requirement
The student must be “in residence” for at least twenty-six credits of her or his course work toward the M.A. degree. In other words, twenty-six credits must be taken in NBTS courses, even if the student has received the maximum possible advanced standing.

Completion in One Year
Students who have received the maximum of twenty-eight credits of advanced standing may reasonably expect to be able to complete the degree in one year of full-time study. In the event that limitations in course offerings within that academic year make it difficult for the student to fulfill the residence requirement of twenty-six NBTS credits (see above) and still meet her or his concentration requirements, faculty in the concentration will arrange independent-study work with the student as necessary. In any case it is not intended that the residence requirement be waived.

Students at the New York Campus
Students are welcome to enroll for the M.A. at the New York campus. In the case of the Urban Ministry concentration, certain of the required courses are offered only at the New Brunswick campus. The Urban Ministry professor should be consulted for particulars. Students in other concentration likewise--especially those who have been granted substantial advanced standing (see above) - may find it necessary to take one or more courses at the New Brunswick campus in order to fulfill their concentration requirements without falling below the residence requirement of twenty-six NBTS credits.

Procedures for Matriculation
A student who has been admitted must indicate acceptance of admission by paying the admissions deposit 30 days in advance of the beginning of the term in which she or he will matriculate. Once the admissions deposit has been paid, the registrar will assign the student an adviser from the faculty in the area of the student’s chosen concentration, as indicated on the student’s application. In cases in which the new student has completed previous relevant graduate study, the registrar will then request the dean or assistant dean to evaluate the student’s transcript(s) for advanced standing. The dean or assistant dean will then contact the student’s projected adviser and, together with the adviser, assign advanced standing credit, which will be entered on the adviser’s “course audit” form for the student.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
The M.A. degree requires the completion of sixty (60) course credits with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. Within this total of 60 credits, specific course requirements vary according to areas of concentration; see “Areas of Concentration,” below. No credits of less than two quality points (2.0 or C) and no more than sixteen credits of work graded "C" may be used toward the degree.

M.A. AREAS OF CONCENTRATION
Upon applying for admission to the M.A. program, a prospective student must choose one of the following five concentrations: Biblical Studies; Pastoral Care; Urban Ministry; Historical and Constructive Theology; Church and Society. Upon the student’s acceptance of admission, she or he will be assigned a faculty adviser within the chosen concentration (see “Procedures for Matriculation,” above.).

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