Master of Theology
The Master of Theology (MTh) is a two-year (full-time equivalent) 240 credit degree. It provides an
advanced level theological qualification for those who have already completed a recognised Bachelor’s
level degree in theology and want to upgrade their qualifications in a specific area or extend their
understanding of Christian ministries. The degree provides opportunity for Master’s level biblical and
theological study related to the fields of Biblical Studies, Christian Thought and History and Pastoral,
Missional and Contextual Studies, and for students to pursue a research project in an area they are
interested in.
Postgraduate courses are taught in block courses of one or two weeks (depending on the particular course). This allows people living outside of Auckland to travel for just the block course teaching, and helps those working full time to fit postgraduate study into their busy lives.
*Note that, apart from R351, Postgraduate courses do not have a Distance Learning option - live engagement in the lectures is a necessary part of postgraduate study at Laidlaw.
Students who successfully complete the first year of the MTh, but do not wish to continue to second year studies, will be awarded a level 8 Postgraduate Diploma in Theology.
Click here to view or download a programme summary.
Click here for information about admissions requirements for the MTh.
Programme Summary
| LEVEL | 9 - 120, 240 credits |
| DURATION | Full-time for 2-4 semesters, part-time options available |
| PLACES | Open |
| CAMPUS | Henderson |
Career Opportunities
- Enter or return to church and mission leadership roles
- Go on to doctoral study as preparation for a teaching career
- Bring theological insight to business, community service, education and the arts
Structure
The Master of Theology Degree is at least 240 credits except where:
- it builds on a Bachelor’s Degree with Honours or an equivalent qualification, or significant relevant professional experience, in which cases it can be fewer than 240 but no fewer than 120 credits of which no less than 90 must be at NZQA level 9.
Objectives
On completion of the MTh programme, students should be able to:
- evaluate critically a wide spectrum of literature in each of the coursework areas and in the areas of the research undertaken;
- demonstrate mastery of the issues of debate in each of these areas;
- give a fair and informed account of representative points of view in each subject area
- write a coherent narrative survey which is internally consistent, interacts critically with central issues, and demonstrates ability to form a reasoned opinion;
- utilise sound hermeneutical principles in contextualising biblical theology within the subject areas studied;
- demonstrate advanced skills of research, critical analysis and constructive synthesis, and application so as to make a significant contribution to knowledge in their area of specialisation;
- demonstrate the distinctive contribution of biblical and theological principles to central issues in their subject areas;
- participate in the international academic discussion of their field of study with a competence appropriate to Master’s level;
- reflect on the professional, ethical and relational implications of their study for ministry in the modern world;
- make available to the service of the church appropriate aspects of current scholarship in their field of study.
Programme Requirements
LEVEL 8 ENTRY
The MTh degree requires 240 credits where the candidate has completed a recognized three-year Bachelor’s degree in Theology or Ministry, with a grade point average of 7.0 (B) in courses of the qualifying undergraduate programme at NZQA levels 6 and 7.
The MTh degree requires 240 credits where the candidate holds a recognised Bachelor’s level degree in a discipline other than Theology of Ministry and has completed a bridging programme such as Laidlaw’s 120 credit Graduate Diploma in Theology with a grade point average of 7.0 (B) at NZQA level 7.
LEVEL 9 ENTRY
The MTh degree may be completed with 120 credits where the candidate has completed a four-year Honours degree in Theology or Ministry with first or second class Honours OR a Postgraduate Diploma in Theology with a grade point average of 7.0 (B).