Master of Theology in Reformed Studies
Advanced study in one track of the Scottish or continental tradition, with a thesis.
About the program
The school's own master's program, beside the Master of Theology in Nouthetic Counseling that follows the LCS curriculum. A specialization after a first divinity degree. The student chooses one of three tracks: Scottish Church History and Theology; Dutch Further Reformation and Reformed Orthodoxy; or Confessional Theology. Each track combines 24 credits of courses with a 6-credit thesis. It is church-recognized training, not an accredited degree, and may not transfer to other schools.
Admission
A BD, MDiv or equivalent, and reading knowledge of one source language (Latin, Dutch, Hebrew or Greek).
Requirements
- Complete one track: its courses and the thesis.
- Reading at the graduate standard (300 pages per credit) with added primary-source reading in the source language.
- A course already credited toward the student's BD or MDiv cannot count again; the school will name a replacement from the same track.
Courses
Thesis
6 creditsTracks
Choose one track. Its courses are added to the courses every student of the program takes.
Scottish Church History and Theology
Track courses
18 credits- SH501 The Scottish Reformation: Knox, Melville, the Scots Confession and the Books of Discipline 3 credits Self-study
- SH502 The Covenanters: National Covenant, Solemn League and Covenant, and the Killing Times 3 credits Self-study
- SH505 Scottish Divines: Rutherford, Durham, Gillespie, Boston, the Erskines and M'Cheyne 3 credits Self-study
- SH506 The Marrow Controversy and the Secession 3 credits Self-study
- SH507 The 1843 Disruption and the Free Church: Chalmers, Cunningham, Bannerman, Candlish 3 credits Self-study
- SH508 Christ's Headship, the Two Kingdoms and Church and State in Scotland 3 credits Self-study
Track electives (choose 6 credits)
6 creditsChoose 6 credits from the 18 listed
- SH503 The Westminster Assembly: History, Scottish Commissioners and Documents 3 credits Self-study
- SH504 The Westminster Standards: the 1647 Text and the 1788 American Revision 3 credits Self-study
- WP501 Psalmody and the Reformed Psalter 3 credits Self-study
- WP505 The Sacraments: Communion Seasons, Fencing and the Liturgical Forms 3 credits Self-study
- PT503 Experiential Soul Care: Boston, a Brakel and the Scottish Pastoral Tradition 3 credits Self-study
- LG501 Theological Latin and Dutch Reading Knowledge 3 credits Self-study
With the common courses: 30 credits
Dutch Further Reformation and Reformed Orthodoxy
Track courses
21 credits- CR504 The Dutch Further Reformation (Nadere Reformatie) 3 credits Self-study
- CR505 Federal Theology: Reformed Origins and the Cocceius-Voetius Debate 3 credits Self-study
- ST501 Reformed Orthodoxy: Sources, Method and Prolegomena 3 credits Self-study
- ST506 Federal and Catechetical Orthodoxy: Witsius, Ursinus, Leigh and Boston 3 credits Self-study
- ST507 Bavinck's Reformed Dogmatics 3 credits Self-study
- ST701 Turretin and High Orthodoxy: Elenctic Theology, Mastricht and Brakel 3 credits Self-study
- LG501 Theological Latin and Dutch Reading Knowledge 3 credits Self-study
Track elective (choose 3 credits)
3 creditsChoose 3 credits from the 15 listed
- CR501 The Synod of Dort and the Canons 3 credits Self-study
- CR503 Bullinger, the Second Helvetic Confession and Zurich 3 credits Self-study
- CR506 Preaching the Heidelberg Catechism 3 credits Self-study
- ST505 Calvin's Institutes in the Continental Line 3 credits Self-study
- PT503 Experiential Soul Care: Boston, a Brakel and the Scottish Pastoral Tradition 3 credits Self-study
With the common courses: 30 credits
Confessional Theology
Track courses
18 credits- SH503 The Westminster Assembly: History, Scottish Commissioners and Documents 3 credits Self-study
- SH504 The Westminster Standards: the 1647 Text and the 1788 American Revision 3 credits Self-study
- CR501 The Synod of Dort and the Canons 3 credits Self-study
- CR503 Bullinger, the Second Helvetic Confession and Zurich 3 credits Self-study
- ST501 Reformed Orthodoxy: Sources, Method and Prolegomena 3 credits Self-study
- ST506 Federal and Catechetical Orthodoxy: Witsius, Ursinus, Leigh and Boston 3 credits Self-study
Track electives (choose 6 credits)
6 creditsChoose 6 credits from the 15 listed
- SH501 The Scottish Reformation: Knox, Melville, the Scots Confession and the Books of Discipline 3 credits Self-study
- CR502 Calvin's Geneva, the Academy and Reformed Church Order 3 credits Self-study
- ST505 Calvin's Institutes in the Continental Line 3 credits Self-study
- ST507 Bavinck's Reformed Dogmatics 3 credits Self-study
- ST701 Turretin and High Orthodoxy: Elenctic Theology, Mastricht and Brakel 3 credits Self-study
With the common courses: 30 credits