Master of Arts (Religion) (MAR)
The Master of Arts (Religion) curriculum is designed to equip graduates with the skills to bring biblical and theological reflection to bear on their chosen profession and/or other callings, culminating in an integrative thesis. Students of the 60-credit program will gain proficiency in theological disciplines and biblical studies.
Available Exclusively at
Coursework
Theology (24 hours)
Biblical Studies (23 hours)
Integrative Paper (4 hours)
Electives (9 hours)
Years to Complete
2
years at a flexible pace
Learning Options
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On Campus
Hybrid
Why Choose the MAR Program?
The Master of Arts (Religion) equips students with a strong foundation in biblical studies and theology for thoughtful engagement in their vocation or calling.
Deep Theological & Practical Integration
The MAR pairs 47 hours of core Scripture and theology study, and a 4-credit integrative thesis—ensuring you move seamlessly from biblical insight to real-world impact.
Personalized, Vocation-Driven Curriculum
With 9 credits of free electives, you have the flexibility to tailor your theological training to your calling whether in lay leadership, counseling, ethics, or marketplace engagement.
Accredited Excellence & Career Impact
This degree is recognized for both academic advancement and vocational leadership—equipping you for senior roles in ministry, non-profit, education, or marketplace settings.
Program Structure and Requirements
- Course Requirements
Course Requirements
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Biblical Studies
Old Testament
Genesis – Deuteronomy
3 hours
Joshua – Esther
3 hours
Poets
2 hours
Isaiah – Malachi
3 hours
New Testament
Gospels
3 hours
Pauline Epistles
3 hours
Hebrews – Revelation
3 hours
Old & New Testaments
Hermeneutics
3 hours
Theology
Systematic Theology
Introduction to Pastoral & Theological Studies
3 hours
Systematic Theology: Scripture, Theology Proper, Anthropology
3 hours
Systematic Theology: Christology, Soteriology, Eschatology
3 hours
Systematic Theology: Ecclesiology and Sacraments
2 hours
Covenant Theology
2 hours
Applied Theology
Christian Thought & Philosophy
3 hours
Apologetics
2 hours
Pastoral and Social Ethics
3 hours
Christ, Culture and Contextualization
2 hours
Pastoral Theology (students choose one of the following)
Personal Sanctification
1 hours
Classics of Personal Devotion
1 hours
Integrative Paper
Integrative Paper
4 hours
Free Electives
Free Electives
9 hours
Formed for Faithful Ministry
Hear how the MAR at RTS shaped students to lead, preach, and serve with theological depth and pastoral care.
"I chose RTS for several reasons. First, the amazing faculty. I had read some of their books and loved the idea of receiving a robust biblical and theological education. Second, and most importantly, was the campus culture and the students I met. I knew that if I wanted to picture myself in four years, I would want to look like them."
James Herring
RTS Charlotte
"At RTS, there is a strong emphasis on helping students get connected to healthy local churches and serve faithfully through teaching and other areas of ministry. I have been greatly helped by the equipping I have received here, both in understanding and teaching Scripture more effectively. Just as important has been the consistent emphasis on loving and serving the local church, which has deeply encouraged me."
Bradley McGlothin
RTS Jackson
"The [RTS MDiv] hybrid option meant that I can work full time and still be able to come and see people face to face it was important to me that it wasn't just fully online where I would never really get to meet the people that I'm going to be interacting with, but I'd have a chance to come here on campus and be with men... and honestly that makes me a better father makes and husband."
Shawn Davis
RTS Orlando
"RTS has helped me grow in my knowledge and understanding of the Word, and it has also equipped me to teach other women. I am so grateful for how diligently the Word of God has been taught to me. My education at RTS has allowed me to confidently teach and encourage other women in the Scriptures."
Karen Field
RTS Washington, D.C.
"I chose to come to RTS because of my interests in academia, both history and politics; I was also interested in theology...I chose RTS because I believe it stands out with it's academic rigor and faithfulness to scripture."
Sasha Blair
RTS New York City
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"I chose RTS and daily grow in my love for RTS because of the mission to shape both mind and heart for the glory of God and the advancement of the Gospel of Jesus. Our faculty and staff care for our student body in a way that emulates the love of Christ while also seeking to sharpen us all for the challenges of ministry."
Chael Williams
RTS Jackson
"I think that RTS is one of the best seminaries in the world and anyone who's looking at coming here, just know you would be getting a world-class education."
Zion Brown
RTS Atlanta
"I first thought about RTS because my mentor and youth pastor at the time was an RTS alumnus. Every Sunday afternoon at youth Bible studies, we would go through the Westminster Catechism, and on Wednesdays he would clearly teach the Scriptures. I remember thinking, "I want to be as equipped as he is." After college, I started looking into the faculty and professors who teach at RTS Washington, D.C., and learning more about them is what ultimately led me to fill out an application!"
Hwihu Kang
RTS Washington, D.C.
"I was first captivated by RTS when I saw the curriculum. You study every single book of the Bible, and it is clear that there is a deep commitment not only to Scripture but also to theology and practical ministry. I was also excited to see the professors here. They are men who know and love the Lord and have dedicated their lives to ministry. Once I came on campus, that sealed the deal for me."
Faith Keys
RTS Charlotte
"When I was looking into attending seminary, I wanted something that would be impactful for the rest of my life. This is not a finance degree or a law degree, where you generally learn the same content regardless of the school you choose. Seminary is different—it’s a really delicate decision, as you are giving your heart to a faculty and staff to shape you as you prepare for gospel ministry. RTS has faculty that I trust, and faculty I want to be more like. Really, it was the professors and faculty here that made me choose RTS.:
Alex Lowther
RTS Washington, D.C.
"I chose the RTS Houston campus because it allows me to learn in person and engage with professors and fellow students in real time. Being on campus has given me the opportunity to build meaningful connections with both professors and peers."
Caleb McDuffee
RTS Houston
"My time at RTS has deeply shaped me, especially through the way professors keep Scripture at the center of everything we do. Jesus says in John that “your word is truth,” and that is taken seriously here at RTS."
Nick Costanzo
RTS Charlotte
"The community at RTS is very close-knit, and you can’t help but experience it in the best way. Many students move here from other states and even from other countries, and as soon as they arrive, they find a home."
Sarah Seller
RTS Jackson
"I specifically chose RTS New York because I wanted to learn how to do ministry in a city that was not culturally Christian. I have a lot of friends who aren't Christians...and I want to gain a better understanding of how to do ministry in a context that was more suited towards them."
Elena Frattaroli
RTS New York City
"The pastoral heart of every one of my professors was on display, constantly."
Rev. Richard Wiman
RTS Jackson
"I chose RTS (Washington D.C.) because I live in the area and was able to start taking classes while working at my local church. The Washington, D.C. campus has allowed me to pursue ministry full time while taking classes in the evenings or during the day, depending on my schedule."
Lydia Rothbard
RTS Washington, D.C.
"While I have been a stay-at-home mom for many years, I continued to read, learn, and study. Eventually, that led to leading a Bible study at my local church. I love helping women go deeper into God's Word. I realized that I wanted to gain a better understanding of God's Word, both for myself and to be equipped to teach...That's what led me to choose RTS."
Meredith Beedy
RTS Atlanta
"I chose RTS because I really value reformed doctrine, the five solas, God's sovereignty, but also because I know the RTS professors, they don't just believe those things with a firm conviction, but as they're teaching us, they are also sitting under the teaching and clearly are being affected by the doctrines they're teach, and the application in the classes is really life-changing."
Riley Mitchell
RTS Dallas
"Many of the professors are not just scholars, they are also pastors. It feels like these are shepherds who are teaching you and training you."
Rev. Elbert McGowan Jr.
RTS Jackson
"The ThM program at RTS Orlando has been such a blessing, as it has afforded me the opportunity to continue developing as a pastor and theologian beyond the MDiv, to deepen relationships with professors who are not only top-tier scholars but also committed churchmen, and to build friendships with peers who will continue to challenge, bless, and provide accountability as we serve Christ and his people—whether in the academy or in the local church."
Samuel Brewer
RTS Orlando
"I had a pastor, a good mentor of mine, who recommended RTS. He and other pastors in my life knew the school and the faculty here, and they all highly recommended that I come to RTS. I have enjoyed my time as a student at RTS Washington, D.C."
Judah da Silva
RTS Washington, D.C.
“I chose RTS because I wanted to attend a Reformed, confessional seminary rooted in the doctrines of the Reformation. I also wanted a seminary that exists to glorify God and would help me grow not only in my knowledge of God but also in my love for him.”
Myles Chandler
RTS Houston
"I wanted to study scripture here at RTS, because I believe that whatever I do next in life, whether for education or ministry, I want to have a solid foundation in how to study Scripture."
Graeme Straughn
RTS New York City
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"I chose to pursue the The Master of Arts (Biblical Studies) because I am able to study the Bible. This program is designed with a good balance that allows me to take Biblical Theology, Systematic Theology, Practical Theology, and a Biblical language. Here at RTS, I have enjoyed seeing how unified the professors are in each department. Each class complements the others, deepening my knowledge of and love for the Bible. It is a really well-designed program."
Lydia Rothbard
RTS Washington, D.C.
"I decided to come to seminary because I felt called to be a pastor. In order to preach and teach the Bible and to love people well, I knew seminary was something I needed to pursue."
Fernando Carvalho
RTS Charlotte
"RTS really does an excellent job of feeding your heart and your mind. and I know that all of my professors want to appeal to both of those things."
Ethan Preston
RTS Dallas
"The professors here at RTS are amazing. I spend most of my time with the counseling professors, but really, all of them are some of the most personal professors I've ever had in all of my education. I talk about the program being like a family unit, and the professors are. I feel like they are family. And if I ever had a problem or a question, they are more than happy to sit down with you and navigate that with you. I don't think I would have been able to navigate this program without the help and care of my professors here."
Katie King
RTS Jackson
"What brought me to RTS? Two of my pastors back home were graduates of RTS, and they had a big influence on me. I think the world of them. They are knowledgeable, and their love for the Lord and their congregations is evident. I visited RTS for Orientation Day in the fall. I was struck by the professors’ passion for theological knowledge and the genuine sense of community here, and I knew this was where I wanted to be."
Colin Keys
RTS Jackson
"My favorite thing about being an RTS student is the access that I have to men who have been in pastoral ministry for a long time and are at the top of their academic fields. and not only that, but genuinely care for my wellbeing inside and outside of the classroom."
Holden Royals
RTS Dallas
"Here at RTS, the way Scripture is taught and the way Jesus is presented as a true Savior and Redeemer has strengthened my faith. It has equipped me and prepared me, so that Lord willing, I will one day serve faithfully as a pastor."
Caleb Kreitz
RTS Charlotte
"When I took my first class in China, I just fell in love with the school in terms of the professors, their knowledge of the subjects they were teaching, their love for the students, their willingness obviously to travel overseas, to take time out of their schedule and to come and to spend that time with us and to teach us... really just appreciated RTS and everything they offered in that preparation for ministry."
Josh Golackson
RTS Orlando
“I started at RTS after auditing a class that inspired me to dig deeper into what I was learning. I wanted to teach women faithfully, and I saw seminary as an opportunity to grow in my understanding so I could better serve the women in my church.”
Julie Fullerton
RTS Houston
"The groundwork laid by a confessional seminary like RTS is foundational to me as a minister of the gospel & as an aspiring ecclesial theologian."
Dr. John Perritt
RTS Jackson
"When I leave RTS, I hope what I have learned here will help me continue studying God’s Word deeply. It has not only been about the content of my classes but also about gaining skills that draw me closer to the Lord through his Word. I also hope to serve the local church well. My counseling classes in particular have equipped me and given me confidence to step into the hard places of life with another believer and point them to Christ."
Makaria Sanders
RTS Charlotte
"I'm an occupational therapist and I treat infants and children with disabilities. One of the coolest things that I got to do while I was a student here was write a research paper about the image of God in persons with disabilities, as argued from scripture. And so that has influenced everything I do at work."
Kelly Simpson
RTS Orlando
"At RTS, in the classrooms, they have painted on the walls 'A Mind for Truth and a Heart for God.' I loved that combination of the mind and the heart because you can have truth, but if you don't have love, it doesn't matter. And so at RTS I found this combination of both where because we love the Lord, we want to speak about him in a way that's true."
Olivia Davis
RTS Atlanta
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“I chose Reformed Theological Seminary for three reasons: its commitment to Scripture, the historic Christian faith, and the people.”
Josh Feinberg
RTS Houston
"What attracted me to our RTS was the denominational diversity and the ethnic diversity and just learning in an environment where I would be challenged to read people that I would not typically read on my own."
Meredith Beatty
RTS Atlanta
"The thing that got me interested in the Master of Theology degree is my time as an MDiv student here at RTS Orlando, especially the interaction that I had with the faculty. Learning from experts in the field who not only had rigorous scholarship, but a really keen sense of pastoral understanding."
Bryan Zhang
RTS Orlando
"Since coming to RTS, I have found the academic side of things to be very strong, which is what I expected. But I've also experienced the pastoral hearts of the professors, and that has been the best part."
Benjamin Robison
RTS Atlanta
“I chose RTS because it combines academic rigor with a pastoral heart. I believe that combination reflects what RTS is all about.”
David Newland
RTS Houston
Invest in Your Theological Education
The Master of Arts (Religion) (MAR) program offers a clear, cost-effective path to deepen your biblical and theological expertise. Explore tuition costs and financial aid opportunities designed to make this 60-credit degree attainable.
Tuition & Fees
Tuition rates vary by program and campus. View current tuition details, fees, and cost breakdowns to better plan your investment in theological training.
Financial Aid Opportunities
We’re committed to helping make theological education accessible. Learn more about available scholarships, payment plans, and federal aid options designed to support your journey.
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