Educational Opportunities

Master of Arts in Biblical Literature

The Program and its Objectives
Admission Requirements
Graduation Requirements
Curriculum

Do you want to study the Bible seriously and not just dabble around? Do you care enough about the Bible to learn Greek or Hebrew so you can understand the commentaries on the original text - or maybe even learn both languages? If this describes you, then Olivet's new M.A. in Biblical Literature may be for you!

The Bible is central to the Christian faith and especially to the Christian faith of Protestants, including the Church of the Nazarene. The study of the Bible, as an essential feature of all serious study of the Christian faith, is a key part of the heritage of Olivet Nazarene University. The integrity and seriousness of the M.A. in Biblical Studies both reflects and enhances that heritage.

Olivet's M.A. in Biblical Literature will meet your needs, whether your focus be ministry, missions, more education, or a deeper knowledge of the Bible as a believer. You may be interested to learn that we have an arrangement with Nazarene Theological Seminary (NTS) that will allow you to study Bible at Olivet, use your Olivet credits towards their M.Div., and eventually get both your M.A. at Olivet and your M.Div. at NTS. (For details, please contact the graduate religion office.)

The Program and its Objectives

The M.A. in Biblical Literature is a 36-hour on-campus program that provides an academic focus on the Bible, with options for further study, scholarship, and ministry. It is designed for those considering further graduate education, and for ministers and others with a strong commitment to a scholarly understanding of the Bible.

The M.A. in Biblical Studies centers on three basic components: (1) critical studies in areas such as biblical history and the origin, authorship, and composition of the biblical texts in their cultural contexts; (2) skills essential to the study of the Bible and to its exegesis as an ancient text, including skills in Greek and/or Hebrew grammar; and (3) theological interpretation necessary to exegete the Bible for preaching and faith. The theological area also asks how the Bible has been interpreted in the post-biblical world, especially by the church but also by the larger culture. In addition, the curriculum begins with an introduction to research and ends with a thesis.

There are several important aspects of the M.A. in Biblical Studies:

1. The M.A. in Biblical Studies offers a scholarly study of the Bible and its interpretation for faith. Students will find in this degree a solid foundation for further graduate work.
2. Area ministers, who are already serving as pastors or in other forms of Christian service, may wish this graduate degree in biblical studies to enhance their scholarly biblical understanding and thus to meet continuing education expectations, as well as to upgrade their effectiveness as ministers and preachers. Persons wishing to integrate their spiritual life with rigorous biblical scholarship should find this degree significant. Students taking this degree for ministerial enhancement or spiritual growth should remember that by entering this master's degree program in biblical studies, they are committing themselves to the academic dimension of biblical study.
3. The M.A. in Biblical Studies requires students to develop their research skills and their competency in writing scholarly papers. Because you want to be a Bible scholar, you will begin the program with an introduction to research and end with a thesis.
4. Students are encouraged to become serious and reflective lifelong students of the Bible who grow spiritually, think clearly, and serve redemptively.
5. The M.A. in Biblical Studies is a "full Bible" program and includes both the Old and the New Testament, with the flexibility to emphasize (but not exclusively) one or the other.
6. The M.A. in Biblical Studies requires 36 hours to complete.
7. Most courses in the Biblical Studies program are offered on a full-semester schedule, although there is one module and occasional half-semester courses. Note that the graduate Biblical Studies program requires the student to be able to commute to Olivet's Bourbonnais, IL, campus on a weekly or twice-weekly basis. It is not in that sense a "distance program."

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Admission Requirements

Olivet Nazarene University carefully assesses applicants for the M.A. in Biblical Studies on the basis of evidence provided in all application materials. Therefore, while a personal interview is not required, application materials submitted must be prepared thoroughly, thoughtfully, and professionally for full consideration. Applications will be processed upon receipt of all required materials.

To be admitted into Olivet Nazarene University's program leading to the Master of Arts in Biblical Studies, an applicant must meet these prerequisites:

1. Submit a completed Olivet Nazarene University application.
2. Submit a $25 application fee.
3. Submit an official transcript* of the student's undergraduate college work and of any graduate work being used to support the application for admission. *Note: An official transcript is a transcript with the registrar's seal from the institution granting credit, sent directly to Olivet Nazarene University, School of Theology & Christian Ministry, Attn: Graduate Program Specialist, One University Avenue Box 6048, Bourbonnais, IL 60914-2345. You may use this form to request official transcripts from other institutions.
4. Submit three recommendations that evidence the ability to succeed as a graduate student in Olivet's Master of Arts in Biblical Literature program. Two of these should be from people able to address the applicant's academic ability and potential. The third should be personal and may address the applicant's moral and spiritual character, providing evidence of a moral character consistent with attendance at a Christian university. Click here to access the recommendation form.
5. Possess a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale).
6. Curricular prerequisites for admission include: Old Testament introduction (3 hours); New Testament Introduction (3 hours); an exegetical course (3 hours);a systematic theology course (3 hours; an introduction to either Biblical (or Classical) Greek or Biblical Hebrew (6 hours); and a demonstrated ability to write well. Students whose undergraduate preparation does not meet these prerequisites may apply for conditional admission, if they satisfy the other requirements. Rules and deadlines for making up the deficiency will be decided on a case-by-case basis.
7. Schedule an academic advising appointment with the graduate program specialist by contacting the School of Theology and Christian Ministry at 815-928-5670.
8. Demonstrate the ability and discipline necessary to pursue rigorous graduate-level studies.

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Graduation Requirements

To graduate, students must meet the following requirements:

1. Successful completion of 36 or more graduate semester hours of coursework. A course may be repeated one time if it carries a different subtitle.
2. A cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 or better. None of the 36 credit hours submitted for graduation may carry a grade of less than B-.
3. Fulfill all general graduation requirements of the School of Graduate and Continuing Studies.
4. Successful completion of the following curriculum:

          a. Introduction to Theological Research (3 hours, taught in August in a modular format.)
          b. Twenty-four hours of biblical studies courses, including at least six hours of Old Testament courses
              and six hours of New Testament courses and at least three hours in biblical theology
          c. A theology elective (3 hours)
          d. An elective in biblical studies, theology, or another subject as approved by the student's adviser (3
              hours)
          e. A thesis (3 hours).

At least six hours of the student's biblical studies and theology courses should require the use of either Hebrew or Greek in dealing with the biblical text. Note that elementary (first year) language courses may be included only if they are devoted to a second language. Second language courses or advanced first language courses may count up to three hours as an elective and up to three hours as a biblical studies course, for a total of six hours. Undergraduate courses in the biblical languages which carry four hours of credit will count for three hours of graduate credit. For details on the language courses, see Olivet's undergraduate catalog.

Time Limits

A student is allowed four years from the start of the first graduate course to complete the entire program in the M.A in Biblical Studies. Coursework beyond four years is evaluated by the Program Coordinator for the M.A. in Biblical Studies, the Director of Graduate Studies, or the Dean of the School of Theology and Christian Ministry. Students granted permission to take more than four years may be expected to meet current program requirements, and that may mean retaking one or more courses.

Curriculum

*At least two of the courses (six hours) above must require the use of either Hebrew or Greek in dealing with the biblical text.

Elementary (first year) language courses may be included only if they are devoted to a second language. Second language courses or advanced first language courses may count up to three hours in THEO 699 above and up to three hours in O.T./N.T. Electives & Theology courses above, for a total of six hours. Undergraduate courses in the Biblical languages which carry four hours of credit will count for three hours of graduate credit. For details on the language courses, see Olivet's undergraduate catalogue.

Follow these links to view course descriptions of Olivet's Biblical Studies and Theology courses. Consult Olivet's Undergraduate Catalog for Greek and Hebrew courses.

Contact

If you have questions regarding any aspect of the M.A. in Biblical Literature, including planning during your undergraduate years, please contact the Graduate Religion office by phone at 815-928-5670 or e-mail at onugradreligion@olivet.edu.

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