Reflect on theological questions through the lens of pastoral ministry with the University
of Dallas Master of Theological Studies.
“The M.T.S. is helping me draw on the 2,000 years of Catholic Church history and apply
it to ministering to a 21st century community. Theology is faith seeking understanding.
You already have faith; now you find the understanding.”
- Michelle Stone, MTS ‘15
The master's degree and graduate certificate in theological studies are designed to
equip you for the pastoral application of theological knowledge and can be completed
fully online or on campus.
To meet the diverse needs of our church and our students, the M.T.S. offers a concentration
in Biblical Theology which requires a specific set of electives. Students can also
choose to complete the degree without a designated concentration, using their elective
courses to study any theological or ministerial area of interest.
Master of Theological Studies Degree Requirements
Master of Theological Studies students combine the ministry core curriculum (21 credit
hours) with elective courses and concentration requirements (15 credit hours) to
complete 36 total credit hours of course work.
- TMIN 5110. Graduate Proseminar. Required of all first-year students, this course is an introduction to the fields
and methods of theological study for ministerial formation. Registration and active
participation in all sessions constitute completion of the requirement. Proseminar
is offered only in the Fall semester, with both on site and online options.
- TMIN 5310. Foundations of Catholic Biblical Interpretation. This course’s content and structure are suggested by a description of the Bible by the Second Vatican Council: the words of God expressed in human language (DV 13). Therefore, it will deal, first, with the concepts of Revelation, Transmission-Tradition,
Inspiration, Biblical Truth and the Canon, which traditionally express the Church’s belief in the divine
origin of the Bible. Second, it will deal with the nature of the Bible as a human document, linked to a culture rooted in specific coordinates of space and
time. Finally, it will review the development and nature of modern scientific methods
and approaches of biblical interpretation, together with the Church’s reactions to and positions on these methods and approaches
in the last 100 years.
- TMIN 5330. Systematic Theology. This course engages students in structured reflection on the Christian communal experience
of faith and how that faith is understood, expressed, and lived out in the Catholic
tradition. It invites dialogue among students and with the formative elements of Catholic
tradition to consider theological method (i.e., How do we do this work properly?),
doctrinal clarity (i.e., What does our formative tradition teach?) and pastoral practice
(i.e., How do theology and pastoral realities influence one another?). Topics of special
focus include revelation and faith, God, the Trinity, Christology, Christian anthropology,
and the theology of the church, including Mary and the saints.
- TMIN 5350. Moral Theology. A critical survey of fundamental moral theology, this course includes the distinctiveness
of Christian morality, conscience formation, natural law, moral norms, and decision-making.
It provides an entree into special moral theology, which includes bioethics, environmental
ethics, healthcare ethics, sexual ethics, and social ethics.
- TMIN 5360. Liturgy and Sacraments. This course offers a critical survey of the history, theology, and liturgical celebration
of the sacraments according to the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church, with special
attention given to the role of the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (R.C.I.A.).
- Scripture Elective. Students are required to complete one elective course of the Old or New Testament as
offered by the Theology department.
- TMIN 7391, 7395, 7396 New Capstone
Students may choose the additional five electives to complete their MTS degree. Upon
approval by a faculty advisor, students may complete courses offered by the College of Business or the Braniff Graduate School of Liberal Arts . Course selection can depend on the student's interests and goals for the program.
Some suggested elective courses include:
- TMIN 5340 Church History
- TMIN 5370 Theological Reflection
- TMIN 5380. Introduction to Pastoral Care.
- TMIN 6310. Torah
- TMIN 6315. Prophets
- TMIN 6320. The Gospels.
- TMIN 6333. Pastoral Aspects of Canon Law.
- TMIN 6335. Ecclesiology.
- TMIN 6345. History of Spirituality.
- TMIN 6360. Liturgical Leadership.
- TMIN 6370. Ministry in the Church.
- TMIN 6371. Pastoral Administration.
- TMIN 6373. Homiletics and Pastoral Proclamation
- TMIN 6375. Catechetics and the Development of Faith.
Theological Studies Capstone
Students complete the capstone course in their final semester. It provides an opportunity
for them to integrate previous coursework and reading with the knowledge and skills
required to address particular pastoral tasks effectively. The student will work with
seasoned ministerial practitioners who will provide onsite supervision. Capstone projects
require the completion of a detailed application and written approval by ministry
faculty supervisors several months prior to registration.
An Annotated Bibliography of texts related to the core curriculum of the ministerial
graduate programs of the Braniff Graduate School of Liberal Arts is a degree requirement
(required for graduation) for the Master of Theological Studies program. The goal
of the annotated bibliography is to help students solidify and demonstrate their understanding
of the basic theological knowledge appropriate to professional competency for pastoral
leadership. The Annotated Bibliography consists of a formal bibliographic entry for
25 approved texts that are followed by a description of the thesis, argumentation,
and significance of each text.
Students should begin working with their faculty advisor on the Annotated Bibliography
and obtain approval of the required works list early in their program. The final Annotated Bibliography is due by the 4th week of the semester a student
intends to graduate.
For details, contact your faculty advisor and view the Annotated Bibliography section
of the Ministry Graduate Student Resources webpage.
Biblical Theology Concentration
Biblical Theology Concentration
This concentration combines foundational theology courses with an intellectually
rigorous approach to scripture. The degree requires 36 credit hours of course work,
broken down in the following way:
- Core courses: 21 credit hours
- Scripture elective courses: 12 credit hours
- Theological Studies Capstone: 3 credit hours
While many other options are available for the four elective Scripture courses (12
credit hours), at least one must be an Old Testament course and one must be a New
Testament course. Here are a few elective courses which qualify:
- TMIN 6310. Torah.
- TMIN 6315. Prophets.
- TMIN 6320. The Gospels
- TMIN 6325 . Pauline Literature
- See other graduate-level Scripture offerings in the Theology department

Fully Accredited. Ready to Serve.
The Braniff Graduate School of Liberal Arts ministerial graduate programs are fully accredited by the Commission on Colleges
of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and in accordance with the USCCB's
standards for certification and accreditation.