Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

MA / CH

Master of Arts / Church History

Rigorous, Gospel-centered study in the rich history of the Christian tradition.

The MA / CH provides focused study in the history of the Christian church, from the first days of the early church to recent movements and ongoing developments in the church worldwide. This program offers both breadth of perspective and focused depth that varies depending on the electives you choose and the focus of your Master’s thesis.

Master of Arts / Church History

Where can this degree take me?

If you’re interested in academic teaching and writing in the areas of church history or theology, this degree is excellent preparation for further graduate or doctoral work. Our alumni are regularly accepted into top-tier doctoral programs. The MA / CH also prepares you to teach church history or theology at Christian secondary schools and some Christian colleges. Finally, pastors may find that the MA / CH enriches their pastoral ministry, whether accompanied by an MDiv or not.

What will I study?

A theology foundation is coupled with core coursework in church history, which includes relevant course options in other departments (such as Missions and Systematic Theology). Courses include the following:

  • Theology Core - 6 hours

    ID 5000 Biblical Theology and Interpretation 3 hours
    ST xxxx Systematic Theology elective (must be ST prefix) 3 hours

  • Church History Core - 17-19 hours

    Required:

    CH 8100 Classic Texts in the History of Christianity 3 hours
    CH 8911 & CH 8912 Colloquium in Historical Methodology I & II 2 hours

    Electives in Church History

    Note: 12 hours if Thesis option; 14 hours if Two Major Papers option
    ME 8455 History of Christianity in China
    NT 7720 Backgrounds of Early Christianity
    PT 7400 History of Preaching
    ST 8310 Theology of Augustine
    ST 8360 Karl Barth
    ST 8410 Theology in Contemporary Literature

  • Elective, Field Education & Capstone

    Elective Courses (5-7 hours)

    Field Education

    PT 5090 Field Education (1 semesters)
    ID 5080 Formation Group (2 semesters)

    MA/CH Capstone (2 hours)

    MA/CH Major Comprehensive Exam 0 hours
    Two – 7980 MA Major Research Paper* –or–
    7485 MA Thesis** 2 hours
    * Option available for those not intending to pursue PhD studies in history. Letters of recommendation for PhD studies will not be provided by departmental faculty for those pursuing this option.
    ** Option expected for those intending to pursue PhD studies in history.

Field Education

All MA / CH students must complete a field education requirement. Learn more about field ed here.

What are the prerequisites for admission to this program?

In addition to the requirements for general admissions, you’ll need the following:

  • An undergraduate major or its equivalent in history (specifically, 18 hours of undergrad history courses).
  • An undergrad GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale; scores from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or Miller Analogies Test (MAT) required if less than 3.0.
  • A reading knowledge of languages required to complete your thesis. This varies according to your area of study, and your advisor will help you be aware of what you’ll need.