Learning Goals

• Demonstrate the capacity for competent practice in and critical reflection on
  religious leadership in specific contexts.
• Demonstrate knowledge of biblical, historical, and religious traditions.
• Demonstrate understanding of the dynamics of personal, social and organizational transformation.
• Demonstrate integration of theological and hermeneutical understanding with
  reflection on the practices of religious leadership.

Degree Concentrations

The Master of Arts in Religious Leadership (M.A.R.L.) at CTS is a single program
with four concentrations:

Religious Leadership for Interfaith Engagement will develop the capacity
to understand diverse faith traditions for purposes of interfaith collaboration
toward personal and social transformation.

Religious Leadership for Social Transformation will develop the capacity
to understand and engage the dynamics of community transformation in relation
to specific contexts and religious traditions.

Religious Leadership for Spirituality and Pastoral Care will develop the
capacity for care, counsel and spiritual guidance in specific contexts. Contact the
MARL Director for further details.

Religious Leadership for Word and Worship will develop the capacity to
bring particular religious texts and traditions to bear on specific contexts through
interpretation and liturgy.

Each concentration includes:

• Seven core courses required of all MARL students
• 1 unit of Theological Field Education
• Capstone
• Four free electives
• Four courses specific to the concentration

 

Note: Individual M.A.R.L. Courses of Study are subject to approval by the M.A.R.L. Director.

Master of Arts in Religious Leadership for Interfaith Engagement

	1st Year	2nd Year
Fall	Interpreting the Hebrew Bible History of Christian Thought OR History of Jewish Thought Judaism, Christianity, and Islam: Introduction to Interfaith Engagement Global Sensitivity in Ministry	Practice of Christian Ministry (1st half) Field Education Concentration Elective** Interpreting the Gospels OR Elective* Elective
Spring	Theories of Change Systematic Theology Interpreting the Epistles OR Elective* Elective	Practice of Christian Ministry (2nd half) Field Education Project Seminar Concentration Elective**          Elective

Notes: 
Courses in Boldface Type can be taken online.   Given current ATS regulations, 10 courses in the MARL program may be taken online. 
See Upcoming Online Courses for a list of possible online electives. 
*Either Interpreting the Gospels OR Interpreting the Epistles must be taken. 
**May be taken any term.

 

Master of Arts in Religious Leadership for Social Transformation

	1st Year	2nd Year
Fall	Interpreting the Hebrew Bible History of Christian Thought OR History of Jewish Thought Interpreting the Gospels OR Elective* Global Sensitivity in Ministry	Practice of Christian Ministry (1st half) Field Education Concentration Elective** Elective Elective
Spring	Theories of Change Systematic Theology Interpreting the Epistles OR Elective* Christian Ethics Or Dangerous Religious Ideas Or Explorations in Jewish Ethics	Practice of Christian Ministry (2nd half) Field Education Project Seminar Concentration Elective** Elective

Notes: 
Courses in Boldface Type can be taken online.   Given current ATS regulations, 10 courses in the MARL program may be taken online. 
See Upcoming Online Courses for a list of possible online electives. 
*Either Interpreting the Gospels OR Interpreting the Epistles must be taken. 
** May be taken any term.

 

Master of Arts in Religious Leadership for Spirituality and Pastoral Care

Contact the MARL Director ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) for further details.

 

Master of Arts in Religious Leadership for Word and Worship

	1st Year	2nd Year
Fall	Interpreting the Hebrew Bible History of Christian Thought OR History of Jewish Thought Interpreting the Gospels ORElective* Elective	Practice of Christian Ministry (1st half)                           Field Education Worship Elective** Concentration Elective** Elective
Spring	Theories of Change Systematic Theology Interpreting the Epistles ORElective* Preaching OR Preaching Elective**	Practice of Christian Ministry (2nd half) Field Education Project Seminar Concentration Elective** Elective

Notes: 
Courses in Boldface Type can be taken online. Given current ATS regulations, 10 courses in the MARL program may be taken online. 
See Upcoming Online Courses for a list of possible online electives. 
*Either Interpreting the Gospels OR Interpreting the Epistles must be taken. 
** May be taken any term.

The final application deadline for Fall 2013 will be July 16th. All those planning to apply for Fall 2013 who have not already submitted an application should contact the Admissions Office at (773) 896-2411 as soon as possible.

The Master of Arts in Religious Leadership is a two-year program designed to prepare women and men for service in a range of religious, faith-based, community and advocacy settings. The degree provides a foundation in theological education, including theological field education, both to those pursuing lay ministry, and to professionals from fields other than religion who wish to develop or strengthen the theological dimensions of their work.

Students in the Master of Arts in Religious Leadership program choose one of four concentrations: Religious Leadership for Interfaith Engagement, Religious Leadership for Social Transformation, Religious Leadership for Spirituality and Pastoral Care, and Religious Leadership for Word and Worship. Students also complete a unit of supervised Theological Field Education, at a site consistent with their concentration. The Master of Arts in Religious Leadership program culminates in a capstone project paper, which integrates a student’s field education and theological studies.

Application Instructions

Qualifications: M.A. applicants must have completed a Bachelor’s Degree and may have earned a first theological degree.

1. APPLICATION PROCESS: Completion of the online application form is only one part of the comprehensive application process. Official transcripts, letters of recommendation, and application for financial aid will be submitted in hard copy. Applications must be complete before they will be forwarded to the CTS Admissions Committee for consideration. Please plan accordingly to meet the appropriate deadlines.
2. ONLINE APPLICATION FORM: The bulk of your application information will be collected by way of the online form. Read all directions prior to beginning the form to understand the requirements for the degree program to which you are applying. Prepare your written materials and assemble them in one document to be submitted as an attachment. Identify the persons who will serve as referents. Gather information regarding institutions attended and degrees received. Determine your form of payment for the application fee.
   You may complete the form in more than one session. Once you have completed the first screen and proceed to the next, a PIN will appear at the upper right hand corner of the second screen. For convenience, keep your PIN handy. You will use this number to access your application at any time, once you have exited. Once you have begun your application, you will have 30 days to complete the form. Online applications that are not completed within 30 days will be discarded. If you experience technical difficulty, please contact the Office of Admissions at 773-896-2420 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
3. WRITTEN MATERIALS: Written materials should be carefully assembled into one document to be included as an attachment on the online application form. The application form will refer to this collective document as an “essay”.
4. Autobiographical Statement: Please write an autobiographical statement (2000 words or less) incorporating a response to the following:
5. Describe your religious history and/or a personal experience that has led you to pursue theological studies?
6. What are your educational and vocational goals in seeking theological education?
7. Which of the four MARL concentrations do you plan to pursue, and why?
8. What do you believe to be two of the most important challenges for religious leaders in today’s society, and how might these challenges be addressed?
9. Current Resume: Provide a current resume or a brief description of any of the following: your recent work experience, participation in volunteer and community service, religious or church involvement, and any honors/awards you have received.
10. REFERENCES: M.A.R.L. applicants must submit four (4) written references. At least two (2) of the references must be academic. One may come from a pastor or other ministry professional, and one may come from a professional colleague or personal friend.
    List the names and contact information for these references on the online form. Identify the type of reference (academic, pastoral, or professional/personal).
    Provide a copy of the downloadable REQUEST FOR REFERENCE to each of the four referents named on your application form. Prior to delivery to the referent, complete the top section, identify the type of reference, and sign the form.
    It is an expected courtesy for you to provide each person with a pre-addressed, stamped envelope. Each writer should return the completed reference directly to CTS (or to you) in a sealed envelope with a signature across the back flap.
    Reference waiver: Unless otherwise indicated, you waive your right to review letters of reference. Waiving your right will assure freedom of full expression in the evaluation you are asking each person to provide. If you do not wish to waive this right, you must indicate as much on the reference form.
11. ACADEMIC RECORDS: Provide the names of all colleges and universities attended or presently attending and indicate the degrees earned or expected on the online form. List them in chronological order. The online form can accommodate up to five institutions.
    Request the Registrar of each institution to send an official transcript of all academic work in a sealed and signed/stamped envelope directly to CTS. Please include transcripts for all post-secondary schools attended, including those at which you did not earn a degree.
12. APPLICATION FEE: A non-refundable $50 application fee is required of all online applicants. Payment may be made by debit card or credit card (MasterCard, Visa, Discover Card or American Express.) Persons serving as volunteers, team members, Corp members, staff and alums of the AmeriCorps, City Year, Peace Corps, and VISTA are eligible for an application fee refund. Refund will be done by mail following receipt of proof of affiliation.
13. MASTER OF ARTS IN RELIGIOUS LEADERSHIP APPLICATION CHECKLIST: A downloadable checklist is provided for your convenience to assist you in organizing your materials and completing the requirements.
14. SUBMISSION: Transcripts, sealed references, and the CTS Application for Financial Aid form should be mailed to :
    Chicago Theological Seminary
    Admissions Office
    1407 E. 60th Street
    Chicago, IL 60637-1507
15. FACULTY INTERVIEW: Once your application file is complete and ready for review by the Admissions Committee, the Office of Admissions will contact you to arrange a brief personal interview with a member of the CTS faculty. The interview may be done in person or by telephone.
16. FINANCIAL AID: Applicants wishing to be considered for merit scholarships or need-based grants must complete the application process and submit the CTS Application for Financial Aid by the priority deadline of February 15. Merit scholarships and need-based grants are available for students matriculating in the fall only.
17. STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS: All applicants must complete the admissions process within two years of submission of application materials. No applications will be held after two years. Applicants who are not accepted to CTS may only re-apply after two years, and must re-submit an application. Submission of an application and the supporting documents assumes that the information is accurate and true to the best of the applicant’s knowledge. All documents submitted as a part of an application become the property of the Chicago Theological Seminary and are not transferrable to a third party.
18. TRANSFER APPLICANTS: Transfer students must complete a minimum of eight (8) courses at CTS to be eligible to receive a CTS degree. Master’s level transfer students who wish to transfer credits into a CTS program must have an admissions interview with the CTS Registrar. In addition to materials required of the degree program into which you hope to transfer, please submit a letter of honorary dismissal as well as transcripts from the Registrar or Academic Dean of your previous school. Please note that a Master’s level transfer student who has one year or less before completing his/her degree may not be eligible for institutional financial aid.
19. APPLICATION FEE: A non-refundable $50 application fee is required of all online applicants. Payment may be made by credit card (MasterCard, Visa, Discover Card and American Express), debit card, or direct withdrawal from a bank account.

International Students

Chicago Theological Seminary welcomes applications from international students for admission to graduate study. International students should plan to begin their studies at the Seminary in the Fall Term. All necessary documents must be received by the appropriate application deadline. Follow the general application instructions above, noting the following additions and clarifications:

1. TRANSCRIPTS written in a language other than English must be accompanied by a notarized translation.
2. TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language): TOEFL scores are required of applicants for whom English is not their first language. The minimum acceptable TOEFL score is 550 on the written test, 217 on the computer test, and 80 on the internet-based test. The CTS school code for the TOEFL is 1120. The TOEFL may only be waived if the applicant has completed another degree, in English, in the United States.
3. I-20 FORMS: I-20 forms are not issued until after an international student is admitted. If admitted, your admissions letter packet will include a CTS International Student I-20 Application form and an estimate of the cost of attendance for your degree program. The form will explain the financial documentation requirements for the issuance of the I-20 by the seminary. You may contact the CTS Office of Financial Aid prior to applying for information about cost of attendance or I-20 requirements.