Degree Programs

Interwoven into the all of the CTS degree programs is a solid commitment to the rigorous study of religion, a profound appreciation for diversity and inclusion, and the flexibility of a multivocal and multidisciplinary approach. Whether you are interested in parish ministry, counseling, social service, community organizing, teaching, or theological research there is a CTS degree program capable of preparing you for your chosen pursuit.

*New* Master of Arts in Religious Leadership

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.

Master of Arts (Religious Studies)

The M.A. (Religious Studies) is a two-year program that allows the student to focus theological study in an area of personal interest. The M.A. culminates in the Master’s Thesis and is an appropriate theological degree for those preparing for further study at the doctoral level; anyone desiring advanced theological study as a foundation for service in another field; active church members and lay-leaders working in non-ordained capacity or others who wish to simply study theology and religion without the aim of entering professional ministry.

Master of Divinity

The Master of Divinity is a three-year program designed to prepare women and men to serve as transformative religious leaders in the church and society, often in an ordained capacity. This program combines critical reflection with real life application--emphasizing the idea of doing ministry and studying theology in the context of community--with consideration given to the wide and varied spectrums of history, culture, and theological perspective. The Master of Divinity program culminates in a final writing project termed the Constructive Theology Paper. The emphasis placed upon self awareness and the development of transferable leadership skills, also makes this degree appropriate for those preparing to serve in non-church and non-traditional ministry settings such as: health care facilities, human service organizations, governmental agencies, not-for-profit agencies, business and academic environments, community organizations, advocacy organizations, and in the public square.

Master of Divinity/Master of Social Service Administration Dual Degree

The Master of Divinity/Master of Social Service Administration Dual Degree is offered in collaboration with the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration. The dual degree program allows a student to complete the requirements of the Master of Divinity and Master of Social Service Administration degrees simultaneously in four years.  This program is ideal for those students who aspire to work at the intersection of ministry and social work, and require credentials in both areas of service. Application to each program is made separately to the respective institution.

Master of Sacred Theology

The Master of Sacred Theology is a one-year program of advanced study beyond the Master of Divinity (or its equivalent) designed for students who seek the opportunity to study a topic in theology with an advanced focus. Emphasis is placed on cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural approaches to biblical, ethical, and theological studies.  The Master of Sacred Theology program is ideal for: international students desiring additional year of study in the U.S.; students seeking additional academic preparation prior to pursuing a Ph.D. program; Master of Divinity graduates and pastors on sabbatical who would benefit from one year of advanced academic study in an area of theological interest.

Doctor of Ministry

The Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) is an advanced professional degree designed to prepare religious leaders for specialized ministerial practice as leaders and teachers in church, synagogue, mosque, hospital, shelter, clinic or other faith-based or social-service organizations. The Doctor of Ministry provides opportunity:

  • for formalized, focused study of an issue in ministry that is of personal interest to the student,
  • for immersion in the disciplines of strategic pastoral theology and various social science research methods, and,
  • to contribute to the broader field of ministry as a whole.

The three-year program includes ten courses (four required intensive classes and six electives) and a ministry project that culminates in the Professional Paper—an article-length essay of publishable quality that contributes to the development of the practice of ministry in communities of faith and the wider world.

This program is designed to enhance the capacity of students:

  • to engage in contextual theology through critical reflection on ministerial practice,
  • to design and evaluate fresh approaches to ministry, and,
  • to communicate the significant insights that they gain to their peers in the profession.

For Doctor of Ministry students seeking to integrate ministerial practice with another formalized discipline, CTS offers the option for students to engage in advanced study at neighboring institutions which partner with CTS to support two specialized tracks within the D.Min. The first track is in Clinical Pastoral Education and provides preparation in the area of hospital chaplaincy, fulfilling a required step for those seeking to become a CPE supervisor.  The second provides opportunity to link the religious and the spiritual dimensions of human life with therapeutic processes, especially those of self-psychology, through the Center for Religion and Psychotherapy of Chicago (CRPC). Importantly, the CRPC track, allows those D.Min. students who wish to pursue state licensure in counseling to strengthen their preparation in ways that have not previously been possible. In each of these cooperative tracks, the student completes the program requirements of the partner institution and a portion of that work applies to the fulfillment of the CTS D.Min. degree requirements as described above.

ACTS Doctor of Ministry in Preaching

The Doctor of Ministry in Preaching is a program offered in collaboration with five other Chicago area seminaries. This program is intended to improve the pastor’s understanding and skills in the area of preaching, foster discovery of a personal, pulpit hermeneutic, and nurture the pastor’s competency to preach in a variety of contexts.  Mentoring is provided by preachers and master teachers of international reputation.  The Program attracts participants from across the U.S., Canada, and beyond, embracing almost twenty denominations within the learning community.  The program combines class work conducted in Chicago over three consecutive summers with projects conducted in the context of the pastor’s own local ministry.

For more information, see the ACTS Doctor of Ministry in Preaching website.

Doctor of Philosophy

The Doctor of Philosophy program is designed to prepare religious leaders to work at advanced levels in a variety of teaching, counseling, research, ministry, and administrative positions. CTS offers two distinct concentrations within the Ph.D. program: Bible, Culture and Hermeneutics (Jewish and Christian Scriptures) and Theology Ethics and the Human Sciences. Both programs emphasize interdisciplinary methods; the encounter between texts and contexts; and critical reflection.

Certificate Program

The Certificate in Theological Studies is designed to offer theological education for persons, including professionals in fields other than ministry, who wish to explore theological studies in the seminary setting, but do not desire admission to a master’s degree program.  The certificate program allows the student to select six courses of her/his choosing, with the permission of each professor.

Student at Large

Student At Large Status allows a student to take courses in an area of interest at her/his own pace without the expectation to complete the requirements set by a degree program.  A Student At Large may attain a Certificate of Theological Studies, if she/he successfully completes six courses.  Many students, studying under the status of Student At Large, decide to apply for admission to a degree program at a later date.

Distance Scholar

Students interested in taking a specific online course for academic credit may apply to study as a Distance Scholar.  A succinct online application is utilized for this purpose. Applicants must confirm access to a computer that meets the minimum requirements for online education at CTS. Criteria for admission varies by course selected and are determined by the instructor. A bachelor’s degree is strongly preferred; however exceptions may be made for applicants with significant life and ministry experiences and at least two years of exemplary undergraduate education.  Some classes may require prerequisites.  Courses taken as a Distance Scholar may later be applied to an admitted student’s degree program.