Why Study at TWU?

The Master of Arts in Biblical Studies program is a specialized academic program led by expert faculty who prepare students to interpret Scripture and to investigate major issues that attend biblical studies. Faculty and students engage in original research and together critically examine biblical and related primary texts in their original languages (e.g.biblical manuscripts, the Dead Sea Scrolls, papyri, inscriptions, early rabbinica, pseudepigrapha). Students engage with visiting scholars and the best scholarly literature by means of colloquia and department-sponsored seminars and learn to formulate their own written contributions to the scholarly conversations in a style that is both professional and compelling.

The Master of Arts in Biblical Studies has a proven track record of preparing graduates for entrance into and completion of Ph.D. programs at leading academic institutions.

The Master of Arts in Biblical Studies is designed for:

  • Students who desire to increase their exegetical skill through intensive study of the Scripture and its background
  • Students who intend to pursue a doctorate in Biblical Studies for the purpose of teaching in this field

NOTE: Graduate certificate programs are also available for those who do not meet the requirements of the M.A. program and who wish to focus on only one of Old Testament, Intertestamental Studies, or New Testament.

Program Distinctives

  • A Biblical Studies teaching faculty who are among the forefront of research in Old Testament, Intertestamental Literature (including the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Septuagint), and the New Testament. Two chairs, the Canada Research Chair in Dead Sea Scrolls Studies and the Ben Zion Wacholder Professorship, are held by members of faculty
  • The opportunities for M.A. students to work alongside faculty on research projects and publications that have significance for the scholarly community worldwide
  • A Biblical Studies library collection of books, journals, and online resources that is one of the largest and most comprehensive in Canada
  • The home of the Dead Sea Scrolls Institute
  • The home of the Septuagint Institute

Graduation Requirements

To receive the M.A. the student must meet all entry requirements of the graduate year and earn an additional 30 semester hours of graduate credit at the 600 level. The following graduation requirements assume that all prerequisites have been met.

Classes / Credit

The academic year is divided into two semesters of approximately 15 weeks.

Classes are scheduled from Monday to Friday. Most qualifying courses (500 level) are offered mornings and early afternoons, while most 600 level courses are offered once a week in the afternoons.

All major examinations are conducted during the last week of the semester. An exam can be rescheduled only for serious unavoidable emergencies and a fee is charged for rescheduling.

A semester hour (or a credit) is the unit of measurement for the evaluation of courses. A typical course meets once per week for three hours and assumes eight to ten hours of preparation.

6 semester hours of advanced exegesis:

  • RELS 611 Advanced Old Testament Exegesis (3 sem. hrs.)
  • RELS 621 Advanced New Testament Exegesis (3 sem. hrs.)

6 semester hours of seminar:

  • RELS 612 Advanced Old Testament Seminar (3 sem. hrs.)
  • RELS 622 Advanced New Testament Seminar (3 sem. hrs.)

6 semester hours of 600-level electives:

Courses offered in the past include:

  • RELS 631 The Deuteronomistic History (3 sem. hrs.)
  • RELS 632 Historical Jesus (3 sem. hrs.)
  • RELS 633 Themes of the Pentateuch (3 sem. hrs.)
  • RELS 634 Mark (3 sem. hrs.)
  • RELS 640 Advanced Greek Readings (3 sem. hrs.)
  • RELS 641 Isaiah (3 sem. hrs.)
  • RELS 642 Romans (3 sem. hrs.)
  • RELS 643 Psalms (3 sem. hrs.)
  • RELS 644 John (3 sem. hrs.)
  • RELS 647 The Dead Sea Scrolls (3 sem. hrs.)
  • RELS 648 Advanced Greek Studies (3 sem. hrs.)
  • RELS 649 Rabbinic Literature (3 sem. hrs.)
  • RELS 650 Introduction to Biblical Archaeology (3 sem. hrs.)
  • RELS 652 Syriac (3 sem. hrs.)
  • RELS 655 Introduction to Aramaic (3 sem. hrs.)
  • RELS 656 Readings in Aramaic (3 sem. hrs.)
  • RELS 658 Mishnaic and Qumranic Hebrew (3 sem. hrs.)
  • RELS 660 Biblical Interpretation in the 16th Century (3 sem. hrs.)

12 semester hours of Research Design and Thesis:

  • RELS 690 Research Design
  • RELS 691 Thesis I
  • RELS 692 Thesis II

More information about the thesis requirements is available here.

Qualifying Courses Cross-listings

Biblical Content Courses

  • RELS 511 (cf. RELS 311) History of Ancient Israel
  • RELS 515 (cf. RELS 415) Intertestamental Literature
  • RELS 520 (cf. RELS 320) The Dead Sea Scrolls
  • RELS 523 (cf. RELS 423) Apocalyptic Literature
  • RELS 525 (cf. RELS 425) Pauline Theology
  • RELS 540 (cf. RELS 340) Current Issues in Biblical Theology
  • RELS 541 (cf. RELS 341) Pentateuch
  • RELS 542 (cf. RELS 342) Psalms and Poetry
  • RELS 546 (cf. RELS 446) Old Testament Prophets
  • RELS 548 (cf. RELS 448) Old Testament and Ancient Near East
  • RELS 549 (cf. RELS 449) Old Testament Seminar
  • RELS 552 (cf. RELS 352) Pauline Letters
  • RELS 553 (cf. RELS 453) Synoptic Gospels and Acts
  • RELS 554 (cf. RELS 454) Johannine Writings
  • RELS 556 (cf. RELS 456) New Testament Seminar

Language Courses:

  • RELS 521 [Fall] /522 [Spring] (cf. LATN 211/212) Biblical and Ecclesiastical Latin
  • RELS 531 [Fall] /532 [Spring] (cf. RELS 331/332) Readings in the Greek New Testament
  • RELS 535 [Fall] /536 [Spring] (cf. RELS 245/246) Elementary Hebrew
  • RELS 537 [Fall] /538 [Spring] (cf. RELS 337/338) Readings in the Hebrew Bible

Oral Defense of Thesis:

A student is required to orally defend his or her thesis in an examination by the Faculty.

Transfer Students

Students may seek to transfer credits received at another accredited institution toward the graduate year. If deemed equivalent to coursework required in the degree program, the student may be granted advanced standing. The amount of transfer credit will be determined by the Program Director. Courses which have less than a B grade will not be considered for transfer. Courses taken at an undergraduate level normally cannot be transferred into a graduate program, however some advanced placement may be granted (i.e. course exemptions replaced by electives). At the Program Director's discretion, a student may transfer a maximum of six semester hours into the final year (600 level) of the M.A. in Biblical Studies program. For further information regarding the transfer of credits received at another accredited institution toward the graduate year please consult Dr. Abegg, Director of the Master of Arts in Biblical Studies Program.

Further Information

We encourage prospective students to contact us by email, telephone or mail as soon as possible.

Students considering our program are also encouraged to review our Thesis Requirements and Admission Requirements.

General inquires regarding the Master of Arts in Biblical Studies may be directed to the Associate Director, Graduate Admissions - School of Graduate Studies.

For further assistance with questions relating to course or thesis content, please contact acting director of the MABIB program Dr. Martin Abegg, Professor of Religious Studies; Co-Director, Dead Sea Scrolls Institute at abegg@twu.ca.