You will be prepared with the knowledge and skills that will qualify you for PhD programs internationally in the broad field of Biblical and Religious Studies. You will acquire scholarly ability through the preparation and defence of a major thesis, expand your communication skills in seminar settings and increase your understanding of how Christian tradition serves as the foundation of western cultural identity and civilization.

In addition to meeting the Admission and General Admission requirements for the Faculty of Graduate Studies (refer to section 13.1.1), students applying to the Master of Arts in Biblical and Christian Studies program must meet the following requirements: An undergraduate degree from a recognised educational institution, normally a four year BA in Religious Studies or similar undergradaute field; applicants with a three-year Bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies or other fields may be admitted to the program as Qualifying Graduate Students (see section 13.1.1.D.2). Students should complete 36 undergraduate credits in Religious Studies, usually including 6 credits in one of the following concentration areas: 1) Hebrew Scriptures, 2) New Testament, 3) Christian Theology/History. A minimum admission grade point average (AGPA) of 3.0 (on Concordia University of Edmonton’s 4-point scale) or equivalent on the most recent 60 credits of undergraduate (or graduate) study. Students must have completed six credits of a language other than English. Those students who intend to study Hebrew Scriptures will have completed Biblical Hebrew. Those students who intend to study New Testament will have completed Classical/Koine Greek. Those students who intend to study Historical and Theological aspects of Christianity will have completed one of Latin, French, or German. Students who do not have these requirements upon application to the program will have their cases reviewed by the Master’s Program Committee (MPC). That committee may prescribe placement exams or make-up courses. Applicants must also submit the following with their applications: A recent written sample of work in the area of Biblical or Christian Studies, normally a research paper produced in the last two years of a BA program. Papers specifically prepared for application also will be accepted. A statement of interest (approximately 500 words). At least two letters of reference from two faculty members of the institution in which they completed most of their work in Religious Studies. One letter from an instructor in fields related to the study of Christianity (History or Philosophy) will be accepted. One letter must be from an instructor who has taught in the area of the student’s proposed graduate concentration (Hebrew Scriptures, New Testament, Christian Theology/History) and who can speak to the student’s competence in that area.