Asbury Seminary’s 60-hour Master of Arts [Biblical Studies] prepares you to pursue knowledge in the practical Christian disciplines needed for teaching in congregations, para-church organizations, Christian institutions or for pursuing a postgraduate degree. Upon completing your degree, you’ll have a fresh understanding of biblical studies, coupled with a renewed love for God and neighbor developed through knowledge, practice and service.
What to Expect from the Degree
As you complete your degree, you’ll be able to
- Cultivate holy love of God and neighbor through both knowledge and practice in the Christian disciplines of service and grace.
- Master and integrate the biblical canon with literary, historical and hermeneutical tools for a holistic study of passages, methodology, genres and themes.
- Analyze and present biblical and theological insights into contemporary and canonical contexts.
- Describe the means whereby one may arrive at a biblical view of the inspiration and authority of the Scriptures.
*Refer to the Academic Catalog for the exact wording of Program Learning Outcomes.
Advanced Standing
Save time and money with our advanced standing program. Here’s how it works.
If you received a religion major or minor from an accredited college or university, you can receive a maximum of 12 credits toward a Master of Arts degree.
*Transcripts evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Admissions Requirements
| Application Deadlines | Spring | Summer | Fall |
| January 15 | May 15 | September 7 |
- Application (online at asbury.to/apply)
- $50 non-refundable Application Fee
- Accredited baccalaureate degree
- The M.A. [BS] program requires a 3.0/4.0 cumulative GPA
- Official transcripts from all schools where classes were taken for more than one semester
- Personal history essay (1050-1500 words) 350-500 words per question.
- Share your testimony starting with how you met Jesus Christ. Talk about your growth since that time and what brings you to apply to seminary at this season in your life. Include your thoughts on how you would like to see your faith grow during your time in seminary.
- What draws you to your desired major/area of study? What is your intended outcome upon degree completion? Why is that career or ministry choice meaningful to you?
- Discuss a local, national, and/or international issue and why you are passionate about it.
- Optional: If your GPA is not a good indication of your academic ability, please explain.
- Four references (references cannot be related to the applicant)
- Four references completed on the Admissions Office form at asburyseminary.edu, including a pastoral reference (required) and a professor or academic administrator reference (recommended). Laity or personal acquaintances are accepted.
- For applicants whose primary language is not English, a TOEFL score of 550 (79 internet-based) or an IELTS score of 7.
- Background Check
- A personal interview may be required upon request by the Admissions Committee
Learn more about what other graduates of Asbury Seminary are doing.
-
Rev. Sam Lael Mwase ZuluHead - International Center for Biblical Understanding (IBS Training Center)
Field Director - The Word Is Out Zambia Chapter -
Katie MayesCorps Officer at the Salvation Army in Derry, N.H.
-
Stephanie de OliveiraMissions Pastor, Calvario City Church, Orlando.
-
Joe CastilloInternational Storyteller.
| Hrs | Course ID | Course Name |
| Early | ||
| 3 | MS501 | Missional Formation (must be taken in initial 21 hrs at ATS) |
| 3 | NT(IBS)510/511 | NT(IBS)510 Matthew -or- NT(IBS)511 Mark |
| 3 | NT501 | Elementary Greek—One [PRQ: NT(IBS)510 or NT(IBS)511] |
| 3 | NT502 | Elementary Greek—Two [PRQ:NT501] |
| 3 | NT520 | New Testament Introduction |
| 3 | OT520 | Old Testament Introduction |
| 3 | CH501 | Church History—One |
| 3 | TH501 | Basic Christian Doctrine |
| 3 | NT/OT Exegesis | NT710-749* [PRQ: NT520, NT(IBS)510 or NT(IBS)511, NT501/502] |
| 3 | Biblical Studies Elective | Choose a course from the following nomenclatures: BS, BT, NT, NT(IBS), OT, OT(IBS) |
| Final | ||
| 3 | BT605/660 | Biblical Theology of the OT -or- Biblical Theology of the NT [PRQ: NT(IBS) 510 or 511, OT520 -or- NT(IBS)510 or 511, OT520, NT520] |
| 3 | OT501 | Elementary Hebrew—One [PRQ: NT(IBS)510 or NT(IBS)511] |
| 3 | OT502 | Elementary Hebrew—Two [PRQ: OT501] |
| 3 | CD605 | Gospel Catechesis [PRQ: TH501] |
| 3 | CS601 | Christian Ethics |
| 3 | TH601 | Theology of John Wesley |
| 3 | NT/OT(IBS)600 level | NT(IBS)610-649 or OT(IBS)610-649 [PRQ: NT(IBS)510 or 511, NT501 or OT501)] |
| 3 | NT/OT Exegesis | OT710-749* [PRQ: OT520, NT(IBS)510 or NT(IBS)511, OT501/502] |
| 3 | Biblical Studies Elective | Choose a course from the following nomenclatures: BS, BT, NT, NT(IBS), OT, OT(IBS) |
| As Needed | ||
| 3 | Elective Course | |
* Six hours is required in NT or OT Exegesis (NT710-749 or OT710-749). It is recommended that 3 hours be taken in each area, but it is not required.
Asbury Seminary awards more than 400 scholarships annually because we want you to graduate with minimal debt. We offer too many scholarships to list conclusively. For more information, email financial.aid@asburyseminary.edu.
To apply for financial aid:
- Complete your online application.
- Fill out your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- Once you’re admitted to the Seminary, you will receive an Asbury Seminary Financial Aid form.
- After completing this, the Financial Aid office will contact you with any scholarship offers.
Cost of Attendance: 2023-2024
| Degree | Total Credits | Cost |
| Master of Arts | 60 credits | $712/credit hour |
| Total | $42,720 |
| Academic Year 2022-2023 | All Campuses Fall/Spring | All Campuses Summer |
| Technology Fee | $225 per semester | $110 per semester |
| Graduation Fee | $200 one-time fee | $200 one-time fee |
| Student Services Fee | $160 per semester | $80 per semester |
Scholarships
Institutional scholarships are available through Asbury Theological Seminary. Scholarships are highly competitive and priority consideration is given to those who have completed their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the Asbury Financial Aid Application, and who have been admitted by the Admissions Office by March 1.
Recipients of scholarships must represent strong promise for Christian ministry and demonstrate a financial need.
Some of the scholarships include:
- Mary Whetstone and Walter J. Knabe Scholarship – average award $10,700
- Windgate Scholarship – average award $10,000
- J.C. McPheeters Scholarship – average award $7,000
- Timothy C. Tennent Church Planting and Cross-Cultural Missionary Service Scholarship – average award $4,500
- Leo H. Naughton Scholarship – average award $3,200
- Asbury Deans Scholarship – average award $1,500
Save Time! Save Money!
Combine your Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Biblical Studies, Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies, or Master of Theological Studies with a doctoral-level Master of Theology (Th.M) degree, and save up to 15 credit hours! This option is designed for those planning to pursue a Ph.D. or for those seeking a deeper educational background to serve in the church or marketplace.
This dual track option allows you to:
- Share up to 15 hours between degrees, reducing your overall time and cost to complete the degrees.
- Prepare for the rigor of the Ph.D. program and strengthen your CV. Classes are taught at a Ph.D. level.
- Gain a more extensive knowledge-base for marketplace or church ministry.
- Work one-on-one with a faculty mentor.
- Shorten the admissions process if you’re already a current student.