The Board of Trustees and the Faculty of Mid-America Reformed Seminary are dedicated to a high academic standard. They recognize that sound Christian scholarship is crucial in equipping men to effectively and comprehensively preach the gospel of Christ.

At Mid-America, however, scholarship does not exist as an end in itself. Within the context of a rigorous academic program, the faculty desires to instill in each student a love for the Word of God. The truth of God’s Word and how to apply it to life’s various situations are incorporated into every aspect of academic study at Mid-America.

It is this combination of the academic and the practical scholarship and experience that promotes true intellectual and spiritual growth for the Mid-America student.

The academic component of Mid-America’s theological education is implemented through four primary methods: readings, lectures, papers, and examinations. A student’s success in balancing the demands of a theological education requires planning and time management. Lists of required readings and the extensive time necessary to research and write papers can seem daunting at the beginning of the semester, but scheduling the work in manageable increments throughout the semester will help the student excel, decrease stress, and result in a more enjoyable and productive learning experience.

A significant portion of the education at Mid-America comes through assigned readings. This places the responsibility upon the student for careful self instruction. A student must be able to concentrate on and comprehend written material, reading it analytically and critically.

The lecture method of theological instruction remains one of the most effective tools for seminary education. Nothing can substitute for the learning and interaction that takes place in a classroom under the direction of an experienced pastor and master teacher. Lectures generally do not duplicate assigned readings, but augment and complement them.

Writing papers forms a large share of the student’s study time and productivity. A written document is a doorway to the author’s thoughts. The reflection and analysis evident in a student’s paper helps the professor evaluate his character and personality as well as his intellectual orthodoxy and development. The writing process involves much more than simply sitting in front of a computer and sending pages to the printer. It includes reading, research, conceptualizing, organizing, expressing, and manufacturing.

Students may find examinations intimidating, but they serve as the most reliable means for professors to determine the extent of the students’ knowledge. Classroom exams help students prepare for the oral comprehensive examinations they will undergo as seniors. The experience of oral examinations by the faculty at the Seminary is good preparation for the candidacy and ordination exams the student will need to successfully sustain in order to enter full-time ministry.

Degree Programs

Because Mid-America Reformed Seminary focuses on preparing men for the gospel ministry, the primary program offered at Mid-America is the Master of Divinity degree program.

Mid-America recognizes, however, that students seek seminary education for a variety of reasons. Mid-America offers courses for lay church members as well as educational opportunities for ordained ministers or Christian schoolteachers. Persons desiring a theological education without pursuing ordination may be admitted to Mid-America’s Master of Theological Studies degree program. Mid-America also provides transferable academic credit for students exploring other seminary options. A student not enrolled in either the Master of Divinity program or the Master of Theological Studies program is classified as a Non-Degree Student and is not required to meet entrance and course prerequisites.

The Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree program is designed for students with a Bachelor of Arts or equivalent degree, who fulfill the recommended prerequisites, and who seek a Master of Divinity degree for ordination. A limited number of non-B.A. degree students may be admitted to this program.

The Master of Theological Studies (MTS) degree program is a two or three-year program for students with a Bachelor of Arts or equivalent degree who desire theological education, but do not seek ordination. Students concentrate on either biblical studies or doctrinal ecclesiastical studies. A limited number of students are accepted to the program, and these students are not eligible for ordinary forms of student aid.

Students desiring to become pastors, ministers, missionaries, or evangelists would likely enter the Master of Divinity degree program. Christian schoolteachers or other Christian ministry employees may seek the Master of Theological Studies degree. Non-degree status would apply to those pursuing additional education to assist their work as lay evangelists, Sunday school teachers, elders or deacons.

Admission Requirements

Master of Divinity (M.Div.)

To qualify for admission to the Master of Divinity program the applicant must be a dedicated Christian who has earned a Bachelor of Arts degree or its equivalent, with a grade point average of 2.67 (B-) or higher. Applicants who fall below this average may be admitted, but the Registrar will review their seminary academic work on a regular basis. Applicants without Bachelor of Arts degrees are evaluated on an individual basis.

Bachelor of Arts majors in English, Greek, History, or Philosophy are recommended as preparation for theological study. Ordinarily at least two years or four courses of Greek, or their equivalent, is a prerequisite for obtaining the Master of Divinity degree.

Mid-America recognizes, however, that increasing numbers of students are seeking Master of Divinity degrees after some time in the work force. These students may not have followed a traditional pre-seminary track of college education and may need special instruction to meet prerequisite requirements. The Seminary provides two or four semester courses of instruction in the Greek language (Greek 101-102 and Greek 201-202). Summer Greek classes allow students to obtain this prerequisite without burdening their schedule during the academic year. The Seminary also works closely with non-traditional students to meet their needs in a variety of other prerequisites. Although these courses are not part of the degree curriculum, they may be taken during the first two years of study, perhaps as part of a four-year program.

Since training in the liberal arts is preferred for those seeking admission to this Seminary, a minimum of credits in the following areas is strongly recommended:

Humanities - 24 hours/8 courses, including two semester length courses each in English (including grammar and composition), History (including classical history), and Philosophy (including a survey of ancient philosophy)
Languages - Greek (as specified above)
Natural Science - (two courses)
Social Science - (two courses)
Public Speaking - (two courses)

A limited number of students who have not earned the B.A. degree, but whose life experience suggests that they would be suitable M.Div. students may apply for the M.Div. program. The following "core" prerequisites are strongly recommended for such non-B.A. degree students:

English - two college-level courses, one of which must include grammar and composition
History - two college-level courses, one of which must include classical history
Philosophy - two college-level courses, one of which must provide a survey of ancient philosophy
Greek - four college-level courses

If a student's performance in the academic areas specified above has been deficient, either in course selections or grades, the faculty may require additional work. This will be done in consultation between the student and the faculty.

Since we realize that students come from a variety of educational backgrounds, each transcript will be evaluated on its own merits. Competency examinations may be offered to those who have covered certain areas of theological study in their college work. The application process should be completed before May 1 of the first year of study. For more information, please request application materials from the Seminary.

Master of Theological Studies (M.T.S.)

The Master of Theological Studies degree program provides comprehensive theological education for Christian schoolteachers or other Christian ministry employees who do not seek ordination. It is a two-year program open to a limited number of persons who have obtained a Bachelor of Arts or equivalent degree with a 2.67 (B-) or higher grade point average. MTS students are not eligible for the ordinary financial aid available to M.Div. students.

Pre-seminary education should ordinarily include work in English, philosophy, natural sciences, and social sciences. An applicant whose academic history does not show sufficient breadth in the liberal arts may be requested to do additional work as a condition of admission. Two years of Greek are required for admission, but may be taken during the course of the program.

The MTS provides flexibility to non-traditional students by allowing them to concentrate on one of two areas: biblical studies or doctrinal/ecclesiastical studies.

The biblical studies concentration provides a thorough acquaintance with Greek language study as well as an overview of both Old and New Testament history, canon, and interpretation. The concentration is rounded out with coursework from the doctrinal and ecclesiastical divisions of the curriculum.

The doctrinal/ecclesiastical concentration includes biblical language courses and emphasizes church history, apologetics, and theological doctrines.

Church leaders or Christian school educators will greatly benefit from the comprehensive nature of Mid-America’s MTS degree.

Greek Placement Exam

If a student has not met the Greek language prerequisite, through either college courses or a tutorial equivalent of the Greek 101-102 and Greek 201-202 sequence, he may request an evaluation of his competence by way of the Greek Placement Exam. This objective examination will help determine whether or not further study may be required to qualify for seminary course work.

International Students

Students from other countries will be accepted on the same basis as those from the U.S. and Canada. Mid-America invites applications from qualified persons serving churches around the world who desire to further their theological education. Since processing international applications involves several steps, application should be made no later than six months prior to the desired entry date.

Mid-America is a Student Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) certified academic institution. In addition to the standards of spiritual maturity and academic background required of all students, international students must meet the following linguistic and financial criteria:

English as a Second Language: All prospective students for whom English is not their first language are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). In keeping with general standards for graduate work in English, a total score of 550 or above is required for admission. For information of administration of TOEFL, write Education Testing Service, Box 2971, Princeton, New Jersey 08541, U.S.A.

Finances: International students must demonstrate adequate resources for financing their education by providing official bank statements or letters from sponsors. Available scholarships apply only to tuition, and do not cover such expenses as housing, food, books, or transportation. Acceptable demonstration of financial support for the first year of study must be submitted. After the student has received notification of admission he should request Student Aid forms and an I-20 form from the Business Office.

Transfer Students

The Seminary strives to facilitate a student’s transition from another seminary into the curriculum and program at Mid-America. Transcripts of previous seminary work and a catalog containing descriptions for those courses from the other institution must be presented to the registrar prior to registration so that they may be evaluated individually. The registrar may ask to examine course syllabi or other materials that demonstrate content and requirements of work for which transfer credit is requested. Credit transfers and program placement are always discussed with the student in an attempt to honor the work of other schools and be as flexible as possible.

The registrar, in consultation with the relevant instructors, may grant credit for master’s level course work completed at other institutions. Master’s level course work that does not require the use of biblical languages will not be granted transfer credit toward any of Mid-America’s courses in the departments that require use of Hebrew and Greek. At least 36 semester units of courses at the Seminary are required of all candidates for the Master of Divinity degree.

Although no transfer credit will be given for work used as a basis for a master’s degree from another institution, students holding a Master of Arts degree in biblical or theological studies or a Master of Arts in Religion degree from an accredited theological seminary may be granted advanced standing toward the Master of Divinity degree. Students who receive advanced standing must spread their M.Div. coursework over a period of at least two academic years.

For students receiving educational benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Seminary will initiate a review of transcripts of any master’s level work in order to determine which and how many credits partially fulfill Mid- America’s requirements. All transferable coursework will be transferred into the student’s Mid-America program. The registrar determines course equivalence on the basis of course descriptions, syllabi, prerequisites and requirements, and in consultation with the relevant instructors.

Students seeking transfer credit from an unaccredited institution must supply a copy of the course syllabus and a sample of coursework for each course for which transfer credit is requested. Work from an unaccredited institution is evaluated on a course-by-course basis. Acceptance for transfer credit of one course from an unaccredited institution does not imply the acceptance of other courses from that institution. Only courses with a grade of B or above will be considered for transfer credit.

No transfer credit is granted for course work completed at the bachelor’s level. In general, courses taken at a pre-seminary level will not be credited toward any seminary degree. Competency exams may be offered occasionally (at a reduced tuition rate). Sustaining such exams frees more hours for the student to pursue elective courses.

Academic Regulations

Registration

All students will be expected to register during the regular registration periods at the beginning of each semester. As a condition of registration, students are required to provide proof of adequate health insurance for themselves and their dependents. Late registration will entail a fee of $15 and is permitted before the tenth day only when sufficient reasons have been submitted to and accepted by the registrar.

A student is not considered fully registered until he has either paid the required amount of his semester's charges or made satisfactory arrangements with the Business Office for making payment.

Student Status and Course Load

Students admitted to the Master of Divinity program will, upon the completion of the requisite hours, be classified as follows:

0-35 hours: Junior
36-68 hours: Middler
69+ hours: Senior

Full-time students are those who take twelve or more course hours per semester; those who carry eleven or fewer course hours per semester are classified as part-time students.

Classes are scheduled in the morning and early afternoon hours, permitting time for necessary class preparation, research, and reading. As a general guideline, two hours of study time are required for every hour of class time.

Auditors

A person who does not wish to enroll as a degree or non-degree student may enroll as an auditor. Auditors must pay the required tuition and fees, obtain written consent of the instructor, and audit only courses for which there are adequate classroom facilities. Students may not change from audit to credit after the semester deadline for changing courses. Permission and registration for auditing are to be obtained from the Registrar.

Dropping or Changing Courses

A student who wishes to withdraw from a course, or to change his enrollment, must have written permission from the Registrar. In general, a student may not withdraw from a course after the twenty-fifth semester day without receiving an F for the course.

Students will be allowed to change from one course to another before the tenth semester day.

Withdrawal from the Seminary

Students desiring to withdraw from the Seminary before the end of a semester must notify the registrar in writing. For the policy on refunds, see that section in “Seminary Student Finances.” The failure of a student to remain registered as a full-time or part-time student
will be considered an act of withdrawal. Should a student desire to resume studies after having withdrawn, he must reapply for admission to the Seminary.

Scholastic Standards

Scholarship is not the whole story at Mid-America, and while the faculty recognizes the need for sound Christian scholarship at the highest level, achievement of high grades is not considered an end in itself.

Our purpose is to stimulate each student to love the Word of God, learning what it really says and applying it to every living situation. If the student earnestly applies himself to love the Word, he will experience the satisfaction of intellectual and spiritual maturation at Mid-America. There must, however, be some objective standards to serve as a guide in the educational process.

The following scale indicates grade point values used to evaluate seminary work:

A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D D- F I

97-100 94-96 91-93 88-90 85-87 82-84 79-81 76-78 74-75 72-73 70-71 below 70 Incomplete

4.00 3.67 3.33 3.00 2.67 2.33 2.00 1.67 1.33 1.00 0.66 0.00 0.00

Normally, a report of semester grades will be available fifteen days after the conclusion of the semester.

During a student's study at the Seminary, a faculty advisor will consult with him at scheduled intervals on academic as well as spiritual matters.

Incompletes

An incomplete will be given to a student at semester's end if any assigned work has not been completed. An incomplete may be removed if the work is completed within three weeks of the last examination. In such a case, the student's grade will automatically be lowered two levels (e.g., a B+ becomes a B- and a B becomes a C+). If an incomplete is not removed within three weeks, the grade automatically becomes a failing grade. Special consideration will be given to students whose incomplete work is due to serious illness or extraordinary circumstances.

Academic Probation

Enrollment in the Seminary program and continued progress in the curriculum require that a student maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.67 (B-) or higher. Although a student who falls below this average will not be expelled, he will be put on academic probation for a maximum of two semesters. After that time, the possibility of continued study will be reviewed with the student and faculty.

Policy of Nondiscrimination

In accordance with the requirements of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Mid-America Reformed Seminary does not discriminate on the basis of gender in the educational programs or activities which it operates, including employment, except to the extent that the primary purpose of the Seminary, which is the training of men for the ordained ministry, requires that discrimination on the basis of gender take place in admissions, recruitment, educational programs, and financial assistance.

Accommodation for Disabilities

Mid-America Reformed Seminary has full handicap access, and the Seminary office works with the Dean of Students to assist disabled students who request accommodations. The office provides orientation to campus resources and recommendation for accommodation of the student's disability. When medical verification is on file and the request for accommodation has been approved, a quarterly academic accommodation plan may be developed in consultation with the student's academic advisor. The office can also assist in requesting accommodations in housing and facilities. Physically challenged students are encouraged to request accommodation as early as possible in their planning process.

Individual Studies Seminar

This curricular option is designed to offer senior students an opportunity for independent research. After discussing his interest with the appropriate faculty member, the student may submit a proposal by the end of the fall semester of his senior year. At the student’s initiative, the faculty supervisor will monitor the progress of this independent study in consultation with the student. The outcome is to be a substantial paper, submitted to the faculty supervisor, with a summary presented orally to the student’s peers. Evaluation will be based on both written and oral presentations.

Graduation Requirements

Master of Divinity Degree (M.Div.)

A student must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.67 (B-) or higher during the Seminary program to be entitled to the Master of Theological Studies (MTS) degree. The total number of semester hours required for a biblical studies concentration is 64, and the total number of semester hours required for a doctrinal/ecclesiastical concentration is 63.

Students are encouraged to take additional hours for academic credit. No student, however, may take more than eighteen academic hours a semester without permission from the Registrar.

Before graduating, a student must meet his financial obligations to the Seminary or make suitable arrangements to meet them. No transcript of academic credits will be forwarded until financial obligations have been met.

Master of Theological Studies (MTS)

A student must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.67 (B-) or higher during the Seminary program to be entitled to the Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree. The total number of semester hours required for a biblical studies concentration is 64, and the total number of semester hours required for a doctrinal/ecclesiastical concentration is 63.

The biblical studies concentration requires the following courses:

All Courses in the Biblical Studies Division Greek 101, 102, 201 & 202 Doctrinal and Ecclesiastical Divisions Two Electives Total:

33 hours 12 hours 15 hours 4 hours 64 hours

The doctrinal/ecclesiastical concentration requires the following courses:

All courses in the Doctrinal/Ecclesiastical division Biblical Language Courses Two Electives Total:

41 hours 18 hours 4 hours 63 hours

Students are encouraged to take additional hours for academic credit. No student, however, may take more than eighteen academic hours a semester without permission from the Registrar.

Before graduating, a student must meet his financial obligations to the Seminary or make suitable arrangements to meet them. No transcript of academic credits will be forwarded until financial obligations have been met.

Comprehensives

In addition to fulfilling course and apprenticeship requirements, a student seeking the Master of Divinity degree must sustain written comprehensive examinations in the areas of Bible Knowledge, Greek, and Hebrew, as well as an oral comprehensive examination conducted by members of the faculty to determine the student’s competency in theology.

Title Bible Knowledge Greek Hebrew Theological Degree

Type Written Written Written Oral

Time End of First Year Senior Year Senior Year Senior Year

The Bible Knowledge examination tests a student’s ability to work with biblical data. In a multiple-choice format, it determines the student’s knowledge of some detailed and specific information about biblical texts, geography, backgrounds, and people.

The Greek and Hebrew examinations are separate written exams. No lexicons are permitted during the three-hour exams. Required vocabulary for the Hebrew exam consists of all words that occur 50 times or more. Required vocabulary for the Greek exam consists of words occurring 10 times or more. The examinations are normally scheduled on the first Friday of each month throughout the year, and students are advised to take at least one of the examinations as early as possible.

The oral comprehensive examination tests a student’s competence in theological analysis, articulation, and judgment, as well as his ability to reflect theologically on his practice of ministry. It includes relevant biblical, theological, and historical data. Its comprehensive character is designed to test the student’s ability to correlate the various courses both within and among departments and divisions.

While the examination is aimed at determining academic competency, the experience helps prepare the student for oral examinations regarding his theological orthodoxy that will be conducted by his classis or presbytery before he is permitted to enter the ministry. Ordinarily, a student who has completed 68 academic hours or more is eligible to take the Greek and Hebrew comprehensive and the oral theological examinations.

Ministerial Apprenticeship Program

As mentioned above, graduates must successfully complete work in the Ministerial Apprenticeship Program (MAP). The required number of MAP credits is nine (9), of which seven (7) are for practica and two (2) are for summer assignments or intern work. For more complete information on the Ministerial Apprenticeship Program click here.

Awards

At the closing chapel service of each year, the faculty honors selected seniors with awards for academic excellence. The awards and the criteria employed in their determination are listed below.

Biblical Studies Award - Highest combined scores on Hebrew and Greek comprehensive exams.
Doctrinal Studies Award - Highest GPA in the area of doctrinal studies.
Ecclesiastical Studies Award - Highest GPA in the area of ecclesiastical studies.
Ministerial Studies Award - Highest GPA in the area of ministerial studies and highest marks on the exhorting evaluation forms.