Master of Arts in Old Testament
and Semitic Languages
Deerfield, IL
TEDS’ world-renowned professors will teach you to think well and respond graciously as you dive into rigorous literary, textual, and theological study of the Old Testament. Your studies will take you through understanding the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament to knowing the promises for the gentiles in the Old Testament. As you engage with original languages of the Old Testament, you will be prepared to teach in Christian secondary schools or continue on to doctoral research.
At the conclusion of your degree, you will be able to articulate the foundations of the Evangelical Christian faith, understand historical developments, and respond to contemporary cultural questions. Professors
BIBLE AND THEOLOGY CORE: 9 HOURS |
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| Course | Title | Credits |
| ID 5000 | Biblical Theology and Interpretation | 3 hours |
| ST 5201 | Theology I: The God of the Gospel | 3 hours |
| ST 5202 | Theology II: The Gospel of God | 3 hours |
OLD TESTAMENT & SEMITIC LANGUAGES CORE: 24 HOURS |
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| Course | Title | Credits |
| OT 5242 | Hebrew Exegesis | 3 hours |
| OT 8911 | OT Studies I: Pentateuch and Historical Books |
2 hours |
| OT 8912 | OT Studies II: Poetry and Prophets | 2 hours |
| Select 5–6 hours of Hebrew Language from: | ||
| Course | Title | Credits |
| OT 5250 | Hebrew Reading Skills | 2 hours |
| OT 7210 | Exegesis of Genesis | 3 hours |
| OT 7230 | Exegesis of Psalms | 3 hours |
| OT 7250 | Exegesis of Isaiah | 3 hours |
| OT 8000 | Seminar (when topic is Hebrew Studies; approval by dept chair) | 3 hours |
| OT 8720 | Advanced Hebrew Exegesis: (Book) | 3 hours |
| OT 8729 | Advanced Hebrew Studies: (Topic) | 3 hours |
| Select 3 hours of Cognate Languages from: | ||
| Course | Title | Credits |
| OT 7010 | Biblical Aramaic | 3 hours |
| OT 7014 | Extrabiblical Aramaic | 3 hours |
| OT 7020 or 7021 |
Akkadian I or II | 3 hours |
| OT 7030 | Ugaritic | 3 hours |
| OT 7040 | Syriac | 3 hours |
| OT 7410 | West Semitic Inscriptions | 3 hours |
| OT 7415 |
Middle Egyptian | 3 hours |
| OT 8000 | Seminar (when topic is Cognate Lang; approval by dept chair) | 3 hours |
| Select 9 hours of Old Testament Elective Studies from: |
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| Course | Title | Credits |
| OT 5050 | Geography of Bible Lands | 3 hours |
| OT 5060 | Development of the Old Testament Canon | 3 hours |
| OT 6251 | Interpreting the Pentateuch and Former Prophets | 3 hours |
| OT 6252 | Interpreting the Latter Prophets | 3 hours |
| OT 7090 | Old Testament Theology | 3 hours |
| OT 7420 | Ancient Near Eastern Religions | 3 hours |
| OT 7425 | Egypt and the Bible | 3 hours |
| OT 7430 | Origins of Israel | 3 hours |
| OT 7432 | Warfare in OT and Ancient NE | 3 hours |
| OT 7435 | History of Israel | 3 hours |
| OT 7440 | History of the Ancient Near East | 3 hours |
| OT 7460 | Qumran Scrolls | 3 hours |
| OT 8000 | Seminar: Current Issues (approval by dept chair) |
3 hours |
| OT 8723 |
Old Testament Textual Criticism | 3 hours |
| ST 7395 | Hermeneutics | 3 hours |
| Note: Up to 3 hours of the Capstone may be applied in the Concentration Core | ||
| Note: OT 5000, NT 5000, and English Bible courses (OT 5100, NT 5100, NT 5175) are not applicable to the MA program. | ||
FIELD EDUCATION & CAPSTONE: 1–3 HOURS |
||
Field Education |
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| Course | Title | Credits |
| PT 5090 | Field Ed (two semesters) | –or– |
| PT 5090 | Field Ed (one semester) and ID 5080 Formation Group (two semesters) | 0 hours |
MA/OT Capstone (1-3 hours) |
||
| Course | Title | Credits |
| OT 7477 | MA/OT Major Comprehensive Exam | 1 hour |
| OT 7485 | MA Thesis | 1–3 hours |
“Trinity Evangelical Divinity School has provided me with the tools to explore, research, and analyze the depths of the Old Testament in a spiritual context. It has prepared me to enter a career of academics and lifelong pursuit embracing and loving the Old Testament.”
Riane McConnell ’22
LEARN FROM THE BEST
Experience a classroom setting like none other. At Trinity, you will study under leading theologians, experts, and renowned authors in their specific field. Our professors will not only teach you but invest in your life. Hear from Dr. Monson and faculty how the MA in Old Testament program prepares you for your academic and ministry goals.
Why TEDS?
Trinity has been entrusted with the Gospel since 1897, and every day we are called to live with purpose. Our purpose as a divinity school is to know the Gospel, live the Gospel and make the Gospel known. In today’s ever-changing culture, Trinity immerses students in a community of biblical orthodoxy and practical living. The Trinity faculty is among the most widely published in evangelical academia and has deeply influenced the leaders shaping the present and future of evangelical Christianity across the globe.
“The Old Testament is a vibrant part of God’s self-revelation. Engaging these books is both life-giving and challenging, offering readers a glimpse of God’s redemptive work that spans ages, languages, contexts, and cultural differences. The MA in Old Testament and Semitic Languages provides students the skills to read this corpus faithfully. With a rich understanding of its significance for ancient readers, Christians are better equipped to appreciate the Old Testament’s relevance for the questions and challenges of contemporary life.”
Michele Knight
Assistant Director
PREREQUISITES
In addition to the requirements for general admission, you’ll need the following:
- An undergraduate major or its equivalent which includes 6 hours of undergrad Hebrew (with an acceptable score on Trinity’s Hebrew proficiency exam), 6 hours of theology, and 12 hours of Bible (not including beginning languages).
- An undergrad GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is preferred; scores from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or Miller Analogies Test (MAT) are required if your GPA is less than 3.0.
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