I recently graduated from the MTh in New Testament, and I cannot recommend the degree highly enough.
Through the five core modules that make up the bulk of the course, I had the opportunity to explore the breath of New Testament scholarship, being introduced to concepts and ideas I had previously not encountered, while also having the opportunity to dig deeper into well-known areas of research and study. The variety in the course does justice to the entirety of the NT canon, with helpful focus on the Gospels and Paul’s letters, as well as giving attention to the often-overlooked General Epistles. In certain modules, students have freedom to hone in on aspects of NT study that most interest them as they build towards their capstone dissertation, something I greatly appreciated.
The assessment process is rigorous, stretching, and academically demanding, which helpfully forced me to not only think clearly, but also express myself clearly in my work. The teaching, support and feedback from faculty is thorough, detailed and immensely helpful, and enabled me to build on my work as I progressed through the course. Not only was I aided by the excellent UTC staff, but with regular online classes, discussions and peer-led seminars, I was also able to bounce ideas off fellow students, and learn from their wisdom in the process. Even online, UTC have crafted an environment in which I was able to experience a collegial atmosphere.
A highlight was the capstone dissertation, where I was able to focus on a specific area of NT study that interested me. Personally, I found that researching an aspect of scripture that could be easily applied to pastoral situations was an incredibly beneficial endeavour, and was aided by the fact that faculty are committed to the church, and that Union exists to equip the church.
As a student for the ordained ministry, I benefitted from the flexibility of the programme, which allowed me to study the Masters part-time, alongside the Council for Training in Ministry modules required by PCI. I had the benefit of local access to the Gamble Library, but I also found the online resources made available are phenomenal for this level of study.
I am convinced that completing the MTh in NT has enhanced my ability to interpret and communicate God’s word, and deepened my love for the Lord Jesus and his people.
Scott McMenemy