Online MA Program

The Flexibility You Need, the Education You Deserve

The GTU’s Online MA is designed for the students who are already where they’re needed most. With an emphasis on accessibility, personalization, and flexibility, the Online MA program integrates our world-renowned education with interactive distance learning, so you can further your education without putting your life on hold.

In a dynamic, diverse, and collaborative environment, the Online MA program empowers scholar-leaders with the spiritual foundation, intellectual framework, and practical experience to drive global change.

The next deadline to apply is July 1st, 2025, for Fall 2025 enrollment. In accordance with regulations determined by the Department of Education and the State of California, the GTU may only enroll online students located in authorized states. Please see the full list of authorized states for distance education

See more about our MA program!

Interfaith Chaplaincy

  • Prepare for meaningful work as a spiritual caregiver in today’s deeply intricate and diverse world. Our Interfaith Chaplaincy concentration equips students with the essential skills to offer holistic, compassionate care across faith traditions. Combining ethical professionalism, deep self-reflection, cultural humility, and practical training in chaplaincy, education, and leadership, students emerge ready to serve in dynamic and inclusive settings.
  • Sample Courses: Soul Care in Chaplaincy; Chaplaincy, Mental Health, and Addiction; Death Theologies, Grief, and Rituals; Care for Marginalized Communities

Psychedelics and Spirituality

  • Our first-of-its-kind MA concentration in Psychedelics and Spirituality offers an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the powerful connections between psychedelics and spiritual practices. By engaging with historical, theological, scientific, and clinical perspectives, students will gain the expertise to navigate and shape emerging conversations at the nexus of spirituality, science, and the human experience.

Arts and Religion

  • Discover how art gives voice to the sacred. Our Arts and Religion concentration invites students to explore the spiritual and cultural significance of visual, performative, and ritual expression across global faith traditions. Rooted in interdisciplinary inquiry and creative practice, this program nurtures the imagination and empowers students to lead, teach, and inspire in a multifaith, multicultural world.

Theology and Natural Sciences

  • This concentration invites students to explore the intersection of faith, science, and ethics through topics like cosmology, evolution, neuroscience, and AI. Ideal for those pursuing careers in education, research, bioethics, or public policy, the concentration bridges faith and scientific inquiry and equips you to lead thoughtfully in a rapidly changing world shaped by scientific and technological advancements.
  • Sample Courses: Theology and Science and Artificial Intelligence; Ethics and Technology; Bioethics in Light of Theology and Science; Evolution and Theological Anthropology

Jewish Studies

  • Jewish Studies offers a rigorous and integrative academic experience, blending critical scholarship with personal and spiritual exploration. Students deepen their knowledge of Jewish texts, languages, and culture all within a supportive, dynamic learning community. This concentration prepares graduates for careers in academia, rabbinical schools, Jewish education, and community leadership.
  • Sample Courses: Jewish Counterculture; Jewish Mysticism; Homeland, Exile, and Diaspora in Jewish Tradition; Rabbinic Literature; Hasidism and Neo-Hasidism

Islamic Studies

  • Students in this concentration engage in the interdisciplinary study, research, and teaching of Islam in its theological, historical, cultural, and comparative contexts, with a focus on Islamic texts in contemporary contexts, Islam as a lived tradition, and the global expressions of Muslim diversity, both past and present.

Christian Studies

  • A concentration for the non-partisan, non-denominational study of the histories, ideas, spiritualities, and practices of the world’s largest religion. Students may pursue any aspect of Christian history, traditions, spirituality, and thought.
  • Sample Courses: Christian Virtue Ethics; Prayer, Faith and Belief; God’s Sacred Earth; Religionless Christianity; Jesus and Being Human—Flourishing Amid Finitude

Hindu and Yoga Studies

  • Delve into the profound wisdom and lived practices of Hindu and Yoga traditions. Students engage with core texts like the Yoga Sūtras and Bhagavad Gītā, while exploring themes such as self-inquiry, devotion, sound and movement, and paths to liberation. With emphasis on Hinduism’s diversity and its evolving relations with global traditions, this concentration fosters a deep understanding of the spiritual, philosophical, and cultural dimensions of Hindu and Yoga traditions.

Interreligious Studies

  • Building on the GTU’s long-established leadership in interreligious scholarship, this concentration explores various religious traditions and their interreligious dimensions. In today’s increasingly pluralistic world, there is a growing desire to expand beyond the study of any single tradition to instead learn about the connections between two or more traditions as well as their relation to art, the natural sciences, and the most pressing issues of our time.

Swedenborgian Studies

  • A concentration for those preparing for ministry in the Swedenborgian Church of North America.
  • Sample Courses: Swedenborg and Divine Providence; Incarnational Theology; Swedenborg and the Arts; Swedenborg’s Spiritual World; Swedenborgian Biblical Exegesis

Worship and Liturgy

  • A concentration for practitioners or scholars interested in Christian worship, its principal liturgical and non-liturgical forms, and the roles associated with worship leadership.
  • Sample Courses: Feast and Fast in Christian Life; Livestreaming Worship; Preaching Towards Social Transformation; Liturgical Anthropology; Biblical Preaching

Eastern Orthodox Studies

  • An in-depth exploration of the Eastern Orthodox tradition, this concentration encompasses the history, theology, liturgy, spirituality, and praxis of Eastern Orthodox Christianity from its origins to the present day. This program is designed to enrich understanding of the Orthodox Church, providing a robust academic framework for theological inquiry and preparing students for doctoral studies. It also serves as a foundation for service and leadership within Orthodox parish or diocesan ministry.
  • Sample Courses: Byzantine Virgin Mary; Orthodox Christian Theology of Person;  Eastern Christian Spirituality; Early and Eastern Christian Sanctity and Saints

Self-Designed Concentration

  • Offering unmatched flexibility and personalization, the Self-Designed Concentration allows students to create an academic path that blends their unique interests. With the guidance of your faculty advisor, you’ll design a curriculum that aligns with your goals through the combination of courses, research, and projects tailored specifically to you. Students in this concentration will be provided the freedom and mentorship to explore new, interdisciplinary fields.

At the GTU, we recognize that each student has their own unique why for pursuing a graduate degree.

Whether it is preparing for a doctoral degree, advancing your career, pursuing your passions, or making a substantial, lasting contribution to your local and global community—your academic journey is just that, yours.

The GTU values every student, supporting them in their current circumstances while preparing them for their next steps. We’ve designed our MA program to prioritize students’ academic, research, and professional interests while ensuring maximum flexibility.

Below are the basic requirements of the MA program.

  • 2 years or less of full-time study
    • Part-time and full-time study options are available
    • Synchronous and synchronous courses
    • Able to transfer in graduate-level courses to fulfill program requirements
  • 36 credits
    • 1 required methodology core course to be taken during the student’s first semester
    • 3 core courses pertaining to the student’s concentration
    • 6 elective courses
    • 6 capstone credits, with the option to choose from a research thesis or a professional portfolio project
  • Choose your capstone: Research Thesis or Practical Portfolio

The Capstone is yours to design—tailored to your aspirations, your path, and your future.

Whether through the Research Thesis or Practical Portfolio, the Capstone is a powerful opportunity to bring your knowledge and passion together.

At the heart of your graduate journey, the Capstone will transform your academic journey into something deeply personal and purposeful. From your first day in the MA program, you’ll work with your faculty advisor to craft a final project that reflects your individual vision and goals.

The Research Thesis: For the Scholar

  • The Research Thesis is perfect for students looking to deepen their expertise and produce new knowledge in the academic world. If you’re considering further academic work, such as a PhD, or if you’re passionate about advancing scholarly understanding and research, this option allows you to develop new insights, contribute to academia, and leave an intellectual legacy.

The Practical Portfolio: For the Changemaker

  • The Practical Portfolio is for those who want to take their knowledge beyond theory and into real-world impact. Whether you’re preparing for a career as an interfaith chaplain, launching a spiritually driven business, or making a difference through nonprofit leadership, this option allows you to channel your learning to purpose-driven, tangible outcomes.

With a 93% professional and academia placement rate over the last 3 years, the GTU Master of Arts will launch you from passion to profession.

A Team Committed to Your Online Success

At the Graduate Theological Union, we know that online students need more than just flexibility—they need real people who care. With personalized support and a team who knows your name and situation, you'll have someone to turn to every step of the way. 

Ready for Next Steps?

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Tuition & Financial Aid

The GTU is committed to making theological education as accessible and affordable as possible. To understand the costs, financial aid resources, and funding opportunities available, please visit our Tuition and Financial Aid pages.

Application Requirements

Prospective MA students should have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. To find out more about the online application and required documentation, please visit Application Requirements.

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