Trinity Theological Union Alumni

Trinity Theological Union was on the quarter system. Students either took the Summer Quarter off or used it to fast track completion of their degrees. Course loads averaged between 12 and 16 units per quarter, with most courses awarding three units toward a degree.

Three degrees were offered: a Master of Arts in Theology, a Master of Divinity and a Doctor of Philosophy.

Master of Arts in Theology
The M.A. in Theology required the successful completion of 96-quarter units. It equipped students for church leadership and pastoral ministry, and provided an excellent academic and biblical foundation for the pursuit of advanced theological degrees.

Trinity Theological Union awarded 17 Master of Arts in Theology degrees.

CURRICULUM:
Biblical Studies (24 units)
Church History and Theology (24 units)
Theology, Church History, Philosophy and Ethics (24 units)
Ministry Studies (12 units)
Spirituality & Global Leadership (12 units)

Master of Divinity
The M.Div. required the successful completion of 140-quarter units. It equipped students for church leadership and pastoral ministry. It prepared graduates for ordination in almost all Protestant denominations, as well as leadership positions in para-church and educational institutions.

Trinity Theological Union awarded 32 Master of Divinity degrees.

CURRICULUM:
Hebrew (8 units)
Greek (12 units)
Biblical Studies (24 units)
Church History and Theology (24 units)
Ministry Studies (36 units)
Spirituality & Global Leadership (12 units)
Electives (24 units)

Doctor of Philosophy
The Ph.D. required the successful completion of 72-quarter units in addition to a previously earned Masters degree. The highest academic degree awarded, it prepared students for teaching careers at undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate institutions.

Candidates for the Ph.D. took at least five seminars in their designated major field, including a methods seminar. The remaining courses, which constituted the minor field, were selected under the guidance of the students’ mentors. Major research papers were components in each of the courses.

Trinity Theological Union awarded 6 Doctor of Philosophy degrees.

CURRICULUM:
Stage One: Foundations for Research
Mastery of Greek and Hebrew
Mastery of designated research languages 
Methods seminar (8 units)
Four seminars (8 units each)
Four comprehensive examinations

Stage Two: Dissertation Research
Four seminars/directed readings (8 units each)
Dissertation

Trinity Theological Union was a degree-granting institution (Master's and Doctoral degrees), but did not apply for accreditation nor was it accredited by any nation's educational system. Their rationale was four-fold.

First, because Trinity was an international theological and religious training school with locations in many countries, validation by any single accrediting agency in one nation seemed limiting.

Second, their modular approach to education (taking intensive courses each academic quarter in multiple locations worldwide) is a methodology generally unknown by accrediting boards.

Third, most university accrediting agencies require large centralized library systems and Trinity's library strategy instead utilized internet technology that tapped into the vast online resources of university libraries and archives worldwide.

Fourth, Trinity didn't want a state, country, or an accreditation board to tell them what they could or could not teach. One of the primary downfalls of Christian institutions of higher education is the desire for worldly status. Trinity's desire was to have students who want training to serve the Lord, rather than to have the recognition of man and didn't feel it was appropriate to commingle the two. Serving God is enough of a challenge. Serving two masters is impossible!