Philosophical
The philosophical track takes the classical, propositional approach, and goes in-depth into philosophical issues of the Christian faith. Students take required courses that engage with philosophical issues, including Science and Faith, Philosophy of History and the Resurrection, and Philosophical Theology.
Cultural
The cultural track focuses on integrating imaginative and rational approaches by studying a range of issues in philosophy, literature and the arts, and cultural issues in order to analyze and engage with culture at both the intellectual and popular level (including creative work). In the Imaginative courses, students learn how to use imaginative as well as rational approaches, with particular attention to the work of C.S. Lewis. In the Christian Thought and Worldview courses, students gain a foundation in philosophy, culture, history and literature for effective cultural analysis and engagement.
Listen to Dr. Michael Ward explain the “rich mix” of rational and imaginative defenses.
MAA with Cultural Emphasis degree plan
MAA with Philosophical Emphasis degree plan
Classes and Coursework
The MAA curriculum comprises 36 units. All students take a General Core of courses in Communication and Classical defenses. In these courses, students develop writing and communication skills for graduate-level academic writing as well as practical and ministry work, and gain a foundation in philosophy, theology and Scripture as applied to defending the Christian faith. Students also take track-specific courses in their cultural and philosophical focuses (above). Both tracks are completed by a selection of electives, which can include a Thesis.
Students have the option to enrich their studies by taking one-unit elective classes in Houston on special topics, such as philosophical apologetics topics and an Apologetics in Oxford class that runs in the summer in Oxford, England.
See the degree plans (below) and course descriptions for more information.
Leveling Reading List
Because students in our Apologetics MA program come from a range of backgrounds, the faculty has developed the following suggested readings as preparation for the study you’ll do in our program. These are not required to be admitted, but students may find them helpful as a way to build a foundation for the classes they will be enrolled in.
Introductory
Tactics by Greg Koukl (Foundational)
Total Truth by Nancy Pearcey (Cultural/Scientific)
Apologetics and the Christian Imagination by Holly Ordway (Cultural)
On Guard by William Lane Craig (Philosophical)
Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus by Nabeel Qureshi (Comparative Religions)
Cold Case Christianity by J. Warner Wallace (Historical/Biblical)
Intermediate
The Morals of the Story by David and Marybeth Baggett (Moral)
The End of Apologetics by Myron Penner (Foundational)
Cultural Apologetics by Paul Gould (Cultural)
Can We Still Trust the Bible? by Craig Blomberg (Historical/Biblical)
The Return of the God Hypothesis by Steven Meyer (Scientific)
Metaphysics by William Hasker (Foundational/Philosophical)
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