Theology Capstone – THEO 679

CG • Section • 11/10/2019 to 04/18/2020 • Modified 09/05/2023

Course Description

This theology capstone course is for the Master of Theology student who has completed at least 24 hours toward the degree. This course is to demonstrate scholarship and contribute to the general knowledge in a specified field of theology. The approved topic must be related to the student's chosen area of study in the Master of Theology program.

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

Rationale

The student should be able to demonstrate an ability to reflect, integrate and apply theological knowledge to his preaching and teaching ministry. Theological reflection should be transformational that influences, motivates, and empowers the student to live for Christ and further His kingdom. One of the major objectives in this course is also to coach the student through the construction of a cohesive argumentative product in the theological discipline after surveying the scope of a precise topic.

Course Assignment

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussion

The student will participate in 1 Discussion designed to help them refine their topic and thesis statement. The student will post a minimum 300-word paragraph explaining their research project and also post their thesis statement. Each student will then reply to at least 2 classmates with feedback and constructive critique of the project. Each reply must be a minimum of 200 words. (CLO: A)

Book Critique Assignments (2)

The student will complete 2 book critiques from the selected texts reviewed in the Literature Review Assignment.  Each critique should be between 5 – 7 pages in length. The books that the student chooses need to be precisely related to the overall project. Additionally, those books should be the best critical sources for getting control of the major issues related to the research. Books selected should be academic/scholarly works written by a single author (or co-authors responsible for the entire content) and should not be edited works containing essays written independently by different authors in an anthology. (CLOs A, B, C, D) 

Research Paper: Topic Assignment

The student will submit a narrow and refined topic that is related to the student’s chosen area of study in the Master of Theology program. (CLO: A)

Research Paper: Bibliography Assignment

The student will complete a bibliography of initially at least 15 of the 30 minimum required resources for the project. It must contain a minimum of five books and ten scholarly articles on the student’s topic. It is from these books and articles that the student will complete both the Book Critique Assignments (2) and the Literature Review Assignments (2). The listed works should include reference materials, books, and peer-reviewed journal articles. Citations should be arranged in alphabetical order in Turabian formatting with correct spacing. This submission should also include the revised topic summary from Module 1 at the beginning of the bibliography. (CLOs: A, B, C, D, E) 

Research Paper: Literature Review Assignments (2)

The student will construct a preliminary comprehensive literature review of ten sources but will submit this as two assignments in two stages. These will be written in expository fashion and must be critical examinations of the main works on the student’s topic. As stated, this assignment will be in two parts, the first being an assessment of 5 key books that represent the central thinking on the topic.  The second will be an assessment of at least five scholarly articles addressing the precise thesis drawn from peer-reviewed journals. The combined parts will be incorporated into the final paper and represent about 4 pages of the final Capstone Paper.  (CLOs A, B, C, D). 

Research Paper: Outline and Revised Thesis Assignment

After reviewing the feedback from the instructor on the Research Topic Assignment, the student will complete an initial Outline and Revised Thesis Statement Assignment for the paper. The outline should consist of an Introduction, at least 3 major sections, and a Conclusion. All components must follow the Turabian Style Guide and School of Divinity Standards. The outline should be written in either complete-sentence-form or fragment-form and should not mix the two styles. (CLOs: A, E, F) 

Research Paper: Section Draft Assignments (3)

The student will complete 3 Section Drafts that will be refined and eventually combined to form the final Capstone Project. The Drafts should incorporate the student’s best possible work that s/he will submit for Instructor feedback. (CLOs: B, D, E, F). 

Research Paper: Section Revisions Assignments (3)

The student will complete 3 Section Revisions that will be put together after editing and form the final Capstone Project. (CLOs: B, D, E, F). 

Research Paper: Capstone Paper Assignment

As a final step in the process, the student will compile all the previously revised drafts and submit a completed 30 to 40 page Capstone Paper. The paper must include the following: Title page, Table of Contents, Introduction (with thesis statement), Body (minimum of 3 major sections), Conclusion, and Bibliography. This paper should contain at least 30 scholarly sources (not counting the Bible). (CLOs: A, C, D, E, F) 

Quiz: Research Paper: Reading Report

As a part of the required research for the course, the student will complete a minimum of 1,000 pages of reading. This reading should be documented on the Reading Report Quiz and submitted toward the end of the course. (CLOs: F)