DEGREES OFFERED
MASTER OF
DIVINITY
Designed for those pursuing vocational ministry, particularly the pastorate (includes Greek and Hebrew).
(97 credits)
MASTER OF ARTS IN
BIBLICAL MINISTRY
Designed for those pursuing vocational ministry in the local Church.
(60 credits)
MASTER OF ARTS IN
THEOLOGICAL STUDIES
Designed for those seeking non-ordained ministry opportunities both within and beyond the local church.
(42 credits)
GRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN CHRISTIAN STUDIES
Our GCCS is designed for those who seek to grow through in-depth biblical and theological studies.
(20 credits)
CERTIFICATE
PROGRAM
DEGREE LEARNING OUTCOMES
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Students will be proficient at reading and interpreting biblical Hebrew and Greek, appreciating the rhetorical functions of the biblical books in their original social contexts, comprehending the contours of redemptive history within a covenantal framework, and possessing a very high biblical literacy and trenchant understanding of the Gospel.
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Students will be conversant with the historic theological loci as well as their biblical basis and historical developments, and possessing a coherent and cogent Reformed worldview.
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Students will be able to perceive longstanding historical and philosophical trends that have shaped our cultural moment, discern their sources, interpret the significance of contemporary events, and apologetically promote the plausibility of the Gospel.
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Students will be able to powerfully articulate the Gospel and express a desire to spread the glory of God in both conversation and preaching. They will be skilled in clear written and oral communication, understand the central role of the local church in missions and evangelism, be effective in personal discipleship and counseling, be committed to the sufficiency of Scripture, and be proficient in leading others within organizational governance structures.
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Students are continually growing in Christ-likeness and bringing forth the fruits of the Spirit, having been transformed by the gospel, and living by grace, applying the gospel to all of life.
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
Statement of Education Effectiveness
Indianapolis Theological Seminary is committed to providing a holistic theological education that shapes not only intellect, but also ministerial skills and spiritual maturity. We desire each of our students to pursue a love of the Lord our God with all their heart, soul, and mind; and to be able to teach others to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is attained through a curriculum that pursues our five Learning Outcomes: (1) hermeneutics and biblical theology, (2) historical and systematic theology, (3) cultural apologetics, (4) ministerial leadership, and (5) spiritual growth. The faculty of ITS are dedicated to the execution of this curriculum.
It is essential for us to assess our effectiveness through the cyclical evaluation of our academic programs. This intentional reflection on the curriculum goals and execution ensures that ITS can live into our particular mission to educate students in collaboration with local churches in central Indiana. Though there are many ways to evaluate overall effectiveness, Indianapolis Theological Seminary uses the following metrics of academic program success:
Active Student Retention Rates (Continuing Students)
Full Time Equivalent Numbers
Degree Completion Rates
Active Student Retention Rates
The retention rate is the number of degree seeking students who remain an active student in their program one year after they started. Retained students are represented in the blue “Continuing Students” bars each term, and “New Students” are shown in orange on top of each bar on the graph below. The graph shows ITS student retention term to term.
Full Time Equivalent Numbers
Indianapolis Theological Seminary has a wide range of students pursuing courses, with many being part-time. However, we are able to track our Full Time Equivalency (FTE) based on registrations. The graph below shows our FTE per term.
Degree Completion Rates
It is worth noting that Theological Seminary understands the demands of life and ministry for most of our students that are enrolled in a program. Therefore, we offer a flexible and life-friendly approach to education, with classes scheduled at various times and days. This flexibility allows students to balance their studies with personal, professional, and family commitments, making it easier for them to pursue their theological education without sacrificing other important aspects of their lives. This means that there is a wide variation in program completion timelines for our degree and certificate programs. The following completion statistics are based on the time from the student’s entrance into ITS until their graduation. It is important to note this because ITS has only been offering classes since 2016, and several students entered during the early years of the institution–making their graduation timeline longer than what is considered typical.
MDiv Goal: For the Master of Divinity Degree (97 credit hours), we believe a student can complete the degree as a full-time student in 3-4 years, or a part-time student in 6-7 years. (This degree was available beginning in 2017.)
Results: As of the 2024-2025 Academic Year, 92% of MDiv graduates finished their program within 7 years of entering ITS.
MABM Goal: For the Master of Arts in Biblical Ministry Degree (60 credit hours), we believe a student can complete the degree as a full-time student in 2-3 years, or a part-time student in 5-6 years or more. (This degree was available beginning in 2016.)
Results: As of the 2024-2025 Academic Year, 50% of MABM graduates finished their program within 6 years of entering ITS.
MATS Goal: For the Master of Arts in Theological Studies Degree (42 credit hours), we believe a student can complete the degree as a full-time student in 2-3 years, or a part-time student in 4-5 years or more. (This degree was available beginning in 2023.)
Results: As of the 2024-2025 Academic Year, 50% of MATS graduates finished their program within 5 years of entering ITS.
GCCS Goal: For the Graduate Certificate in Christian Studies (20 credit hours), we believe a student can complete the degree as a full-time student in 1-1.5 years, or a part-time student in 2-4 years or more. (This certificate was available beginning in 2018.)
Results: As of the 2024-2025 Academic Year, 100% of GCCS graduates finished their program within 4 years of entering ITS.
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