[1] Under Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS) standards, programs require graduates to have earned an accredited bachelor's degree or its equivalent.
[1] Programs usually require students to complete two years of full-time study or its equivalent to earn the degree.
[1] The degree can serve as preparation for entering a masters or doctoral program in theology (Th.D.
), religion (Ph.D.), or a related subject, such as education, counseling, social sciences, or humanities.
[1] The ATS standards specify that the bulk of courses in the MTS program be academic rather than professional.