Certificate Programs

Certificate of Study

A student who follows a one- or two-year course of study prepared in consultation with the seminary and their bishop and/or Commission on Ministry will be awarded an appropriate Certificate of Study.

Certificate of Advanced Theological Study (CATS)

A student holding a Master's Degree in theology, who follows a one-year course of study prepared in consultation with the seminary and their bishop and/or Commission on Ministry, will be awarded a Certificate of Advanced Theological Study.

Licentiate in Theology

Students not holding a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent may be admitted as candidates for the diploma, Licentiate in Theology. To qualify, students are required to complete all course requirements for the M.Div. degree with no grade below C (2.00).

At the time of application, the student has the option to apply for admission to the Master of Divinity (M.Div.) program instead of the Licentiate in Theology program. The application for admission to the M.Div. program must be made during the process of applying for admission to the seminary; it cannot be initiated once the student has begun an L.Th. program. In addition to the normal application materials for the M.Div. program, the student submits the following:

  1. An essay of 1000 words describing how the student's life experience has prepared her or him for theological study at the graduate level.
  2. Two papers, each on a book assigned to the student. Each paper must state the argument of the book and briefly summarize its contents.

The Academic Affairs Committee will appoint an ad hoc committee of three faculty members to read the applicant's materials. If the ad hoc committee determines that these materials provide a prima facie case in favor of the student's admission to the M.Div. program, the same committee will meet with the applicant for an interview of approximately one hour. This interview will be in addition to the standard formal interview for admission to the seminary. The faculty committee will then make a recommendation concerning the student's admission to the Academic Affairs Committee, which will inform the Academic Dean of its decision. The Academic Dean will convey the result of this process to the student.