Academic Overview: San Francisco Theological Seminary at the University of Redlands

Academic Overview

San Francisco Theological Seminary

At the university of redlands graduate school of theology

CHALLENGE ASSUMPTIONS REDEFINE MINISTRY BUILD COMMUNITY

For over 150 years, San Francisco Theological Seminary (SFTS) has provided a rigorous theological education that is rooted in the Reformed tradition, renewed daily through dialogue, inquiry, and critical reflection. It is also an education in touch with the issues affecting contemporary ministry and the lives of people in today’s world.

Learn how to think, not what to think

Here at SFTS, critical thinking is the foundational discipline of theological inquiry. We believe inquiry develops habits of curiosity, humility, and love. We help you slow down, put aside compulsion, take time for curiosity, humility, and love before drawing a conclusion. We help you think about your faith critically, but also constructively, so that you can take your beliefs into your vocation and into the world.

Personalized Tutorial-style Teaching Model

Our students enjoy small student-teacher ratios for a personalized educational experience. Residential students live in an intimate, supportive community, enjoying close interaction with their teachers on a beautiful campus. Online and non-residential students enjoy the flexibility of hybrid course formats with the same attention to your educational journey and spiritual formation.

Large Opportunities

Spectacular nature and North America’s most progressive metropolitan region are at our doorstep. In addition to courses at SFTS, students may explore pathways in other University of Redlands schools, the Graduate Theological Union’s eight schools and five centers, as well as the University of California at Berkeley, one of the world’s greatest research universities.

Interfaith and Interreligious Scholarship

SFTS is a founding member of the Graduate Theological Union (GTU) at Berkeley, which was created in 1962. With over 200 theological faculty members and open enrollment across more than a dozen scholarly institutions, the GTU flourishes as a haven for interdisciplinary religious thought, study, and practice around the world. The GTU provides students with the opportunity for intensive study of many religious traditions including Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, and Judaism, as well as interdisciplinary topics such as art and religion or theology and science.

MASTER’S DEGREE PROGRAMS

Master of Divinity (M.Div.)

Where theology breeds spirituality and social justice.

The Master of Divinity (M.Div.) is the foundational degree for ministry and is required for ordination in many Christian traditions. An M.Div. degree prepares students for ordination or for other professional ministries for which advanced leadership skills are essential. These ministries may include congregational pastorship, chaplaincy, campus ministry, spiritual direction, counseling, not-for-profit work, and other community-based ministries.

The M.Div. program combines a framework of academic disciplines—Biblical studies, theology, history, homiletics, liturgics, counseling, and Christian spirituality—with practical ministry experience through required field education. Elements of spiritual, pastoral, and professional development are woven throughout the academic program.

ACADEMIC CONCENTRATIONS AND SPECIALIZATIONS

→ History/Theology

→ Biblical Studies

→ Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care

→ Christian Spirituality

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

→ Three years full-time (with the option to add a full-year internship); up to six years part-time

→ 24 courses; 72 units

→ Competence in one Biblical language

→ Field education consisting of Clinical Pastoral Education or a ministry internship

LEARNING OUTCOMES

→ Lead and order services of Christian worship

→ Reflect theologically on Christian faith, the Church, and the world

→ Provide pastoral care and spiritual formation for individuals and communities

→ Equip churches and communities for mission and ministry in a multicultural and pluralistic context

“Here at San Francisco Theological Seminary, we teach you how to think, not what to think—to understand your own picture of God, the strengths and weaknesses of it, and how it applies in the world that we live in. We help you think about what your faith is critically, but also constructively and positively. And we give you the tools to put together a deeper and a stronger faith that you can then take in to your vocation and out to the world.”

Rev. Gregory Love, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Systematic Theology

“Being in a community of diversity and inclusion, where we can be ourselves, is a formative process as much as an academic environment—where we can learn the Bible well, we can learn these writings, we can learn these thoughts—we can actually be shaped through this experience, and on the other side, be well-equipped Christians who are able to go out in the world and deliver this message of grace and love.”

John L. M.Div.

Master of Arts in Theological Studies

(M.A.T.S.)

Foundational theology, in a more flexible format.

The Master of Arts in Theological Studies (M.A.T.S.) is a foundational degree in theology that gives you room to focus your interests. The degree requires you to study each of three foundational subject areas: 1) scripture, 2) history, theology, ethics, 3) and practical theology. There is no language or field education requirement, and you may choose from a great variety of courses in each area.

The M.A.T.S. offers the same breadth as the M.Div., but with greater flexibility. The M.A.T.S. may also be pursued part-time, and with options to study online, on campus, or a combination of the two.

CONCENTRATIONS

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

→ Two years full-time; up to four years part-time

→ 16 courses; 48 units

Common Master of Arts at the GTU (M.A.)

Students affiliated with San Francisco Theological Seminary are able to pursue a master’s degree through the Graduate Theological Union (GTU), the largest consortium of interreligious and interfaith scholarship in the U.S. The GTU M.A. is an academic, research-oriented master’s degree with a thesis requirement. It is ideal for students interested in a specific field of academic study or who wish to prepare for study toward the Ph.D. This two-year intensive program focuses on one theological discipline and draws on a close working relationship with a faculty advisor in an area of study. If interested, please apply directly at the GTU by visiting www.gtu.edu .

DOCTORAL DEGREE PROGRAMS

Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.)

An international and innovative research environment for contemporary ministry.

The Doctor of Ministry degree is a professional doctorate for the experienced practitioner. One of the oldest programs of its kind in North America, San Francisco Theological Seminary’s D.Min. is ecumenical, multi-faith, and international. For over 50 years, the integration of social analysis and critical theology have been hallmarks of our degree. The program is built around three foundational courses, where students learn to analyze the theological, social, and interpersonal settings of ministry. In three additional electives, students deepen their knowledge of particular aspects of scriptural study, theology, and social analysis relevant to them. In an extensive dissertation/project, students combine a method of social analysis with a relevant dimension of theological study, to develop new solutions to the challenges of ministry confronting them.

Clergy and lay leaders study online and in one-week, intensive seminars on campus, residing in affordable campus housing in a bucolic natural setting that embraces their experience, prizes innovation, and emphasizes adaptation and integration of new knowledge and skills. They study with the SFTS faculty and with distinguished visiting faculty who often are world leaders in their fields. The seminary’s collaborative environment is an incubator for the research and development of alternative understandings, new tools, and novel resources for ministry in a rapidly changing world. It is also the only Doctor of Ministry program in the country to feature a concentration in Chaplaincy/Spiritual Care Research Literacy.

CONCENTRATIONS

→ Pastoral Care and Counseling

→ Pastor as Spiritual Leader

→ Chaplaincy/Spiritual Care Research Literacy

→ Executive Leadership

→ Interdisciplinary Studies of Ministry

LEARNING OUTCOMES

→ Reflect independently, critically, and theologically upon issues in society, mission, and ministry today

→ Build relationships based on trust and cooperation among peers in ministry

→ Use interdisciplinary and research skills to develop innovative approaches to ministry and pastoral work

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

→ Six 3-unit seminars

→ Dissertation/project orientation and proposal seminars

→ Final dissertation/project

→ Designed to be completed within a five-year period; most students are expected to begin with a summer session.

The D.Min. program combines online and residential study in multiple formats, as one and two-week intensive courses in January and in the summer, designed to fit in with a one or two-week study leave.

“At SFTS, all of the knowledge—the Biblical, the theological, the spiritual—will come together to provide that intentional foundation that I’ll use when I leave here. Not necessarily to become a pastor, but to create community that is unique and brings about social change.”

Ashley P. M.Div.

Doctor of Philosophy (GTU Ph.D.)

Students affiliated with the San Francisco Theological Seminary may pursue a Ph.D. through the Graduate Theological Union (GTU), the largest consortium of interreligious and interfaith scholarship in the U.S. This advanced academic degree is intended to prepare students for professional careers in teaching, writing, and scholarship, as well as leadership opportunities with religious organizations, social service agencies, foundations, museums, libraries, publishing, and in educational institutions.

Choose a field of study from among more than thirty concentrations grouped into four interdisciplinary departments:

→ Sacred Texts & Their Interpretation: Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, Hindu Sacred Texts, Islamic Sacred Texts, New Testament, Rabbinic Literature

→ Historical & Cultural Studies of Religion: Anthropology of Religion, Art and Religion, Buddhist Studies, Christian Spirituality, Comparative Religion, History of Christianity, Hindu Studies, Islamic Studies, Jewish Studies, New Religious Movements, Religion and Literature, Sociology of Religion

→ Theology & Ethics: Aesthetics, Christian Theology, Comparative Ethics, Comparative Theology, Ethics, Hindu Theology, Islamic Philosophy and Theology, Philosophical Theology, Theology & Science

→ Religion & Practice: Homiletics, Liturgical Studies, Missiology, Practical Theology, Religious Education

To qualify for the program, students must have a Master of Divinity or a Master of Arts degree in theology, religion, or a closely related field, and a bachelor’s degree from a fully accredited institution.

If interested, please apply directly to the GTU by visiting www.gtu.edu/admissions/applying/doctoral-program

Continuing Education for Ministry

SHORT-TERM STUDY TO STRENGTHEN YOUR SKILLS AND DEEPEN YOUR KNOWLEDGE

We welcome pastors and other spiritual care professionals to come to campus for short-term study leaves. Discounted housing is offered to graduate students at the seminary. Doctoral-level seminars are also offered as continuing education seminars for pastors, chaplains, and other religious professionals with an M.Div. or equivalent and at least three years of professional experience. Courses are offered in the January Intersession and the Summer Session in one or two-week formats.

“I have been so blessed by the community and leadership of the program. I can genuinely say that the D.A.S.D. program helped save my faith. It’s been a community of grace, generosity, and encouragement, as well as a welcome challenge in the academic sense.”

Adam L. D.A.S.D.

PROGRAM IN CHRISTIAN SPIRITUALITY

Studies in spiritual direction and formation.

The Program in Christian Spirituality integrates spiritual formation, contemplative listening, and social awareness. It welcomes inquirers who strongly identify with the Church as well as those who wander among spiritual traditions or whose primary spiritual communities are ones of care or activism. Its students include spiritual directors, pastors, social activists, teachers, health care professionals, and social workers. It offers a diploma, a certificate, and an M.Div. concentration. In each case, study combines classes, a practicum, and additional reading and online training. All participants are also expected to be in spiritual direction with a mentor and are encouraged to maintain spiritual disciplines of their choice.

DIPLOMA VS. CERTIFICATE?

SFTS offers both a certificate and a diploma in spiritual direction and formation. The difference between the two is the number of classes and academic credits required.

DIPLOMA IN SPIRITUAL DIRECTION AND FORMATION (D.A.S.D.)

→ Course work that can be completed through two January terms, and a final spring term

→ Five classes

→ Work involving a required set of readings and reflection papers

→ Practice in contemplative listening with a designated spiritual companion

→ Two years of supervised practice of oneon-one spiritual direction

→ Ongoing work with a spiritual director

CERTIFICATE IN SPIRITUAL DIRECTION AND FORMATION (C.S.D.F.)

→ Four classes

→ Written reflections on assigned readings

→ Course requirements that can be completed in 13 months

→ Ongoing work with a spiritual director

“It’s part of the Christian tradition—all the way back to its roots—to connect desire for God and desire for the wellbeing of humanity. Spiritual practices help mold and form us and our desires for the Beloved and for humanity to come together. We do spiritual practices to hone our desire for good, and we act in the world to express that desire.”

Professor Wendy Farley Director of the Program in Christian Spirituality, Rice Family Professor of Spirituality

CHAPLAINCY AND SPIRITUAL CARE

CLINICAL PASTORAL EDUCATION

(C.P.E.)

The Shaw Chaplaincy Institute for Spiritual Care and Compassionate Leadership is the only ACPE-accredited center to offer a full CPE program on a seminary campus with an endowed chair in this field. The chair and the institute were made possible by Rev. John F. Shaw (M.Div. ’54) and Julia Shaw. At the center of the Institute is the Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program, fully accredited to offer Level I, Level II, and Supervisory CPE certifications.

CPE is for pastors, religious professionals, theology students, and qualified laypersons committed to develop the highest level of pastoral skill. They learn how to integrate knowledge from theology, psychology, and the social sciences into their practice of pastoral ministry. The Institute offers a Supervisory Education Fellowship to one student per year preparing to become a certified ACPE Educator, the highest certification of the ACPE.

During CPE training, students are closely supervised and guided as they work with persons seeking spiritual and/or religious care. In intense collaboration with peers and teachers, CPE students find support and receive critical feedback on their performance and formation as pastoral care-givers. Students may choose a learning center from a variety of chaplaincy settings: a hospital, a branch of the military, a congregation or parish, the police, a government agency, firefighting, the prison, an addiction recovery or mental health facility.

PROGRAM STRUCTURE

→ Three sessions of CPE, which coincide with the academic calendar for degree programs

→ 13–17 weeks of class

→ 11 hours of structured education each week

→ 22–30 hours of direct spiritual care each week

CERTIFICATE IN TRAUMA AND SPIRITUAL CARE (C.T.S.C)

The Certificate in Trauma and Spiritual Care provides working professionals in both clinical and pastoral settings with the skills needed to adequately care for and help people during life’s most difficult situations. Focusing on a spiritual understanding of trauma and healing, this intensive program combines crisis intervention training and trauma counseling education to give caregivers comprehensive skills to help trauma survivors recover from their experiences.

COURSES

→ Dynamics of Trauma: A Spiritual Care Approach to Theory and Practice

→ Trauma Care Resiliency: Developing Transformative Emotional Intelligence

→ God and Human Suffering

→ Collective Trauma, Collective Memory: Systemic Issues of Trauma

“What sets the Shaw Institute apart is the recognition that among all service-oriented professions, spiritual care practitioners uniquely symbolize the presence of the ‘Holy’ in human interactions.”

Rev. Laurie Garrett-Cobbina, Ph.D. Director, Shaw Chaplaincy Institute and Shaw Family Associate Professor of Pastoral Care and Education; ACPE Certified Educator

CERTIFICATE

CERTIFICATE IN THEOLOGICAL STUDIES (C.T.S.)

EXPLORE DIMENSIONS OF THEOLOGY AND ENRICH YOUR MIND.

The Certificate in Theological Studies (C.T.S.) helps you develop theological understanding as a dimension of your educational, professional, and spiritual growth. It provides an overview of theological knowledge. It can be completed in one or two years. It is designed for working professionals. Its courses can be taken for no credit, out of personal interest, or for academic credit that can be applied to study toward SFTS degrees.

ONLINE OR ON CAMPUS

→ Study fully online, fully on-campus, or both online and oncampus

→ 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time → Foundational courses in history, biblical studies, and systematic theology

→ Academic credits can be transferred to our master’s degrees → No-credit option for personal and professional enrichment

CERTIFICATE IN SPIRITUAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP (C.S.E.)

SPIRITUALITY AND BUSINESS COMBINED.

The Certificate in Spiritual Entrepreneurship blends the tools of spirituality and 21st -century business in a unique and highly integrated business and theology curriculum. It is designed to help non-profit or for-profit organizations thrive through a synergy of spiritual and business purposes. It helps students develop their theological and spiritual offerings, products, and services as well as develop an entrepreneurial mindset. Test the viability of a business idea, or if you already have a business idea in production, assess and improve your implementation plan toward success.

FLEXIBLE & CUSTOMIZABLE → 4 Courses (12 credits) evenly divided between theology and business

100% online

Choose courses based on your area of interest

CERTIFICATE IN TRAUMA AND SPIRITUAL CARE (C.T.S.C)

The Certificate in Trauma and Spiritual Care provides working professionals in both clinical and pastoral settings with the skills needed to adequately care for and help people during life’s most difficult situations. Focusing on a spiritual understanding of trauma and healing, this intensive program combines crisis intervention training and trauma counseling education to give caregivers comprehensive skills to help trauma survivors recover from their experiences.

COURSES

→ Dynamics of Trauma: A Spiritual Care Approach to Theory and Practice

→ Trauma Care Resiliency: Developing Transformative Emotional Intelligence

→ God and Human Suffering

→ Collective Trauma, Collective Memory: Systemic Issues of Trauma

CERTIFICATE IN SPIRITUAL DIRECTION AND FORMATION (C.S.D.F.)

→ Four classes

→ Written reflections on assigned readings

→ Course requirements that can be completed in 13 months

→ Ongoing work with a spiritual director

Whether you are an emerging leader ready to apply your passion for social change into community action or a lifelong learner, we provide interfaith and interdisciplinary educational opportunities for a wide range of professions.

Graduate Theological Union

PIONEERING MULTICULTURAL, MULTIFAITH STUDIES

San Francisco Theological Seminary is a founding member of the Graduate Theological Union (GTU), which was created in 1962 in the Bay Area because the future of religious renewal and theological education depends on the willingness of faith traditions to come together.

Today, the GTU flourishes as a world leader in interdisciplinary religious thought, study, and practice, serving as a place where religion meets the world. The GTU provides SFTS students with the opportunity for intensive study of many religious traditions, including Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, and Judaism, as well as interdisciplinary topics such as art and religion or theology and science.

The

(GTU) is the most comprehensive consortium of interfaith and interreligious graduate study in North America.

Broaden Your Education Exponentially

Our masters degree students have the opportunity to choose from over 700 classes at any of the eight other seminaries or nine multifaith centers and affiliates in the GTU. They also have full access to more than 500,000 volumes in the Flora Lamson Hewlett Library, known as one of the largest theological libraries in the country. Additionally, degree students have access to the Doe Library at the University of California, Berkeley, which features more than 11 million volumes, and ranks as the fourth-largest university library in the nation.

GTU MEMBER SCHOOLS:

→ Berkeley School of Theology (BST)

→ Church Divinity School of the Pacific (CDSP)

→ Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology (DSPT)

→ Institute of Buddhist Studies (IBS)

→ Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University (JST-SCU)

→ Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary of California Lutheran University (PLTS)

→ Pacific School of Religion (PSR)

→ San Francisco Theological Seminary (SFTS)

GTU CENTERS AND AFFILIATES INCLUDE:

→ The Center for Islamic Studies (CIS)

→ The Richard S. Dinner Center for Jewish Studies (CJS)

→ Center for the Arts & Religion (CARe)

→ The Mira and Ajay Shingal Center for Dharma Studies (CDS)

→ The Center for Theology and Natural Science (CTNS)

→ Center for Swedenborgian Studies (CSS)

→ Center for Faith and Justice (CFS)

→ New College Berkeley (NCB)

→ The Patriarch Athenagoras Orthodox Institute (PAOI)

UNIVERSITY

OF CALIFORNIA AT BERKELEY

Master's students at SFTS may also attend classes at the University of California at Berkeley, as well as access their extensive libraries.

COMMON MASTER OF ARTS (M.A.) AT THE GTU

Affiliated with SFTS, this two-year intensive program focuses on one theological discipline and draws on a close working relationship with a faculty advisor in an area of study. This is a good choice for those who plan to pursue doctoral studies or wish to fine-tune scholarship in a specific area. A substantial, research-based thesis is required, as is basic competency in a modern foreign language for research purposes.

DOCTORAL PROGRAMS (PH.D.) AT THE GTU

As a student in the Ph.D. program at the GTU, you may affiliate with SFTS and have access to student housing on our beautiful campus and student transportation to Berkeley. This advanced academic degree is intended to prepare students for professional careers in teaching, writing, and scholarship, as well as for leadership opportunities with religious organizations, social service agencies, foundations, museums, libraries, publishing, and educational institutions. Students entering the Ph.D. program at the GTU can choose from among more than 30 concentrations grouped into four interdisciplinary departments.

INTRODUCING THE FACULTY

Theological inquiry, spiritual formation, pastoral care, congregational leadership, and innovative worship.

Julius Bailey, Ph.D. Professor of Religious Studies The H. Eugene FarloughCalifornia Chair in AfricanAmerican Christianity

Author of Down in the Valley: An Introduction to African American Religious History

Rev. Jon L. Berquist, Ph.D. Distinguished Visiting Professor of Hebrew Bible

Author of Focusing Biblical Studies: The Crucial Nature of the Persian and Hellenistic Periods: Essays in Honor of Constructions of Space II: The Biblical City and Other

Rev. Laurie GarrettCobbina, Ph.D.

Director, Shaw Chaplaincy Institute, Shaw Family

Associate Professor of Pastoral Care and Education

Author of Theologies from REM Women of Color

Fran Grace, Ph.D. Professor of Religious Studies (Psychology and Religion)

Author of The Power of Love: A Transformed Heart Changes the World

Wendy Farley, Ph.D. Director, Program in Christian Spirituality

Rice Family Professor of Spirituality (Feminist Theology)

Author of Beguiled by Beauty: Cultivating a Life of Contemplation and Compassion

Lillian Larsen, Ph.D. Professor of Religious Studies (Early Christianity and Late Antiquity Religions)

Author of Monastic Education in Late Antiquity

Rev. Gregory Love, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Systematic Theology

Author of Love, Violence and the Cross: How the Nonviolent God Saves Us through the Cross of Christ

Rev. Eugene Eung-Chun Park, Ph.D.

David and Dana Dornsife

Professor of New Testament

Author of Either Jew or Gentile: Paul’s Unfolding Theology of Inclusivity

Christopher Ocker, Ph.D

Assistant Provost, Interim Dean, and Professor of the History of Christianity

Author of The Hybrid Reformation: A Social, Cultural, and Intellectual History of Contending Forces

redlands.edu/sftsfaculty

Study with over 200 faculty working and teaching at the Graduate Theological Union.

As the most comprehensive consortium of theological graduate study in North America, the GTU flourishes as a haven for interdisciplinary religious thought, study, and practice from around the world.

HOUSING AND STUDENT LIFE

A vibrant, diverse community from around the world.

Our exceptionally beautiful location in Marin County, California, just 20 minutes north of the Golden Gate Bridge, gives you access to extraordinary cultural, recreational, educational, and professional opportunities in an area of pristine beaches, rugged mountains, and vast wild spaces. San Francisco—the global gateway—gives you access to highly diverse communities, congregations, and nonprofits.

HOUSING

Housing is open to all students. Full-time SFTS master’s and doctoral students, as well as full-time GTU-MA students who affiliate with SFTS, have priority access to comfortable, affordable campus housing in apartments and town homes suitable for small families, single students, and shared living, a short walk from cafes, restaurants, shops, supermarkets, and excellent public schools. A number of units are designated for pets.

WORSHIP

The Chaplain’s office leads and guides spiritual life, worship, and vocational formation at SFTS. Worship combines Reformed Protestant, other Christian and interfaith traditions, as well as creative and contemplative practices. Students enjoy a welcoming community that fosters spiritual growth, social justice, and a vibrant interfaith experience.

IMAGO D.E.I.

(The Image of God Expressed Through Diversity, Equity, Inclusion)

As a community, we are united in the desire to create an inclusive atmosphere where diversity flourishes in all its forms. We are called to live inside God’s beautiful family, and that means pursuing justice, knowledge, dignity, and well-being for all people. From our students to our staff to our faculty to our trustees and beyond, we want to foster a just community that embraces differences—both here on campus and in the world.

FINANCIAL AID

The Graduate School of Theology provides financial aid assistance to approximately 80 percent of its master’s degree students.

We offer a variety of ways to assist you with graduate program costs, through academic-merit scholarships and need-based grants, as well as the federal student loan program. We urge you to schedule an appointment with our director of enrollment for a personal conversation if you have any thoughts to share or questions to ask.

KEY SOURCES OF FINANCIAL AID

→ Presidential and alumni merit scholarships

→ Need-based University grants

→ Federal direct loan program

→ Outside grants and scholarships via the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) or your denomination

→ Omaha Presbyterian Seminary Foundation Apollos Scholarship for M.Div. students renewable each year

OTHER SOURCES

→ Graduate Theological Union (GTU) Information about external scholarships as well as loans can be found at their website: gtu.edu/admissions/financial-aid

→ Forum for Theological Exploration (FTE) Fund Finder. This leadership incubator inspires young people to make a difference in the world through Christian communities. FTE provides grants and fellowships to gifted, purposeful students, young adults and partner organizations. Please visit fteleaders.org

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

As an international student, you are eligible to apply for SFTS Merit Scholarships and need-based University grants, which may be counted towards your financial resources on the I-20. Detailed information about visa I-20 requirement can be found in the International Student Handbook on our website at redlands.edu/admissions-and-aid

“I enrolled at SFTS to explore what it looks like to create new, experimental, inclusive, open-minded communities of faith in our fast-changing world. It is an honor to know how much the seminary supports the journey that I believe God has set me on.”

Sam L., M.Div.

MASTER OF DIVINITY (M.DIV.)

The M.Div. is the foundational degree for ministry and is required for ordination in many Christian traditions. A Master of Divinity degree prepares students for church ordination or to pursue other professional ministries where advanced leadership skills are essential.

→ Three years full-time (with the option to add a full-year internship); up to six years part-time

→ 24 courses; 72 units

→ Competence in one Biblical language

→ Field education consisting of Clinical Pastoral Education or a ministry internship

MASTER OF ARTS IN THEOLOGICAL STUDIES (M.A.T.S.)

Ideal for personal enrichment or professional development. This two-year degree program is one of our more flexible degrees, providing balanced exposure to the theological disciplines while allowing for focus on an area of interest.

→ Two years full-time; up to four years part-time

→ 16 courses; 48 units

COMMON MASTER OF ARTS (M.A.) AT THE GTU

Affiliated with SFTS, this two-year intensive program focuses on one theological discipline and draws on a close working relationship with a faculty advisor in an area of study. This is a good choice for those who plan to pursue doctoral studies or who wish to fine-tune scholarship in a specific area.

→ Two years full-time; up to four years part-time

→ 16 courses; 48 units

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (PH.D.) AT THE GTU

In partnership with the Graduate Theological Union, the doctoral program includes areas of study that utilize the depth of faculty expertise made possible by the union of the nine member schools, affiliated centers, and institutes.

→ 30 concentrations

→ Four interdisciplinary departments

→ Affiliate with SFTS for Housing at Marin Campus

DOCTOR OF MINISTRY (D.MIN.)

The D.Min. is committed to excellence and innovation in ministry, which combines academic distinction with a pragmatic focus. Our collaborative environment is an incubator for the research and development of alternative understandings, new tools, and novel resources for ministry in a rapidly changing world.

→ Up to five years

→ Six courses

→ Final dissertation/project

CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR MINISTRY

Continuing education opportunities are offered each year through the Advanced Pastoral Studies program. Doctoral-level seminars are also offered as continuing education seminars for pastors, chaplains, and other religious professionals.

SPIRITUAL DIRECTION AND FORMATION

DIPLOMA IN THE ART OF SPIRITUAL DIRECTION (D.A.S.D.)

The Diploma in the Art of Spiritual Direction (D.A.S.D.) prepares individuals, both ordained and non-ordained, for the ministry of spiritual direction. We blend challenging academic work with time for retreat, worship, celebration, prayer, and contemplation of God’s presence in our lives.

→ Minimum two years, but classes may be taken at your own pace

→ Five week-long sessions

→ Five 1.5-unit online courses that are available in conjunction with each retreat

→ Readings and short papers

→ Practice of contemplative listening

→ Two years of supervised practice of oneon-one spiritual direction

→ Ongoing work with a spiritual director

CERTIFICATE IN SPIRITUAL DIRECTION AND FORMATION (C.S.D.F.)

In this program, students undertake serious study and practical training as a spiritual director or as a guide for individuals and communities seeking spiritual formation. Challenging academic work is combined with time for retreat, worship, celebration, prayer, and contemplation of God’s presence in our lives.

Certificate requirements

→ Four classes

→ Written reflections on assigned readings

→ Course requirements that can be completed in 13 months

→ Ongoing work with a spiritual director

CHAPLAINCY AND SPIRITUAL CARE

CLINICAL PASTORAL EDUCATION (C.P.E.)

The Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program is offered for pastors, religious professionals, theology students, and qualified laypersons who seek further development of their pastoral skills. Students learn how to integrate knowledge from theological, psychological, and social science disciplines into the practice of pastoral ministry. The Shaw Chaplaincy Institute offers a Supervisory Education Fellowship to one student preparing to become a certified ACPE supervisor. It is fully accredited to offer Level I, Level II, and Supervisory CPEs.

CERTIFICATE IN TRAUMA AND SPIRITUAL CARE (C.T.S.C.)

This intensive program through SFTS combines crisis intervention training and trauma counseling education for working professionals in both clinical and pastoral settings, as well as providing a comprehensive set of skills to help trauma survivors recover from their experiences.

CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS

CERTIFICATE IN SPIRITUAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP (C.S.E.)

Apply the rigor of graduate business education to your vocational calling—whether your ministry is inside or outside a traditional religious institution. We blend the tools of spirituality with 21st century business skills. Four Courses: 2 in theology and 2 in business. 100% online.

CERTIFICATE IN THEOLOGICAL STUDIES (C.T.S.)

Foster development of theological understanding as part of educational, professional, and spiritual growth. Excellent overview of theological education and can be completed in one or two years. Flexibility online or on campus, for academic credit or personal enrichment.

San Francisco Theological Seminary prepares students for purposeful leadership and transformational ministries of justice, peace, and healing to advance a more hopeful, loving engagement with the world.