Program options

B. A. in Theology (30 hours)

Three hours from Theo 241, 242, 251, 252; three hours from Theo 331, 418 and three hours from Theo 450; three hours from Phil 301, 311, 312 and six hours from Theo 361, 362, 363, 489; six hours from Hist 313, 334, 335, Theo 371, 375; six hours from Theo 382, 385, 390, 460, 465, 482, 483.

PRE-SEMINARY PROGRAM

Program Goals

Concordia’s pre-seminary program prepares students for admission to a theological seminary, where further studies may be pursued leading to the ordained pastoral ministry. A bachelor’s degree is required for admission to most seminary programs. Concordia’s pre-seminary program is designed to coordinate specifically with the Master of Divinity (ordination track) program of both seminaries of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS); those seminary programs include four years of post-baccalaureate education (three years of classroom work plus one year of vicarage internship). While designed chiefly with the LCMS student in mind, students of other denominations may profitably participate in many facets of Concordia’s pre-seminary program (such students are encouraged to investigate the admission requirements of the seminary associated with their particular interest or denomination).

Concordia’s pre-seminary program is rooted in the liberal arts tradition and includes an emphasis in the biblical languages of Greek and Hebrew (LCMS seminaries require biblical language proficiency), along with a background in philosophy and the humanities.

Program Academics

Concordia’s pre-seminary program offers great flexibility to students at the university to participate in a variety of programs and majors that may suit their particular interests. The program includes ten core courses (34 hours) that will prepare the student well for further seminary training and eventual pastoral service. The pre-seminary core courses are in the following areas:

  1. Greek (14 hours): Grk 101, 201, 301, 401
  2. Hebrew (11 hours): Heb 101, 201, 301
  3. Philosophy (6 hours): choose from any course with a Phil prefix, but Phil 311 & 312 are recommended
  4. Public Speaking (3 hours): CTA 211

It is highly recommended that students not begin the pre-seminary core of courses until they have completed their first year in residence at Concordia. Transfer students should consult with the pre-seminary program director to determine the beginning of their enrollment in the pre-seminary core of courses. The above core courses may not be taken on a Pass/No Record basis by students within the pre-seminary program.

Since the pre-seminary program does not constitute a major within a specific academic program, the above core of courses may be taken in conjunction with any other degree program and/or major offered at Concordia. Students may participate in the pre-seminary program within:

  1. The Bachelor of Science & Bachelor of Arts/Liberal Arts programs
  2. The Bachelor of Science Education programs
  3. The Bachelor of Music programs
  4. The Bachelor of Fine Arts programs.

Pre-seminary students at Concordia participate in a wide variety of degree programs, including elementary education, middle level education, secondary education, director of Christian education, business administration, computer science, etc. Adding the pre-seminary core of courses may increase the number of hours in a program beyond the 128 minimum hours required for graduation. Historically, the majority of pre-seminary students have graduated with a Bachelor of Arts/Liberal Arts degree; virtually every liberal arts major has been pursued and proven beneficial in some manner for the pastoral ministry.

Admission into the Program

There are two levels of admission: provisional and formal.

1. Students apply for provisional admission into the pre-seminary program after completion of 16 hours in residence at Concordia (and in any case, before the end of the first year study). Applications are available from the pre-seminary program director. Provisional admission indicates a student’s intent to prepare for seminary studies and initiates provision of services through Concordia’s pre-seminary director.

2. Students apply for formal admission into the pre-seminary program during their second year of residence at Concordia. Transfer students entering with more than 32 hours of credit are to apply before the end of their first semester in residence. Formal admission into the program makes a student eligible to receive the pre-seminary church worker scholarship grant offered by Concordia during the junior and senior years of study. To qualify for formal admission into the program, students must:

A. have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.50
B. submit a completed application form prior to the published deadline
C. successfully complete an admission interview with the pre-seminary program director.

Dismissal from the Program

Students may be dismissed from the pre-seminary program for the following reasons:

  1. have a cumulative GPA fall below 2.50 for two consecutive semesters
  2. fail to make progress toward completing the pre-seminary core of courses
  3. engage in conduct incompatible with biblical standards associated with the office of the public ministry (see 1 Tim. 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9)
  4. dismissal from the university.

Dismissal from the program will come only after a formal warning to the student has been issued by the director of the pre-seminary program. Should the student not take timely steps to correct the issues highlighted in the letter of warning, the student will receive a formal notice of dismissal from the program. Dismissal from the program entails forfeiture of eligibility for the pre-seminary church worker scholarship grant.

Appeal Process

Students denied formal admission into the program or dismissed from the program may appeal that decision. Appeals must be submitted in writing to the university provost within 15 days of the decision to deny admission or the decision to dismiss from the program. If the student is not satisfied with the decision of the university provost, a further appeal may be made to the university president. There is no provision for appeal beyond the university president.

Process for Seminary Recommendation

Students applying for admission to an LCMS seminary are required to obtain a letter of recommendation from the university president.  Favorable recommendations will be granted to students who:

  1. have been formally accepted into the pre-seminary program and retain good standing within the program
  2. have made substantial progress toward completing the pre-seminary core of courses
  3. receive a positive endorsement from the pre-seminary director
  4. indicate by their past academic performance the ability to complete their prescribed course of study.

Exceptions to these criteria are made on a case-by-case basis by the university president in consultation with the pre-seminary director.

Minors in Theology

Biblical Languages (18 hours)

Theology (11-12 hours)

  • Theo 331 Studies in the Life of Christ (3) or 450 Understanding and Teaching the Bible (3)
  • Hist 313 Religion and Society in the United States (3) or Theo 375 Christian Denominations, Movements & Contemporary Cults (3)
  • Select two courses from Theo 381, 382, 390, 482, and 489
See also: Please check the course catalog for other information about programs in which you are interested.

PRE-DEACONESS PROGRAM

The pre-deaconess program is designed to provide interested students the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Arts or Science degree in preparation for graduate education leading to certification as a deaconess. The student who completes the pre-deaconess program will have a broad-based liberal arts education which will include an academic major of her choosing supplemented by a core of classes designed to provide a theological/sociological base for further study at the seminary level.

1. General Education (48 hours)

2. Pre-Deaconess Core (30 hours)

  • Theo 251/2 Interpretation of Pauline Epistles/Gospels (3)
  • Theo 361 Christian Doctrine I (3)
  • Theo 362 Christian Doctrine II (3)
  • Theo 450 Understanding and Teaching the Bible (3)
  • CTA 211 Public Speaking (3)
  • CTA 309 Small Group Theory (3)
  • Soc 331 The Family (3)
  • Psy 442 Introduction to Counseling (3)
  • Choices from recommended courses* (6)

*Recommended Courses:

  • Phil 311 History of Philosophical Thought I (3)
  • Phil 312 History of Philosophical Thought II (3)
  • Theo 381 Christian Teacher’s Ministry (2)
  • Theo 382 Theology of Corporate Worship (3)
  • Theo 385 Parish Visitation and Evangelism (3)
  • Theo 483 Sexuality and the Family (3)
  • Theo 487 Planning Adult Education in the Parish (3)
  • Soc 221 Social Problems (3)
  • Soc 335 Sociology of Religion (3)
  • Gero 205 Adult Aging and Development (3)
  • Hist 313 Religion and Society in the United States (3)
  • Hist 335 The Renaissance and The Reformation (3)
  • Educ 388 Youth Ministry Theory & Methods (3)
  • Educ 483 Leadership Development (3)
  • Educ 484 Confirmation Planning and Implementation (3)
  • Educ 485 Parish Education Program Administration (3)
  • Grk 101 Greek 1 (3)
  • Grk 201 Greek 2 (3)
  • Heb 101 Hebrew 1 (3)
  • Heb 201 Hebrew 2 (3)

3. Major/Minor/Electives (54 hours)