Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS)

Programs Offered

The university offers the following degrees and certificates through the Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS) as listed below.

Master of Divinity Degree

Master of Theological Studies

Certificate of Theological Studies

Certificate of Advanced Theological Studies

Certificate of Theological Education for Emerging Ministries (T.E.E.M.)

Master of Divinity

The Master of Divinity (M.Div.) is a professional degree designed to develop biblical, theological, historical, practical, and contextual competencies, and to integrate these competencies in the practice of leadership in congregations and related ministry settings. The M.Div. prepares students for Word and Sacrament ministry in the ELCA, ordained ministry in another Christian tradition, Word and Service ministry in the ELCA especially in chaplaincy or other professions requiring a 72 or more credit hour degree, and specialized lay ministries.

The M.Div. degree program consists of 73 credit hours of coursework,   contextual coursework, and co-curricular requirements. The minimum for full-time status for the M.Div. program is 12 credits per semester. There are three pathways to choose between for completing these requirements: MDiv Intensive, MDiv, and MDiv Flex. In the MDiv Intensive pathway, students take 15-16.5 credits per semester as well as four intensive courses during the January Intersession terms. In the MDiv pathway, students take around 12 credits per semester as well as for intensive courses during the January Intersession terms. In the MDiv Flex pathway, students take around 7 credits per semester as well as four intensive courses during the January Intersession terms. Core courses must be taken with PLTS faculty. Substitutions to this requirement must be approved by the faculty member teaching in the area and by the Office of the Dean.

Contextual coursework include Ministry in Context, Clinical Pastoral Education, and Internship. Contextual courses require a one-time completion of a professional boundaries workshop prior to beginning at a site. 

Ministry in Context is defined as 6 preparation and contact hours per week in a congregation for two semesters and in a community organization for one semester and receives 0.00 credit hours per semester. 

Clinical Pastoral Education is normally completed in an ACPE accredited site during the first summer in program.

Internship ordinarily consists of 40 contact hours per week over the course of twelve months. Internship includes weekly pastoral visits, worship leadership, administrative duties, and other responsibilities as agreed upon. Internship is or exceeds the equivalent of enrollment in full-time coursework at PLTS. 

A student preparing 1) for specialized lay ministry, 2) for Word and Service ministry in the ELCA, or 3) for ordained ministry in another Christian tradition will be in contact with the Contextual Education Office in order to prepare a plan for how to meet the internship requirement in a way that fulfills respectively 1) the student’s vocational requirements, 2) the requirements of ELCA candidacy for Word and Service ministry, or 3) the licensure requirements of the student’s Church body or denomination. For a student who is a member of a denomination that does not require internship, this requirement may be waived by petition to and vote by the faculty. 

Co-curricular completion requirements include two semesters of participation in a Spiritual Care Group, two semesters of participation in a Spiritual Practice Group, a one-time professional boundaries workshop, an annual anti-racism training, a Safe Zone training, and other workshops and trainings designated as course pre-requisites.

RELIGIOUS HERITAGE

CULTURAL CONTEXT

PERSONAL AND SPIRITUAL FORMATION

CAPACITY FOR MINISTERIAL AND PUBLIC LEADERSHIP

AREA ELECTIVES AND GENERAL ELECTIVES

PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE

Entrance or equivalent is ordinarily required prior to starting FE 1145 Ministry in Context I. Endorsement or equivalent is ordinarily required prior to starting FE 4450 Internship. Exceptions must be arranged with the Contextual Education Office.

Master of Arts in Spirituality and Social Change

The MA in Spritituality and Social Change designed to prepare students to serve in a wide variety of faith-based leadership roles in diverse contexts, including rostered deacons in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). chaplains, community organizers, non-profit leaders, and much more.

The program requires a minimum of 39 credits.

Certificate of Theological Studies

The Certificate of Theological Study (CTS) is awarded to those who complete one year of theological study (at least 12 credit hours per semester for 2 semesters) by seminarians interested in furthering their theological education. Courses in the areas of Bible, church history, systematic theology, and Christian ethics or cross-cultural studies (12 units total) must be taken from PLTS faculty members. The remainder of the seminarian’s program (12 additional units) is arranged to meet her or his special interests and goals. Due to federal regulations on gainful employment programs, the CTS is not eligible for federal financial aid.

Certificate of Advanced Theological Studies

The Certificate for Advanced Theological Studies (CATS) is awarded to those who complete one year of theological study (at least 12 credit hours per semester for 2 semesters). The CATS may also include internship (except international students). The CATS is designed for seminarians who already hold an MTS or MDiv degree (or their equivalents) in another institution [e.g., roster-seeking MTS or MDiv seminarians graduated from non-ELCA seminaries needing to fulfill core Lutheran courses and other requirements of the Lutheran-Year-In-Residence, including contextual education and formation requirements]. At least one-half of the units must be taken from PLTS faculty members. For a seminarian who desires to complete the CATS and for whom denominational requirements do not include contextual education requirements, these requirements may be waived by petition to and vote by the faculty.

Certificate of Theological Education for Emerging Ministries (T.E.E.M.)

The TEEM program develops leaders whose gifts are particularly needed for the mission of the church in urban, rural and specific ethnic-cultural ministries. TEEM begins when candidates ministering a congregation are given entrance by the Bishop and Candidacy Committee. Three years of study combines 16 courses and 7 workshops held on the PLTS campus in October and January and at Luther Seminary in June. Seminarians prepare for classes through self- study at home with the guidance of a local (academic) mentor pastor, along with a supervised Internship and a unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). The Theological Education for Emerging Ministries (TEEM) is granted by PLTS to seminarians who have fulfilled the ELCA’s academic and candidacy requirements for ordained ministry. An Award of Affiliation may be earned by students whose synod does not require the full certificate. A student must complete at least three of the courses listed below. 

Required Courses

Workshops