Special Programs and
Services
Programs | Services
Programs
Continuing
Education | Education for the Laity
| Denominational Tables Lunch Program
| Off Campus Programs | United
Methodist Studies Program | Lectureships
| Native American Program | Summer
Programs
Continuing Education
In addition to regular seminary courses, continuing education
seminars are offered to meet the needs of pastors and laity.
Leadership for these seminars comes from the seminary faculty
and from the church. Some continuing education events take
place off-campus, in cooperation with presbyteries, conferences
or other governing bodies.
Continuing education units (CEU) are
available for most continuing education events. It is not
necessary to be enrolled in a degree program to participate
in continuing education seminars.
Students enrolled in UDTS degree programs
are, with the approval of the Director of External Programs,
permitted to participate in continuing education programs
and, in most cases, at no additional expense.
To receive our Continuing Education mailings
or for additional information please contact:
Office of External Programs
University of Dubuque Theological Seminary
2000 University Avenue
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-5099
Phone: 563-589-3154
http://udts.dbq.edu/ConEd/ConEdHome.htm
Education for the Laity
The overall goal of the "Education for the Laity" program
of UDTS is to strengthen the church through quality theological
education for lay persons. While the courses offered are
particularly designed for lay pastor candidates, they will
serve the needs of all lay persons who are contributing
their gifts to the ministry of their local church. Church
officers, Christian education leaders and teachers,
and persons who wish to deepen their understanding of the
Christian faith will discover a rich opportunity through
this program.
Training is offered online through www.udtslearning.net.
Participants benefit from a theological education,
including interaction with faculty and other students, via
the internet.
An online learning certification
course is required for all students who wish to take online
courses in this program.
A letter of completion will be given
for each course completed. Students may also apply for CEU's
(Continuing Education Units). These courses do not carry
degree credit.
The University of Dubuque Theological
Seminary is not a certification agency for ministry.
As with ordained ministry, lay ministry is certified
through the individual's denominational judicatory (Presbytery,
Church and Ministry Committee, or Local Church, depending
on denominational background). UDTS does, however, certify
the completion of courses.
To enroll in an online course or receive
additional information contact:
Director of Instructional Technology
and Distance Learning
University of Dubuque Theological Seminary
2000 University Avenue
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-5099
Phone: 563-589-3647
http://www.udtslearning.net/
Denominational Tables Lunch Program
Extension and Off-Campus Programs
A variety of off-campus opportunities are available
for students to earn credits toward UDTS degree programs.
Each January interim, UDTS students can
pursue a special program of Native American theological
studies during the winter term of the Charles Cook College
& Theological School, Tempe, Arizona. Students register
and pay tuition for Cook winter term courses through UDTS.
The Director of the UDTS Native American program requires
supplemental papers or book reviews before UDTS credit will
be granted.
UDTS is a participating institution in
the National Capital Semester for Seminarians (NCSS) program
of Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. The NCSS
offers seminarians an opportunity to spend a semester in
the nation's capital, studying public policy issues from
a theological perspective and encountering people involved
in the political process. This program involves supervised
study, direct political interaction and disciplined reflection.
We offer a full semester of academic credit.
Another off-campus opportunity is an
exchange program with the Third World Center of the Presbyterian
Theological Seminary in Seoul, South Korea. This center
of cross-cultural mission studies attracts students from
all over the world; the language of instruction at the Center
is English.
UDTS also has standing invitations to
send students, for short-term periods of study, to the Templeton
Theological Seminary in the Bahamas and to the Seminario
San Pablo in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico, and Trinity College
in Legon, Ghana.
Students may arrange many other off-campus
study opportunities through the seminary's individual study
projects and tutorial options (see Individual Study Projects
and Tutorials in the Academic Regulations section).
United Methodist Studies Program
Many UDTS students are preparing for a ministry in the
United Methodist Church or another denomination within the
Wesleyan tradition. As part of their seminary education,
these students receive approved instruction in United Methodist
history, doctrine and polity. Courses are also offered in
spirituality, ethics, and ministry from a Wesleyan perspective.
Wesley Table is one of the primary components
of the United Methodist Studies Program. This is a weekly
lunchtime gathering of Methodist students and faculty for
food and discussion. During these gatherings, the Wesleyan
tradition is celebrated and embodied.
Courses which are ordinarily required
for United Methodist Conference membership and ordination
are listed under Denominational Requirements in the description
of the M.Div. program requirements. They are taught on
a rotating basis over four semesters.
The seminary has enjoyed the endorsement
of the University Senate of the United Methodist Church
since 1972, when the UDTS United Methodist Program was officially
inaugurated under the leadership of the then Iowa bishop,
James S. Thomas, and the Dubuque District Superintendent,
Edwin C. Boulton. However, there has been a tradition of
United Methodist students at UDTS for a much longer period.
University records show Methodist students in attendance
as early as 1915. The seminary has a long history of ecumenical
cooperation, and United Methodists continue to be active
participants in the community. Dr. Philip Jamieson, Director
of Field Education and Assistant Professor of Pastoral Theology,
is Director of the United Methodist Studies Program.
In January of 1995, at the request of
the Annual Iowa Conference Board of Ordained Ministry, the
United Methodist Studies program of the seminary agreed
to offer a School for License as a Local Pastor for the
first time. This unique opportunity allows United Methodist
candidates for ministry to complete the requirements for
licensure at Dubuque. The School is offered during two weeks
each summer.
Students desiring further information
about the United Methodist Studies program at UDTS may contact:
Director of United Methodist Studies
University of Dubuque Theological Seminary
2000 University Avenue
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-5099
Phone: 563-589-3116
Lectureships
Each year the seminary brings outstanding lecturers to Dubuque
to share their insights and scholarship with the community
at large.
The Berger Lectures on Preaching, established
by alumni/ae and friends of the seminary in memory of the
late professor of preaching, David I. Berger, have been
delivered in recent years by noted preachers, such as, Jim
Wallis, Cynthia Campbell, James Forbes, William Willimon,
and Tom Long.
The Florence L. Warren Lectureship, established
through the generosity of that late friend of the seminary,
has brought to UDTS distinguished scholars, who have lectured
on topics related to religion and culture. Some of those
who have delivered these lectures are Mortimer Adler, Elam
Davies, Samuel and Eileen Moffett, and Bishop K.H. Ting
from Nanjing, China.
The Woods Lectures on Theology and the
Arts are made possible by a gift from the Westminster Presbyterian
Church of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in honor of their former pastor,
the Rev. Dr. John Woods. Lecturers have included liturgical
artist Catherine Kapikian, Frederick Buechner, Brian Wren,
and Donald Sailers. Other lecture and arts events of the
university are open to members of the seminary community
as well.
Native American Program
UDTS is a member of the Native American Theological Education
Consortium (NATEC). NATEC is a consortium of schools focused
on theological education by extension for Native American
laity. NATEC utilizes UDTS faculty to conduct workshops
in churches and on reservations.
UDTS was instrumental in establishing
the NATEC programs in response to the tremendous need to
develop lay and ordained leadership for Native American
churches.
The seeds of the Native American program
were born out of a 1974 study by Cook Christian Training
School of Tempe, Arizona, entitled "Mending the Hoop." This
study indicated the leadership crisis among the American-Indian/Eskimo
churches. Since 1982, UDTS has placed its energy and resources
in the Native American residential study program, a program
enabling Native Americans to pursue ordination as Ministers
of the Word and Sacrament to help stem the crisis of pastoral
leadership in Native American congregations.
In the last two decades, 70 students
have enrolled in the program, making UDTS a national leader
in the training of American Indian and Eskimo leaders.
The Native American residential program
enables students to address the crisis of leadership in
the Native American community, whether urban or on the reservation.
This is carried out through academic course offerings, through
immersion trips to Native American communities, and through
Supervised Practice of Ministry practicums focusing upon
the particularities of a Native American church. The program
also assists Native American students in providing pastoral
leadership regardless of the context.
The Theological Indian Student Association
(TISA) is the campus organization for those with particular
interests in Native American ministries. TISA serves to
strengthen the Native American community on campus by offering
programmatic support to those who are separated from their
home communities and extended families.
Summer Programs
Each summer, usually during the month of August, the Schools
of Theology in Dubuque sponsor a Summer Language Program,
in which intensive instruction is given in Biblical Greek.
This program fulfills Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) ordination
requirements for Greek language study. No UDTS scholarship
grants are available for summer language study, although
guaranteed student loans are available.
From time to time, other summer courses
are also available through the Schools of Theology in Dubuque.
They must be paid for as summer courses.
Many students utilize the summer months
for service in Supervised Practice of Ministry positions
(see Supervised Practice of Ministry in the Academic Regulations
section) or in Clinical Pastoral Education. SPM and summer
internships are available across the United States and usually
pay a stipend, as well as being a source of credit toward
degree program requirements. Summer SPM and CPE courses
must be registered and paid for as summer courses.
SERVICES
Academic Support Center
| Accessibility for Handicapped Persons
| Orientation | Placement
| Student Organizations
Academic Support Center
An advantage of the seminary's relationship with the larger
university is access to the Academic Support Center. Second-career
students coming to seminary after long years away from formal
education sometimes require "refresher" instruction in writing,
computer or study skills. The Academic Support Center is
equipped to provide instruction through individualized tutoring
or group workshops.
Accessibility for Handicapped Persons
The University of Dubuque Theological Seminary provides
facilities which are accessible to handicapped persons.
The institution will take the means necessary to ensure
that no qualified handicapped person is denied the benefits
of, excluded from participation in, or otherwise subjected
to discrimination because the facilities are physically
inaccessible to or unusable by handicapped persons. Because
scheduling classes and arranging housing in accessible facilities
may require advanced planning, handicapped students accepted
for admission should identify themselves no later than three
months prior to the start of the semester in which they
begin classes and indicate what accommodations and assistance
they may need.
Orientation
Orientation provides the new student an introduction to the
theological task, an opportunity to build relations within
the community, information on services and facilities, and
a time of consultation with the student's academic advisor
to plan the student's theological curriculum. New students
are required to attend orientation in order to register. Students
who matriculate in Spring are required to attend orientation
the following Fall.
Placement
The seminary endeavors to assist its students in locating
a call to ministry at the time of graduation. The Office of
Field Education provides resources to help students prepare
dossiers and other needed documents and serves as a clearinghouse
for information on calls available to graduating seminarians.
The Office of Field Education also coordinates on-campus interviews
by pastor nominating committees, by church heads of staff
who are seeking associate ministers and by representatives
of church and ecumenical agencies who are seeking staff members
with those students seeking positions.
Over the years, virtually 100 percent of
UDTS graduates seeking calls to pastoral ministry have received
calls. The exceptions have been students who, for family or
other reasons, have placed severe geographic or other limitations
on the type of call they will receive.
Student Organizations
Spouse Group
Seminary spouses carry on a ministry of mutual support.
The spouse group is composed of men and women whose wives
or husbands are students at UDTS.
The group organizes a variety of activities
depending upon the interests and available time of participating
spouses. Recent activities include: weekly study/prayer
groups, monthly coffee get-together, and monthly "date
nights" which provide child care for seminary families. Spouses of students enrolled full-time
at UDTS are invited to audit courses on an unofficial
basis, with the approval of the instructor, at no charge
(see Audit Policy in the Academic Regulations section).
Student Association
Full and part-time students enrolled in the Master of
Divinity, Master of Arts in Religion, 3/3 and 3/2 programs
become members of the University of Dubuque Theological
Seminary Student Association upon matriculation. Fall
and spring semester activity fees fund the Student Association.
The Student Council is composed of elected representatives
from the Student Association (Moderator, Vice-Moderator,
two seniors, two middlers, two juniors, one 3/3 student,
one commuter, one fulltime resident, treasurer, and secretary),
a seminary faculty advisor, and an elected member of the
undergraduate Student Government Association.
The Student Council facilitates the
programming and finances of the Student Association through
committees. The Student Council coordinates fall and spring
seminary picnics, the annual Bagel Bash, forums on issues
facing the church and seminary today, and spiritual life
programs. The Student Council also sponsors the annual
Awards/Senior Banquet.
The Student Council supports and manages
the Seminary Food Pantry. Food and personal care items
are available for all Student Association members. The
weekly chapel offering is used to support the Seminary
Food Pantry.
The Student Council provides financial
support for the Spouse Group, the Center for Women's Issues,
the GOOD Table and the Student Emergency Fund.
Any Student Association member may
attend and speak at Student Council meetings. However,
only elected representatives may vote. All students are
encouraged to participate by serving on committees. The
Student Association holds community meetings at least
once each semester in which all Student Association members
present are able to speak and vote on particular issues
presented by the Student Council.
Theological Indian Student
Association
The Theological Indian Student Association (TISA) is the
organization for those interested in Native American ministries.
Open to any interested members of the student body, TISA
sponsors Bible studies, worship services and cultural
events for the entire community.
The Center for Women's Issues
The purpose of the Center for Women's Issues is to encourage
the dialogue and support necessary to ensure that the
full gifts of women seminarians are freed and developed
for service in Christian ministry. The program addresses
the needs of UDTS women in theological education through
such things as: providing opportunities for fellowship
and conversation among women; offering programmatic meetings
on topics of concern to women; and serving as a resource
center for information on issues that affect women, upcoming
conferences and study opportunities, and denominational
studies, groups and events.
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