The Asian Pastoral Theology and Ministry Certificate is designed for pastoral ministers who seek to develop greater depth and competence in their ministry among Asians and Asian Americans in a variety of contexts. This flexible course of study can be fitted to address the particular interests and circumstances of each student in conversation with the certificate administrator. Courses may be taken in a variety of formats, including blended or online.

The certificate consists of 18 credits: nine required credits with an Asian focus; six elective credits with Asian threads/perspectives; and three elective credits in any discipline.

Courses that fulfill this requirement include:

• Pastoral Ministry in U.S. Asian and Pacific Island Contexts
• Asian Focused Theme Courses (offered annually during Summer Institute)
• Using Film in an Asian Pastoral Context
• Cross Currents in Asian Theologies
• Strangers, Migrants, and Refugees in the Bible
• Ministry Practicum or CPE in an Asian/Asian American ministry context

Six elective credits with Asian threads/perspectives

These are courses in which students can pursue Asian and Asian American related pastoral and theological threads through their individual studies and assignments in cooperation with the professor. Courses that fulfill this requirement include:

• *Introduction to the New Testament
• Buddhist-Christian Dialogue
• Christology and Cultures

* Courses designated with an asterisk are particularly recommended for students with minimal pastoral or theological background.

Three elective credits in any discipline

These courses may be drawn from across the departmental and Summer Institute offerings. Students with minimal pastoral or theological background may use these elective credits to further enhance their preparation. Courses that fulfill this requirement include:

• Introduction to Moral Theology
• Catholic Social Teaching and Mission
• Catechesis and Religious Education in the Worshiping Community

The Biblical Spirituality Certificate combines course work, Holy Land travel, seminars, and prayer, and centers on the Bible as the basis of Christian living and experience. The certificate requires 18 semester hours, including participating in the Biblical Study and Travel program. 

Fulfill the course requirements with selections from courses offered by the Biblical Literature and Languages Department. 

This certificate offers an excellent opportunity to deepen your understanding of the Bible and develop your faith life. With it you will be  well equipped to lead parish bible studies, assist in RCIA, offer biblical  reflections, or simply relish the Word of God in your daily life.

The Certificate in Black Theology and Ministry (BTM) offers students a background in theology, spirituality, pastoral ministry, intercultural studies, and related disciplines. The BTM certificate program is especially helpful for pastoral ministers who are seeking to enhance their academic background in Black/African American theologies and/or their preparation for ministry in Black/African American communities.

The BTM Certificate consists of 18 credit hours, which may be taken on-site or online: nine required credits with a Black focus, six elective credits with Black-themed threads/perspectives, and three elective credits in any discipline.

Nine required credits with a Black focus

At least 9 credits in courses that are explicitly Black-themed. For example:

• Pastoral Care in an African American Context
• Black Spirituality as a Source for Ministry
• Black Spirituality
• Reading the Bible Differently: African American Biblical Perspectives
• Perspectives in African Biblical Interpretation
• Spiritual Writings of Howard Thurman and Thea Bowman (CTU Summer Institute)
• Black and Womanist Theology (CTU Summer institute)
• Ministry Practicum or CPE in a in Black/African American Ministry context

Six elective credits with Black threads/perspectives

With the advisement of the professor, 6 elective credits in courses where a Black or African American related pastoral and theological thread can be pursued.

Three elective credits in any discipline

These courses may be drawn from across departmental and Summer Institute offerings. Students with limited pastoral or theological background may use these elective credits to further enhance their preparation.

The 18 credit hour Certificate in Franciscan Spirituality is especially helpful for those who want a theological/historical/spiritual background for a Franciscan ministry of religious formation, spiritual direction, retreat ministry, or other types of spiritual accompaniment. It can be helpful to administrators and other leaders in Franciscan Institutions life Franciscan Colleges and Universities.

The certificate can be completed in one or more years and involves taking 3 required credits in either the Spiritual Formation Seminar or the Methods for the Study of Spirituality, depending on how the student is planning to use the certificate. 6 credits in interdisciplinary spirituality courses (Biblical, Historical, Liturgical, Intercultural, etc), and 9 credits in the theological study of Franciscan Spirituality.

The courses taken for this certificate are graduate level courses and can be applied to the MA, MAPS or MDiv degrees. Through CTU Distance Education, this certificate may also be completed partially or completely online and has an optional travel course to Italy.

The Certificate in Hispanic Theology and Ministry (HTM) offers students a background in pastoral theology, spirituality, intercultural and related disciplines. The HTM certificate program is especially helpful for pastoral ministers who want an academic background in Latino/a theology, want to enhance their preparation for Hispanic/Latino/a ministry, or wish to complete a year’s study in Catholic theology.

The HTM Certificate consists of six or more courses (18 semesters hours). Two of the courses are electives, which gives you latitude to explore a variety of issues in theological disciplines while still maintaining a Latino/a perspective. The required courses include a 3000 level course, plus three specifically Latino/a courses. One of the three Latino/a topic courses may be substituted by a semester of either the ministry practicum or ministry immersion in a Latino/a/Hispanic setting.

The Certificate in Intercultural Studies is particularly beneficial for returned and furloughed missionaries and those preparing for a ministry in a cross-cultural setting.

This certificate consists of 18 semester hours. A student is required to take an introductory course in intercultural studies and is allowed to take one course outside of this area of concentration. The remaining credits and the major portion of a student’s program will be drawn from the wide range of intercultural courses in consultation with an advisor in order to design a flexible program that addresses the particular interests and circumstances of each student.

The Certificate in Interreligious Studies is particularly beneficial for those who are currently working in an interreligious setting or preparing to do so. This certificate consists of 18 semester hours. A student is required to take an introductory course in interreligious studies and is allowed to take one course outside of this area of concentration. The remaining credits and the major portion of a student’s program will be drawn from the wide range of interreligious courses in consultation with an advisor in order to design a flexible program that addresses the particular interests and circumstances of each student.

The Certificate in Liturgical Studies is designed for those who want to deepen their theological education or to prepare for a new ministry.

The Certificate is awarded for eighteen (18) hours of course work: fifteen (15) hours in Liturgical Studies and three (3) hours in an allied discipline (e.g., Biblical Studies, Spirituality, Intercultural Ministries). It can be completed through distance learning. Participants develop individual programs in consultation with the Director of the Certificate in Liturgical Studies.

Our courses cover the breadth of liturgical studies today from theological, historical, spiritual, and pastoral perspectives.

Annual offerings:

• Liturgy: Principles and Practices
• Initiation & Reconciliation
• Eucharist and Sacramental Theology
• Anointing of the Sick and Marriage
• Liturgy, Prayer, and Contemplation: Ecclesial Spirituality
• Liturgical Methods
• Practicum Courses in Liturgical Preaching, Presiding, and Lay Leadership of Prayer and Preaching

Courses offered every other year:

• Liturgical History
• Liturgical Year
• Liturgical Inculturation
• Catechesis and Religious Education in the Worshiping Community
• Patterns of Christian Prayer
• Ritual Studies
• Liturgies of Dying and Death
• Shaping Places for Worship
• Worship, Spirituality, and Digital Media Art

The Certificate in Mission Studies is particularly beneficial for returned and furloughed missionaries and for those preparing for mission in a variety of contexts. This certificate consists of 18 semester hours. Normally, a student is required to take “Praxis for Cross-Cultural Transformation” and a course in mission theology (such as, “Constants in Context: A Theology of Mission for Today”). A student may take one course outside of this area of concentration. The remaining credits and the major portion of a student’s program will be drawn from the wide range of mission courses in consultation with an advisor in order to design a flexible program that addresses the particular interests and circumstances of each student.

The Certificate in Pastoral Studies is the most general and flexible of the certificate programs. You can design a program to meet your individual needs by enrolling in 18 credit hours. You can shape your program of study in consultation with the advisor that administers this certificate program.

The 18 credit hour Certificate in Reconciliation and Restorative Justice is especially helpful for those who want a theological and spiritual lens for diagnosing social wounds and learning how to participate in social healing.  It can be helpful for social workers and mental health professionals as well as those involved in ministries in prisons, hospitals, youth development, peace, justice, and advocacy.

The certificate can be completed in two or more years and involves taking the following courses:

• DC4330: Reconciliation: A Praxis of Salvation OR DE4350/5350 Reconciliation and Ethics
• DC4020/5020: Reconciling Narratives: Racialization and the Theology of Robert Schreiter
• DS5101 God and the Mystery of Human Suffering OR BD5510 Feminist Hermeneutics in Bible and Theology OR DE4204/5205 Women in Theology and Ethics OR another class agreed upon with advisor
• C4700: Praxis for Intercultural Transformation
• M4211B Ministry Practicum (6 hours). Must be focused on Reconciliation and/or Restorative Justice. NOTE: MP 3000 is Prerequisite.

The courses taken for this certificate are graduate level courses and can be applied to the MA, MAPS or MDiv degrees. Through CTU Distance Education, this certificate may also be completed partially or completely online.

The Certificate in Spiritual Formation offers students a background in spirituality and pastoral ministry.  This certificate program is especially geared to formation directors, spiritual directors, parish ministers, retreat directors well as for those who want an academic background for a ministry of spiritual accompaniment. 

The certificate can be completed in one or more years and is a *twenty-four credit hour *certificate. 

The 18 credit Certificate in Spirituality is especially helpful for those who want an academic background for a ministry of spiritual direction, retreat ministry, or other types of spiritual accompaniment.

The certificate can be completed in one or more years and involves taking 12 credits in spirituality and six credits in either pastoral ministry or spirituality. Each student is required to take either Spiritual Formation Seminar or Spiritual Companioning for Ministry (exceptions made in conversation with the program director). Depending on how the student is planning to use the certificate, it is recommended, though not required, that the student take a historically oriented course and an inter-culturally oriented course, as a part of his/her program.

The courses taken for this certificate are graduate level courses and can be applied to the MA, MAPS or MDiv degrees. Through CTU Distance Education, this certificate may also be completed partially online.