The Theology and Ministry degree at CUAA is designed for those intending to enter full-time ministry, whether pre-seminary, pre-deaconess, or family life ministry. Offering a theology concentration that prepares students for the academic rigor of graduate school as well as a ministry concentration to prepare students for the practical work of ministry in a congregation, the theology and ministry degree is great for all students considering a church-work career. All students will be grounded in study of Holy Scripture, Christian doctrine, church history, and mission, learning how to speak the Gospel in the world today. As part of a Christ-centered university of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, students will learn to understand God’s Word in a Lutheran key, in which the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the truth of Holy Scripture are at the center. Our theology faculty is made up of pastors who are experts in the field and are dedicated to guiding, encouraging, and challenging students as they prepare to become future ministers of the Gospel.

Program Learning Outcomes

• Students will develop an understanding of Holy Scripture, recognizing the unique qualities of God’s Word and its varied yet unified content across both testaments, and use sound principles in interpreting Scripture.
• Students will model humility, following Christ in research, teaching, and ministry practice.
  • In research, humility looks like describing opposing views in the best possible light, and learning from them even while disagreeing with them.
  • In teaching and ministry practice, humility looks like listening to others, putting the needs of the other first, and applying Law and Gospel based on the needs of those being cared for.
• Students will observe, assess, and interpret today’s cultures and worldviews in relationship to the historic Christian faith and the Lutheran Confessions. Students will be familiar with various methods of delivering and defending biblical truth in a relevant and practical way to diverse groups.
• Students will recognize the Bible as the authoritative source for knowledge of God and humankind, articulate key doctrines of the Christian faith, especially the gospel of Jesus Christ, and apply these Scriptural teachings with the wisdom of the church’s tradition to individual lives, congregational challenges, and theological matters in the church.
• Students will be able to communicate biblical truth using a variety of communication methods appropriate to the specific audience and sensitive to contemporary listeners, applying Law and Gospel and apologetics effectively.
• Students will demonstrate an understanding of research skills in theology.

Curriculum

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This major/minor is not permitted to share (overlap) any credits with the core curriculum, with a major, with a minor, or with a certificate per departmental policy unless otherwise specified in the curriculum. 

Major Requirements

Select One Concentration:

Curriculum - Pre-Deaconess Program

Grade requirements: GPA of 2.50 to meet seminary admissions requirements

Students select one of the following majors or minors:

1. Christian Thought minor
2. Philosophy minor
4. Theological Languages minor
5. Church Music major
6. Family Life Ministry Minor
7. Biblical Studies minor

The other major or minor required to graduate is left to the student’s discretion, though students are encouraged to match their studies with their anticipated areas of service (e.g. Music major or minor, Worship Arts Leadership minor, or Adolescent Studies minor). 

Program Admission - Pre-Seminary

The pre-seminary program provides academic preparation in the liberal arts for professional study for full-time pastoral ministry in the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Following the earning of the baccalaureate degree, the pre-seminary student continues his program of study at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, or Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne.

The mission of pre-seminary education is to prepare students for theological studies and pastoral formation at a seminary of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. This preparation ordinarily encompasses biblical knowledge, biblical language competency, and understanding of Lutheran doctrine; competency in communication skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening; skills in critical thinking and philosophical inquiry; acquisition of a global perspective; the understanding of and appreciation for the Lutheran ethos, identity, and ethic; and helping the student to perceive, proclaim, teach, and live out the centrality of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the whole world.

CUAA Pre-Seminary graduate enters the seminary with the knowledge and skill needed to:

• Clearly communicate the message of the Scriptures through the written and spoken word;
• Assist in leading a worship service;
• Articulate the Lutheran ethos, identity, and ethic;
• Help others live out the centrality of the Gospel of Jesus Christ;
• Apply critical-thinking skills and a global perspective to philosophical inquiry;
• Make professional presentations using research, strategy, audience analysis, and technology;
• Evaluate their own sense of calling into the Holy Ministry.

Pre-seminary students must take REL 2010 Old Testament, REL 2020 New Testament, and REL 2030 Biblical Theology through the core and are encouraged to take the theology and ministry major. Students in the pre-seminary program may choose other majors and minors, but must always include at least a minor in theological languages. These  are designed to prepare students for the seminary competency examinations in the Old Testament, New Testament, Christian Doctrine, Greek, and Hebrew. These also include broader liberal arts studies in Latin, communication, writing, social science, and philosophy, all of which are helpful for theological study on a graduate level. 

Students must have a minimum of 126 credits in order to graduate as part of the pre-seminary program. 

Application for Entry into the Pre-Seminary Program

Since the public ministry of Word and Sacrament is an office of the Church of Christ, it demands individuals exhibiting the highest level of talent, personal knowledge, aptitude, skill, and Christian character. For this reason the following criteria have been established for acceptance into the Pre-Seminary Program of Concordia University Ann Arbor. Application is generally made in the second semester of the sophomore year.

1. Successful completion of a minimum of 45 semester hours of credit.
2. CGPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. (Probationary acceptance may be given to students with a CGPA of at least 2.0 if other requirements are met.)
3. Evidence of proficiency in English and foreign languages appropriate to the pre-seminary program.
4. Submission of a completed application form, available from the theology office.
5. Completion of basic theology courses.
6. Exhibition of exemplary Christian life-style.
7. Interviews with and written recommendation of the pre-seminary director.

Acceptance Procedure

1. Notification of acceptance into the program will be made by letter.
2. Notification of non-acceptance or probationary acceptance of the applicant will also be made by letter after the interview with the pre-seminary director.
3. A copy of this letter is filed in the applicant’s folder in the pre-seminary director's office.
4. A student who is refused acceptance into the pre-seminary program may re-apply up to two more times. Acceptance into the pre-seminary program is not a requirement for the successful completion of a student's major.

 Program Continuation

To maintain ‘‘good standing’’ status in the pre-seminary program, a student must maintain a 2.5 CGPA.

Program Admission - Pre-Deaconess

Since 1919, the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has trained women to serve as deaconesses in the congregations and other institutions of the church. They have served remarkably in education, mission, administration, and works of mercy. Currently, the LCMS trains deaconesses on both the undergraduate level at Concordia—Chicago and the graduate level at Concordia—Chicago and at both Synodical seminaries. The pre-deaconess program provides financial aid, vocational counseling, encouragement, and support to women, as well as elevating the visibility of diaconal service. Pre-deaconess students are served by the pre-seminary director. 

CUAA Pre-Deaconess graduate enters the seminary with the knowledge and skill needed to:

• Clearly communicate the message of the Scriptures through the written and spoken word;
• Articulate the Lutheran ethos, identity, and ethic;
• Help others live out the centrality of the Gospel of Jesus Christ;
• Apply critical-thinking skills and a global perspective to philosophical inquiry;
• Make professional presentations using research, strategy, audience analysis, and technology;
• Evaluate their own sense of calling into the diaconate.

Application for Entry into the Pre-Deaconess Program

Since deaconess ministry is an office of the Church of Christ, it demands individuals exhibiting the highest level of talent, personal knowledge, aptitude, skill, and Christian character. For this reason the following criteria have been established for acceptance into the Pre-Deaconess Program. Application is generally made in the second semester of the sophomore year.

1. Successful completion of a minimum of 45 semester hours of credit. 
2. CGPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. (Probationary acceptance may be given to students with a CGPA of at least 2.0 if other requirements are met.)
3. Evidence of proficiency in English appropriate to the pre-seminary program.
4. Submission of a completed application form, available from the pre-seminary director.
5. Completion of basic theology courses.
6. Exhibition of an exemplary Christian life. 
7. Interviews with and written recommendation of the pre-seminary director.

Acceptance Procedure 

1. Notification of acceptance into the program will be made by letter.
2. Notification of non-acceptance or probationary acceptance of the applicant will also be made by letter after the interview with the pre-seminary director.
3. A copy of this letter is filed in the applicant’s folder in the pre-seminary director’s office.
4. A student who is refused acceptance into the program may re-apply up to two more times. 

Program Continuation

To maintain ‘‘good standing’’ status in the pre-deaconess program, a student must maintain a 2.5 CGPA.

Program Admission - Family Life Ministry