Applied Theology Major (M)
The theology department identifies its purpose in terms of Concordia’s statement of purpose, especially the following statements with spiritual focus:
“The total program is centered in the Christian philosophy with a confessional Lutheran emphasis…. Concordia University seeks to develop mature Christians in whom knowledge and understanding of the Holy Scriptures, the inspired, inerrant Word of God and the source and norm of Christian truth, are united with personal faith in Jesus as God and Savior. Concordia’s spiritual resources are directed to the development of Christian faith and practice of Christian virtues so that the student can form value judgments and arrive at ethical principles required for purposeful living. Concordia’s programs … nurture religious commitment, provide insights for Christian action in the world, and … provide an opportunity for intelligent selection of vocations for service to God, church and society…. Concordia … is interested in exerting a Christian influence on the community, nation, and world.” (Departmental Statement of Purpose, August 30, 2002)
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 helping the student to perceive, proclaim, teach, and live out the centrality of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the whole world.
Pre-seminary students are strongly encouraged to include two majors in their studies: theological languages and applied theology. These majors are designed to prepare students for the seminary competency examinations in the Old Testament, New Testament, Christian Doctrine, Greek, and Hebrew. These majors also include broader liberal arts studies in German or Latin, communication, writing, social science, and philosophy, all of which are helpful for theological study on a graduate level. In special cases, students in the pre-seminary program may choose other majors and minors, but must always include at least a minor in theological languages.
Students must have a minimum of 126 credits in order to graduate as part of the pre-seminary program.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Students will develop an understanding of the origin of the Bible, recognize the unique qualities of God’s Word, and appreciate the varied yet unified content of the Old and New Testaments, and use sound principles in interpreting Scripture.
- 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 the teachings of Scripture to the life of the individual.
- Students will develop an appreciation for how God has worked in history, recognize key figures and movements in the life of the Church, and identify the state of theology today.
Curriculum
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements 1 | 45 | |
| Major Requirements | 30 | |
| Electives (credits will vary depending on Major(s) and Minor selected) | 51 | |
Major or Minor: Theological Languages 2 | ||
| Total Hours | 126 | |
- 1
For transfer students, please see the Advanced Transfer Core.
- 2
A Theological Languages major or minor is required to be in the pre-seminary program.
Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core Courses | ||
| Old Testament 1 | ||
| Biblical Theology | ||
| Introduction to Sociology | ||
| Advanced Writing 2 | ||
or ENG 246 | Creative Writing | |
| Greek I 3 | ||
| Recommended Core Courses | ||
| For 3 credits of the Human Beings and Being Human requirement, it is recommended to select: | ||
| Cosmogony | ||
OR Any PHIL course except PHIL 101 | ||
| Required Courses | ||
| COMM 105 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| COMM 205 | Advanced Public Speaking | 3 |
| REL 404 | Lutheran Confessions | 3 |
| REL 440 | Lutheran Worship: Theology and Practice | 3 |
| REL 490 | Senior Seminar I | 3 |
| REL 491 | Senior Seminar II | 3 |
| Major Electives | ||
| REL XXX Bible Elective: any advanced OT or NT course | 3 | |
| Historical Theology Elective | 3 | |
It is recommended to select: | ||
| A Survey of Christian Thought | ||
| Theology/Family Life Elective | 3 | |
It is recommended to select one of the following: | ||
| Youth Ministry I | ||
| Religious Education of Youth and Adults | ||
| Writing Elective 2 | 0-3 | |
Select one of the following: | ||
| Advanced Writing (Will be counted in core) | ||
| Creative Writing (Will be counted in core) | ||
| Classical & Modern Rhetoric | ||
| Philosophy/ Literature Elective | 3 | |
It is recommended to select one of the following: | ||
| Elementary Logic | ||
| Moral Philosophy | ||
| Christian Apologetics | ||
| Bioethical Dilemmas | ||
| Total Hours | 30-33 | |
- 1
If Applied Theology major taken without Theological Languages major or minor, REL 203 New Testament must be taken to complete the Bible requirement in the core.
- 2
Students who choose to fulfill the creative expression core requirement with a class other than ENG 245 Advanced Writing or ENG 246 Creative Writing must fulfill the writing elective requirement for the Applied Theology major by taking ENG 245 Advanced Writing, ENG 246 Creative Writing or ENG 350 Classical & Modern Rhetoric. ENG 350 Classical & Modern Rhetoric will not count in the core, but in the major.
- 3
If Applied Theology major taken without Theological Languages major or minor, COMM 105 Public Speaking may be taken in core instead of GRK 201 Greek I and a Theology elective added to major.
Program Admission
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 Wisconsin. Application is generally made in the second semester of the sophomore year.
- Successful completion of a minimum of 45 semester hours of credit.
- 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.)
- Evidence of proficiency in English and foreign languages appropriate to the pre-seminary program.
- Submission of a completed application form, available from the theology office.
- Completion of basic theology courses.
- Exhibition of exemplary Christian life-style.
- Interviews with and written recommendation of the pre-seminary director.
Acceptance Procedure
- Notification of acceptance into the program will be made by letter.
- Notification of non-acceptance or probationary acceptance of the applicant is made in a personal interview with the pre-seminary director. A formal letter of the decision is presented to the applicant during the interview.
- A copy of this letter is filed in the applicant’s folder in the theology office.
- 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 either major.
Program Continuation
To maintain ‘‘good standing’’ status in the pre-seminary program, a student must maintain a 2.5 CGPA.