The Graduate Certificate in Pastoral Leadership provides students with a foundational and broad understanding of pastoral care, Christian theology, and scripture. The curriculum is flexible to accommodate each student’s experience and vocational goals. It includes a wide range of elective course options trading on the expertise of IPS faculty and existing course offerings, allows students to discern in community and with intention their vocational goals, and provides a graduate-level credential that can be rolled directly into a master’s degree program for those who decide to continue their education and formation for ministry.
This Certificate can be applied toward to the requirements of an MA degree at IPS, in whole or in part depending on the requirements of the MA in question.
CURRICULUM
The Graduate Certificate in Pastoral Leadership requires completion of five courses (15 credit hours). For elective courses, students will work with their academic advisor to choose those that best suit their background, experience, interests, and goals. The Institute of Pastoral Studies offers a large number courses online every year, including the required course for this certificate. It is possible, therefore, to complete this certificate entirely online depending on which elective courses a student chooses within the options that satisfy the curricular requirements.
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| IPS 564 | Foundations of Pastoral Care | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
| 6 |
| Total Hours | 15 |
Graduate & Professional Standards and Regulations
Students in graduate and professional programs can find their Academic Policies in Graduate and Professional Academic Standards and Regulations under their school. Any additional University Policies supersede school policies.
