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Policy on Completion of First-Year Core Curriculum and Co-Curricular Requirements for Transfer and Part-Time Students

1. All students who begin graduate theological study at Seattle Pacific Seminary in the autumn quarter of a given academic year will be required to take THEO 6001 Christian Formation in Discipleship, a 2-credit abbey/apostolate Core course taught about a month before the autumn term begins. This provision shall apply to transfer students and part-time students, as well as full-time students.

1. All students who begin graduate theological study at SPS in the autumn quarter of a given academic year will be expected to take THEO 6002 Christian Formation in Mission, a 2-credit abbey/apostolate Core course taught several weeks before the autumn term begins. Permission to defer that course to the following year must be secured by the Dean of the School of Theology (SOT) or the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies (ADGS).

1. Every SPS student is required to take nine 3-credit academic Core courses, three in Bible, three in Global Christian Heritage, and three in Theology/Ethics. As many of these courses as possible shall be taken during a student’s first year, and, with the possible exception of one-off courses, all the courses taken during a student’s first year will be academic Core courses. All nine of these courses are taught annually, according to the following schedule:

1. A student who begins graduate theological study at SPS in the autumn quarter of a given academic year, but who opts to take only one or two of the academic Core courses that quarter, should take the corresponding Core courses in the winter and spring quarters. That is, he or she should take the three triads in proper sequence. (Students must take THEO 6010 before taking either THEO 6040 or 6070.)

1.  Every SPS student is required to complete six credits of THEO 6930 Graduate Core Practicum. A section of THEO 6930 is offered every autumn, winter and spring, in conjunction with the three academic core courses offered that quarter, and is intended to delineate their abbey and apostolate consequences. To complete the Practicum requirement, and to fulfill its learning objectives, every student must take one section of THEO 6930 in each of the first three quarters in which he or she is enrolled in classes.

1. Every SPS student is required to participate for three quarters in a Wesleyan class meeting and to meet with a mentor three times per quarter for three quarters. Although these two co-curricular requirements are not graded as such, they are organized in conjunction with THEO 6930 and are closely associated its learning objectives, such that a passing grade in the Practicum is contingent upon their successful completion.

1. A student who begins graduate theological study at SPS in the winter or spring quarter of a given academic year will be required to complete all 39 of his or her required Core credits. Hence, he or she will need to take THEO 6001 and 6002 in the early autumn of the subsequent academic year, and will need to complete THEO 6930 (along with the two associated co-curricular degree requirements described in ¶6 above) in that same academic year, in conjunction with whatever academic Core courses in which he or she is enrolled.

1.  A student who begins graduate theological study at SPS in the autumn quarter of a given academic year, but who takes no courses in the winter quarter and/or the spring quarter, and therefore did not complete the required yearlong participation in THEO 6930 Graduate Core Practicum (along with the two associated co-curricular requirements described in ¶6 above) will be required to do so in the next two quarters in which he or she is enrolled in academic Core classes.

1.  A student who applies credits from another ATS-accredited graduate theological program to an SPS degree, and who is therefore exempt from one or more of the nine regular academic Core courses, will still need to take all three of the abbey/apostolate Core courses (THEO 6001, 6002, and 6003). Such a student will also need to complete 6 credits of THEO 6930 Graduate Core Practicum (along with the two associated co-curricular requirements described in ¶6 above). In the unlikely event that such a student does not need to take at least one academic Core course in each of the first three quarters is which s/he is enrolled at SPS, he or she will still ordinarily be required to take six credits of THEO 6930 (along with the two associated co-curricular requirements described in ¶6 above). Exemptions from this requirement will be negotiated on a case by case basis with the Dean of the School of Theology (SOT) and/or the ADGS.

1. An SPS student who temporarily drops out of classes, but who wishes to continue participating in a class meeting and/or a mentoring relationship, may do so for the sake of the spiritual support and fellowship these provide during a low spot in his or her life. But doing so will not exempt him or her from completing the requirements of THEO 6930 when he or she subsequently returns to classes, unless the Dean of SOT, the ADGS, and/or the Graduate Core Practicum Coordinator deems it advisable or permissible.

1. Any non-matriculated student who takes one or more academic Core classes without taking the accompanying THEO 6930 credits, but who subsequently matriculates into one of our degree programs, will be treated, mutatis mutandis, like a transfer student who comes into the program having satisfied some of the “academic” Core courses elsewhere, but not having satisfied our THEO 6930 requirement (or the two associated co-curricular requirements described in ¶6 above). Such a student will be required to complete all the “academic” Core classes and the 6-credit THEO 6930 requirement, in a manner to be negotiated with the Dean of SOT or the ADGS.

1.  Any non-matriculated student who does take THEO 6930 in conjunction with one or more “academic” Core courses, will be strongly advised, but not absolutely required, to participate in the two associated co-curricular requirements described in ¶6 above. Should a non-matriculated student, who did take one or more 2-credit sections of THEO 6930, but who did not at that time participate in the associated co-curricular requirements, subsequently matriculate into one of our degree programs, s/he will be required both to complete the the required credits of THEO 6930 requirement and to participate for a full year in the class meeting and mentoring programs, in a manner to be negotiated with the Dean of SOT or the ADGS.

Core Practicum Objectives and Learning Outcomes

Seattle Pacific Seminary features within its MDiv and MA curriculum a required practicum to be taken, when possible, in the first year of enrollment. This course is listed in the catalogue thusly:

THEO 6930 Graduate Core Practicum (1-2 cr.): This course (“GCP”) is an integral part of the graduate core curriculum and is distinct from, but still closely related to the three triads of “academic” core courses (i.e., Bible I, II, III; Global Christian Heritage I, II, III; and Theology/Ethics I, II, III). Under normal circumstances, each student will take two credits of GCP in each of the three quarters of his/her first academic year, for a total of six credits. (Permission to take only one credit of GCP in a given quarter must be obtained from the Dean of SOT or the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies.) GCP is intended to help students make connections between the “academic” work they are doing in their core courses and the “abbey” and “apostolate” dimensions of their theological formation. Each student will work out an individualized learning contract with the designated Practicum Coordinator that will address vital areas of character, spiritual formation and missional competence. Ordinarily, this contract will require the student to do the following: (1) meet regularly with a mentor approved by the School of Theology; (2) participate in a weekly campus-based spiritual formation group with other students and a designated faculty member; and (3) design and execute a project that will integrate what he or she is learning in the “academic” core courses his/her personal spiritual growth and professional development as a minister of the gospel. May be repeated for credit up to six credits.

The practicum is, in short, the primary integrative curricular component in the initial year of the SOT graduate programs. The practicum is meant to integrate content learned in the classroom (the “academy” component of the program), vocational development (the “apostolate” component) and spiritual formation (the “abbey” component). Understood in classical terms, the practicum is meant to wed the student’s efforts toward orthodoxy, orthopraxy, and orthopathy, sometimes abbreviated as the realms of “head,” “hands,” and “heart.” The necessity of all three might be illustrated by noting what happens when they are separated:

• Orthodoxy without orthopraxy is dead “faith without works.”
• Orthodoxy without orthopathy is religious formalism.
• Orthopraxy without orthodoxy is directionless pragmatism.
• Orthopraxy without orthopathy is Pharisaic legalism.
• Orthopathy without orthodoxy is shallow emotionalism.
• Orthopathy without orthopraxy is empty sentimentalism.

Without integration, students will lack the education, training and formation (each of which ought to be implicitly included in the other two) needed as they prepare for the vocation of ministry, whatever that ministry might be – in the church, in higher education or public service, in the business world or in the arts, in a para-church or non-profit organization, as a chaplain or teacher, etc. The academy, apostolate and abbey are all needed to help develop within the student a vibrant and grounded faith that risks changing the world for the Kingdom of God.

Objectives and Outcomes

These objectives and outcomes are meant to help SPU School of Theology administration and faculty understand how practica function within the overall graduate curriculum.

Objective #1: Integration through Interpersonal Interaction

Integration of academy, apostolate and abbey

• The student will practice integration of academic subject matter, practical ministry and spiritual formation through one-on-one and group interactions.
• In these interactions, the student will practice answering the question: How does each of these three realms of study affect the others?

Outcomes

• Through monthly meetings with a mentor and weekly meetings with a spiritual formation group (“class meeting”), the student will discuss and discover connections among his or her education, training and formation.
• A student may not miss any meetings with his or her mentor per quarter (missed meetings must be rescheduled), and a student may miss no more than two meetings with his or her class meeting per quarter.

Objective #2: Integration through Application

Integration of theory and practice

• The student will practice applying the subject matter learned in the particular classes taken toward ministerial vocation, spiritual formation and/or Christian life.
• In this application, the student will practice asking the question: How does academic content inform the practice of ministry, the formation of spirituality and the living out of faith?

Outcomes

• Through the production of a final project under the direction of the practicum coordinator, the student will demonstrate an application of academic subject matter for the practice of ministry, spiritual formation and/or Christian life.
• A project proposal will be presented to the practicum coordinator for approval, at which time the coordinator will help refine the parameters of the project.
• The project may use any medium, but it must be accompanied by written explanation that details how the subject matter from the quarter’s core classes informed the production of the project. In short, the student must show how the project applies class material to the practice of ministry, spiritual formation and/or Christian life.

Objective #3: Integration through Vocational Discernment

Integration of education and identity; integration of individual and community

• In light of his or her education and formation, the student will practice reflecting upon the role of vocation and Christian community in the development of Christian identity.
• In this discernment, the student will practice asking the questions: What particular shape is my vocation taking? How is this related to the church? How am I being prepared to carry out my calling to bring about the fullness of the Kingdom of God? How might my vocation participate in the mission of Jesus Christ in acts of faith, love, hope, service, justice and mercy?

Outcomes

• Through the writing of a one-page paper on the self-understanding of Christian vocation, the student will better understand how his or her education, training and formation prepares him or her for a particular practice of ministry, and how that ministry relates to the church.
• The class meetings and practicum project are expected to contribute to this understanding.

Assessment

The class meetings, mentor meetings, and vocational discernment paper will not be given a grade but must be satisfactorily completed by approval of the practicum coordinator for the practicum’s units to be awarded. The project will be given a letter grade and will ordinarily constitute the grade given for the practicum as a whole. However, the level of engagement evidenced by the student across all three objectives – including mentor meetings, class meetings and vocational discernment paper – may also positively or negatively influence the grade given for the practicum.

Engagement will be judged by the time and effort students put into the assignments from all three objectives, with possible input from mentors and class meeting conveners, in addition to direct observation of students’ submitted work by the practicum supervisor, contributing to that evaluation.

The time expectation for a quarter’s practicum is two to three hours per week per unit. For instance, if in a given quarter a student is taking three 3-unit core classes, that student is expected to put in six to nine hours per week into his or her practicum. Though this time commitment includes class meetings, mentor meetings and vocational discernment, a majority of the expected time commitment will go toward the final practicum project.

Policy for THEO 6980 Cross-Cultural Immersion Experience

(Adopted by the Graduate Curriculum Committee, February 8, 2011)

1. 1.      Course Description: THEO 6980 Cross-Cultural Immersion Experience (3 cr.): Explores issues and questions pertaining to ministry across cultural boundaries. Students will have the opportunity to experience and reflect on specific historical and theological issues of culture and ministry as they pertain to a specific locale. This will include engagement with local ministries, developing paradigms of holistic ministry, biblical foundations of missions, theology of religions and community exegesis and development. Course must be approved by the Dean of the School of Theology (SOT) or the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies prior to enrolling.

1. 2.      SOT-sponsored cross-cultural immersion programs:
   1. a.      The School of Theology (SOT) will normally offer one cross-cultural immersion (CCI) program for its graduate students per year. This program will normally be at least two weeks long, from the time of departure from Seattle to the time of return.
   2. b.      SOT CCI programs will comply with the policies and standards established by the SPU Office of Study Abroad Programs.
   3. c.       Sites will vary from year to year.
      1.                                 i.            Whenever possible, an SOT faculty member will accompany the students on the trip, and will work closely with the site director in designing a program that fulfills the learning goals that SOT has established for its courses (see below) and meets its usual academic standards.
      2.                               ii.            In those years when an SOT faculty member cannot accompany the students on the trip, the Dean of SOT, the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, or some other SOT faculty member designated by the Dean or the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies (ADGS) will communicate with the director of the site to assure that the program fulfills SOT’s learning goals and meets its usual academic standards.
      3. d.      Electronic copies of the syllabus for each section of THEO 6980 will be filed with the ADGS and the SOT Office Manager.
      4. e.       The work load for the students enrolled in each section of THEO 6980 will be roughly equivalent to that of any other 3-credit, 6000-level course in SOT:
         1.                                 i.            The workload of a typical course computes roughly as follows:
            1. 1.      Three hours per class per week for 10 weeks = 30 hours class time; and
            2. 2.      Three to four hours homework [reading, homework assignments, preparation for class presentations, etc.] per hour of class = 90-120 hours; and
            3. 3.      30-40 double-spaced pages of written work [research papers, examinations, etc.]
         2.                               ii.            Site directors and SPU instructors are encouraged to use this formula as a rule of thumb when configuring the work load for THEO 6980. It is understood, however, that the amount and nature of the “class time” (or equivalent), “homework” (or equivalent) and written work in a given section of THEO 6980 will depend greatly on the availability of relevant resources and on site-specific circumstances and opportunities.

3.  Permission for SOT graduate students to participate for credit in non-SOT-sponsored cross-cultural immersion programs

1. a.      Normally, SOT graduate students will be expected to fulfill their CCI requirement by taking THEO 6980 in the summer after their first or second year of study. There are two major reasons for this:
   1.                                 i.                  The cost-effectiveness of SOT-sponsored programs depends upon realizing the economies of scale that come with maximal enrollment. Every SOT student who opts to fulfill their CCI requirement in a non-SOT-sponsored program thereby reduces the cost-effectiveness of the SOT program.
   2.                               ii.                  The SOT Graduate Program is not equipped to undertake the rigorous assessment of CCI programs other than its own. Yet such assessment would be required to assure that such programs fulfill SOT’s learning goals and meet its usual academic standards.
   3. b.      In rare cases, permission may be granted by the Dean or ADGS for a student to satisfy his or her CCI requirement in a non-SPU-sponsored program. Permission will be contingent on the following circumstances:
      1.                                 i.                  A student whose academic and/or professional obligations conflict unavoidably with the scheduling of the SPU-sponsored program for the year in which s/he needs to take it may be allowed to enroll in a non-SPU-sponsored CCI program. (Personal and/or family schedule conflicts will normally not be deemed sufficient grounds for a waiver.)
      2.                               ii.                  The student must demonstrate: (1) that the cross-cultural immersion program in which s/he wishes to enroll, is offered or sponsored by an ATS-accredited theological seminary, divinity school or school of theology; and (2) that the number of academic credits awarded for successful completion of that program is at least equivalent to the three quarter-credits awarded for THEO 6980 at SPS.
      3.                             iii.                  A student from abroad who has come to the USA will be expected to fulfill the CCI degree requirement, but in a manner suitable to his/her particular circumstances and approved by the Dean or ADGS.  
      4. c.       If permission is granted for a student to fulfill his or her CCI requirement by enrolling in a program that meets the above criteria, it will be the student’s responsibility (1) to satisfy whatever admission requirements may be associated with that program and/or the seminary that offers or sponsors it, and (2) to see to it that the credits are duly transferred from that seminary to SPS.
      5. d.      SPS students who participate in CCI programs for which no academic credits are awarded by an ATS-accredited seminary, divinity school or school of theology shall not be considered to have satisfied the CCI requirement for their SPU degree.

Policy for MA Projects, MA Theses and Research-Focused MDiv Theses at Seattle Pacific Seminary

(Passed by GPC 10/19/10; revised 7/3/13, 5/9/14, 6/17/14, 3/17/15, 11/23/15)

All candidates for the Master of Arts in Asian American Ministry [MA-AAM] and the Master of Arts in Reconciliation and Intercultural Studies [MA-RIS] are required to take the following course, usually in the last quarter of their studies at Seattle Pacific Seminary:

THEO 6960 Master’s Project (3 cr.): The Masters Project is an integrative project allowing students to synthesize various aspects of their academic studies and to give them practical application in a concrete ministry setting. Components of the project can include but are not limited to contextual studies of major theologians, movements, and teachings, past and present; an exploration of the spiritual practices that bring together theology, prayer, and ministry in a particular context; and a qualitative study that facilitates a deep understanding of a particular ministry. The Masters Project is to be guided and monitored, from beginning to end, by an SOT faculty member or designate.

All candidates for the Master of Arts (Christian Scripture) [MA (CSc)] and the Master of Arts (Christian Studies) [MA (CSt)] are required to take, usually in the last quarter of their studies at Seattle Pacific Seminary, the following course:

THEO 6995 Master’s Thesis (6 cr.): Provides the opportunity for students to utilize competencies developed in their coursework by engaging in a sustained research project on a carefully framed topic. This course is a faculty-supervised research component of the Christian Scripture and Christian Studies tracks of the Master of Arts degree. The topic and research methodology must be approved in advance by the faculty supervisor.

Candidates for the Master of Arts in Business and Applied Theology [MA-BAT] and the ministry-focused Master of Divinity [MDiv] are not required to take either of these courses.

Candidates for the research-focused Master of Divinity [MDiv] are required to take THEO 6995. This degree is for students of exceptional academic ability who intend to go on for doctoral study and a ministry of teaching and research in higher education. Admission into this program requires that a student achieve at least a 3.85 cumulative grade point average after completing 40 credits of coursework, submit a written statement of his/her vocational objectives, and receive the approval of the Dean of the SPU School of Theology, the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, and the Graduate Curriculum Committee. Normally, THEO 6995 will replace the 6 credits of Approved Interdisciplinary Courses which MDiv students are required to take. Thus, the research-focused MDiv has the same minimum credit count (108) as the ministry-focused MDiv. The student’s official transcript will indicate completion of the thesis, but his/her university diploma will read no differently from that of other MDiv students.

Procedures and Protocols:

...

• To provide an in independent assessment of the penultimate draft of the MA project or MA thesis.
• Note: no faculty member shall be required to serve as a second reader for an MA project or MA thesis. Participation shall be elective, and carried out on an overload basis, at the rate of $150 per project and $250 per thesis. Under normal circumstances, no faculty member shall serve as a second reader on more than one project or thesis per year.
• Role of the Student:
  • To recruit his/her supervisor by the date set below.
  • To submit the project or thesis proposal by the date set below.
  • For those students writing MA theses: to complete a directed reading of W. C. Booth, et al., The Craft of Research, 3^rd ed. (University of Chicago: 2008) at the direction and to the satisfaction of their faculty supervisor prior to the submission of their thesis proposal. Upon completion of this directed reading of Booth, students are encouraged to consult with the Theology Librarian for guidance in developing a bibliography suitable to the research topic and the identified research methodology.
  • To submit a formal proposal and appropriate bibliography (or, at the supervisor’s discretion, annotated bibliography) by the date set below.
  • To submit progress reports and/or drafts for the supervisor’s review no later than the “check points” listed below, or at such intervals and by such dates as the supervisor may stipulate.
  • To follow all standard academic protocols with respect to originality, content, format, and documentation of sources.
  • To submit the final draft of the project or thesis by the date set below.
    • Masters Theses shall conform to the following specifications:
      • Length: between 12,000 and 18,000 words of text (excluding notes and bibliography).
      • Margins: Left margins: 1½”. Right, top and bottom margins: 1”.
      • Font: 12-point font (Century Schoolbook, Palatino Linotype, Times New Roman, or Verdana).
      • Title page shall indicate the complete title of the thesis, the “running head” [abbreviated title used in page header], the author’s name, and the name of Seattle Pacific Seminary.
      • Signature page shall include the following:
        • Complete title of the project or thesis
        • Author’s name
        • The words: “A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Arts (Christian Studies) [or Master of Arts (Christian Scripture), or Master of Divinity] at Seattle Pacific Seminary”
        • Year of completion
        • The words: “Approved by...,” followed by a solid line for the signature of the faculty supervisor and the date of signing, with the name and title of the faculty supervisor printed below.
        • The words: “Approved by...,” followed by a solid line for the signature of the second faculty reader and the date of signing, with the name and title of the second faculty reader listed below.
        • The words: “Approved by...,” followed by a solid line for the signature of the SPU Theology Librarian and the date of signing, with the name and title of the librarian printed below.
        • The words: “Program authorized to offer degree: Seattle Pacific Seminary,” a line for the date, and a line for the signature and title of the Dean of the School of Theology or the Associate Dean of Seattle Pacific Seminary, with the name and title of the Dean or ADGS printed below.
  • Bibliography: all sources cited or consulted, both print and electronic, shall be referenced in the bibliography, in strict accordance with the latest edition of the SOT Style Guide (which itself follows The SBL Handbook of Style).

...

• Margins, as shown above
• Font, as shown above
• Title page, as shown above.
• Signature page, as shown above, mutatis mutandis
• Note: it is expected that the sharpness of focus, range of research, sophistication of methodology, and elegance of style of the master’s thesis or project will be equivalent to that of a major published article in a peer-reviewed professional journal in the relevant discipline, and it is hoped that the supervisors will assist the student in preparing and submitting his or her thesis for publication in such a journal and in making whatever revisions might be called for.

Schedule:

• By the fifth week of the autumn quarter of the academic year in which the student intends to enroll in THEO 6960 or THEO 6995—usually the academic year in which the student intends to graduate—the student must submit to the ADGS a preliminary application form (see below), indicating the general topic of the project or thesis. This form shall be counter-signed by whichever member of the SOT faculty member or designate has agreed to supervise said project or thesis.
  • Students will normally enroll in THEO 6960 or THEO 6995 in the spring quarter of the academic year in which they intend to graduate.
  • Students who intend to enroll in THEO 6960 or THEO 6995 in the winter quarter of the year in which they intend to graduate, or in the summer quarter immediately after their formal commencement, will be expected to secure their faculty advisors and submit their proposals by the fifth week of the autumn quarter of that academic year.
  • Students who intend to enroll in THEO 6960 or THEO 6995 in the autumn quarter of a given academic year, and to graduate at the end of that academic year, must secure faculty supervisors and submit project or thesis proposals no later than June 1 of the previous academic year.
  • By the fifth week of the winter quarter of that academic, the student must submit to the ADGS a formal proposal for the project or thesis, including a thesis statement, a general outline, and an annotated bibliography of at least twenty relevant sources (no more than half of which shall be electronic sources). This proposal shall be signed by the supervisor. The student may not enroll in THEO 6960 or THEO 6995 unless and until this proposal is properly submitted. A Banner hold, removable only at the direction of the ADGS, will be in place for these courses.
  • By the fifth week of the quarter in which the student is enrolled in THEO 6960 or THEO 6995—usually the spring quarter of the year in which the student intends to graduate—the student must submit to his or her supervisor the penultimate draft of his or her project or thesis.
  • By the eighth week of that same quarter, the student must submit to his or her supervisor the final draft of his or her project or thesis.
  • By the ninth week of that same quarter, the supervisor will indicate to the ADGS that the student has satisfactorily completed the project or thesis and (presuming all other graduation requirements have been satisfied) is entitled to receive his or her degree.

...

Policy for THEO 6980 Cross-Cultural Immersion Experience

(Adopted by the Graduate Curriculum Committee, February 8, 2011)

Course Description: THEO 6980 Cross-Cultural Immersion Experience (3 cr.):

Explores issues and questions pertaining to ministry across cultural boundaries. Students will have the opportunity to experience and reflect on specific historical and theological issues of culture and ministry as they pertain to a specific locale. This will include engagement with local ministries, developing paradigms of holistic ministry, biblical foundations of missions, theology of religions and community exegesis and development. Course must be approved by the Dean of the School of Theology (SOT) or the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies prior to enrolling.

SOT-sponsored cross-cultural immersion programs:

1. The School of Theology (SOT) will normally offer one cross-cultural immersion (CCI) program for its graduate students approximately once every three years. This program will normally be approximately two weeks long, from the time of departure from Seattle to the time of return.
2. SOT CCI programs will comply with the policies and standards established by the SPU Office of Study Abroad Programs.
3. Sites will vary from year to year.
   1. Whenever possible, an SOT faculty member will accompany the students on the trip, and will work closely with the site director in designing a program that fulfills the learning goals that SOT has established for its courses (see below) and meets its usual academic standards.
   2. In those years when an SOT faculty member cannot accompany the students on the trip, the Dean of SOT, the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, or some other SOT faculty member designated by the Dean or the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies (ADGS) will communicate with the director of the site to assure that the program fulfills SOT’s learning goals and meets its usual academic standards.
4. As with every SPS course, electronic copies of the syllabus for each section of THEO 6980 will be filed with the ADGS.
5. The work load for the students enrolled in each section of THEO 6980 will be roughly equivalent to that of any other 3-credit, 6000-level course in SOT:
   1. The workload of a typical course computes roughly as follows:
      1. Three hours per class per week for 10 weeks = 30 hours class time; and
      2. Three to four hours homework [reading, homework assignments, preparation for class presentations, etc.] per hour of class = 90-120 hours; and
      3. 30-40 double-spaced pages of written work [research papers, examinations, etc.]
   2. Site directors and SPU instructors are encouraged to use this formula as a rule of thumb when configuring the work load for THEO 6980. It is understood, however, that the amount and nature of the “class time” (or equivalent), “homework” (or equivalent) and written work in a given section of THEO 6980 will depend greatly on the availability of relevant resources and on site-specific circumstances and opportunities.

Permission for SOT graduate students to participate for credit in non-SOT-sponsored cross-cultural immersion programs

1. In rare cases, permission may be granted by the Dean or ADGS for a student to satisfy his or her CCI requirement in a non-SPU-sponsored program. Permission will be contingent on the following circumstances:
   1. A student whose academic and/or professional obligations conflict unavoidably with the scheduling of the SPU-sponsored program for the year in which s/he needs to take it may be allowed to enroll in a non-SPU-sponsored CCI program. (Personal and/or family schedule conflicts will normally not be deemed sufficient grounds for a waiver.)
   2. The student must demonstrate: (1) that the cross-cultural immersion program in which s/he wishes to enroll, is offered or sponsored by an ATS-accredited theological seminary, divinity school or school of theology; and (2) that the number of academic credits awarded for successful completion of that program is at least equivalent to the three quarter-credits awarded for THEO 6980 at SPS.

• A student from abroad who has come to the USA will be expected to fulfill the CCI degree requirement, but in a manner suitable to his/her particular circumstances and approved by the Dean or ADGS.

1. If permission is granted for a student to fulfill his or her CCI requirement by enrolling in a program that meets the above criteria, it will be the student’s responsibility (1) to satisfy whatever admission requirements may be associated with that program and/or the seminary that offers or sponsors it, and (2) to see to it that the credits are duly transferred from that seminary to SPS.
2. SPS students who participate in CCI programs for which no academic credits are awarded by an ATS-accredited seminary, divinity school or school of theology shall not be considered to have satisfied the CCI requirement for their SPU degree.

SPS Syllabus Boilerplate

University Mission Statement: Seattle Pacific University is a Christian university fully committed to engaging the culture and changing the world by graduating people of competence and character, becoming people of wisdom, and modeling grace-filled community. 

 Seattle Pacific Seminary Mission Statement: Why we exist.  Guided by the Holy Spirit, SPS prepares students for faithful service to Jesus Christ through transformational ministry in the church and world. 

 Seattle Pacific Seminary Vision Statement: What we do.  As a seminary in the Pacific Northwest, embedded at Seattle Pacific University, SPS aims to embody theological education through a Wesleyan vision of academy, abbey, and apostolate, preparing students for faithful service 

Seattle Pacific Seminary Student Learning Outcomes and Objectives:

MDiv Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs in italics; vision statements in bold)

As an academy, SPS seeks the mind of Christ through theological study and reflection.

1. Students will interpret and respond to the texts and traditions of the Christian faith.
2. Students will demonstrate critical reflection on the Christian faith and society for a deeper knowledge of God and God’s work in the world

As an abbey, SPS endeavors to be a formative community that is a workshop of the Holy Spirit.

1. Students will learn spiritual practices and participate in forming communities of discipleship, guided by the Holy Spirit

As an apostolate, SPS aspires to participate in God’s reconciling mission in the world.

1. Students will demonstrate attentiveness to the work of God in diverse contexts through participation in the ministry of reconciliation.
2. Students will discern their vocation to God’s reconciling work by participating in communities of faith.

MA Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs in italics; vision statements in bold)

As an academy, SPS seeks the mind of Christ through theological study and reflection.

1. Students will interpret and respond to the texts and traditions of the Christian faith.
2. Students will demonstrate critical reflection on the Christian faith and society for a deeper knowledge of God and God’s work in the world

As an abbey, SPS endeavors to be a formative community that is a workshop of the Holy Spirit.

1. Students will learn spiritual practices and participate in communities of discipleship, guided by the Holy Spirit

As an apostolate, SPS aspires to participate in God’s reconciling mission in the world.

1. Students will demonstrate attentiveness to the work of God in diverse contexts through participation in the ministry of reconciliation.

Academic Integrity Policy: Students are expected to follow the Academic Integrity Policy stated in the current edition of the Graduate Catalog. The guidelines for handling any cases of suspected infractions are spelled out in the same place.  

• Note: Instructors may establish any policy they like for penalizing infractions, as long as it conforms to the University Academic Integrity Policy). But some reference to your expectations and manner of penalizing infractions should be included in your syllabus. 

Style Guide: 

The official SPU School of Theology style guide is:

• Billie Jean Collins, Bob Buller, and John F. Kutsko, eds., The SBL Handbook of Style: For Biblical Studies and Related Disciplines, 2nd ed. (Atlanta: SBL Press, 2014), REF PN147 .S26 2014.

   All written work submitted for SPS courses shall use the method of citing sources, as well as other stylistic conventions, described in that Handbook. For an online summary of SBL style, as well as any suggested interpretations or SOT-approved exceptions, see:

• The SBL tab on the SPU LibGuide Citations Styles.
• Failure to cite sources, and to cite them in accordance with the official style guide, is considered a breach of the University’s Academic Integrity Policy (see above), and may be penalized accordingly.

Information Ethics:

The Computer and Information Systems website includes a Computer Acceptable Use Policy, which provides guidelines for the appropriate use of instructional technology, digital media and the Internet. The SPU Library website includes information on Information Ethics, which offers guidance on “how to use various types of information appropriately for papers or projects.” [For guidance on how to cite such resources, please see the SBL Handbook of Style.] Students are expected to heed these guidelines, and faculty are expected to penalize infractions for the same reason, and with the same severity, as they would penalize other infractions of the University’s Academic Integrity Policy (see above).

School of Theology Inclusive Language Policy:

The Christian gospel aims to provide a clear witness to the revelation of God through Jesus Christ. For this reason, the words we choose are influential and significant. Because language related to race, gender, class, and nationality has a particular power to liberate or to marginalize other human beings, our words ought to exhibit the sort of grace-filled sensitivity to human dignity that is part and parcel of the Christian gospel (James 3:1-18). In particular, the School of Theology at Seattle Pacific University believes that language about God and people should mirror these biblical truths: that God created both male and female in God’s image (Genesis 1:27); that God formed male and female into a working partnership to steward all of God’s creation (Genesis 1:28); and that God loves every one equally without respect to race, gender, class, or nationality; yet all are equally in need of God’s forgiveness and equally transformed by God’s grace into new creatures because of Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2:3-6). The use of nondiscriminatory language substantiates these truths and fosters a community where “there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for all are one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). The social practices of Seattle Pacific University’s Methodist heritage exemplify these biblical truths. Rooted deeply within Methodism is the active participation in the lifting of oppression in any form so as to extend and implement the freedom of the gospel to all whom God has created and seeks to redeem. The record of Wesleyans on behalf of those on the margins is impressive and honorable and should be furthered by the modern offspring of Wesley in word and deed. Therefore, it is the policy of the School of Theology at Seattle Pacific University to use nondiscriminatory language in our syllabi, publications, and communications. (The grammatical particulars about nondiscriminatory language are spelled out in The Everyday Writer.) Moreover, when writing and speaking about God, the School of Theology encourages the use of a wide variety of images found in Scripture and the Christian tradition, such as rock, sovereign, light, mother eagle, shepherd, creator, father, and so on. By drawing on the richness of these biblical images, we position ourselves to deepen our understanding of God’s manifold attributes more fully and to help form God’s multiform people into a more inclusive community.

Attendance Policy for Graduate Classes:

Preparation for class, faithful and punctual attendance at class, and active participation in class are integral elements of education at SPS, and accordingly are mandatory. Students may not miss more than two sessions for a once-a-week quarter course, four sessions for a quarter course that meets three times a week, or one class session for a one-week intensive course without penalty on their final grade, unless valid, documented excuses are presented to the professor within two business days of the missed session. Appropriate penalties will be assessed by the professor, and normally explained in the course syllabus. Advance notice to the professor is considered a professional courtesy and should be given whenever possible. Valid excuses for missing class include are restricted to illness and other personal or family emergencies. Absences and tardiness due to church-related activities (e.g., mission trips, conferences, weddings, funerals, mid-week services, committee meetings, adult education classes or prayer groups), work-related activities (e.g., special meetings, overtime hours or emergency fill-ins for other employees) or non-emergency activities with family or friends (e.g., weddings or vacations) are not excused, nor should faculty be expected to penalize themselves for unexcused student absences by assigning make-up work that they would then have to grade. 

Policy for Students with Disabilities:

Students with Disabilities: If you have a specific disability that qualifies you for academic accommodations, please contact Disability Support Services in the Center for Learning, Lower Moyer Hall, to make your accommodations request. Once your eligibility has been determined, DSS will send a Disability Verification Letter to your professors indicating what accommodations have been approved. Here is the Center’s contact information: 

• Phone: (206) 281-2272  TTY: (206) 281-2224 Fax: (206) 286-7348 
• Email: dss@spu.edu; website: http://www.spu.edu/depts/cfl/dss/index.asp 

Inclement Weather School Closure Policy:

• Full Closure: All classes are canceled and all offices are closed. The Library, Campus Dining Services and the Student Union Building will be operational on a limited schedule.
• Late Start: Indicates that classes begin at 9:30 a.m. and offices open at 9:30 a.m. Classes beginning at 8:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. are canceled. All other classes will operate as scheduled. Chapel will be held if planned.
• For Evening Classes and Events: Allowing for weather changes during the day, a decision will be made by 2:00 p.m. for evening classes and events. Call the Emergency Closure Hotline for the updated information.
• The Emergency Closure Hotline (206) 281-2800 always provides current and complete information.

Reports of Threats, Crimes and Sexual Misconduct:

Seattle Pacific University is committed to providing a safe learning and working environment on campus. As part of this, university employees are generally required to report information they receive about threats, crimes, and sexual misconduct involving students to the Office of Safety and Security or the university’s Title IX Coordinator. Information that must be reported includes both verbal and written statements (e.g., spoken in class or submitted in a written assignment), whether by a victim or by a third-party. Types of incidents that must be reported include physical assault (including domestic or dating violence), sex offenses (e.g., rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment), stalking, robbery, burglary, motor vehicle theft, arson, hate crimes, and arrests for weapon, drug, or liquor law violations. If you are a victim of any of the offenses listed above, you are strongly encouraged to report the matter promptly to a professor, the Office of Safety and Security, or the university’s Title IX Coordinator so that the university can offer you support and notify you of available resources. If you are a victim and would like to speak with someone confidentially, you can arrange to speak with a counselor at the Student Counseling Center or you can make an appointment outside of class with a pastoral counselor.

SPS Policies on Student Behavioral Competencies

As a community of people (students, staff, and faculty) who are committed to faithful service of Jesus Christ, all members of this community enter into an agreement concerning their behavior in the classroom and in relation to one another. These competencies are drawn from professional ethics in ministerial vocations. All students are expected to adhere to university policies, including the “Behavioral Expectations” outlined in the SPU Graduate Student Handbook. Violation of university policies may be considered evidence of unsatisfactory behaviors in one or more Student Behavioral Competencies. Consistent failure to demonstrate these competencies may result in a behavioral review with either the Seminary Dean, Associate Dean, or Director. Definitions of each of the six behavioral competency areas and examples of unsatisfactory performance likely to result in behavioral review include, but are not limited to, the following:

Area 1 - Conscientiousness & Commitment to academic and ministerial responsibilities

· Expected behaviors: Reliable attendance and timeliness; advance preparation for assignments and absences; effective management of appointments and schedule; follow-through on tasks; and adherence to appropriate self-presentation and conduct in class/work settings.

· Unsatisfactory behaviors: Frequently late or misses class without notification; poorly organized presentations or papers or research products; insufficient preparation for contextual education site responsibilities or classes; persistent unprofessional behaviors after receiving feedback from a faculty member or contextual education supervisor; refusal to meet with faculty, staff, or contextual education supervisor.

Area 2 - Interpersonal Skills

· Expected behaviors: Displays warmth, respect, positive affect, and empathy when interacting with peers, professors, and supervisors; contributes effectively to groups; supports the growth of others by providing feedback and encouragement; exercises good listening skills with both faculty and fellow students.

· Unsatisfactory behaviors: Interacts in an aloof, negative, or harsh manner; displays difficulty when collaborating on group projects or when discussing difficult topics; feedback to instructors/other students violates professional boundaries; frequently takes over class conversations or interrupts others.

Area 3 - Self-Care

· Expected behaviors: Maintains personal and professional wellness, energy and focus by practicing healthy habits, setting boundaries, managing health issues, and seeking professional help when needed.

· Unsatisfactory behaviors: Over-scheduling leads to mistakes, missed appointments, or decreased quality of work; repeatedly cannot stay awake in class; loses focus due to continuous multitasking; displays of stress and tension impede relationship building; does not seek medical or therapeutic support necessary to meet academic and professional expectations; does not exercise healthy personal/professional boundaries.

Area 4 - Self-Awareness & Flexibility

· Expected behaviors: Demonstrates the ability to identify strengths, biases, and areas of growth; responsive to feedback and uses the information to grow as a person and as a professional; open to new perspectives; demonstrates the ability to adapt to changing circumstances and unexpected events.

· Unsatisfactory behaviors: Difficulty identifying and acknowledging personal or professional strengths; defensive when given constructive criticism; unresponsive to peer or supervisor feedback; displays rigidity when discussing alternative ways of seeing, knowing, or behaving; demonstrates defensiveness for a subject that can become domineering, shutting down other opinions, and becoming argumentative rather than engaging in civil discourse.

Area 5 – Self-management and Emotional regulation

· Expected behaviors: Acts professionally when experiencing strong emotions; uses active listening skills and mutual problem solving to manage conflict situations; expresses feelings and uses humor that is appropriate to the setting.

· Unsatisfactory behaviors: Displays poor impulse control in interactions (such as verbal outbursts, sarcasm, swearing, physical aggression, or inappropriate humor); blames others rather than seeking to take responsibility in a conflict; actively avoids discussion of conflict; draws others into interpersonal conflicts inappropriately.

Area 6 – Ethical Behaviors

· Expected behaviors: Demonstrates honesty, fairness, integrity, and responsibility in interactions with peers, faculty, and supervisors; participates in structures of accountability to assist with ministerial development; avoids unprofessional conduct as a student and minister.

· Unsatisfactory behaviors: Acts in a dishonest or irresponsible manner; violates confidentiality; plagiarizes written work; displays poor boundaries with colleagues, faculty, or staff members; violates university or contextual education site policies.

We believe that professional behaviors, like skills and knowledge, can be strengthened when students are given regular feedback and support. Our goal is to have every student who is recommended for graduation demonstrate these behaviors on a consistent basis.

SPU Emergency Response Information:

• Report an Emergency or Suspicious Activity: Call the Office of Safety & Security (OSS) at 206-281-2922 to report an emergency or suspicious activity. SPU Security Officers are trained first responders and will immediately be dispatched to your location. If needed, the OSS Dispatcher will contact local fire/police with the exact address of the location of the emergency.
• Lockdown / Shelter in Place – General Guidance: The University will lock down in response to threats of violence such as a bank robbery or armed intruder on campus. You can assume that all remaining classes and events will be temporarily suspended until the incident is over. Lockdown notifications are sent using the SPU-Alert System as text messages (to people who have provided their cell phone numbers as described below), emails, announcements by Building Emergency Coordinators (BECs), announcements over the outdoor public address system, and electronic reader board messages.
  • If you are in a building at the time of a lockdown:
    • Stay inside unless the building you are in is affected. If it is affected, you should evacuate.
    • Move to a securable area (such as an office or classroom) and lock the doors.
    • Close the window coverings then move away from the windows and get low on the floor.
    • Remain in your secure area until further direction or the all clear is given (this notification will be sent via the SPU-Alert System).
  • If you are outside at the time of a lockdown:
    • Leave the area and seek safe shelter off campus. Remaining in the area of the threat may expose you to further danger.
    • Return to campus after the all clear is given (this notification will be sent via the SPU-Alert System)
  • Evacuation – General Guidance
    • Students should evacuate a building if the fire alarm sounds or if a faculty member, a staff member, or the SPU-Alert System instructs building occupants to evacuate. In the event of an evacuation, gather your personal belongings quickly and safely proceed to the nearest exit. Most classrooms contain a wall plaque or poster on or next to the classroom door showing the evacuation route and the assembly site for the building. Do not use the elevator.
    • Once you have evacuated the building, proceed to the nearest evacuation assembly location. The “ Think. Act.” booklet posted in each classroom contains a list of assembly sites for each building. Check in with your instructor or a BEC (they will be easily recognizable by their bright orange vests). During emergencies, give each BEC your full cooperation whenever they issue directions.
  • Additional Information: Additional information about emergency preparedness can be found on the SPU web page at http://www.spu.edu/info/emergency/index.asp or by calling the Office of Safety & Security at 206-281-2922.

Theology Librarian:

Steve Perisho, MDiv, ThM, MLIS (206/281-2417; sperisho@spu.edu)

Graduate Coach

A Graduate Coach is available for an average of 10 hours per week to assist any SPS student with his or her studies. Priority is given to students on probationary admission, students placed on academic probation, students for whom English is a second language, students whose instructors have specifically requested that their assignments be checked by the Coach before submission, and first-year students not belonging to any of the prior categories. The coach is tasked with reviewing and processing class material, assisting with specific assignments, conducting strategy sessions for managing workloads, helping students to develop their writing skills, facilitating individual and group study sessions, and editing writing assignments.