Graduate Certificate Program
Graduate Certificate programs are designed to equip ministry leaders in particular areas. They are intended for student who do not have an earned (and who are not concurrently seeking) first theological degrees, but are open to M.A. and M.Div. graduates seeking specialization. Each graduate certificates includes six ATS-accredited courses, some related to the concentration and some electives, and are designed to be completed over one or two years (online or in-person). Students who have completed a graduate certificate program may apply their course work toward a Master of Arts or Master of Divinity degree if they are admitted into one of those programs.
Luther Seminary offers graduate certificates in the following areas:
Bible, History of Christianity and Systematic Theology
Children, Youth and Family Ministry
Christian Ministry
Cultivating New Christian Communities
ELCA Candidacy Completion
Biblical Preaching
Global Partners
Graduate Certificate in Bible, History of Christianity and Systematic Theology
The graduate certificate program in Bible, History of Christianity and Systematic Theology is designed for people who desire a basic grounding in Christian theology and tradition.
Core Courses (4.0 courses) | ||
Bible (2.0 courses) | ||
OT0115 | Law and Narrative | 1.0 course |
NT0214 – NT0218 | Gospels | 1.0 course |
History of Christianity I or II (1.0 course) | ||
HC0305 or HC0307 | History of Christianity I or II | 1.0 course |
Systematic Theology (1.0 course) | ||
SG0401 | Thinking Theologically and Confessing Publicly | 1.0 course |
Elective Courses (2.0 courses) | ||
Choose any two additional courses | ||
Total Elective Courses | 2.0 courses | |
TOTAL REQUIRED | 6.0 courses | |
Graduate Certificate in Children, Youth and Family Ministry
The graduate certificate program in Children, Youth and Family Ministry is designed for people who desire a basic grounding in children, youth and family ministry.
Core Courses (2.0 courses) | ||
LD0500 | Theological Frameworks I | 1.0 course |
LD0505 | Theological Frameworks II | 1.0 course |
Concentration Elective Courses (2.0 course) | ||
Choose any two CYF courses | ||
Total CYF Courses | 2.0 courses | |
Elective Courses (2.0 courses) | ||
Choose any two additional courses | ||
Total Elective Courses | 2.0 courses | |
TOTAL REQUIRED | 6.0 courses | |
Graduate Certificate in Christian Ministry
The graduate certificate program in Christian Ministry is designed for people who desire to focus on the various aspects of care giving ministry.
Core Courses (4.0 courses) | ||
WO0515 | Public Worship | 1.0 course |
PR0520 | Introduction to Preaching | 1.0 course |
CG0525 | Congregational Care and Formation | 1.0 course |
CL4531 | New Missional Discipleship | 1.0 course |
Elective Courses (2.0 courses) | ||
Choose any two additional courses | ||
Total Elective Courses | 2.0 courses | |
TOTAL REQUIRED | 6.0 courses | |
Graduate Certificate in Cultivating New Christian Communities
The graduate certificate program in Cultivating New Christian Communities equips students to design and lead new Christian communities focused on introducing people to Jesus and making disciples who integrate faith into daily life. The certificate is well suited for people wanting to experiment with various models of ministry and learn practices that engage neighbors with a cohort of other entrepreneurial ministry practitioners.
Core Courses (4.0 courses) | ||
CL4530 | New Missional Ministries | 1.0 course |
Concentration Elective Courses (3.0 course) | ||
Choose any three CL courses | ||
Total CL Courses | 3.0 courses | |
Elective Courses (2.0 courses) | ||
Choose any two additional courses | ||
Total Elective Courses | 2.0 courses | |
TOTAL REQUIRED | 6.0 courses | |
Graduate Certificate in ELCA Candidacy Completion
The Certificate in ELCA Candidacy Completion prepares individuals who have already earned a theological degree or are already ordained in another tradition and are seeking to complete candidacy requirements for ordination in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. This certificate is well-suited for ELCA Affiliates and others who only need a handful of courses and who may need to complete contextual learning requirements for ordination (i.e. internship).
Core Courses (3.0 courses) | ||
Bible (1.0 courses) | ||
Choose any NT or OT course | 1.0 course | |
History of Christianity (1.0 course) | ||
HT0801 | Lutheran Confessional Writings | 1.0 course |
Worship or Preaching (1.0 course) | ||
Choose one of the following | 1.0 course | |
WO0515 | Public Worship | |
PR0510 | Foundations of Biblical Preaching | |
WO elective | ||
PR elective | ||
Elective Courses (3.0 courses) | ||
Choose any three additional courses | ||
Total Elective Courses | 3.0 courses | |
Contextual Learning Requirements | non-credit | |
TOTAL REQUIRED | 6.0 courses |
Graduate Certificate in Biblical Preaching
The graduate certificate program in Biblical Preaching is designed for people in ministry who desire tools for delivering faithful sermons grounded in the Bible.
Core Courses (4.0 courses) | ||
Bible (2.0 courses) | ||
OT0115 | Law and Narrative | 1.0 course |
NT0214 – NT0218 | Gospels | 1.0 course |
Preaching (2.0 courses) | ||
PR0510 | Foundations of Biblical Preaching | 1.0 course |
PR0530 | Compelling Word | 1.0 course |
Preaching Elective Course (1.0 courses) | ||
Choose any PR elective | 1.0 courses | |
Open Elective Course (1.0 courses) | ||
Choose any elective | 1.0 courses | |
TOTAL REQUIRED | 6.0 courses | |
Global Partners Graduate Certificate
The Global Partners Graduate Certificate is designed to provide a pathway for students enrolled in degree programs at our partner institutions to take courses within our course offerings. This certificate is highly customizable to meet the needs of our partner institutions and applications will be limited to those partner institutions.
Courses (6.0 courses) | ||
Courses agreed upon in conjunction with partner institution | 6.0 courses | |
TOTAL REQUIRED | 6.0 courses | |
Course Descriptions for All Courses