Foundations of Christian Service, Certificate

Program Overview

Saint Louis University's certificate in Foundations of Christian Service equips students with philosophical, theological, and interdisciplinary knowledge for ministry. The flexible program allows students to tailor their coursework to their specific interests and ministerial needs, including courses in ethics, philosophy, and theology. Students complete a capstone project that reflects their ministerial challenges and interests.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

Saint Louis University's certificate in foundations of Christian service is designed to provide students with basic philosophical, theological, and interdisciplinary tools for intelligent reflection on contexts of Christian ministry. This certificate is open to consecrated religious and laypersons engaged in ministry or who envision a future in ministry. Students pursuing this certificate are not eligible to receive Title IV financial aid.

Outline:

The program requires 15-18 credits and is designed for flexibility to match the student's background needs and ministerial interests. All course requirements may be satisfied with undergraduate courses.

Typical Program:

• Ethics and/or Moral Theology: 3-6 credits
• Philosophy/Theology elective: 3 credits
• Other Electives: 6 credits
• Capstone Project: 3 credits

Roadmap:

• Year One:
• Fall:
Foundations: Ethics and/or Theological Ethics (3-6 credits)
• Spring:
Philosophy or Theology Elective (3 credits), Elective (3 credits)
• Year Two:
• Fall:
Social Analysis/Special Ethics, or Capstone Elective (3 credits)
• Spring:
PLJ 4960 Capstone Project (3 credits)

Program Notes:

• General Program Note: This certificate is designed for maximum flexibility, so it may be tailored to each student’s background and ministerial interests.
Students with sufficient background may complete the program in one year, but normally two years is recommended.
• Foundations Courses: Foundational courses may vary depending on the student’s background and ministerial situation.
For students involved in social ministries, courses in philosophical and theological ethics provide the normal starting point, but other ministerial situations might, for example, call for courses in the philosophy of human nature, philosophy of religion, theological doctrine, and/or Biblical interpretation. Course level depends on the student’s educational background and, in some cases, prerequisites might be necessary. Selection of appropriate foundational courses is made with the dean's approval, in view of the student’s ministerial situation.
• Electives: Electives provide important background for the student’s envisioned capstone project.
Capstone electives may be selected from any discipline that promises to aid the student’s reflection on his or her capstone topic.
• Social Analysis/Special Ethics Courses: For students who envision a capstone on a social context of ministry, the social analysis/special ethics elective is recommended.
Social analysis courses include courses in social-political philosophy or courses in other disciplines, so long as course content is largely dedicated to understanding aspects of contemporary life, society or culture relevant to the context of ministry for the student’s capstone. Special ethics courses are satisfied by:
• PHIL 3360 Medical Ethics (3 credits)
• PHIL 3380 Business Ethics (3 credits)
• PHIL 3400 Ethics & Engineering (3 credits)
• PHIL 3420 Environmental and Ecological Ethics (3 credits)
• PHIL 3430 Philosophy of Law (3 credits)

Other:

• Students must maintain a minimum 2.00 grade point average (GPA).
• Students with little or no previous philosophy or theology begin with some basic courses in those areas, followed by electives from any discipline that can inform the student’s capstone project.
Students may tailor their capstone projects to fit their ministerial interests and challenges. Specific course selections are made in consultation with the dean.