About the School of Theology
Since its founding in 1891, Seattle Pacific University has equipped men and women to engage the culture with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Epistle of James tells us that reflecting deeply on faith and living out faith in the world go hand-in-hand. If you are looking for a community that is grounded in an ever-deepening and ever-challenging Christian faith, you’ll find it in the SPU School of Theology.
The School of Theology houses undergraduate programs as well as Seattle Pacific Seminary. At both the undergraduate and the seminary level, faculty members will nourish your intellectual, spiritual, and personal growth. And they will help you master the critical skills and multicultural sensitivities needed to understand the Christian faith and translate it into practices that change the world.
Our Distinctive Vision:
Academy, Abbey, and Apostolate
In the School of Theology, we embrace a threefold model of theological education that we call “Academy, Abbey, and Apostolate.”
The interplay of scholarship, spiritual edification, and service — all informed by our Wesleyan heritage that joins "knowledge and vital piety" as a means of changing the world — defines a vision that distinguishes SPU among theology schools and seminaries.
Degrees
The School of Theology’s undergraduate offerings include two undergraduate majors in Christian Theology and Educational Ministry, seven undergraduate minors, and an international certificate.
Seattle Pacific Seminary offers a Master of Arts in Theology (M.A.) with five tracks, a Master of Divinity (M.Div.), and four dual degrees in partnership with other schools at SPU.
University Foundations Courses
In addition to undergraduate theology majors and seminary students, the School of Theology serves all undergraduate students through three required University Foundations courses: Christian Formation, Christian Scriptures, and Christian Theology. These courses introduce all SPU students to the biblical heritage and distinctive doctrines and practices of various strands within the historic Christian tradition.
Center for Biblical and Theological Education
The Center for Biblical and Theological Education in the SPU School of Theology was founded to provide biblical and theological education for faculty, staff, and students; the church; and the world. One of its signature offerings is Lectio: Guided Bible Reading, a four-year, online program of readings and podcasts led by School of Theology faculty. The CBTE is funded in part by a grant from the Murdock Charitable Trust.
Asian American Ministry Program
The Asian American Ministry Program plays a central role in Seattle Pacific Seminary's vision for theological education in the 21st century. Through courses, mentorships, field education, cross-cultural immersion experiences, and conferences, the program equips a new generation of leaders to witness to the transforming gospel of Jesus Christ.
Why I Teach at SPU
Rob Wall, Paul T. Walls Professor of Scripture and Wesleyan Studies
“I teach because I am called and gifted by God to do so; I enjoy cultivating in my students the skills necessary to read Scripture well and with deep passion.”
Alexander Hall
Home of the School of Theology
The School of Theology is housed in historic Alexander Hall, a four-story, red-brick building with four hip-roofed towers. Constructed in 1893, Alexander Hall is SPU’s oldest structure.