Graduate Certificates

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Application deadline: 1/4/2025

Program overview

Seattle Pacific Seminary (SPS) offers several one-year, part-time certificate programs in specialized areas to deepen your understanding of the Christian faith and to grow your vocational skills and gifts for ministry. SPS Certificates include the following subject areas: Christian Scripture, Reconciliation and Intercultural Studies, Christian Faith Formation, Christian Studies, Ministerial Leadership, and Wesleyan and Methodist Studies.

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Program Overview

The Graduate Certificate in Christian Faith Formation is designed to equip you to lead in the educational and spiritually formative ministries of the church for people of all ages, including children, youth, young adults, and adults. The certificate is designed for laypeople as well as for ordained leaders who may or may not already have a master’s degree in theology. Those who complete the certificate in Christian Faith Formation will be prepared to plan, teach, lead, and evaluate educational and formational ministries of the church. The certificate can be completed in one year, but students are invited to move through the program at a pace that works for them.

View courses and degree requirements

The Graduate Certificate in Christian Studies offers a graduate-level, introductory theological education. The certificate includes introductory classes in the core theological disciplines of Christian Scripture, Christian history, and theology. It is primarily for laypersons interested in deepening their theological knowledge or students who are interested in exploring seminary education and theological training.The certificate can be completed in one year, though students are invited to move at a pace that works for them.

View courses and degree requirements

The Graduate Certificate in Christian Scripture program is designed to equip you with a graduate-level overview of the entirety of Christian Scripture, along with practice interpreting and teaching Scripture in diverse contexts. The certificate is designed for laypeople and is able to be completed in one year, though students are invited to move at a pace that works for them.

View courses and degree requirements

The Graduate Certificate in Reconciliation and Intercultural Studies program is designed to introduce you to God’s work of reconciliation in the church and the world. The certificate is designed for laypeople as well as for leaders who already have a master’s degree in theology but are seeking specific credentialing in this vital aspect of the church’s ministry. The certificate can be completed in one year, but students are invited to move through the program at a pace that works for them.

View courses and degree requirements

The Graduate Certificate in Ministerial Leadership program is designed to provide you with the basic tools to be a faithful and effective church leader. The certificate is designed for laypeople who serve in ministerial settings as well as for those who already have a master’s degree in theology but are seeking deeper training in church administration, ministerial leadership, or designing Christian worship. The certificate can be completed in one year, but students are invited to move through the program at a pace that works for them.

View courses and degree requirements

The Graduate Certificate in Wesleyan and Methodist Studies program is designed to provide you with a deeper understanding of Wesleyan heritage, doctrine, and ministry, specifically related to the movements of Methodist denominations. The certificate is designed for laypeople who serve in ministerial settings, candidates for ordination in the Free Methodist Church, and those who already have a master’s degree in theology but are seeking deeper training in this area. This certificate can be completed in one year, but students are invited to move through the program at a pace that works for them.

View courses and degree requirements
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Curriculum

To earn a Graduate Certificate in Christian Faith Formation, you must be accepted into the program and complete 11 credits as laid out below.

Example Course Structure

During the 2024-2025 academic year, certificate students are taking the following courses. Courses for the 2025-2026 academic year have not yet been released, but students in the 2025-2026 cohort will follow a similar course structure with specialized topics related to Faith Formation and Christian Ministry. 

Autumn Quarter

  • THEO 6001: Christian Formation in Discipleship: Acts of Piety (2 credits)
  • THEO 6010: Bible I: Teaching and Interpreting Christian Scripture (3 credits; Mondays from 6 p.m to 8:35 p.m. PST, in-person or via Zoom)

Winter Quarter

  • THEO 6500:Theology, Disability, and the Church (3 credits; Thursdays from 6 p.m to 8:35 p.m., in-person or via Zoom)

  — OR —

  • THEO 6513: Reconciliation and Intercultural Studies: Embodiment and Praxis (3 credits; Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 5:35 p.m. PST, in person only)

Spring Quarter

  • THEO 6735: The Ministry of Teaching (3 credits; Tuesdays from 6 p.m to 8:35 p.m. PST, online via Zoom only)

To earn a Graduate Certificate in Christian Scripture, you must be accepted into the program and complete 11 credits as laid out below:

Required courses

Certificate students will take the following courses:

Autumn Quarter

  • THEO 6001 - Christian Formation in Discipleship: Acts of Piety (2 credits)
  • THEO 6010 - Bible I: Teaching and Interpreting Christian Scripture (3 credits; Mondays from 6:00 PM - 8:35 PM PST; in-person or via Zoom)

Winter Quarter

  • THEO 6040 - Bible II: Introduction to the Old Testament (3 credits; Mondays from 6:00 PM - 8:35 PM PST; in-person or via Zoom)

Spring Quarter

  • THEO 6070 - Bible III: Introduction to the New Testament (3 credits; Mondays from 6:00 PM - 8:35 PM PST; in-person or via Zoom)

To earn a Graduate Certificate in Christian Studies, you must be accepted into the program and complete 11 credits as laid out below.

Required courses

Certificate students will take the following courses:

  • THEO 6001: Acts of Piety (2 credits)
  • THEO 6010: Bible I - Interpreting and Teaching Christian Scripture (3 credits) 
  • (At least) one course in our Global Christian Heritage sequence (3 credits) 
  • (At least) one course in our Theology and Ethics sequence (3 credits)

To earn a Graduate Certificate in Reconciliation and Intercultural Studies, you must be accepted into the program and complete 11 credits as laid out below.

Required courses

Certificate students will take the following courses:

Autumn

  • THEO 6001 (2)
  • Bible I (3 credits)
Two of the following:
  • THEO 6500: Theology, Disability, and the Church (3)
  • THEO 6510: Theology, Race, and Culture (3)
  • THEO 6511: Gender and Christianity (3)
  • THEO 6512: RIS: Foundations for Leadership (3)
  • THEO 6513: RIS: Embodiment and Praxis (3)
  • THEO 6610: Encounter of Christian Faith with Other Faiths (3)

To earn a Graduate Certificate in Ministerial Leadership you must be accepted into the program and complete 11 credits as laid out below.

Required courses

Certificate students will take the following courses:

Autumn

  • THEO 6001 (2)
  • Bible I (3 credits)
Two of the following:
  • THEO 6412: Leading & Designing Congregational Worship (3)
  • THEO 6500: Theology, Disability, and the Church (3)
  • THEO 6512: RIS: Foundations for Leadership (3)
  • THEO 6742: Church Administration (3)
  • THEO 6744: Ministerial Leadership (3)
  • THEO 6745: Social Entrepreneurship & Church Planting (3)

To earn a Graduate Certificate in Wesleyan and Methodist Studies you must be accepted into the program and complete 11 credits as laid out below.

Required courses

Certificate students will take the following courses:

Autumn

  • THEO 6001 (2)
  • Bible I (3 credits)
Two of the following:
  • THEO 6401: Wesleyan/Methodist Doctrine (3)
  • THEO 6050: Global Christian Heritage II (3)
  • THEO 6741: Evangelism and Mission (3)
  • THEO 6750: Denominational polity (3)
  • THEO 6752: Methodist History (3)
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Costs

2024–25 Tuition and Fees

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$595

per credit

Total cost of certificate: $7,250*

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$50

application fee

See additional fee details.
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11 credits

to complete

All tuition, fees, and other charges stated here are payable in U.S. dollars (USD).

In addition to direct instructional costs, Seattle Pacific Seminary graduate programs’ tuition covers academic and student support services. Other benefits include use of athletic facilities (e.g., gym, locker room, and fitness rooms), the SPU Library, and the Kingswood House.

Scholarships and financial aid

Scholarship and other financial aid is offered to newly admitted and continuing students of SPS. For eligibility requirements, download the SPS Scholarship application. To apply for a scholarship, you should complete the application prior to the March 31 deadline. Scholarships will be distributed evenly across the Autumn, Winter, and Spring quarters of the academic year for which a scholarship is awarded.

The first five students to be admitted to the Faith Formation Certificate for the 2024–25 Academic Year will receive a 90% scholarship for the cost of the certificate, reducing the overall cost of the certificate (tuition and additional fees) to $750. 

*fees may vary depending on course modality and bookstore fees.

 

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Application

General SPU graduate admission requirements

Applying to Seattle Pacific Seminary 

Admission to Seattle Pacific Seminary is a two-way process of discernment. You, the applicant, must determine whether SPS offers the kind of theological education and spiritual formation appropriate to your vocational objectives. You do so by studying our promotional materials; by visiting campus (if possible); by talking with our faculty, staff, and students; by praying for God’s guidance; and by consulting with trusted spiritual advisors.

Conversely, the SPS Admissions Committee must determine whether you are spiritually and academically prepared to succeed in one of our programs. We do so by carefully and prayerfully studying your application materials and by assessing how your gifts, graces, and sense of vocation fit with the mission and ethos of the Seminary. We admit women and men who can demonstrate a vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ, a commitment to the proclamation of the reign of God, an ability to succeed academically in master’s level work, and an emotional and spiritual readiness to undertake graduate theological study.

To be considered for admission into any of our certificate programs, you must apply online. Find the help you need with the admissions process of the program of your choice through Graduate Admissions.

The Seattle Pacific Seminary application

In addition to fulfilling general SPU graduate admissions requirements, you will provide these items specific to Seattle Pacific Seminary:

A typed three- to four-page personal statement, including:

  • Your career objectives.
  • A narrative of your personal Christian experience. In your personal statement, you may consider reflecting on those people (e.g., parents, pastors, friends, teachers), institutions (e.g., schools, congregations, ministries), and/or “mountaintop experiences” (e.g., retreats, conferences, life-changing conversations) that have most influenced your spiritual growth.
  • Your rationale for seeking the degree and choosing Seattle Pacific Seminary.
  • Other insights you deem appropriate.

One letter of recommendation

We ask you to secure a letter of recommendation from one person whom know you well, who can speak to your preparedness for graduate theological education.

  1. Spiritual/emotional preparedness: This letter should be from a pastor, church staff person, chaplain, parachurch professional, youth leader, Bible study leader, or college religion professor. It should describe the depth of your Christian faith, as evidenced by the way you live your life, serve your neighbors, and participate in the ministry of a Christian community (local congregation, parachurch organization, chapel program, etc.). 

Application deadlines

Students can apply to Seattle Pacific Seminary to begin Autumn, Winter, and Spring quarters, and to begin during Summer Sessions, though most students choose to begin their program in Autumn Quarter.

  • Autumn Quarter: July 31
  • Winter Quarter: November 15
  • Spring Quarter: February 15
  • Summer Sessions: May 1 

Contact the Seattle Pacific Seminary at seminary@spu.edu or 206-281-2342 for more information.

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Certificate Opportunities

Certificate Opportunities

Certificate Programs at Seattle Pacific Seminary are designed for both laypeople and those currently serving in ministry settings. These certificates are intended for people who are seeking to grow in their theological education and ministerial training in a specific subject area. Whether you intend to deepen your understanding of the Christian faith and grow in your current vocation and ministry, or you are taking your first steps towards considering entering full-time professional Christian service, the flexibility of our certificate programs will work well for you. All certificate programs begin with a three-day, introductory class in September, followed by one class per quarter in Fall, Winter, and Spring. Courses meet one night per week, making the certificate easy to complete in only one year. Certificates are stackable, and credits earned in any of our certificate programs will transfer into a degree program at Seattle Pacific Seminary if you choose to enroll in the future.

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