Dean: Greg A. King
Faculty: Stephen Bauer, Hyunsok (John) Doh, Eliezer A. Graterol, David Hartman, Michael G. Hasel, Greg A. King, Martin G. Klingbeil, Judson Lake, Alan Parker, Wilson Paroschi, Barry J. Tryon
Research Professors of Religion: Douglas Jacobs, Edwin Reynolds
Adjunct Faculty: Jack J. Blanco, Troy Brand, Michael W. Campbell, Chester Clark III, Fred Fuller, Steven Grabiner, Sherry Manison, Carlos G. Martin, Derek Morris, Marla Nedelcu, Nicole Parker, Felicia Phillips, Philip G. Samaan
Adjunct Faculty for Evangelism: Ron E. M. Clouzet, Mark Finley
Program Coordinators:
Evangelism Resource Center Coordinator: Raul Rivero
Archaeological Museum Coordinator: Angela Edwards
Soul-winning and Leadership Training Program Director: Douglas Na'a
The School of Religion provides biblical, theological, and practical courses to help all university students experience a growing relationship with Jesus Christ, understand His teachings in the context of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and live ethical lives in harmony with the Scriptures. It also provides quality training in the fields of theology, pastoral care, religious education, religious studies, and archaeology, so its graduates, solidly grounded in Scripture and with a clear burden for others' salvation, become instruments in God's hands to impact the world.
The School of Religion is committed to developing an ongoing assessment and strategy to measure its effectiveness in harmony with the mission statement of Southern Adventist University, its own mission statement, and the recommendation of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
The effectiveness of the School of Religion's faculty and programs is directly or indirectly assessed by:
Students who are taking a major in either theology or pastoral care are required to make formal application to the ministerial program to become a trainee, normally during the first semester of their sophomore year. Transfer students must have completed at least one semester in residence and have sophomore status before applying. The application process should be completed during the fall semester. In evaluating applications, the religion faculty will consider the student's spiritual and theological commitment, moral character, integrity, emotional stability, grade point average, and social and professional skills in order to determine the applicant's fitness for the program and overall potential for success in ministry. Students will be notified of the faculty's decision, and those whose applications are accepted will become ministerial trainees. If at any time after being admitted to the program, trainees give evidence of failure to maintain commitment to the criteria of the ministerial program, including its expectations about spiritual commitment, moral character, or grade point average, they forfeit their standing as trainees and the privilege of being recognized as ministerial candidates in their senior year. Those who have already been accepted as ministerial candidates and then manifest a lack of commitment to the aforementioned criteria of the program will have their candidacy rescinded. Acceptance into the ministerial program as a trainee and approval as a candidate are both required for the completion of either a theology or a pastoral care major. Students not accepted into the program as trainees and/or candidates and those students whose trainee or candidate status is rescinded are not eligible to receive a theology or pastoral care major. However, they may apply to the School of Religion faculty to be allowed to complete a major in religious studies.
Students may apply to the ministerial program for trainee status by mid-term of the first semester of their sophomore year. These applications will be considered during the last half of the first semester and announced by the start of the second semester.
Qualifications
Procedure
The process of application and admission is as follows:
Students will be considered for approval as ministerial candidates at the beginning of the first semester of their senior year. These applications will be considered during the early part of the first semester and announced about the end of September.
Qualifications
Prior to admission to candidate status, the student should complete the following requirements:
Theology students may apply to the School for variances from #2, #3, and #4 of the above qualifications, including exemptions from one biblical language (Hebrew or Greek), intermediate languages, HIST 364, and HIST 365, provided they meet the following criteria:
Procedure
The process of admission is as follows:
The School of Religion requires field education of theology and pastoral care majors. The ministerial externship program is designed to enhance professional development by acquainting the student with the multi-faceted responsibilities of ministry. It provides a laboratory setting in membership care, evangelism, church leadership, worship, and preaching by working with experienced mentoring pastors and lay leaders in a local church. This education is necessary before the student can be recommended by the School of Religion for church employment. For students to be approved for participation in the ministerial externship program, they must either be ministerial trainees or receive permission from the School of Religion.
Full-scale evangelistic meetings will be conducted for four weeks each summer, under the auspices of the Southern Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. In addition, during some summers students may be permitted to participate in a three-week evangelistic series in a mission setting overseas. All theology majors are required to participate in one such field school. Students planning to take the summer field school program must have earned 55 hours with a 2.50 cumulative grade point average, have taken RELP 321, RELP 322, RELP 363, and RELP 405, and must be accepted as a ministerial trainee in order to be approved for participation in field school. Applications and scholarship information may be obtained from the field school coordinator.
All pastoral care majors are required to complete one unit of Clinical Pastoral Education to fulfill the requirements for their degree. If this is not possible, the student may propose an alternative practicum to the School of Religion dean to be considered by the faculty. All practicums must have prior approval by the faculty, must involve the student in at least 150 hours of education and service, and must include a written report at the conclusion of the practicum.
The archaeology major is a liberal arts major for students interested in preparing for graduate studies in archaeology, museum studies, cultural resource management, or as preparation for a professional field such as medicine, dentistry, law, or education. Students choosing to major in Archaeology must consult with the director of the Institute of archaeology to determine their area of interest in Near Eastern or classical studies and to lay plans for participation in the Middle East Study Tour and in the archaeological fieldwork. Archaeology majors are required to serve as museum docents for two hours per week during each semester in residence, for training purposes.
The four-year degree candidate may apply the required 12 hours of general education courses in religion toward the hours for the major, thus reducing the number of extra courses needed to qualify.
The Biblical Studies major is a liberal arts major for students interested in preparing for graduate studies in Old or New Testament, as well as for those planning to enter a professional field such as medicine, dentistry, law, or education.
This major provides a thorough exposure to classes in biblical studies. The four-year degree candidate may apply the required 12 hours of General Education courses in religion toward the hours needed for the major.
The missions major is a liberal arts major for students interested in preparing for medicine, law, development, education, and other graduate studies.
It aims to prepare students to serve as cross-cultural missionaries, as well as to engage in missional living in their local communities. It also helps prepare students for graduate studies in missiology, anthropology, and intercultural studies.
It provides the fundamentals of both biblical and theological studies and practical experience. The four-year degree candidate may apply the required 12 hours of general education courses in religion toward the hours for the major.
The religious education program is coordinated with the School of Education and Psychology of the university. Planning for certification by the states and/or endorsement by the Seventh-day Adventist Church for Bible teaching is made with the certifying officer of the School of Education and Psychology, both for admission to the religious education program in the sophomore year and to the professional semester before the senior year.
The student must apply for initial admission to the teacher education program (usually by the end of the sophomore year) after completing all requirements as outlined under "ADMISSION PROCEDURES" in the School of Education and Psychology section of the Catalog. Initial admission is required before the student can enroll in upper-division education courses.
The student must also complete an application and all other requirements for admission to student teaching. Prior to the professional semester, the student must take and pass the PRAXIS II licensure exam-both the appropriate section of the Principles of Learning and Teaching, and the particular specialty test(s) for the licensure area(s).
The criteria for admission to religious education program, requirements for secondary Bible teaching, and the policies and procedures related to student teaching may be found in the University Catalog under the School of Education and Psychology and obtained from the secretary of the School of Education and Psychology in Summerour Hall.
Those seeking Tennessee state certification must fulfill requirements listed here.
The religious studies major is a liberal arts major for students interested in preparing for professional fields such as medicine, dentistry, law, and other graduate studies.
It provides a balanced selection of both biblical studies and theology courses. The four-year degree candidate may apply the required 12 hours of general education courses in religion toward the hours needed for the major, thus reducing the number of extra courses needed to qualify.
The Bible worker and literature evangelist program is a 64-hour two-year degree leading to an A.A. in Religion. Students wishing to be recommended for employment as Bible instructors or literature evangelists must be approved by the School of Religion. The School of Religion cannot recommend for employment anyone whose course of study has been inadequate or unapproved.
The candidates for graduation in the program for theology or for pastoral care must have a grade point average (GPA) of 2.50 overall, (the same GPA required for entrance to the Seminary), along with a 2.50 aggregate GPA in all required religion classes, including certification classes. In addition to their major, they must take 20 hours for the certification in biblical languages, 24/17 hours for the certification in ministry/pastoral care, and 6/15 hours in cognates to qualify for ministerial candidacy. Additionally, among all the classes required for certification, no more than two classes will be allowed with a grade below "C-" and only in one area of certification. The candidates must also give evidence of moral, physical, social, and intellectual fitness and demonstrate professional commitment in order to achieve and retain trainee and candidate status and for the School of Religion to recommend them as prospective ministerial employees. Students who are not accepted as trainees and/or candidates or who lose said status are not eligible to graduate with a theology or pastoral care major. However, with the permission of the School of Religion faculty, these students may be allowed to complete a religious studies major. Archaeology graduation candidates must have a cumulative GPA of 2.75 and 2.75 in their major. Candidates for the biblical studies major must have a cumulative GPA of 2.75 and 2.75 in their major. Candidates for the missions major must have a cumulative GPA of 2.50 and 2.50 in their major. Those students pursuing the religious education major must have a GPA of 2.75 overall, and a 2.75 in education and in the field of certification as outlined by the School of Education and Psychology. The religious studies, as well as the A.A. in religion candidates for graduation, must have a GPA of 2.25 overall and a 2.25 in their major as outlined in this Catalog.
The objective in all religion courses is to enhance knowledge of and appreciation for the Scriptures, and to assist the student in gaining and maintaining a vital involvement with Jesus Christ and a personal commitment to serve family, church, community, and the world. Six semester hours of religion are required of the two-year graduate, and 12 semester hours of the four-year graduate. This is equivalent to one three-hour course per year, which may be selected from any of the religion courses offered. Bachelor's degree students must take at least three semester hours at the upper-division level. (Detailed information on general education requirements are found in this Catalog.)