Choosing a Program

A call can take many forms. For some, it is a single, life-changing experience like the apostle Paul's. Others experience God's call gradually, a steady nudging that Christian leadership is right for them. For others, recognizing God's call is a process of stops and starts, of experimentation and questioning. Some attend seminary to test the waters -- to see if their sense of calling is confirmed by the experience of joining a community of students and faculty who are seeking to love God with all of their heart, soul, and mind.

Attending seminary involves a process of formation and transformation, as students integrate classroom knowledge with practice, discover new gifts of the Holy Spirit, discern and refine an understanding of vocational call, and grow in spiritual maturity. At UDTS, students take courses in disciple formation, exploring personal and communal spiritual practices, and covenant to maintain spiritual goals in all field education internships. You can expect your seminary studies to be surrounded with prayer, reflection, vocational holiness, and service in Christ's work of grace as you grow and deepen your relationship with the Triune God.

Those preparing for leadership in the Church have also often responded to an outer call, other Christians saying, "You have the gifts for leadership in the church." While UDTS does not require you to have formal candidacy with a congregation or denomination prior, we are committed to collaborating with your church to provide the preparation you need for faithful ministry and mission.

UDTS faculty and staff are committed to preparing faithful pastors and leaders in ministry. Core curricula consisting of Scripture, History, Theology, Ministry, Mission, Spiritual Formation, and Field Education provide a foundation for our MDiv and MA programs. Most of our MDiv students become pastors of congregations, but graduates also serve as associate pastors, pastoral counselors, chaplains, teachers, and lay leaders in mission and ministry.

The academic standards we have set for our residential students studying in Dubuque are the same for our distance students studying online. Our faculty teach the same courses with the same curricular goals and the same grading scale in both settings. We are called to prepare faithful leaders - academic excellence goes hand-in-hand with our mission.

The mission of UDTS is to form God's people for servant leadership in ministry and mission. That is what we have been doing for more than 150 years. We realize that not everyone who is called to pursue theological education is able to move to Dubuque for three or four years of seminary. Perhaps you are called to remain in your current geographical setting. That is where distance learning comes in, by combining online classes with brief on-campus residencies, we can serve students and congregations from every part of the country and around the world.

We think online learning is a great opportunity for students to equip themselves for ministry without relocating. Distance education works through the full range of technology to provide dynamic, interactive, flexible learning experiences. Our faculty has been bringing depth of experience and cutting-edge advances to online education since 1997.

As a student, you will need to bring your full self into the educational experience, setting aside appropriate amounts of time and energy to steward the knowledge, wisdom, and experience shared through your coursework. You will be expected to have appropriate technological tools such as a computer that can play video and audio files and word process, a web camera, and consistent internet access as well as the skills to appropriately use them. You will also be expected, in most of our degree programs, to travel to Dubuque for brief residency classes.

Financial planning is an important aspect of faithful stewardship. We want to work with you to make your financial planning responsible and effective. We assist students in the educational preparation for ministry by providing need-based grants and scholarships, fellowships, work-study opportunities, and loans for all eligible students. Students are encouraged to explore other/alternative employment options both on and off campus, as well as scholarships and funding from outside sources.

UDTS is a Christian learning community, so community building is at the center of our coursework. Year after year, graduates of our degree programs rank "sense of community" as one of the strongest elements of their education at UDTS. Both residential students in Dubuque and distance students studying online benefit from the care taken by faculty and staff to form relationships among students that help to clarify one's gifts and calling, to promote healthy life practices, and to support the intellectual disciplines needed for graduate work.

UDTS and the University of Dubuque offer a variety of opportunities for deep Christian community that include close personal relationships with Seminary faculty, community worship, spiritual formation, campus ministry, Bible study, mission trips, retreats, and performing arts opportunities.

UDTS provides a variety of housing options for residential students studying in Dubuque. Residential students and families may elect to live on campus in 3- and 4-bedroom townhouses or other campus-owned houses. Housing is provided on a first-come, space-available basis. The Dubuque area also offers a variety of apartments, townhouses, and homes as affordable housing options.

Distance students regularly come to campus for brief residency experiences. During these residencies, a block of rooms is reserved for students at a local hotel located near campus, while some students opt to make arrangements on their own.