Spiritual Direction, Adv. Cert.
[Spiritual Direction - 2301.00]
In the Advanced Certificate in Spiritual Direction, students gain insight into the history, theology, and practice of spiritual direction and prepare to serve as spiritual directors in churches or other ministry contexts. The Advanced Certificate is designed for students who have completed or are in the process of completing an Advanced Certificate or Master’s degree in theology or divinity and are seeking specialized training in the art and practice of spiritual direction. Students must have at least 18 graduate credits in theology to enroll in the Advanced Certificate program. Students who enroll in a master’s program at the Seminary may apply appropriate courses taken in the Advanced Certificate program to any master’s degree program upon matriculation.
Admissions Process:
Northeastern Seminary seeks students whose personal and professional lives are characterized by honesty, integrity, and commitment to high academic, moral, and ethical standards. Applicants must present credentials that demonstrate aptitude for the academic work they will pursue and which indicate they meet other criteria of character and conduct.
Persons seeking admission must complete an online application with the Admissions Office of the Seminary. Along with the online application itself, applicants must also furnish:
- Two recommendations able to speak to the student's aptitude for ministry and academic study. Persons providing recommendations may not be related to the applicant.
- An autobiographical statement: In this statement, the applicant will narrate his or her spiritual pilgrimage, history and vision for Christian service, and career goals and plans.
- Official transcripts from every college or university where the applicant has received a degree (i.e., associate's, bachelor's, master's and/or doctoral) or any program you hope to use for graduate or post-graduate transfer credits. Those who do not possess a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university at the time of applying may be accepted under the non-baccalaureate designation. Note: Additional documentation is required along with the application for those seeking admission in this category.
- In the case of international students who have not done previous studies in an English language institution, a TOEFL score of 79 or higher is required.
In addition to the standard application, students applying to the Advanced Certificate in Spiritual Direction must complete the following before being admitted to the program:
- Complete at least 18 graduate credits in theological studies from a school accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) or a graduate department of theological or biblical studies at a Christian college or university.
- Submit an essay describing a personal experience providing spiritual guidance to others.
- Provide a reference letter from a person who has benefited from the applicant's spiritual guidance.
- Complete an interview with a faculty member during the application process.
Students applying to the Advanced Certificate in Spiritual Direction who can show a path to completion of the required theological studies courses may seek provisional admission with up to nine credits outstanding. Students may take spiritual direction courses while completing the required theological studies credits.
Courses in the Program:
- Required courses (12)
- GPSF 6120 Spiritual Formation (3)
- GPSF 6210 Introduction to Spiritual Direction (3)
- GPSF 6240 Social Justice and Spirituality (3)
- GPSF 6540 Christian Faith: A Global Survey (3)
- Choose one of the following: (3)
- GPSF 6150 Exploring Personal and Spiritual Faith Development (3)
- GPSF 6330 World Religions and Human Spirituality (3)
- Field Experience to be taken across four semesters (3)
- GPSF 7310 Personal Spiritual Direction I* (.5)
- GPSF 7320 Personal Spiritual Direction II* (.5)
- GPSF 7330 Supervised Spiritual Direction I* (1)
- GPSF 7340 Supervised Spiritual Direction II* (1)
*Extra course fee required.
Minimum Total Hours: 18
Minimum Graduation Requirements: Cumulative GPA of 2.7 and a completed degree application submitted to academic services by October 1 prior to the May Commencement in which the student intends to graduate.