Who should enroll? Missouri School of Religion welcomes all who wish to take classes:
What is the tuition cost for the Certificate of Pastoral Ministry?
Please note: the fee is the same whether taken in Jefferson City or online. The Jefferson City tuition includes room and board. The online tuition includes technology costs. Books are additional.
If I take the introductory “Understanding the Bible” course, am I obligated to take more classes? No, “Understanding the Bible” is open to those who wish to pursue a certificate and those who simply desire to know more about scripture.
If I wish to complete the Certificate, must I take every class in the order it is offered? No, the classes are offered in a three-year rotation, but you do not have to complete all classes within three years.
Can I combine online and classes at Jefferson City to complete my Certificate? Yes!
What if I do not want a certificate, but just want to know more about certain topics? If you have no prior education in Bible or theology, we highly recommend you take the introductory “Understanding the Bible” class first. It is offered in January, May and August in Jefferson City and twice a year online in spring and fall. Then you may take any class you desire. You are not required to pursue a certificate.
Who teaches the Certificate of Pastoral Ministry classes? Our instructors are experienced pastors who hold graduate degrees. Most are from the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), but also from the United Church of Christ, Presbyterian Church, USA and other mainline denominations. They each hold, at minimum, a masters degree and have several years of pastoral experience.
If I complete the Certificate of Pastoral Ministry, am I guaranteed a position as a pastor? No, we do not place our graduates in churches. Consult your judicatory about ministerial possibilities.
Can I receive college credit for Certificate courses? For our Rickman Center classes, it is possible to receive two hours of college credit for each for the fifteen core classes. This is available for a small additional fee from Culver-Stockton College or Columbia College. We are currently working on obtaining the same credit for our online classes. We expect to have that available within a year.