Perkins School of Theology - Certificate Programs
Students in degree programs may choose to participate in one or more certificate
programs. Academic certificates may be used to certify fulfillment of denominational
requirements (Certificate in Anglican Studies), ascertain preparedness for
future licensing or advanced study (Certificate in Pastoral Care), or certify completion
of intensive study in an area of benefit or priority for the church (Certificate
in Hispanic Studies, Certificate in African American Church Studies, Certificate
in Urban Ministry, Graduate Certificate in Women’s Studies).
Perkins School of Theology, located in the Southwest with its significant Hispanic
population and close proximity to Latin America, has committed itself to the
preparation of church leaders with the knowledge and skills for effective ministry
in this context. The Certificate in Hispanic Studies is offered to students in all
Perkins degree programs and is intended specifically for students who want to
prepare for ministry in a bilingual and bicultural setting. The certificate adviser
is Jeanie Treviño-Teddlie.
Certificate Requirements
A certificate will be granted to any student who fulfills the following
requirements:
- The student must formally register for the program through the office of the
director of the Mexican American Program and the registrar.
- The student must complete 15 term hours in Hispanic studies. The student
is strongly encouraged to take at least one course in Hispanic studies from
each of the four divisions of the curriculum. (See the list of designated
courses below.)
- By the senior year, the student must have reading and conversation skills at
an intermediate level in Spanish and give evidence of being able to conduct
the principal worship services of the church in Spanish.
- The students without substantial experience in ministry with Hispanics must
complete an interethnic experience in a Hispanic setting. The experience
must be structured in consultation with the director of the Mexican American
Program.
- The student must complete an internship in a Hispanic setting if possible,
or, if that is not possible, serve an internship in which, by agreement, no less
than one-third of the student’s working time is spent in a Hispanic congregation
or project within the community. If neither of these is possible, the
student must do a 40- to 60-hour interethnic experience in a Hispanic church
under supervision arranged by the director of the Mexican American
Program.
Designated Hispanic Studies Courses
The following courses are currently designated among those that can be taken
to fulfill the 15 term hours required for the Certificate in Hispanic Studies. Other
courses that include Hispanic theological and ministry concerns may also be
considered for credit through consultation with the director of the Mexican American
Program. The office of the Mexican American Program will maintain a record
of new courses that can be applied for credit. Enrollment in Hispanic Studies
courses is not limited to those admitted to the program, but is open to all students.
Students may also receive credit for courses taken under the Hispanic Summer
Program. International study opportunities in Latin America and the Caribbean
are also available for credit.
BB 8015, 8315 Biblical Exegesis from a Hispanic Perspective
HH 8023, 8323 The Church and the Mexican American Community
HH 8027, 8327 Christianity and Social Justice in the Southwest
HX 7322 Christianity in the Hispanic Tradition
HX 7324 Christianity in Latin America
MN 8026, 8326 Ministry in the Hispanic Church
ST 8027, 8327 North American Hispanic Theology
ST 7029, 7329 Doing Theology From a Hispanic Perspective
XS 8302 Race Relations and the Church
XS 8326 Broad-Based Community Organizing: Holiness and Politics in the Urban Church
Top 
Since its inception in the hush harbors on slave plantations in North America, the African American church has been the primary context for shaping the black Christian experience. The life and ministry of the black church is concretized in its forms of fellowship, in its public presence and, most importantly, in its worship. Perkins School of Theology affirms the importance of the institution of the African American church and has committed itself to the preparation of church leaders with the knowledge and skills for effective ministry in and with the black church. The Certificate in African American Church Studies is available to all students who are enrolled in the M.Div. degree program and who wish to broaden their understanding of African American religious experiences as well as prepare for leadership in the black church or related social agencies. The certificate adviser is Abraham Smith.
Competencies
Students pursuing the certificate will be expected to appreciate and analyze the complexity of black life and culture and how it shapes the African American church. It is intended that students will develop the following competencies:
- Acquire skills for assessing social, cultural, political and economic issues
as these affect African American congregations in urban and rural
settings
- Understand the history of the African American church in the North American
context and in relationship to the continent of Africa
- Understand the biblical and theological underpinnings of the historical and
contemporary black church
- Understand the role of the black church in forming black spirituality and
the black worship experience
- Acquire effective pastoral and spiritual leadership, advocacy and relationship
building skills within and beyond black congregational settings
Certificate Requirements
A certificate will be granted to students who fulfill the following requirements:
-
Formally register for the certificate through the office of the registrar and the
certificate adviser. To qualify, students must have signed approval from their
academic adviser. Candidates must have at least 24 hours remaining in their
degree program and a GPA of 3.0 in order to register. M.Div. candidates should
not yet have applied for internship.
- Complete MN 7320 Ministry in the Black Church (three term hours)
- Complete 12 additional term hours (four courses) in approved African American Church Studies courses (See the list of designated courses
below.)
- Complete an internship (12 term hours) in an approved African American
church or related setting. In lieu of the internship, M.T.S. students, in consultation
with the certificate adviser, must complete a major research project that
addresses issues concerning the African American church. This requirement
is in addition to the thesis or summative project required in the M.T.S.
program.
Students pursuing the Certificate in Urban Ministry and Certificate in African
American Church Studies may double-count those courses designated for both
certificates.
Course Options
BB 8330 African American Perspectives on the Bible
CA 7309 The Minister as Administrator
CA 8315 The Pastor as Financial Leader
CA 8319 Dynamics of Pastoral Leadership
CE 8020, 8320 Ministry With Children
CE 8330 Youth Ministry
CE 8338 Emancipatory Educational Ministry With Adolescent Girls: Liberating Ophelia and LaTomika
CE 8340 Adult Ministry
CE 8362 Christian Education in an Urbanizing World
CE 8372 Christian Education in Cultural Context
CM 8250, 8251 Music Ministry in the Black Church Experience
HH 8027 Christianity and Social Justice in the Southwest
HX 8341 Salvation and Social Justice in the Reformation
HX 8354 African American Christianity in the United States
MN 7342 Women in Ministry
MT 8345 African American Liberation Theology
MT 8381 Theology and Ethics of Ministry
MT 8385 Martin and Malcolm and Theological Ethics
PC 8333 Pastoral Care and Counseling of Women
PC 8335 Sexual and Domestic Violence: Theological and Pastoral Concerns
PC 8345 Justice Issues in Pastoral Care
PR 8332 Feminist Emancipatory Preaching
PR 8345 Preaching Public Issues: Biblical, Theological and Homiletical Perspectives
ST 8375 Feminist, Womanist and Mujerista Theologies
TC 8310 Theology, Religion and Cultural Studies
TC 8375 Advanced Feminist Theory
XS 7302 Issues in Urban Ministry
XS 8302 Race Relations and the Church
XS 8326 Broad-Based Community Organizing: Holiness and Politics in the Urban Church
XS 8332 Contemporary Issues in Urban Ministry
XS 8350 The Social Mission of the Church
Top
With roots in the Methodist tradition, Perkins School of Theology strives to provide
a hospitable environment for the formation and education of students from other theological traditions. The Certificate in Anglican Studies has been designed to meet
that obligation by preparing students for ordination in the Episcopal Church USA
and the larger Anglican tradition. The certificate adviser is Frederick Schmidt.
In the case of students seeking Holy Orders, the certificate adviser works with
diocesan officers to craft formational experiences that build upon this academic
core. Students enrolled in the Anglican Studies program should be aware that their
bishop may require their participation in the extra-curricular aspects of the program,
such as Morning Prayer, as a prerequisite for ordination.
Competencies
- A familiarity with the Book of Common Prayer and its rubrics
- An understanding of the central importance occupied by the sacraments of
the church
- A knowledge of the church’s liturgical practice and its significance
- An understanding of the earliest theological resources of the church,
including:
a. Patristic literature and theology
b. The Old and New Testaments
c. Key developments in the Anglican tradition
- Exegetical skills, including a knowledge of at least one biblical language
- A knowledge of the church’s history, including both the Episcopal Church
and the larger Anglican tradition
- An understanding of canon law, its purpose and content
Certificate Requirements
Students must formally register for the certificate with the Office of the Registrar
and the certificate adviser. To qualify, students must have signed approval from
their academic adviser. Candidates must have at least 24 hours remaining in their
degree program and a GPA of 3.0 in order to register. M.Div. candidates should
not yet have applied for internship.
A certificate will be granted to students who fulfill the following required
coursework and obtain the approval of the certificate adviser.
- Three term hours in WO 6313 Word and Worship, which includes a practicum
focusing on the use of the Book of Common Prayer
- Three term hours in HX 7370 Anglican History and Theology. Prerequisites
are HX 6305 The Christian Heritage I and HX 6306 The Christian Heritage II.
Recommended: HX 8321 History of Christian Doctrine.
- Three term hours in HX 7371 Episcopal History and Canon Law. Prerequisites
are HX 6305 The Christian Heritage I and HX 6306 The Christian Heritage II.
Recommended: HX 7370 Anglican History and Theology.
- Three term hours in HX 8321 History of Christian Doctrine
- Six hours of either Hebrew (HB 7300 Hebrew I and HB 7301 Hebrew II) or
Greek (GR 7300 Greek I and GR 7301 Greek II)
- Three hours of either Hebrew (HB 7302) or Greek (GR 7302) Exegesis
Top
The Certificate in Pastoral Care allows Perkins students to concentrate on theory, skills and practices of pastoral care to equip them for specialized pastoral care ministries. Specialized pastoral care ministries include but are not limited to the following: ordained clergy whose ministerial focus is pastoral care, clergy in agency settings and clergy in social outreach or social work. The certificate can serve as an introduction to professional counseling for those desiring further education and training to pursue certification with the American Association of Pastoral Counselors or the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapists. The certificate can also serve as an introduction for those desiring pursuit of a state license as a professional counselor and/or as a marriage and family therapist. The executive director of the Pastoral Counseling and Education Center in Dallas serves as a consultant to the certificate students if they desire affiliation and advanced training beyond the foundational work offered at Perkins. The certificate adviser is Jeanne Stevenson-Moessner.
Competencies
Competencies are based on theory, skills and practices.
Competency in theory includes:
1. A history of pastoral care
2. Multicultural dimensions of pastoral care
3. Paradigms in pastoral caregiving
4. Spiritual care of mind–body–soul
5. Family systems theory
Competency in skills includes:
6. Empathic listening and confidentiality keeping
7. Crisis counseling, effective referral ability and personal boundary maintenance
Practices will focus on:
8. Self-care and healthy lifestyle
9. Supervision through internship, Clinical Pastoral Education or spiritual direction
10. Exposure to helping agencies and community organizations of care and extension of learning into the congregational setting
Certificate Requirements
A certificate will be granted to students who fulfill the following requirements:
- Formally register for the certificate through the office of the registrar and the
certificate adviser. To qualify, students must have signed approval from their
academic adviser. Candidates must have at least 24 hours remaining in their
degree program and a GPA of 3.0 in order to register. M.Div. candidates should
not yet have applied for internship.
- Complete nine hours of required courses.
- Complete six additional hours of electives.
- Complete an internship in an appropriate setting.
- Submit a paper to the certificate adviser at the end of the certificate program. This paper should explore the interdisciplinary nature of the pastoral care field,
focusing on all four divisions within Perkins’ course of study. In this paper, the
student is expected to articulate her or his biblical paradigm in pastoral care.
The appendix to the paper should include a description of the student’s efforts/
participation in proactive self-care activities related to spiritual, physical and
emotional health. Counseling by staff at the SMU Memorial Health Center or
a licensed therapist of the student’s choice is strongly encouraged as a part of
the certificate program and as a means of self-care.
- Engage in an oral defense of the interdisciplinary paper. Faculty from Divisions
I, II and III will be invited on a rotation basis to participate in the oral
defense. Students working on the certificate should prepare for this integrative
exercise from their very first introduction to courses in Division I (The Biblical
Witness), Division II (The Heritage of the Christian Witness in Its Religious and
Cultural Context) and Division III (Interpretation of the Christian Witness).
The required courses are offered each academic year. A minimum of one elective
is offered each term. An appropriate internship would be Clinical Pastoral
Education in a hospital, prison or congregational setting; however, when CPE is
taken as an internship, it cannot be counted for elective hours. A student may
complete an internship with emphasis on pastoral care experiences and supervision
approved by the Intern Office.
Required Courses and Course Options
The course requirements and options are:
- Nine hours of required coursework:
a. Three term hours in PC 7321 The Caring Congregation
b. Three term hours in PC 7322 Pastoral Care and Family Systems
c. Three term hours in PC 8348 Pastoral Self-Care
- Six hours of required electives from the following:
a. Three term hours in PC 8301 Pastoral Care: Special Problems
b. Three term hours in PC 8333 Pastoral Care and Counseling of Women
c. Three term hours in PC 8326 The Pastor’s Crisis Ministry
d. Three term hours in PC 8318 Mental Health Skills for the Pastor
e. Three term hours in PC 8330 Pastoral Care and Counseling of Adolescents
f. One and one-half term hours in PC 8036 Premarital Counseling
g. Three term hours in PC 8341 Spirituality and the Human Life Cycle
h. Three term hours in PC 8335 Sexual and Domestic Violence: Theological and Pastoral Concerns
i. Three term hours in PC 8345 Justice Issues in Pastoral Care
j. Six term hours in Clinical Pastoral Education (Level One cannot be counted as an internship.)
Equivalency credit for transfer courses or Perkins courses will not be granted
for more than one of the three required core courses. Equivalency credit is always
subject to approval by the registrar and the certificate adviser.
Top
With its main campus in Dallas and a program in Houston/Galveston, Perkins
School of Theology is well situated to equip church leaders to serve as transforming
agents in an urbanizing world. In the 21st century, ministry will require understanding
the dynamics that create tension and oppression in our society, a willingness to
hold up the vision of God’s justice and a commitment to work for righteousness in
the social, economic and political realms of life.
The Certificate in Urban Ministry is available to students enrolled in the M.Div.
degree program and is intended especially for those called to engage communities
in articulating and living the Gospel personally and socially in ways that bring
healing to the lives of men, women and children.
The certificate is administered through the Urban Ministry Steering Committee,
which designates the list of courses meeting certification requirements. Students
who declare their intent to earn the certificate normally will be advised by the
Urban Ministry Certificate adviser. The certificate adviser is Harold Recinos.
Competencies
Students pursuing the certificate will be expected to work toward developing
the following competencies:
- Learning how to appreciate, analyze and cope with the complex connections
between congregations and their communities in the process of urbanization
- Learning how to engage biblical and theological studies with contemporary
urban problems, especially in areas of social justice, peacemaking and
mission
- Learning how to assess the importance of issues such as culture, ethnicity,
language, gender and age as these affect congregations in urban settings
- Learning how to deal with inequalities manifested in poverty and wealth in
class-based urban systems
- Learning how to understand the interaction of diverse communities in America,
especially in transnational urban environments involving global population
movements
- Learning how to develop effective pastoral and spiritual leadership, advocacy
and relationship building in the urban community within and beyond congregational
settings
Certificate Requirements
A certificate will be granted to students who fulfill the following requirements:
- Formally register for the certificate through the office of the registrar and
the certificate adviser. To qualify, students must have signed approval from
their academic adviser. Candidates must have at least 24 hours remaining
in their degree program and a GPA of 3.0 in order to register. M.Div. candidates
should not yet have applied for internship.
- Complete at least 15 term hours in approved Urban Ministry Certificate
courses (See the list of designated courses below.)
- By the senior year (or before entering into a full-time internship), demonstrate
involvement in urban ministry outside of formal coursework, usually through
participation in an urban community project (approved by the Urban Ministry
Certificate adviser) connected with a faith-based organization
- Complete an internship (12 term hours) in an urban or peri-urban community
setting, identified and approved by the Intern Office. In lieu of the internship,
M.T.S. students, in consultation with the certificate adviser, must
complete a major research project that addresses issues concerning urban
ministry. This requirement is in addition to the thesis or summative project
required in the M.T.S. program.
Designated Urban Ministry Courses
The following courses are currently designated among those that can be taken
to fulfill the 15 term hours required for the Certificate in Urban Ministry. Students
should consult the list of designated courses each term for new courses.
BB 8315 Biblical Exegesis from a Hispanic Perspective
CE 8338 Emancipatory Educational Ministry With Adolescent Girls: Liberating Ophelia and LaTomika
CE 8362 Christian Education in an Urbanizing World
EV 7307 Theory and Practice of Evangelism
HH 8023,
8323 The Church and the Mexican-American Community
HH 8027,
8327 Christianity and Social Justice in the Southwest
HX 8354 African American Christianity in the United States
MN 7320 Ministry in the Black Church
MN 8026, 8326 Ministry in the Hispanic Church
MT 8345 African American Liberation Theology
MT 8385 Martin and Malcolm and Theological Ethics
PC 7321 The Caring Congregation
PC 7322 Pastoral Care and Family Systems
PC 8345 Justice Issues in Pastoral Care
ST 7029, 7329 Doing Theology From a Hispanic Perspective
ST 8311 Contemporary Theology
ST 8027, 8327 North American Hispanic Theology
TC 8375 Advanced Feminist Theory
TC 8310 Theology, Religion and Cultural Studies
TC 8340 The Christian, the Church and the Public Good
XS 7302 Issues in Urban Ministry
XS 7330 The Social Ministry of the Church
XS 8302 Race Relations and the Church
XS 8326 Broad-Based Community Organizing: Holiness and Politics in the Urban Church
XS 8321 Christian Mission in Cultural Context
XS 8332 Contemporary Issues in Urban Ministry
XS 8350 The Social Mission of the Church
In addition, students may do independent reading or field-based courses in urban ministry with the approval of (1) a sponsoring faculty member willing to supervise the course and (2) the Urban Ministry certificate adviser, Dr. Hal Recinos, before proceeding through the normal channels for obtaining permission to take such courses.
Students pursuing the Certificate in Urban Ministry and the Certificate in Hispanic Studies may double-count those courses designated for both certificates.
Top
The Certificate in Women’s Studies is offered through the Women’s Studies
Program and jointly based in the SMU Dedman Graduate Program and the Perkins
School of Theology. It is an interdisciplinary graduate-level certificate designed
to enhance the lives of students, both female and male, by facilitating the integration
of theories about gender and knowledge about the roles and achievements of
women, both past and present, in the global society. The courses are designed to
provide comparative and historical perspectives on women, gender and feminism.
The certificate program draws upon courses from a variety of disciplines, including
anthropology, history, literary studies, media and film, and theology. The Perkins
certificate adviser is Evelyn Parker.
Certificate Requirements
A certificate will be granted to students who fulfill the following requirements:
- Formal registration for the certificate through the Dedman College and/or
the Perkins School of Theology registrar. This shall include a proposed
program plan for completion of the certificate developed with an adviser
from the office of the Women’s Studies Program or the Perkins certificate
adviser. To qualify, Perkins students must have signed approval from their
academic adviser. Candidates must have at least 24 hours remaining in their
degree program and a GPA of 3.0 in order to register. M.Div. candidates
should not yet have applied for internship.
- An advanced feminist theory course. This course will include the “classic”
literature from feminist, womanist and mujerista perspectives and address
current theoretical issues across relevant disciplines. The course will be
taught in rotation by interested faculty associated with the Women’s Studies
Program and Perkins School of Theology.
- Four additional courses that are Women’s Studies graduate-level approved
core courses and Dedman undergraduate departmental courses. (See the list below.) Students must register for Dedman undergraduate courses using a
6000-level number and arrange a separate syllabus and assignments in
conjunction with the professor of record. Students are encouraged to petition
the director of Women’s Studies for credit for other graduate courses in
which they will engage in study appropriate to the intent of the certificate.
Appropriate courses taken during matriculation at SMU yet prior to enrollment
in the certificate may count toward program hours.
Dedman Course Options
ANTH 3310 Gender and Sex Roles: A Global Perspective
ENGL 3331 Gender, Race and Class: Non-Western Culture and Literature
ENGL 3367 Ethical Implications of Children’s Literature
FL 3349/HIST 3392 The African Diaspora: Literature and History of Black Liberation
HIST 3312 Women in American History
HIST 3329 Women in Early Modern Europe
HIST 3330 Women in Modern European History
HIST 3348 American Families: Changing Experiences and Expectations
HIST 3355 Class and Gender in Ancient Society
PLSC 3370 Women in Politics
PLSC 4339 Women and the Law
WS 2308 Revisions: Woman as Thinker, Artist and Citizen
WS 2315 Gender, Culture and Society
Perkins Course Options
CE 8338 Emancipatory Educational Ministry With Adolescent Girls: Liberating Othelia and LaTomika
HR 8331 Women in World Religions
HX 8328 Women in the History of Christianity
HX 8337 Sex/Gender in Greek and Latin Patristic Thought
MN 7342 Women in Ministry
PC 8333 Pastoral Care and Counseling of Women
PC 8335 Sexual and Domestic Violence: Theological and Pastoral Concerns
PC 8345 Justice Issues in Pastoral Care
PR 8332 Feminist Emancipatory Preaching
ST 8375 Feminist, Womanist and Mujerista Theologies
WO 8308 Women and Worship
- As part of one of the four courses, students will complete a major research
project that addresses issues concerning women and/or gender. A performance
or exhibit may also constitute the major project, with approval of the
director of Women’s Studies.
- Students may substitute an internship for one of the four courses and the
associated major research project. The supervised internship must involve
an organization or setting that addresses issues concerning women and/or
gender. This project shall be delineated with an appropriate time of completion
included in the program plan in consultation with a Women’s Studies
or a Perkins Internship Office faculty member. A supervised internship
setting for Perkins M.Div. students will require a learning goal for women’s
studies and shall be done in consultation with the Perkins Internship Office.
Women’s Studies internships can also be arranged in conjunction with the
Dedman College internship program and the Women’s Studies adviser.
Top
Share