Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary
Encyclopedia
Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary is a Presbyterian seminary
in Austin, Texas
. It was founded in 1902 by Presbyterian ministers, Robert Lewis Dabney
and Richmond Kelley Smoot.
It is one of the ten official PC(USA) seminaries
. Its 12 acres (48,562.3 m²) campus is located near the University of Texas at Austin
. The Seminary is approved by The University Senate of The United Methodist Church.
The school is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada
and the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. It is a member of the Council of Southwestern Theolgical Schools, Inc., American Schools of Oriental Research
, and the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education.
Austin Seminary currently offers three degree programs: a Master of Divinity
(M.Div.), a three year program designed to equip students for ordained ministry and other church work; a Master of Arts
in Theological Studies (MATS), a two year program more academically focused than the Divinity program; and a Doctor of Ministry
(D.Min.) degree.
The seminary has twenty-seven full-time faculty members who serve three main departments: the Theological-Historical Department, the Department of the Church's Ministry, and the Biblical Department.
Students in the MDiv program are required to attain language competency in both biblical Hebrew
and Greek
with the eventual goal enabling students to translate biblical texts. Students generally take Hebrew and Greek in the January and Summer terms, respectively. Additional requirements of the Divinity program include a semester-long practical internship (Supervised Practice of Ministry), courses in theology and church history, and a capstone course known as "Senior Preaching" in which the graduating student designs a chapel service and preaches a sermon before the student body.
The school's main buildings include Currie Hall (a co-ed dormitory), McCord Community Center, McMillan Classroom Building, Trull Administration Building, Stitt Library, and Shelton Chapel.
The current president is Theodore J. Wardlaw, who has held the position since 2002.
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
. It was founded in 1902 by Presbyterian ministers, Robert Lewis Dabney
Robert Lewis Dabney
Robert Lewis Dabney was an American Christian theologian, a Southern Presbyterian pastor, and Confederate Army chaplain. He was also chief of staff and biographer to Stonewall Jackson. His biography of Jackson remains in print today.Dabney and James Henley Thornwell were two of Southern...
and Richmond Kelley Smoot.
It is one of the ten official PC(USA) seminaries
PC(USA) seminaries
Presbyterian Church seminaries are educational institutions run by the Presbyterian Church , geared primarily towards the training of ministers. The seminaries are independent institutions but relate dynamically to the PC through the Committee on Theological Education, a committee of seminary...
. Its 12 acres (48,562.3 m²) campus is located near the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
. The Seminary is approved by The University Senate of The United Methodist Church.
The school is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada
Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada
The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada is an organization of seminaries and other graduate schools of theology. ATS has its headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and has more than 250 member institutions...
and the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. It is a member of the Council of Southwestern Theolgical Schools, Inc., American Schools of Oriental Research
American Schools of Oriental Research
The American Schools of Oriental Research, founded in 1900, supports and encourages the study of the peoples and cultures of the Near East, from the earliest times to the present. It is apolitical and has no religious affiliation...
, and the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education.
Austin Seminary currently offers three degree programs: a Master of Divinity
Master of Divinity
In the academic study of theology, the Master of Divinity is the first professional degree of the pastoral profession in North America...
(M.Div.), a three year program designed to equip students for ordained ministry and other church work; a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in Theological Studies (MATS), a two year program more academically focused than the Divinity program; and a Doctor of Ministry
Doctor of Ministry
The Doctor of Ministry degree is, according to The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada , a doctoral level degree oriented toward ministerial leadership often in an area of applied theology, such as missions, evangelism, church leadership, pastoral psychology or the...
(D.Min.) degree.
The seminary has twenty-seven full-time faculty members who serve three main departments: the Theological-Historical Department, the Department of the Church's Ministry, and the Biblical Department.
Students in the MDiv program are required to attain language competency in both biblical Hebrew
Biblical Hebrew language
Biblical Hebrew , also called Classical Hebrew , is the archaic form of the Hebrew language, a Canaanite Semitic language spoken in the area known as Canaan between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. Biblical Hebrew is attested from about the 10th century BCE, and persisted through...
and Greek
Koine Greek
Koine Greek is the universal dialect of the Greek language spoken throughout post-Classical antiquity , developing from the Attic dialect, with admixture of elements especially from Ionic....
with the eventual goal enabling students to translate biblical texts. Students generally take Hebrew and Greek in the January and Summer terms, respectively. Additional requirements of the Divinity program include a semester-long practical internship (Supervised Practice of Ministry), courses in theology and church history, and a capstone course known as "Senior Preaching" in which the graduating student designs a chapel service and preaches a sermon before the student body.
The school's main buildings include Currie Hall (a co-ed dormitory), McCord Community Center, McMillan Classroom Building, Trull Administration Building, Stitt Library, and Shelton Chapel.
The current president is Theodore J. Wardlaw, who has held the position since 2002.